Was Big Battle near Najaf a mistaken confused massacre?

Cole was right, the conflicting reports showed problems with the tale the US military initially gave reporters. Reports now appear of a pitched battle that was fought because an Iraqi check-point accidentally killed a tribal chief. Armed followers on the pilgrimage then started a battle and the US was called in for air strikes. But Juan Cole also thinks this story has too many holes in it. The one thing that is clear is that the US caused massive casualties on an anti-Iranian group while supporting the pro-Iranian authorities in Najaf.

Tags: Iraq, Najaf, hell-hole