Militia members blamed the Americans for the damage to the mosque, but Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, the chief U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, said al-Sadr's men probably were responsible: "I can just tell you by the looks of where we were firing and where Muqtada's militia was firing, I would put my money that Muqtada caused it."
Even if the juvenile response of General Kimmitt is correct, what difference could that possibly make? I mean in the real world. If there weren't American forces in the area, there wouldn't have been any damage to the shrine. I don't think it would take a lot of forethought to imagine that military action in and around holy shrines would provoke retaliatory action. But that's just me.
....and hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
