Americans bow before holy shrine to deter protesters [Yesterday at Najaf, Iraq]

UK Telegragh ^ | April 4, 2003

[george wythe]

American soldiers retreated warily from the Imam Ali mosque in Najaf yesterday after a furious crowd gathered around them to stop foreign soldiers from approaching one of the holiest shrines of Shia Islam.

"Everybody smile!" shouted the platoon commander as he told his baffled men to kneel down and point their weapons at the ground, in a surreal act of submission.

The mightiest army in the world is learning the hard way the awkward art of trying to "win the hearts and minds" of suspicious civilians.

In other cities civilians have largely been bystanders in the military drama, neither rising up to cheer nor uniting to resist.

But in Najaf, hundreds poured into the streets to block the way of American soldiers as they came within sight of the golden dome of the mosque. They waved the soldiers away as some explained in broken English: "In the city, OK. In the mosque, No!"

The mosque is the reputed burial place of Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam and the first Imam of Shia Islam.

It was damaged by Iraqi forces during the Shi'ite uprising against Saddam Hussein at the end of the 1991 Gulf war. But despite any hatred Najaf's people may harbour for Saddam, they seem resolutely opposed to having "infidel" soldiers violating the holy ground.

Nevertheless, the city's religious authorities seem to be reaching an accommodation with the occupying forces.

According to a US commander in the Gulf, Brig-Gen Vincent Brooks, a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric in Najaf has issued a religious edict urging Iraqis to remain calm and not to hinder American forces.

Across Najaf, American forces searched buildings for Fedayeen paramilitary fighters loyal to Saddam.

US officers said most of the Fedayeen forces had simply dropped their equipment and fled, but some were still putting up a fight.

[nanny]

One knee on the ground = Stable shooting platform if the crowd rushes. This would be a classic military stance.

Well, I know the difference between 'bended knee' and 'get on one knee aim'. I somehow think the Iraqis would also. Since there was no incidence I am assume as the article seemed to suggest it was a bow of acquiescence - just didn't sit well with me.

I think America has bowed to Muslim enough already, especially here in our own country.

[RoseofTexas]

I can't WAIT for the movie to come out!! LOL! :)

[Junior]

Sometimes ya gotta do what the situation calls for. You don't win their hearts and minds by running roughshod over them.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The last sentence of the article: "Minefields that had been cleared were found to be planted with new mines yesterday."

Sounds like a job for a few well concealed snipers with night vision scopes.

[Allan]

Did you see the footage of this on TV?

It was awesome.

[P-Marlowe]

American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel.

Where is this stated in the Military Regs?

[Junior]

It's their country, sweetie. We didn't come as overbearing conquerors, we came as liberators.

[Stone Mountain]

American servicemen in uniform are expressly forbidden to bow or kneel.

How does that work? Are there circumstances that dictate this, or is it a hard and fast rule? It seems to me that I've seen servicemen kneeling in prayer before...

[Poohbah]

It isn't.

[P-Marlowe]

I saw the video. It was spooky. Thousands of angry muslims confronting the troops in an attempt to protect their Holy Shrine-- as if Allah is powerless to protect it without their help (which of course he is, but that is another subject).

The LT should get a field promotion for preventing a catastrophe. His troops should all be commended for keeping their cool.

[Poohbah]

You have a bunch of folks who don't understand what's going on, and that's how you get rumors flying.

We defused the rumors instantly, with a simple gesture.

Eventually, with things calmed down, the Imam was probably able to get his flock together and explain what was what.

[BnBlFlag]

"You don't win their hearts and minds,etc"...... In that case as "Stonewall" Jackson said..."Kill 'em! Kill 'em all!"

[hchutch]

Would you rather have CNN showing American military personnel firing at a mob of people who are unarmed?

THINK about that image as opposed to the one you are so eager to complain about.

[Allan]

ping

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

I was ever so proud for the dicipline and control of our troops in that situation. It could have been a disaster, the officer was great.

[MoralSense]

Yes, and the film also showed the commander blowing a series of two blasts on a whistle, and the troops obeying instantly. This was probably a prepared response -- and the right one, obviously.

[kimchi lover]

I saw the footage. It was a BRILLIANT move by the C.O. The crowd was LARGE and very angry. He did the absolutely CORRECT thing.

[Junior]

My, what a juvenile approach to a sensitive problem. That's just what the Arabs are going to accuse us of doing. It seems a high proportion of the folks stalking this forum have an underdevoped ability to view the big picture.

[nanny]

Would you rather have CNN showing American military personnel firing at a mob of people who are unarmed? THINK about that image as opposed to the one you are so eager to complain about

Were those the only two options? I really thought you could not fire on civilians withouth bowing to them. Now I was not there and it is silly to second guess - I am mostly commenting on comments. Personally, I didn't like it.

[nanny]

Well, my name is not sweetie - it is usually my disposition - but now always- and we came as Americans. Should we be ashamed of that? I think we can be liberators without bowing to anyone. Just my opinion.