Central Command's latest:

Multi-National Forces continue to safeguard the citizens of Najaf at the request of the Iraqi Prime Minister. They are assisting Iraqi police with vehicle checkpoints around the city and continue to defend themselves against sporadic attacks by the Muqtada Militia. The militia is using the cemetery, holy sites and schools in Najaf as bases for operations. The Multi-National Forces have responded to these attacks taking extreme care not to damage the Imam Ali Shrine or any other holy sites.

The Iraqi security force and Multi-National Force mission remains to restore security and return rule of law to Najaf.

Whether or not that can be accomplished from a defensive posture remains to be seen.

THUGS: Muqtada al-Sadr's roving bands have reportedly threatened the sickly, 80-year-old father of Najaf's police chief. And where, one wonders, is the officially broadcast Near East outrage over the innocents terrorized by the Mahdi gang?