Posted on 02/15/2007 10:49:44 PM PST by jmc1969
A U.S. military spokesman on Thursday hailed a joint American-Iraqi raid on Baghdad's leading Shiite Muslim mosque as proof of that the Baghdad security plan is being applied evenly against all sides of the country's sectarian divide.
The raid, which took place Wednesday, angered the mosque's imam, who took the unusual step of canceling Friday prayer services at the historic Baratha mosque, where, Shiites believe, Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali, converted a Christian missionary to Islam in the seventh century.
Sheik Jalal al-Din al-Saghir, a member of parliament from the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, denounced the raid, which the U.S. military said had turned up a cache of illegal weapons. The Supreme Council is one of Iraq's largest political parties and part of its governing coalition.
Searching mosques has been a particularly sensitive issue since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. In delivering the decree that legalized the security plan earlier this week, Iraqi army Lt. Gen. Aboud Qanbar said soldiers would enter mosques only if they were used "for illegal purposes" or to protect citizens from harm.
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the U.S. military said the mosque was raided "during operations targeting illegally armed militia kidnapping, torture and murder activities." It said the mosque was used "to conduct sectarian violence against Iraqi civilians as well as a safe haven and weapons storage area for illegal militia groups."
The Supreme Council's armed wing, the Badr Organization, has been accused of kidnapping and torturing Sunnis.
(Excerpt) Read more at realcities.com ...
Army Sgt. Daniel Dobson, 22, of Grand Rapids, Mich., is on his second tour in Iraq. I asked him what he thinks of the growing opposition to the war. Writing from Mosul, he says he appreciates the freedom Americans have to protest, but adds:
"The American military has shown a stone-cold professional veneer throughout the seething debate raging over Iraq. Beneath that veneer, however, is a fuming, visceral hatred. We feel as though we have been betrayed by Congress."
Sgt. Dobson believes the military is being hamstrung against an enemy with no reservations or restrictions:
"It is our overwhelming opinion that we have not been allowed to conduct the war to the fullest of our capability; neither do we feel that we should pull out because of a lack of 'results.' War is not a chemistry set with predetermined outcomes or complications. With a great army matched with an equally cunning enemy, we find ourselves in a difficult, but winnable fight. We do not seek results; rather, we seek total and unequivocal victory."
"Ali, converted a Christian missionary to Islam in the seventh century."
Using only a sword, ropes, and 4 men to hold him!
I guess you haven't read my many posts on this subject over the past couple of years. Otherwise, you would not be addressing me as if I am unaware of the situation. ;-)
Thanks. :-)
It's hard to denounce anything with an American assault rifle up your nose.
Dear TomasUSMC, Where did you obtain or read the comments by Army Sgt. Daniel Dobson? I couldn't find them in the article. I'd love to use them in an op-ed. My home e-mail is swampler@jps.net I'd be grateful to hear from you.
Thanks for keeping us all in touch with OTG ( on the ground) perspectives.When I want to find out whats happening in Bagdad OTG, I simply see what threads you have posted on!
Anyhow, I thought that I should reply to your observation about the Dems. I am convinced that they mean to cause a US loss in Iraq, because they know that a win in Iraq will likely mean another Pubbie President in 2008.
With the initial good news out of Iraq , on Bagdad's precipitous drop in homicides, and the sprint of Mookie out of the country, the Dems are going ballistic here, as if the war were a part of a political campaign. They damn their own political souls to perdition. And our President does the rope-a-dope while the Dems self destruct. Interesting!
I think the public sees the Dems for what they really are after these last few days, and generally do not like how ugly they are now. I hope the Dems keep going ballistic, and that the good news from in country keeps rolling on.
Stay safe Allegra, and keep your SDW cocked and locked. In Times of change, the squeeze can come on fast.
Thanks again.
Allegra, we will know that Iraq is stable when you decide to do your R&R in one of the finer hotels over there. Who knows, maybe someday we will all fly over there and go on a massive shopping spree with you :o)
What people don't realize is that this mosque is an anti Al-Qaeda, anti Saddam place.
Just check their website here:
http://www.burathanews.com/
That's why they were targeted twice with Al-qaeda suicide bombings in the past. Its no wonder that neither the US nor the Iraqis are admitting authrorizing this raid.
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