Posted on 05/17/2004 11:21:37 AM PDT by eakole
FALLUJAH, Iraq - A former Saddam Hussein era general appointed by the Americans to lead an Iraqi security force in the rebellious Sunni stronghold of Fallujah urged tribal elders and sheiks Sunday to support U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq.
“Retired Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abdul-Latif rose to prominence after nearly month long battles last month between the Marines month long battles in April between the Marines and insurgents hunkered down in Fallujah's neighborhoods.
"We can make them (Americans) use their rifles against us or we can make them build our country, it's your choice," Latif told a gathering of more than 40 sheiks, city council members and imams in an eastern Fallujah suburb. “ …
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
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To put their treasonous behavior in the proper context, I offer this quotation attributed to Ulysses Simpson Grant (April 27, 1822–July 23, 1885), 18th President of the United States of America (1869-1877); in Personal Memoirs, 1885–86.
"Experience proves that the man who obstructs a war in which his nation is engaged, no matter whether right or wrong, occupies no enviable place in life or history. Better for him, individually, to advocate ''war, pestilence, and famine,'' than to act as obstructionist to a war already begun. ... The most favorable posthumous history the stay-at-home traitor can hope for is—oblivion."—
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However, one voice in the print media [Associated Press] is different. KATARINA KRATOVAC, an Associated Press Writer, is one exception.
Below are excerpts from her recent news item entitled "Iraqi General Urges Support of U.S. Troops" The entire article can be read at:
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http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=535&u=/ap/20040516/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_fallujah&printer=1
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Iraqi General Urges Support of U.S. Troops
Sun May 16, 2:54 PM ET By KATARINA KRATOVAC, Associated Press Writer
FALLUJAH, Iraq - A former Saddam Hussein era general appointed by the Americans to lead an Iraqi security force in the rebellious Sunni stronghold of Fallujah urged tribal elders and sheiks Sunday to support U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq.
“Retired Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abdul-Latif rose to prominence after nearly month long battles last month between the Marines month long battles in April between the Marines and insurgents hunkered down in Fallujah's neighborhoods.
"We can make them (Americans) use their rifles against us or we can make them build our country, it's your choice," Latif told a gathering of more than 40 sheiks, city council members and imams in an eastern Fallujah suburb. “ …
… “Latif, 66, a native of Baghdad, urged the elders to talk freely, citing the Muslim holy book, the Quran.
"The Quran says we should sit together, discuss and make a decision, but let it be the right decision, …"
The venue offered a rare insight into Latif's interactions and influence over Fallujah elders. As he spoke, many sheiks nodded in approval and listened with reverence to his words. Later, they clasped his hands and patted Latif on the back.
Latif, speaking in Arabic to the sheiks, defended the Marines and the U.S. occupation of Iraq. "They were brought here by the acts of one coward who was hunted out of a rathole — Saddam — who disgraced us all," Latif said. "Let us tell our children that these men (U.S. troops) came here to protect us.
"As President Bush said, they did not come here to occupy our land but to get rid of Saddam. We can help them leave by helping them do their job, or we can make them stay ten years and more by keeping fighting."
"Those bullets that are fired will not get the Americans out, let them finish their job here so that they can return to their country," Latif said.
"Our country is precious, stop allowing the bad guys to come from outside Iraq to destroy our country."
"Let us speak about peace," Latif said in English. "Fallujah was an open wound, now it's healing."
Ed
Quote of the year nominee. Wonder why we haven't heard it on the MSM? < /Naïve>
I assume, from your coments, that the "headline" is yours. I understand your sentiments, and agree with them, but it puts the article out of context to an extent..
General Latif is the real deal. Just the fact that such men still exists in Irag gives me hope. He was, and is, a a true military man. That means he has a sense of honor and decency, even if he may not like the fact that we are currently occupying his country. I like this guy.
A wise man. Help us root out the terrorists and we will be happy to go home.
Please include original titles.
Thanks.
His middle name was, "Simpson?"
bttt
Speaking of true soldiers, I heard a story that Powell tells of a Russian general he spoke with when Powell was still a general, too. They were discussing a Russian pullout of some base in a sensitive area when the Russian general agreed but also said that it would not begin until June of that year. When asked why, the Russian general said simply, "Because the children are still in school until then."
Powell knew then he was dealing with a real general and not a political hack.
Well I think looking at the recent Boston Globe scandal the Left and media, but I repeat myself, have shown that printing lies that can be called nothing but treason are no problem for them if they believe it will help with their anti-Bush jihad.
Tokyo Rose = Boston Globe.
Our media is in factually encouraging Iraqui's to sabotage US efforts to stabilize this country.
CNN's old agreement of allowing Saddam to control their news releases as the price to be paid to report from Saddam's Iraq is ongoing and continuing.
CNN figures to hold another "trustworthy" position as soon as US troops leave and the UN together with the French, Russians, Germans form a committee to re-build Iraq.
CNN then will have won, and gains a desperate need to up on Fox.
"General Latif is the real deal."
I like this guy too. He stands up mighty tall in a world that will kill him the second he turns his back. Perhaps, when his work is done, he might come here and do some night classes for the libs. When this is all settled, where the hell are they gonna go to find that backbone they've been missing? Oh yeah, I forgot. I really couldn't care less.
Wow, this guy makes more sense - and gives us more credit - than anyone I've heard yet from the Iraqi side.
He is going to get himself killed.
CLONE LATIF
40 sheiks? We knew these people were coming to this meeting! Why didn't we put some bombs on the road and blow them up while they were on their way to the meeting? Or, better yet, once the meeting had started why didn't an American soldier have a bomb vest on and blow himself up? Maybe we should have grabbed all 40 of these guys then sawed their heads off with some long knives. Oh, we don't do things like that? We are civilized? OK. I forgot. Besides, we don't have anything cool to say if we did. Not that "Allah Akbar" is very cool. It's used too much, it's old and a big fat lie anyway. I wonder how you say "the moon god is great" in Arabic. That's a bit catchier.
These best we could do would have been to shove some ladies underwear over the sheiks heads and yell something like "Brittney Spears Boobs!" What? We can't even do that now either? Darn! How about a womans thong? Something like this would work for me. No? Can't do that either? Ted Kennedy said so. Doubl-darn! Oh, well. Nevermind!
ROFL!
I've longed for news like this. I'll wait to see if the words become deeds.
Until now, all news coming out of Iraq took two forms. One reported the shortcomings of our military. The other reported the good works of our troops in rebuilding Iraq. None reported a cooperative spirit of the Iraqi people. This is the first indication of willingness on the part of some Iraqis to assist our effort without the inducement of money.
We can always go back to fighting after the Americans leave - there's no doubt in my mind that, that's exactly what his listeners inferred.
Upside is that GWB may have learned something about the ME mindset that will help us handle post war Syria.
I don't know about that.
I read it as trying to undercut the argument that they are fighting against some horrible occupation.
Basically, work with the Americans and they will be gone shortly - leaving Iraq to the Iraqis. Or, you can fight them, take horrible losses, and make sure the occupation continues.
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