P.S.
By the way, in case we conveniently forget, if the U.S. was not currently in Iraq, these indignant clerics would still be either hiding in Iran, holding a reserved spot in a mass grave, or being introduced face-first to the Chipper.
And Najaf would still be a ghost town.
Najaf was liberated from Saddam on April 3. Yeah, you're welcome.
It's also worth remembering that the Shiites wouldn't let our forces guard the shrine or other holy sites from attackers.