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Iraq-Jordan
AMS warns Iraqi security forces
2004-11-08
An influential Iraqi Muslim group urged Iraqi security forces not to fight with US troops preparing to storm the beseiged city of Falluja. "We call on the Iraqi forces, the National Guard and others who are mostly Muslims ... to beware of making the grave mistake of invading Iraqi cities under the banner of forces who respect no religion or human rights," the Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS) said in a statement on Monday. "Beware of being deceived that you are fighting terrorists from outside the country, because by God you are fighting the townspeople and targeting its men, women and children and history will record every drop of blood you spill in oppressing the people of your nation," the AMS said.

Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on Monday authorised US and Iraqi forces to begin an offensive against Falluja and Ramadi to root out foreign fighters and Saddam Hussein loyalists he says are entrenched there. The US and the interim Iraqi government says the offensive is intended to help stablilise the country before January elections. However, residents say they know nothing of the foreign fighters and daily US bombardments just bolster local resistance. The AMS has threatened to call for a boycott of the poll if assaults on cities in Iraq's Sunni heartland escalate. The last time US forces stormed Falluja in April, some units of Iraq's fledgling security forces refused to fight. Moreover, the Association, which has helped negotiate the release of foreign hostages in Iraq, warned security personnel not to repeat the "mistake" they made in joining US forces to quell an uprising in Najaf in August.
Keep warning, I don't think they are listening.
Meanwhile, Dr Muhammad Ayash al-Qubaisi, a Qatar-based spokesman for the AMS, told Aljazeera.net on Monday some 36 US soldiers had been captured by Falluja fighters since the US-led offensive on the city got underway. The Qatar-based spokesman said several eyewitnesses in Falluja had confirmed the capture of the soldiers. A spokesman for US-led forces in Iraq told Aljazeera.net that the reports were baseless. "I can fundamentally refute that any US soldiers were captured today," he said.
Posted by:Steve

#12  BillH---Great site, enjoyed perusing through it for the first time. Will be back again. Bookmarked it. Welcome to Rantburg. Be sure to visit the O Club if you get the thirst.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-11-08 10:37:58 PM  

#11  Thanks for the welcome. I plan to do some thorough looking around. From what I've read so far it look like a great site. :)
Posted by: BillH   2004-11-08 10:27:09 PM  

#10  BillH, the AMS is part of the council of the Learned Elders of Islam (TM). Their beards are longer and their turbans tighter than just about everyone else's. I do believe the jihadi nutjobs consult the AMS for Koranic justification of the murders and killings being performed in the name of Allan. They also serve as a convenient soundbite for the media types. The Blogosphere does not buy their particular brand of BS.

Welcome to Rantburg; I looked at your blog and it's a good one. Hope to see you in comments here regularly.
Posted by: Seafarious   2004-11-08 10:26:05 PM  

#9  Nice site, Bill. Take some time and browse Fred's archives -- I think you'll discover you've found another home. I'm looking forward to reading more of your comments here in the future.
Posted by: trailing wife   2004-11-08 10:16:38 PM  

#8  "What's that big hole in the ground?"
"Oh, that used to be the Association of Muslim Scholars headquarters."
Posted by: tu3031   2004-11-08 10:10:29 PM  

#7  welcome Bill
Posted by: Frank G   2004-11-08 8:30:14 PM  

#6  Hi just found this site and thought I'd stick my nose in. :) I don't think these idiots have a lot of sway in Iraq except among the Saddam loyalists. I do think they may have more sway as a propaganda tool outside of the country. In particular the way that the press keeps portraying them as an influential group.
Posted by: BillH   2004-11-08 8:25:03 PM  

#5  I notice that they consistantly refer to these eaters of pork as "An influential Iraqi Muslim group..." I bet their influence is limited to getting their fatwas published in other countries' news services.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2004-11-08 5:33:09 PM  

#4  Or else the Arab street will make a loud noise against you ...
Posted by: Wheck Whemp6112   2004-11-08 5:13:30 PM  

#3  These asswipes should have been on the target list long ago. Their religous authority is highly suspect. They were basically Saddam's rent-a-clerics who would issue fatwas for money. I wonder how much respect they have in Iraq amongst the Sunni population.
Posted by: remote man   2004-11-08 5:02:16 PM  

#2  Another bunch of fools to add to the target list.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2004-11-08 4:12:46 PM  

#1  Attention AMS: Don't you make me curse your mustaches, too!
Posted by: eLarson   2004-11-08 3:55:50 PM  

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