The Blame Game.

'Should there be many civilian casualties, the Americans will not be the only ones to blame'.

That's the BBC's view of operations in Najaf. Yet another example of the moral equivalence that has marked their coverage of Iraq.

Here are some reasons why it's wrong:

A)There are good legal reasons for arresting Al-Sadr. Had he not been suspected of murdering opponents he would never have been wanted by the coalition.

b)It follows from this that his revolt has no justification, either legal or moral. More senior Shias asked him to be patient with the coalition and he refused.

c)His militia is not wanted by the people of Najaf- he has merely occupied a holy site to boost his profile and aid his defence.

D)He has not honoured agreements that might have defused the situation.

E)His men have been engaging in attacks on US troops that have partly been responsible for provoking a response.

F)The US soldiers did not choose a civilian centre to fight in, but have decided to engage with him there because he will engage with them nowhere else.

G)The US soldiers have no interest in, nor will they, engage the civilian population of Najaf in fighting.

I fail to see from these why the US should considered 'to blame' for civilian casualties in Najaf. Of course, if they are operationally careless or deliberately callous then on a case by case basis some US troops may be 'to blame', but we are not talking about morally equivalent groupings. Could it be that the journalist concerned brings with them an Al-Jazeera perspective?