Powell calls for Iraqis to kill terrorists

Washington Times ^ | June 14, 2004 | Guy Taylor

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said yesterday that Iraqis must be willing to kill their own insurgents for order to be restored in the post-Saddam era.

Mr. Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice warned of further attacks on Iraqi government officials in appearances on the Sunday talk shows, on the same day that 12 Iraqis were killed when a car bomb exploded in Baghdad. More than a dozen were injured.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Related:

8 Powell Speaks on Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia ~ DoD-AFPS | 6/13/04 | Jim Garamone

[ClearCase_guy]

Asked whether Iraqis will be willing to kill fellow countrymen to stabilize the situation, he responded: "Definitely."

Isn't this an incredibly stupid question? It's in the headline, and its repeated several times in the article -- as if it was a momentous and gut-wrenching decision.

The Iraqi government is new. It is not yet fully established. It is under attack. And the question is -- will the government fight back against the terrorists who want to bring it down? That's a tough one, let me think ...

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

"I think they understand that perfectly," Mr. Powell said. "They know that they are being challenged. They don't want to go back to the past." 

Conde Rice, on the killing of Iraqi officials: "These are very sad events when Iraqi patriots are gunned down by these traitors and by these terrorists -- there will likely be more violence, not less" (as June 30 approaches - by) "people who have no future in a free Iraq." 

President Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer:  "It's going to be terrible for a while," he said, adding that respite could be found by looking at the whole of the Iraqi people, who "whether public or other political parties, are rallying behind this government." "This is a sign of strength." 

 

Asked whether Iraqis will be willing to kill fellow countrymen to stabilize the situation, he responded: "Definitely."

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[mvpel]

What was it again that was considered to be necessary to the security of a Free State?

Hm, can't find it anywhere in the new Iraqi Constitution.

[plain talk]

Isn't this an incredibly stupid question?

You read my mind. These people have no problem with killing. That's all they know. The hard question is whether the new government has the courage to fight the terrorists vs appeasing them like the Saudi's do.

[treeclimber]

You're damn right they should hunt them down. It would be refreshing to see one of those cowards with an rpg on his shoulder and a towel wrapped around his face get jumped, beaten and hauled off to Abu Graib by an Iraqi. Its their country! One day soon, they will need to stand up on their own two feet.

[edweena]

Actually I think it was a necessary question, and the answer was intended to reassure Americans that the Iraqis are willing to kill their own countrymen to defend democracy. There were the cases in Fallujah and Najaf where the Iraqi police have deserted when ordered to fight al-Sadr's militia.

U.S. General: Iraq Police Training a Flop

It was wise of al-Yawer to state explicitly that the Iraqi government is committed to doing whatever it takes.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[tiamat]

What makes me truly angry is that they are apparently all armed to the teeth, and yet they never tried for Saddam, or Saddam's guys, and they continue to let the slaughter happen after Saddam.

they expect Us to clean out the nest they have made!

[TiaS]

Yea, and after we democratize them, tell them to kill each other, then we can teach them the Ten Commandments. Right?

[windchime]

Bump!

[Coop]

The Iraqi government is new. It is not yet fully established. It is under attack. And the question is -- will the government fight back against the terrorists who want to bring it down? That's a tough one, let me think ...

Guess it really depends on how many liberal Democrats are in the government...