Iraqi exiles in Jordan flock to join uprising

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE ^ | April 10, 2004 | Hannah Allam

[Jagdgewehr]

AMMAN, Jordan – A long row of battered taxicabs lined a street yesterday in downtown Amman, waiting to carry eager young Iraqi exiles home to battle.

Emboldened by news accounts of Islamic militiamen fighting U.S.-led forces, many Iraqis said they were keen to replenish the uprising that has left hundreds of their countrymen and at least 47 coalition troops dead this week.

Shiite and Sunni Muslims, age-old rivals, taunted one another about which sect was punishing the Americans more.

"You always boast about what's happening in Fallujah," a young Shiite man shouted to a Sunni. "But look what we're doing in Karbala and Najaf."

Mostly Sunni Fallujah has been a hotbed of resistance to the occupation. Najaf, a Shiite holy city in southern Iraq, is where radical young cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is believed holed up against coalition forces. His Mahdi army militia has captured parts of or entire southern cities, including the holy city of Karbala, and continues to fight U.S. forces street by street in several areas.

New recruits in Amman crammed food and clothing into orange-and-white Iraqi taxis yesterday in a quarter of the Jordanian capital known as "Iraqi Row." Hundreds more Iraqi men gathered after prayers to trade news about the bloodshed and say goodbye to friends who had pooled their money for a $300 ride to the battle. About a dozen cabs loaded up in the course of an hour, each with three or four recruits.

"I want to fight," said Mohsin al Maamuri, 31, who was packing supplies into a car bound for the southern Iraqi city of Hilla. "I've spent two years in Amman, and I planned to stay longer. I even bought furniture. But when I saw the pictures on TV this week, I had no choice. I have to go join the Mahdi army."

Other exiles were unsure whether the time was right. Some pointed out that the militias were losing ground and that joining the cause meant certain death. Others were proud of the essentially occupation-free zones the guerrillas had established, especially around Shiite shrines.

More than 460 Iraqis have been killed in this week's fighting, most during clashes in Fallujah, west of Baghdad. Death tolls are uncertain in the south.

Each Friday, drivers arrive at the Iraqi quarter with bags full of letters from home. Lucky recipients rip open envelopes to get dispatches from loved ones whose phones don't work.

Mohammad Khazal, 30, a college student, waited in vain yesterday for a letter from his parents in Nasiriyah, where al-Sadr's troops overwhelmed Italian forces and won control of most public buildings this week.

Several of Khazal's Iraqi classmates left Amman to join the Mahdi army, but he refused to go. He disparaged al-Sadr's supporters as thuggish militants.

"My friends feel they have to join the resistance, that this is the time," Khazal said. "But it's not the suitable time and this is not the suitable way. I was shocked such a small group can overtake whole cities. Where were the police? Where were the Americans?"

[PattonReincarnated]

Just let them cross the border from Jordan into Iraq; a new highway of death with pictures shown in a Presidential address. Bush would simply and calmly state: "This is what happens to people that want to fight against us."

Yes, I'm only dreaming. Unfortunately.

[RightWhale]

Where were the police? Where were the Americans?"

The Americans are working toward getting the country back on its feet for the first time since the sack of Baghdad by the Mongols. Then they will go home. The police are not intended to fight armed mobs.

[taxcontrol]

A whole lot of blood needs to be let in Iraq before the situation will improve. Let's just be in the position that the VAST majority of that blood is the bad guys.

[X-FID]

Just let them cross the border from Jordan into Iraq; a new highway of death with pictures shown in a Presidential address.

If they're anything like the cabbies over here, they'll never make it on time, they'll take the longest route possible, and the Marines will kill them as they argue about the fare.

[snooker]

Do I detect that these broken down old cars will have a terminal breakdown in the Iraqi desert? Just a thought.

[Skywalk]

You know, I'm starting to believe that, at their core, these Muslims just like violence. I mean, it doesn't matter how evil al-Sadr is, or how f-ed up the Ba'athis and Wahabbi thugs of Fallujah are, they just want to kill people.

Bigoted and murderous seem to be the core principles of, at least the Arab world.

[geedee]

Iraqi exiles in Jordan flock to join uprising . . . About a dozen cabs loaded up in the course of an hour, each with three or four recruits.

Perhaps something is lost in the translation. Forty-eight morons don't make a FLOCK in Texas.

[Yardstick]

And as easily lied-to and demagogued as children! Oh how they get their hopes up. These guys are brimming with bravado today, but soon they'll be sitting in cafes and barber shops cussing at the TV and wondering why the infidels always whip them in the end. It's just a matter of time. They're up, they're down...sometimes I think they're just into the emotional roller coaster of it all.

[Orlando]

They're coming in from all direction (Syria,Iran,Jordan,etc..)

We need More troops, and destroy them and there UN-holy
places. I can-not believe that a $25-50 million $$$ reward had not been set for Radical Muqtada al-Sadr head.

Remember 911, they attacked us.

[dasboot]

Iraqi exiles in Jordan flock to join uprising

All according to plan.

[tessalu]

USA is going to learn to stay out of a war if they are not going to use overwhelming force. This is what I see here, the lack of will to use enough force to win a war, and one would think that only a fool would try that. We do need more troops, but please do not send one more soldier if American leaders are not going to do all it takes to win this war. There simply has to be enough force to overcome the enemy, this just has to be.

Do not send our troops to Iraq just to be slaughted by the Islamic terrorists, because we are not willing to strike beneath the belt. The terrorists know what it takes to win and they have no bounds, so at this point, the terrorists chances of winning are better, because our commanders are just "educated fools" hoping to fight a "sanitized" war.

[harpu]

"Iraqi exiles in Jordan flock to join uprising"

Good....welcome to the killing fields, morons!

[Delta 21]

I think you are finally coming around!

[AmericaUnited]

Iraqi exiles in Jordan flock to join uprising, like a bunch of pigeons into a B52 engine...

[river rat]

Don't you just love it when a plan seems to come together?
This will save a lot of shoe leather and mileage on our vehicles...

The dumbasses are going to Iraq to commit suicide by Marine..

Semper Fi

[jpsb]

Propaganda, is my take on this article. But if true I wager the closer they get to the front the less inclined to fight they'll become.

[A CA Guy]

Why isn'r Jordan restraining these people. Maybe they want next.

[Sacajaweau]

I think it IS a mindset. The Madrass (sp) teaches them that if you aren't a Muslim, you belong DEAD. Join or die. It fills their ranks and their murderous hearts AND IT'S ALWAYS IN THE NAME OF ALLAH!!!! VIA MOHAMMED THE PROPHET...the murdering Muslim who killed mercilessly.

[Broadside Joe]

"New recruits in Amman crammed food and clothing into orange-and-white Iraqi taxis yesterday in a quarter of the Jordanian capital known as "Iraqi Row." Hundreds more Iraqi men gathered after prayers to trade news about the bloodshed and say goodbye to friends who had pooled their money for a $300 ride to the battle. About a dozen cabs loaded up in the course of an hour, each with three or four recruits."

Hey Spectre hey Spooky II here come a couple hot ones. Happy hunting.


Oh and a question for these 'Iraqis'. If you are so brave what are you doing in exile? Did you run away from Uncle Saddam?