ANTI-IRAQI FORCES ATTACK 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION FROM MOSQUE

CENTCOM ^ | September 22, 2004

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

	NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

September 22, 2004
Release Number: 04-09-72

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


ANTI-IRAQI FORCES ATTACK 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION FROM MOSQUE

TIKRIT, Iraq— A 1st Infantry Division patrol was attacked Sept. 22 by anti-Iraqi forces with small arms fire and mortar fire from a mosque in Samarra at approximately 5 p.m. The Soldiers did not return fire.

The patrol had been attacked earlier by AIF in another location of the city and returned fire. The AIF relocated to a nearby building and continued attacking the patrol. Attack helicopters supporting the patrol fired hellfire missiles into the building.

The patrol continued and was subsequently attacked by AIF with small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. The Soldiers returned fire with small arms fire and a TOW missile. Anti-Iraqi Forces again attacked the patrol and attack aviation dropped a GBU-12 bomb on the building. As the patrol continued they were engaged by AIF from the mosque.

There were no injuries to the Soldiers or damage to equipment.

[chainsaw]

It way past time to take off the kid gloves. If the terrorist are using a mosque to shield them from return fire, We had better rethink and level the place. I mean anything taller that a 2 foot wall should be reduced to dust.

[LachlanMinnesota]

When my do bites my hand, I do not wait to slap him on the nose, or it will not have the same effect. If I wait to take him out of his cage, discuss the effect of invading his space, and then swat him. I smack him as an immediate reaction to his biting. This guarantees the need for only one spanking! I think warning the terrorists is really unnecessary at this time. Swat those dogs fast and hard.

[Rome2000]

Oh it will end, but not until they take about a half million of us first.

But it will end.

[PhilDragoo]

I've read the news item above several times.

There was no action taken against the mosque.

[L,TOWM]

Thank you for the new tagline...

[Nepalis]

Again ! Why we don't attack there ? It's war !

[Renatus]

Bomb the mosque. The yanks bombed Monte Cassino in WWII and
there were no Germans there. The yanks just thought there were.

[mark502inf]

For all you guys who want to be 4,000 mile away squad leaders, the story does not tell us why the soldiers did not fire back. If the fire was not effective and the judgment of the leader on the ground was that it was a ploy designed to produce some photogenic damage to a mosque, the leader took the right action. Now I don't know if that is the case and neither does anyone else on this forum. Trust our soldiers on the spot and we'll get some great results.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

There was no action taken against the mosque.

They often won't report on a mission until days, or weeks later.

The international press would do another Abu Gharib on our troops for legitimately, loudly, completely leveling the mosque - a guarantee - attacking our President and America, giving the enemy even more reason to hope, Americans another reason to question a necessary and very complex war - less than 50 days before an election.

This military understands the enemy.

Silence is often the only choice today, imho.

[Mrs Zip]

ping

[PAR35]

Div XO, General Theodore Roosevelt,Jr,

One of the true heros of World War II. He may have single-handedly saved the American landing at Utah Beach on D-Day. Patton called him "the bravest soldier I ever knew".

[PAR35]

letting the world know the mosque is now a target.

I don't believe that recent events support your statement. The US has blown the tops off of several minerets used for spotting or sniping, but I am not familiar with any case where the Americans have targeted a mosque since the end of regular hostilities, even when the mosque has been used as a base or a command center. If you have evidence to the contrary, please correct me.

Have some faith in our military, and not so much in this enemy.

I do not do not doubt the courage or skills of the troops on the ground. I do not have as full a faith in some of the rules of engagement coming out of Washington. They appear to value public relations in the Arab world over American lives.

[Happy2BMe]

Good discussion - thanks all.

While Phil is right, it does not specifically state the mosque was hit as a result of enemy fire coming from it, there is still room to believe that retaliation did not ensue.

If not directly on the mosque, then on the combatants soon thereafter.

Who's got the word on whether or not we can retaliate directly on enemy fire if it is coming from a mosque?

[SJackson]

>>>>While Phil is right, it does not specifically state the mosque was hit as a result of enemy fire coming from it, there is still room to believe that retaliation did not ensue.

>>>>Who's got the word on whether or not we can retaliate directly on enemy fire if it is coming from a mosque?

................

No, it wasn't Phil [Sheridan], it was John, and of course we can retaliate, it's a longstanding American tradition

GENERAL ORDERS No. 7.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Washington, July 10 [?], 1862.

The people of the valley of the Shenandoah and throughout the region of operations of this army living along the lines of railroad and telegraph and along the routes of travel in rear of the United States forces are notified that they will be held responsible for any injury lone to the track, line, or road, or for any attacks upon trains or straggling soldiers by bands of guerrillas in their neighborhood. No privileges and immunities of warfare apply to lawless bands of individuals not forming part of the organized forces of the enemy nor wearing the garb of soldiers, who, seeking and obtaining safety on pretext of being peaceful citizens, steal out in rear of the army, attack and murder straggling soldiers, molest trains of supplies, destroy railroads, telegraph lines, and bridges, and commit outrages disgraceful to civilized people and revolting to humanity. Evil-disposed persons in rear of our armies who do not themselves engage directly in these lawless acts encourage them by refusing to interfere or to give any information by which such acts can be prevented or the perpetrators punished.

Safety of life and property of all persons living in rear of our advancing armies depends upon the maintenance of peace and quiet among themselves and upon the unmolested movements through their midst of all pertaining to the military service. They are to understand distinctly that this security of travel is their only warrant of personal safety.

It is therefore ordered that wherever a railroad, wagon road, or telegraph is injured by parties of guerrillas the citizens living within 5 miles of the spot shall be turned out in mass to repair the damage, and shall, beside, pay to the United States in money or in property, to be levied by military force, the full amount of the pay and subsistence of the whole force necessary to coerce the performance of the work during the time occupied in completing it.

If a soldier or legitimate follower of the army be fired upon from any house the house shall be razed to the ground, and the inhabitants sent prisoners to the headquarters of this army. If such an outrage occur at any place distant from settlements, the people within 5 miles around shall be held accountable and made to pay an indemnity sufficient for the case.

Any persons detected in such outrages, either during the act or at any time afterward, shall be shot, without awaiting civil process. No such acts can influence the result of this war, and they can only lead to heavy afflictions to the population to no purpose.

It is therefore enjoined upon all persons, both for the security of their property and the safety of their own persons, that they act vigorously and cordially together to prevent the perpetration of such outrages.

Whilst it is the wish of the general commanding this army that all peaceably disposed persons who remain at their homes and pursue their accustomed avocations shall be subjected to no improper burden of war, yet their own safety must of necessity depend upon the strict preservation of peace and order among themselves; and they are to understand that nothing will deter him from enforcing promptly and to the full extent every provision of this order.

By command of Major-General Pope:
GEO. D. RUGGLES, Colonel, Assistant Adjutant-General, and Chief-of-Staff.

[PAR35]

While Phil is right, it does not specifically state the mosque was hit as a result of enemy fire coming from it, there is still room to believe that retaliation did not ensue.

It's pretty clear that there was no retaliation for the attack from the mosque: "The Soldiers did not return fire. "

The story was not written in chronological order. In order, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, ending with the attack from the mosque, then paragraph 1, picking back up with the attack from the mosque, with no return fire. Finally, Paragraph 4 with the outcome summary.

[SJackson]

Meant to ping you to 34

shock and awe.

Smite. Rinse. Repeat.

[Happy2BMe]

Excellent strategy (post #34). Rather dated though and I doubt it is taught at the war college anymore.

But this is *exactly* the strategy required to break the resolve of the Islamic enemy. Anything short of this will be considered weakness to them, and will only lead to more American dead at the expense of political correctness.

Is it not amazing that such policies were carried out on our own soil, yet due to political correctness they are unable to work in the best interest of our modern-day Army in need of such policies?

[SJackson]

Excellent strategy (post #34). Rather dated though and I doubt it is taught at the war college anymore.

John Kerry says he learned it. Called it a war crime :<(

[Happy2BMe]

It was a Union tactic. Who won the Civil War?

Was that a war crime also?

[TASMANIANRED]

Insurgents fire from a mosque. Level it to the ground. Bet it only happens once.