Shrine as Military Base

I am writing in response to Sam Hamod’s Aug. 25 letter in which he states, “the Shrine of Imam Ali for the Shiites is like the Vatican for Catholics and the Western Wall for Jews. No true Muslims would order an attack on such a revered holy site.” Hamod ignores that Muqtada Sadr’s militia has chosen to use the shrine as a military base of operations.

If a militia were to occupy the Vatican and launch attacks from within it, you can be sure the response would be the same. It is not the United States that is disrespecting a holy site, it is those who most cowardly use it for cover and hide behind its holy status who show the least respect for it.

Bert Green

Los Angeles