Posted on 05/30/2005 5:12:25 AM PDT by nuconvert
Iraqi Islamic Party Leader Arrested
May 30, 2005
BAGHDAD, Iraq — U.S. troops detained the head of Iraq's (search) largest Sunni Muslim political party during a house raid early Monday in western Baghdad, a top party official and police said.
Mohsen Abdul Hamid (search), head of the Iraqi Islamic Party (search), was detained by American soldiers along with his three sons and four guards, said party-secretary-general Ayad al-Samarei. U.S. military officials could not immediately confirm the detentions.
Al-Samarei said American soldiers raided Hamid's home at around 6 a.m. and confiscated various items, including a computer.
"This is a provocative and foolish act and this is part of the pressure exerted on the party," he said.
"At the time when the Americans say they are keen on real Sunni participation, they are now arresting the head of the only Sunni party that calls for a peaceful solution and have participated in the political process," he added.
In a statement, the party demanded Hamid's immediate release, saying he "represents a large sector of the Iraqi people."
"This irresponsible behavior will only complicate the situation," the party statement said.
Sunni Muslims were Iraq's dominant community under Saddam Hussein, but they have lost their influence since the dictator's ouster two years ago and the country's predominant Shiite community gained political power.
The country's raging insurgency is believed to be driven mainly from disaffected Iraqi Sunnis and extremist Islamists from neighboring, predominantly Sunni Arab states.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I would rather that these people be killed rather than have some human rights commission complain how they are treated.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
"This is a provocative and foolish act and this is part of the pressure exerted on the party," he said.
My God, Bagdad Bob has returned......
Lol
"I doubt he would have been arrested without a go-ahead from Iraqi authorities"
exactly
Hmmmm....
Let's see what the good cleric's computer reveals. If it only contains his downloaded porn websites then I am sure they will release him and his entourage. If not then maybe he is not as moderate as Bagdad Bob claims.
pong
Holly crap!!!
I notice that the AP story says this:
"U.S. military officials could not immediately confirm the detentions. Iraqi officials were also reluctant to talk about the issue."
That's a key phrase they left out.
Reluctant to talk.
Interesting (not sure how this one plays out - hope Intel is worth it).
It's understandable they'd be " reluctant to talk ". This has the potential for being explosive. I'm sure they want to get all their ducks in a row first.
I have long felt a more honest report would simply read; terrorists from around the globe are attacking Iraqi's and coalition forces.
At least they have begun to admit there are foreigners fighting against Iraq.
"At least they have begun to admit there are foreigners fighting against Iraq."
Actually, the term used in the media is "foreign insurgents".
They've owned up to that for quite some time - at least a year.
The good ol' media just kept "overlooking" (distorting) the true Iraqi perspective.
As they still do.
That's what I thought.
the term used in the media is "foreign insurgents".
Somehow the word foreign doesn't jump out at you. Perhaps it is because it is followed by the sappy PC term, "insurgents" instead of terrorists.
AP story is saying this arrest was a mistake:
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/world/3203174
That was a big woops
Thanks for the update.
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