Tehran, Iran, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Iran's spiritual guide Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Wednesday accused the United States of committing atrocities in the Shiite holy city of Najaf in central Iraq.

"One of the most atrocious crimes against humanity is being committed in Iraq, especially in Najaf, in the name of liberalism and democracy," Khamenei was quoted as saying by the Iranian News Agency, IRNA.

Mr. Khanenei is referring, I assume, to the impending destruction of the mosque in which al-Sadr & Co are hiding. Obviously, Khamenei has not read the Geneva Convention (which btw, the U.S. never ratified, although we observe its rules.) The Geneva Convention does forbid the destruction of religious structures such as churches and mosques. However, if such structures are used by combatants as shelter or for the storage of war materiel, they lose their protected status. Since the Sadrists are using the mosque as a fortress, destroying it is neither a war crime or atrocity.

"America is destroying one of the most sacred cities for Muslims under the pretext of spreading democracy," he added.

We may very well be doing that, but not because we want to. America doesn't go destroying cities just for the fun of it. In fact, America often goes to great lengths, and takes greater casualties, because we are not willing to cause unnecessary destruction. During World War II, heavy bomber losses during daytime bombing led the RAF to use the tactic of nightime area bombing of German cities. The United States persisted with daylight precision bombing of German factories, despite appalling losses of bombers and crews. During the battle of Hue in the Tet Offensive of '68 in Vietnam, America could have very easily flattened the city to kill the VC inside, but we didn't, and we lost plenty of Marine lives to take it back.

We don't want to destroy Najaf; heck, we'd be happily helping the residents fix things there if it were al-Sadr and his cronies. But those Iranian-puppet fucktards are forcing us to destroy chunks of the city in order to kill them. Don't want the city destroyed? Come on out and let's have a fight out in the desert where the civilians won't get hurt and their homes won't get blown up. We'd be happy to do it that way.

Khamenei warned "the practices of the arrogant superpower will further increase hatred and revulsion by the Muslim nation against America."

Actually, the antics of al-Sadr and his merry morons are pissing off the good citizens of Najaf who just want life to get back to normal. And the actions of you and your mad mullahs in supporting him, Mr. Khamenei, are no doubt increasing the ordinary Iraqi's dislike for you and your country.