E-Mail This Article to a Friend TEXTING God’s instant messenger BY CHRIS WRIGHT

The cleric Muqtada al-Sadr had previously rejected the demands [to leave the Imam Ali Shrine], according to an official in the cleric’s office who said he received a text message to that effect. "Either martyrdom or victory," the message said, according to the official, Haidar al-Tourfi.

— Associated Press, August 19

Al-Tourfi: hey

Al-Sadr: lo

Al-Tourfi: where r u?

Al-Sadr: shrine

Al-Tourfi: still? lol

Al-Sadr: ive a msg for amrika

Al-Tourfi: cool. shoot

Al-Sadr: shoot! :-D

Al-Tourfi: ha. whats yr msg?

Al-Sadr: matryomd or vctoy

Al-Tourfi: what?

Al-Sadr: ru deaf?

Al-Tourfi: u said matryomd or vctoy

Al-Sadr: MARTYRDOM OR VICTORY

Al-Tourfi: oh. lol. r u up 4 it?

Al-Sadr: yeh. bush can kiss my (_1_)

Al-Tourfi: lol. (_*_)

Al-Sadr: (_(_) lol.

Al-Tourfi: (___!___)

Al-Sadr: omg! ;-p

Al-Tourfi: lol. wot u doin?

Al-Sadr: jst hangN

Al-Tourfi: NEthng goin on?

Al-Sadr: ahmed choked on a bullet. its boring

Al-Tourfi: ahmeds such a dick!!!

Al-Sadr: 8==D lol

Al-Tourfi: ruok?

Al-Sadr: hit by shrapnel :-(

Al-Tourfi: shrapnel? wtf? :-O

Al-Sadr: >:-(

Al-Tourfi: fkn marines

Al-Sadr: grrrr. martyrdom or victory

Al-Tourfi: your nuts %-)

Al-Sadr: im a firebrand cleric <wink>

Al-Tourfi: lmao. u need NEthing?

Al-Sadr: food :-9

Al-Tourfi: you cud loze a little weight ;~)

Al-Sadr: stfu. ~:-(

Al-Tourfi: j/k! ill send some pizza 4 U f@ ass 2 nite

Al-Sadr: FTb@**ttmmaO

Al-Tourfi: what?

Al-Sadr: nothng. i leaned on the keypad

Al-Tourfi: roflmao

Al-Sadr: <rolleyes>

Al-Tourfi: so martyrdom or victory

Al-Sadr: u got it ;^)

Al-Tourfi: ill pass it on

Al-Sadr: cool. tia

Al-Tourfi: cu ltr!

Al-Sadr: cu!!!!!!!!