Sunni leader warns of nationwide uprising if Fallujah is hit

AFP ^ | Fri, Apr 23, 2004 | AFP

[Eurotwit]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - A Sunni Muslim leader warned that the US-led coalition would face an uprising throughout Iraq (news - web sites) if its forces attack the flashpoint city of Fallujah, which has been besieged by US marines since April 5.

"I have an urgent message for US forces. You have overstepped the red line. Make sure you do not strike Fallujah again," Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Ghafur Samarrai said during Friday prayers at a Baghdad mosque.

"We will not allow the shedding of Iraqi blood. If you strike again, the whole of Iraq, from north to south, from east to west, will become Fallujah," the Sunni cleric said.

Located 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of Baghdad, the Sunni city has been the scene of fierce fighting between coalition troops and insurgents in recent days.

Official figures show that a total of 271 Iraqis and dozens of US marines have been killed in Fallujah since the troops lay siege to the city on April 5 following the slaying of four American contractors.

An uneasy ceasefire is in effect, but US forces indicated they may take military action in the flashpoint city if insurgents do not hand over their heavy weapons within days.

"Occupation forces claim that negotiations have reached an impasse. This means that they are preparing a new offensive on Fallujah," Sheikh Samarrai said during his sermon.

"I warn you against a new massacre of the population in Fallujah or against any other Iraqi city," he added, noting that Iraqis "can no longer tolerate more bloodshed."

"Iraqi Muslims, Sunnis or Shiites, will not remain passive and silent in the face of a new massacre. Sunnis and Shiites are united in Fallujah and in Najaf," he added.

He blamed the occupation forces for seeking an escalation.

During the sermon, several people from Fallujah began shouting: "We want acts not words."

Thursday a Marines general warned that the Fallujah insurgents had only days to turn in their heavy weapons under the terms of the ceasefire deal, complaining that what was handed over so far was a load of "junk".

"We were not pleased at all with the turning-in that we saw yesterday, the volume that probably amounted to a pickup-truckful," said Lieutenant-General James Conway, commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Corps.

He said he believed there were at least 200 foreign fighters inside Fallujah. "We think they are the hard core and have been the catalyst for the vast majority of the troubles in Al-Anbar province."

[ping jockey]

It will be the sad same song. We have the technology to destroy them but not the will to use it. As a result our good men die in house to house fighting that could darn near be overcome wiht the push of a button. Come on George push the darned button . Pull the trigger on these sheetheads and get it over with. We want warthogs,ac 130's, blu 82's and moabs. Not reports of fire fights with marine infantry. Kill this scum by the thousands and show the others thier fate should they decide not to work and play well with others. What does it take 100 1200 . Just get it done and get reelected.Fail and we have something I fear the most. A possible campaign issue. Just do it. Say a prayer, and unload on this city. give women and children 24 hrs to leave and raze this city to the ground. You want terror, well here it freaking comes. Come on warm the hearts of your supporters and whack this town.

[A CA Guy]

I think the military is tired of hearing people tell them what they CAN NOT DO after they have held up their end of the bargain and the other side DOES NOT.

[Paulie]

There are days when I REALLY wish I was the Commander-in-Chief. Where I come from, when someone calls you to the mat...

[537cant be wrong]

that depends on what the definition of normal is.

actually probably not, thank the lord.
but i sure am passionate (my wife says obssesive)
about all my beliefs.
my wife has worked in psychiatry for 34 years, i think
she married me as a test case and has failed misserably.

[frgoff]

On the contrary. It will be the proud mark of our superior morality. We have the ability to kill them all, but sacrifice our own to spare the innocent (and, yes, there are innocent Iraqis).

Everyone talks so brave on this board about how you'd stand up and fight blah, blah blah.

How brave would you be when you get a note with a picture of your daughter that says: She is lovely. It would be tragic were she to die because you helped the Americans.

[Billthedrill]

"Nationwide?" I don't think so. Nationwide the Iraqis were predominantly Shi'ite victims of Sunnis with guns who were working for Saddam, just like this guy, and nationwide they'd like nothing better than to see this guy and his followers get the stuffing kicked out of them. Which is about to happen. This "Iraq in flames" stuff is just more trash-talk, on the order of "roasting their stomachs in Hell."

[ZULU]

Lets pray Bush gets the message, pulls out all the stops, spares us the lives of our service people, and uses our massive technological advantage to eradicate this recalcitrant city with the least loss of Americans lives.

I DON'T believe it will hurt him at the polls. And I DON'T believe it will hurt us over there, especially if we demonstrate a readiness to repeat the lesson for those who weren't paying enough attention this time around.

In WW2 we blew up churches and cathedrals that housed NAZI troops. Mosques are no more sancrosanct than churches when these villains employ them as pill boxes, sniper towers, armouries and rallying points.

I had thought we learned our lesson in Viet Nam - there's only one way to fight a war - to win it! And the only way to win it is to destroy your enemy as soon as and wherever you find him.

God Bless George Patton!!

[hosepipe]

Obviously Saddam murdered all the decent folks in Iraq already. The only ones left are the left overs. All positioning for power over the oil wealth. A smart general like MacArthur would see that and setup a way for them to murder their way to the top of the pile. Thereby solving any terrorist problems. Whats in it for Iraqis to snuff out Iraqis. Make it profitable for them. Problem solved.

HOW ?... Don't setup a military but setup a cadre of country hunters would be one way. Then. "Its just business", could be the national motto. And terrorists would be afraid to go anywhere near Iraq. And Iraqis would more afraid of each other more than any American Military unit because planning on attacking american military would make you "a commodity" not a terrorist. All paid for, of course, by Iraqi Oil Money not American funds. The only way for access to that money would be successful hunts and info from those hunts. Capitalism always works best. Iraqis would tripping all over themselves for that money. The only questions would be How Much? for this or that. The price on Pathological Mullahs could be like winning the Iraqi lottery. Iraqis would be baiting foerign terrorists to COME HELP US.. Captureing a whole group could be big money. Capitalizing on anarchy the way american democrats and some republicans do in this country.

[ping jockey]

If you took off your mink covered blinders long enough to read the whole post you would see that I was advocationg the destruction of Fallujah,(Dresden style) not nuclear war. This city is the source of most of the B.S.our guys are putting up with in this area. So for the reading impaired let me repeat; GIVE THE WOMEN AND CLILDREN 24 HOURS TO LEAVE AND THEN RAZE THE DUMP TO THE GROUND.GOT IT!!
Also ,as to you question of my personal committment to my country and the principles of courage , bravery and service all I can tell you is not to get between me and my freedom. This is exactly what the Islamokazis are attempting . To bad so many can think clearly enough to figure it out. Do not let yourself get bogged down by how you are percieved by the Islamic world. The majority hate us anyway so wtf.

[Just Lori]

"I have an urgent message for US forces. You have overstepped the red line. Make sure you do not strike Fallujah again," Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Ghafur Samarrai said during Friday prayers at a Baghdad mosque.



Ruh roh! We crossed the "red line". Hey Rev? You aint seen nothin' yet! We still have the white line and the blue line to cross, and we promise to dot our "i's" along the way.

[Just Lori]

During the sermon, several people from Fallujah began shouting: "We want acts not words."

Well, you'll just have to wait! We're busy re-loading!

[Yehuda]

PS - You are wrong on Andalusia/Spain. Bin Laden mentioned Andalusia over a year ago, and the Spanish police have recently announced that the Madrid bombings were planned BEFORE Spain ever sent troops to Iraq.

You Euros have long ignored what your enemies have PUBLISHED way too often.

Koran
Communist Manifesto
Mein Kampf
Koran again...

[RightWhale]

Sounds like the showdown is getting close.

[Yehuda]

Sorry - shouldn't have cross threaded posts without references:

In the thread Andalusia, aka the Nation Formerly Known as Spain ^

Posted by KirkBloke to mrustow
On News/Activism ^ 03/25/2004 1:51:09 AM EST #5 of 5 ^
This so-called clear-eyed view that al-Qaeda attacked Spain to revenge 1492 and reconquer the country is the most ridiculous balloney I have ever heard.

Your post above is what I was referring to when I wrote:

"You are wrong on Andalusia/Spain. Bin Laden mentioned Andalusia over a year ago, and the Spanish police have recently announced that the Madrid bombings were planned BEFORE Spain ever sent troops to Iraq.

You Euros have long ignored what your enemies have PUBLISHED way too often.

Koran
Communist Manifesto
Mein Kampf
Koran again..."

Dag....

[Prince Charles]

"I have an urgent message for US forces. You have overstepped the red line. Make sure you do not strike Fallujah again," Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Ghafur Samarrai said during Friday prayers at a Baghdad mosque.

"Religion of peace" bump.

[antaresequity]

Episode 3 of the Bahgdad Bob Chronicles:

If you strike again, the whole of Iraq, from north to south, from east to west, will become Fallujah," the Sunni cleric said.

Next the good Mulah will proclaim mass suicide of United States Marines "at the city gates"

MESSAGE TO MULAH: TURN IN YOUR WEAPONS OR DIE