U.S. Authorities Release Prominent Cleric ("Thanks be to god for the victory in Fallujah")

AP ^ | Thu, Apr 29, 2004 | AP

[Eurotwit]

FALLUJAH, Iraq, - U.S. authorities on Thursday released a prominent Sunni Muslim cleric arrested last year in the tense city of Fallujah.

Sheik Jamal Shaker Nazzal, the imam of Fallujah's Grand Mosque, said his release was part of a deal between the city's residents and U.S. occupation authorities seeking to defuse the ongoing crisis around the besieged city.

"We suffered a lot in prison but with God's help and that of the people of Fallujah I gained my freedom," he said. "Thanks be to God for the victory of Fallujah."

There was no comment from U.S. authorities on the release.

Nazzal, an outspoken opponent of the U.S. occupation, was taken into custody in October. Soon after his arrest, a previously unknown group called the "Hamza Platoon" threatened to attack U.S. troops unless the cleric was freed.

[Eurotwit]

"We suffered a lot in prison but with God's help and that of the people of Fallujah I gained my freedom," he said. "Thanks be to God for the victory of Fallujah." ------------------------------

TexKat posted this on another thread. To me this is bad news, but I thought it warranted its own thread.

[colorado tanker]

"Thanks be to God for the victory of Fallujah."

I have a feeling the US is going to be very, very sorry we backed down in Fallujah. You don't show weakness to these people.

[doodad]

And what did we gain out of the deal? Their hearts and minds? GAG.

[Eurotwit]

I suggest withholding judgement, and trust the people in charge.

Even though it pained me to read this story.

[Argus]

I've given up trying to figure out what's going on over there. And I'm retiring my tagline.

[reagan_fanatic]

I hope they implanted a time-lapse cyanide capsule in the S.O.B. before they let him go.

[Dog]

Euro....I got a very bad feeling about what is taking place in Fallujah.

[ambrose]

don't assume we aren't capable of pulling a "Manchurian Candidate" on one of these crazy Islamic clerics...

[mlbford2]

Bush and Co. are quickly losing my respect (not my vote). Between illegals and this whole BS 'let's get in our underwear and hug' way of handling these jackasses in Fallujah and Najaf', I'm near the end of my rope. I am very disappointed in Bush and et al. The only reason I will get off of my couch and vote in Nov is because Kerry is a total nightmare. I hope I am completely and utterly wrong about everything. We'll see.

[Dog]

Add this mistake to the long lists of mistakes that have been made in Iraq.

[johnb838]

la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-!!!!!

[mrsmith]

Good.

Another member of the US- Iraqi intelligence agency reports for duty.

[swarthyguy]

And no hostages of our own released. I hope there's more to this story.

[swarthyguy]

>>trust the people in charge.

Et tu, Euro? But you have a point, now that the Baathis are coming back, and a Baathi general is supervising the offensive in Falluja. Modern secularists with no time for religious fanatics.

[chilepepper]

Anyone who assumes they have an inkling of the truth and what is really going on after reading a news release from AP (or UP,Reuters,AFP,CNN,etc for that matter), has succumbed to terminal twit-ness...

[don'tbedenied]

Hang in there. Why in the world buy into the AP spin on this? Every night I read another AP/Reuters/AFP article about the Marines leaving Fallujah, with an implication it's a big victory for the terrorists. Every morning I then read about C-130 gunships, snipers and JDAM's beating the holy hell out of Falljah. THERE ARE ONLY TWO STORY LINES, one is US defeat/disaster the other is American war crimes. Wait to see what really happens before you judge.

[mikegi]

Sheik Jamal Shaker Nazzal, the imam of Fallujah's Grand Mosque, said his release was part of a deal between the city's residents and U.S. occupation authorities seeking to defuse the ongoing crisis around the besieged city.

I wonder if any of our hostages will now be released.

Iraq will start to unravel quickly now that we have been defeated in Fallujah. I'm sure some (all?) here will jump on that statement with the usual "strategery" and "misunderestimated" stuff, but that is the fact.

[colorado tanker]

When the liberals began their silly comparisons of Iraq to Vietnam, I thought, no, the only way Iraq could become like Vietnam is if Bush and Rumsfeld begin playing the game the way Johnson and McNamara did. I don't like what I see in Fallujah.

[Eurotwit]

I just don't know. There is a political track for the entire country with June 30th fast approaching. This track obviously runs parallel with the situation in Fallujah.

Without having all the information that the people in charge do have access to, it is really impossible to make a valid judgement.

I choose to trust the people in charge. Might it be a mistake? Sure. Could a devastating assault have been a mistake? You bet. Could a devastating assault still take place? I guess that is a possibility.

Sometimes there is no ONE ideal solution, and we still don't know exactly how any of this is really going to pan out.

[Always Right]

Iraq will start to unravel quickly now that we have been defeated in Fallujah.

Who says we are defeated? Bagdad Bob was declaring victory in Bagdad as US tanks rolled in behind him.