WASHINGTON, D.C. (4/5) - In an unusual Press conference today, after a week of accelerated violence and U.S. crackdown in Iraq, President Bush stated that the June 30th date for transfer of sovereignty remains firm. Bush says U.S. will stay the course against those that oppose "freedom." The President commented on an arrest warrant issued for a popular Muslim cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, who has expressed anti-American sentiment and has rejected the interim constitution. “This is one person that is deciding that rather than allowing democracy to flourish, he’s going to exercise force,” Bush said. “We just can’t let it stand.” Just moments earlier, at coalition press conference in Iraq, reminiscent of the days of "shock and awe," General Mark  Kimmitt  said that al-Sadr would be treated like any "criminal." The purported reason for the arrest warrant al-Sadr, at this time, is his alleged murder of a popular moderate Muslim cleric last April.

The arrest warrant may have a particularly inflammatory reaction since, Al-Sadr's father was arrested and killed by Saddam Hussein's regime. Now there is a US manhunt for the son of a once popular Shi'ite cleric. There should be concern that the US will be perceived as using the heavy handed tactics that the US has supposedly replaced.

The perception may also be fueled by the fact that the US shut down al-Sadr's newspaper last week resulting in huge demonstrations and additional violence.