Posted on 04/23/2005 3:55:45 PM PDT by naturalman1975
A MILITANT sheik has threatened to slaughter Australia's troop contingent in southwest Iraq.
Speaking days before today's scheduled arrival of new Australian troops in Iraq, Sheik Muhnad Al Garayi said Australian troops, such as the Americans and the British, were not welcome.
"We are a peaceful people, but if someone touches us, we will strike back," he said. "We will kill them if we have to."
Sheik Muhnad -- the most powerful man in Iraq's southwest -- said, were it not for the occupation, our soldiers would be welcome in Al Muthanna to help the area recover from the abuse Saddam Hussein heaped upon it.
The former Iraqi dictator had brutally oppressed the Shiah -- especially in their southern stronghold -- and Sheik Muhnad was pleased when the regime fell two years ago.
But despite the ongoing threat posed by insurgents linked to Islamic terror groups and Sunni extremists, he said foreign troops had outstayed their welcome.
"We want all the forces to get out of Iraq, not new forces to come in," he said.
"Our message to all of the occupation forces is to leave Iraq as soon as possible.
"But now they are sending Australians here.
"It is incomprehensible to us. I would like to ask the Australian people 'what is the reason for your troops to come over here?' We have our own police, our militia."
Sheik Muhnad has direct responsibility for Samawah within the Al Shaheed al-Sadr organisation and said he had been asked by his immediate superior, Sheik Gazi Al Zirjani, to address all "political matters" concerning the Australian deployment.
"We are from this moment looking at the Australians as occupying troops and the Australian people . . . as a victim of the American and British strategy," he said.
"What is the difference between an American pulling the trigger to shoot someone and an Australian holding the body while the murder is done?
"It is all part of the same crime. To help the invader kill people in their own homes, in their own country, is criminal."
It is estimated that the sheik could call on up to 500 armed militia around Samawah, the province's main population centre.
At Friday prayers in the city, more than 300 al-Sadr supporters chanted anti-US slogans and prayed with Sheik Muhnad as he renewed his call for foreign forces to quit Iraq.
al-Sadr is a front-man for the Iranians, and wants the Americans out so the Iranians can plunge Iraq into civil war and have an excuse to come in and "save" their Shiite brethren
Simple answer...kill the Sheik.
Maybe they should sent the Australians somewhere else if this guy thinks they can take care of themselves....
Looks like the Shiek is asking for an ass whipping. The Aussies need to get tough right from the get go. If they go in there likle wimps these ass holes will be all over em.
The first thing the new Australian troops should do is kill this sheik scumbag.
There's not much they do comprehend it seems. Basically they're ignorant savages.
Anyway the Aussies will kick their ass if need be.
Kill this dumb POS.
"Sheik Muhnad -- the most powerful man in Iraq's southwest -- said, were it not for the occupation, our soldiers would be welcome in Al Muthanna to help the area recover from the abuse Saddam Hussein heaped upon it."
What an asshole, pardon my English. What the hell does this dope think the occupation is all about? Answer: Helping all of Iraq recover from the abuse Saddam Hussein heaped upon it.
Besides, doesn't the most gracious Sheik realize the moment we leave to early, the Saddamist are going to comee down to southern Iraq and take revenge on his Shiite population.
And for anyone that follows OIF II, they understand that the southern routes are in constant use to smuggle assholes from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia into Iraq. We cannot just ignore those roadways going up into the triangle of death area etc., that are used by the insurgents.
"Sheik Muhnad -- the most powerful man in Iraq's southwest
It is estimated that the sheik could call on up to 500 armed militia around Samawah,
Whoa, now I'm skeered.
Try some of the pork sheik, it's hot off the barbi!
And hey, don't hog the Fosters.
Can't imagine the Aussies going in like wimps.
I hope your right, I remember the brits went in softer than we did and even rubbed our faces in it a few times.
Sort of stupid threatening people who when attacked by a shark, club it with a surfboard and then go back in to get some gnarly tube.
yea right, Ahab. Screw with the Aussies and find out what happens.
What exactly is he objecting to? If the soldiers are welcome in an area, then there is no problem with their being there, or "occupying" the area. If he has some specific complaint about the troops' actions (roadblocks, perhaps, or being quick to the trigger, or, I don't know, offending him by carrying guns and wearing uniforms, or by not being Muslim), then perhaps he should make that clear, so that we can all have a meaningful, respectful dialogue before we decide whether to deal with him or kill him.
I suspect that the Australian policy is to ignore such a person unless and until he actually uses military force. And I can't blame them for that policy any more than I would blame them for a more aggressive policy, since I'm not the guy there having to make the decisions. (Note also that the U.S. has basically stopped fighting Sadr since killing enough of his gunmen that he gave up on the fight.)
As the current occupiers of Iraq, we need to take immediate action when someone threatens us or our allies.
I suggest an old Roman tactic - cruxification.
Some folks are too dumb to help.
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