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| Iraq-Jordan | |
| Iraqi hard boyz divided, losing support | |
| 2004-07-12 | |
| In April, with anger swelling at the US occupation and a Marine-led assault on the Sunni city of Fallujah, thousands of Shiites provided assistance to their Iraqi brothers in the city. Adnan Feisal Muthar filled up his truck with food and drove it to Fallujah to help residents rendered homeless by US bombing. His uncle and two of his sons donated blood for the wounded. "We wanted to help the people there,'' says Mr. Muthar. "They were Iraqis and they were suffering." But the city west of Baghdad is no longer a sympathetic rallying place for a unified Iraqi resistance. It is now seen as run by intolerant and exclusivist Sunni imams who are seeking to turn it into a haven for Al Qaeda ideologues. Fallujah is emerging as a symbol of the disparate nature of the overall insurgency inside Iraq. Many Shiites, like the Muthars, have stopped supporting it. Since two of Muthar's brothers and four of his cousins - all members in a family trucking cooperative - were tortured and murdered in the resistance stronghold three weeks ago, he's changed his mind about how the US handled Fallujah. "They should have done whatever it took to take that place over,'' Muthar says. "It's been left in the hands of people who call themselves Muslims but they're not. They're simply inhuman."
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| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #16 "It’s been left in the hands of people who call themselves Muslims but they’re not. They’re simply inhuman." Mister Mule, meet Mister Two-By-Four... |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-07-12 8:03:42 PM |
| #15 Now what was that advice about holding the viper close to your chest? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-07-12 7:57:21 PM |
| #14 Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it. |
| Posted by: Anonymous2U 2004-07-12 2:14:36 PM |
| #13 Since two of Muthar’s brothers and four of his cousins - all members in a family trucking cooperative - were tortured and murdered in the resistance stronghold three weeks ago, he’s changed his mind about how the US handled Fallujah. "They should have done whatever it took to take that place over,’’ Muthar says. "It’s been left in the hands of people who call themselves Muslims but they’re not. They’re simply inhuman." HAAAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!!! The guy's tune-changing aside, I just can't manage any sympathy for this scumbag's obvious poor judgement that ended up needlessly costing the lives of his relatives. The real injustice, as I see it, is that Muthar's still alive. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-07-12 10:32:05 AM |
| #12 USAtoday has good article on fighting in Ramadi. Ramadi is just as big as Fallujah, is the prov. capital, and is filled with ex-Rep Guard officers and ex-Iraqi Intell. "Ramadi must not fall" Marines have lost 30 dead, 175 wounded there, but have killed 400 of the enemy. Marines hold center, govt buildings, but since handover have left some of the toughest neighborhoods. My armchair guess at strategy 1. Offer amnesty, try to strip away the less commited insurgents, clear the ground for the attack. 2. Marshall forces and tools - the new emergency rule bill, the best of the Iraqi forces, and the coalition forces. 3. First target restore as much security in Baghdad as feasible, given that Al Anbar hasnt been addressed yet. 4. Focus on other areas of Al Anbar first - clean out Ramadi, and villages between Baghdad and Fallujah. Isolate Fallujah, and reduce possibility of counter siege, before attacking Fallujah. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-07-12 10:06:22 AM |
| #11 I don't think the Iraqi armed forces will be ready to clean up Fallujah by Oct or even Nov. What will have to be done is to first cordon off Fallujah from the rest of Iraq, second, cordon off the lawful parts of Fallujah from the jihadi parts of Fallujah, third, cordon of the passive residential parts of jihadi Fallujah from the virulent parts of jihadi Fallujah, fourth, take bite after bite of what's left. |
| Posted by: mhw 2004-07-12 9:26:25 AM |
| #10 When Muslim terrorists feud, their non-Muslim targets die. It happened during the "intifada" competition between al-Fatah and Hamas. Given that the followup to a murder of an American in Iraq, is an immediate celebration by locals - covered by al-Jihadzeera - an appropriate counter-terror response would be to drop 5 or 6 500 pounders on the party area (after the bodies of the fallen are removed, of course). |
| Posted by: Dog Bites Trolls 2004-07-12 3:52:35 AM |
| #9 This matter has been brewing for several weeks now. Al Qaeda do not make nice bedfellows. The weak-kneed Fallujah Brigade is way over-matched. This cancer will have to be removed in mass. After the April seige, the terrorists were confined to the north and northeast sector of Fallujah, but now they are widespread. |
| Posted by: Capt America 2004-07-12 1:58:53 AM |
| #8 Al Queda is finished in Iraq, and so are the Baathists. Ever since Fallujah, and especially since June 28, they are in a defensive posture, which is what they are worst at. The Iraqis have learned first hand that Al Queda is no friend of civilized people. That's an extremely important lesson. This is one very positive consequence of Bush's Strategy to make Iraq a central part of the War on Terror. If we continue on with this strategy, helping Iraq to become a nation with representative democracy, we cannot fail in the Middle East. Because everyone else will get it: we ARE the good guys, not the turbans. The sad thing is that the carpers, whiners, and fingerpointers that make up the anti-Bush crowd may succeed in pushing him out of office. I don't think John-John has the stomach to fight this war, which is why he is so very dangerous. |
| Posted by: RMcLeod 2004-07-12 1:35:53 AM |
| #7 Too hot for ops. Too soon. Give Allawi 3 months to recall and re-assemble the 4 divisions and 1 special ops brigade he wants, then retrain and re-equip them (With US help), and then set up US air and artillery support for the Iraqi ops. Early to mid Oct - perfect weather, fighting over by the end of Oct, and a big defeat for Zawqari and company. Probably kills od Sadr in the process. Only US troops involved are FACs and spotters, and maybe a few operators for quite dash and grab missions. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-07-12 1:29:53 AM |
| #6 Isn't it also the blast-furnace heat, uber-sandstorm time of the year there? |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-07-12 1:25:37 AM |
| #5 That's what I think, too. I think Allawi is going to bring the heavy lumber in right around the time of the election -- not because of election timing, but just because it's going to take a few more months for Fallujah to ripen. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-07-12 1:23:07 AM |
| #4 You guys are underestimating what's happening in Iraq. The Iraqis will take care of the Fallujah problem themselves. Al Queda has no future in Iraq and they already know it. |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-07-12 1:16:10 AM |
| #3 Second Wed.of November US troops go in. |
| Posted by: Stephen 2004-07-12 1:03:37 AM |
| #2 So when is Allawi going to clean out Fallujah? How about, "never". |
| Posted by: Anonymous5703 2004-07-12 12:49:20 AM |
| #1 Dan, Absolutely. They pissed on our helping hand. Now, "Fix your own problem, Mr. Muthar. You are getting what you deserve. Little Tehran." |
| Posted by: anymouse 2004-07-12 12:46:41 AM |