Soldier held in attack on his own camp in Kuwait

St. Petersburg Times ^ | March 23, 2003 | WES ALLISON

[yatros from flatwater]

CAMP PENNSYLVANIA, Kuwait -- A U.S. soldier was being held early today in connection with a grenade attack on the 101st Airborne Division's infantry brigade. The attack killed one and injured about 15 soldiers.

Eleven of the victims were airlifted to the combat support hospital in nearby Camp Udairi.

The sergeant, whose identity has not been released, was himself wounded either before or during his capture, Army officials said. Early this morning (late Saturday night in Florida), the sergeant was being questioned along with two Middle Eastern civilians, Army officials said. Authorities declined to say whether the two civilians were suspects.

Meanwhile, scouts scoured the desert on foot and in trucks for interlopers, and soldiers remained at high alert.

The attack is believed to be the first successful terrorist attack at the string of U.S. military camps along the Kuwaiti-Iraqi border since troops began arriving last fall.

The sergeant is with the engineering unit attached to the 2nd Battalion of the 327th infantry, commanders said.

"We think he's one of the guys," Maj. Pete Rooks said.

He appeared to have been shot in the legs during or before his capture.

The sergeant, an American and a practicing Muslim, had been guarding grenades during the midnight shift. He came under suspicion soon after the attack, when he -- and four grenades -- were missing.

By dawn today, the sergeant was being held in a Humvee about 100 yards from the tents he was suspected of attacking.

Many of the 4,000 infantrymen and support staff here were roused just before 1:30 a.m. by a deep, concussive blast.

Three grenades were thrown into tents at headquarters, and a fourth was rolled into the tent of brigade commander, Col. Ben Hodges. That grenade did not detonate. Hodges was struck by shrapnel in his right arm, but was later treated and returned to duty.

A smattering of small-arms fire followed the grenade blasts.

Camp guards rousted their colleagues, screaming that they were under attack.

At the cluster of tents in the 2nd Battalion, soldiers raced to a bunker and donned their gas masks, thinking the camp was under attack by mortar fire or other missiles.

A radioman in the bunker received a report, then shouted, "There's enemy in the camp! There's enemy in the camp!"

The camp was pitch dark at the time of the attack, and many soldiers did not have their night-vision goggles. They were scattered around the camp in concrete bunkers and had no clue from which way the enemy might be coming.

Soon squads of soldiers throughout the camp quietly began going tent to tent, their rifle barrels straight ahead, looking for anyone who might have sneaked inside to hide.

Commanders have long warned that terrorism was the biggest threat to U.S. forces massing at the camps for an invasion of Iraq, and the Army has taken steps to prevent such incidents.

All entrances to the six Army camps, Pennsylvania, Udairi, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Victory, are aggressively guarded and patrolled. Towers also are posted at and between each corner of the sand berm around the camps.

[spald]

Came home from dinner at about 10pm last night. On the way home, I was listening to a new talk radio show from California with two guys commenting on the war. One mentioned that the soldier was a Moslem American sergeant and I was quite upset. When home, I turned on the TV and scrolled between CNN, MSNBC and FOX. Lester Dolt wouldn't include the fact that the treasonous American soldier was Moslem. Aaron Brown was just absolutely struggling to direct the discussion towards how hard it is on the average soldier. Wesley Clark, that Clinton suck-up, just overlooked the possibility that security was breached and gave a tortuous explanation of espirit de corps and the value of trusting each other in battle. Over on FOX, a SkyNews correspondent (embedded) gave a good account of the incident and lead one to believe there was more to the story than what was reported and would remain that way until the Army gave a formal statement. Sheppard Smith then interjected that the American soldier was Moslem. The SKYnews reported confirmed that is what is known at the site from where he was reporting.

[EYEWatchin]

They need to hear complaints if they do this, and they need to be reminded-once again-that they can no longer lie to us. Thanks to the internet, the day themedia could control what we know, and how much we know, is over FOREVER!

Complaining does no good! The media has subverted our Nation! Those of us who complain are labeled as racist, fanatics, or out of touch!

[jragan2001]

Exactly-a hanging right in the camp complex!!

[jragan2001]

Don't allow him back into this country, because you will
have all of these left-wing shister lawyers coming out
of the woodwork wanting to defend this scumbag traitor.

Maybe it's time for Racial Profiling in our Armed Forces.

[EYEWatchin]

Maybe we could send Lorena "BOBBIT" over there before he's hung to help him prepare for the 72 virgins!

[EYEWatchin]

Have you seen the stories how Officer Moose delayed the racial identity of the Sniper Suspects!

[DCPatriot]

In times of war, isn't it acceptable protocol to just shoot the son-of-a-bitch?

[Ima Lurker]

I wish, but don't count on it.

[Monty22]

They just showed him on fox, he was definately a black guy.

A dollar says he's islamic too.

[GirlShortstop]

A dollar says he's islamic too.

Wouldn't it be something if it was this guy:    Muslim G.I. says he won't go

[jragan2001]

Yes, I heard Michael Savage detailing this on his show
after these scumbags were apprehended and taken into
custody.

[jragan2001]

Talk about a woman who is a "Cut" above the rest! (OUCH)

[yatros from flatwater]

No, No, No! Don't fall into the trap that this is a racial divide, it is entirely philosophical. The radical Islamic movement, like the radical "International Socialist" movement seeks the imposition of a "utopia" by any and all means. Both have an appeal to disaffected individuals, who sign up to advance the cause. Both have philosphical fellow travelers who want to see the ends but can't stomach all the means. At present, socialists AND Muslims, radical or not, see the US as the principal impediment to their designs.

For good references to these issues, see:
http://www.danielpipes.org

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Right before our eyes the media appears to be sanitizing the news.

[Fresh Wind]

When does he get to collect the bounty from Iraq for killing an American?

[KevinDavis]

I think the FBI should be looking at the Nation of Islam. I have a feeling that they are planning something.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

CBS radio is reporting a "converted Muslim."

So, is that like "converted" rice? Does that mean he's actually white?

[Dajjal]

What is Taqiyah?

He who disbelieves in Allah after his belief in Him, (is the liar) except he who is compelled while his heart remains steadfast with the faith (has nothing worry). But who opens his breast for infidelity; on these is wrath of Allah, and for them is a great torment.
--Qur’an, Surah 16 (an-Nahl), verse 100

This verse of the Qur’an refers to the incident when 'Ammar bin Yasir (May Allah be pleased with both) had to utter some words against Islam to save himself from the Quraishite infidels.

The Qur'an clearly allows hiding one 's true faith when one is in danger of one's life. This rule is called taqiyah.

Question 1: What is the meaning of "Taqiyah"?
Answer: Its literal meaning is to safeguard; to defend; to fear; piety (because it saves one from the displeasure of Allah).

Question 2: What is its significance in Islamic termi­nology?
Answer: In Islamic terminology it means "to save life, honour. or property (either one's own or of other be­lievers) by hiding one's belief or religion".

I imagine the same rule would apply for a Muslim who hides his jihad sympathies.

[zygoat]

If Private Slovic deserved a firing squad, this one deserves a napalm enema.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

But two black guys torturing four white people, inflicting on them gratuitous humiliations like something out of a demented XXX film...that gets the local press, and not even the front pages (per freepers living in KS).

This incident got a whole segment on "Dateline" about 2 weeks ago.