Iraqi Sunnis warn of holy war if US troops stay on

Daily Times ^ | Saturday April 26,2003 | AFP

[miltonim]

Iraqi Sunnis warn of holy war if US troops stay on

BAGHDAD: Hundreds of worshippers at a leading Sunni mosque in Baghdad on Friday denounced the American occupation of Iraq and vowed to launch a holy war if the troops did not withdraw soon.

“We are running out of patience with the Americans here,” said Ammar al-Azami after prayers at the Abu Hanifa mosque, long a stronghold of loyalists to the ousted Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein. “The Americans won’t leave because they are after our oil, water and land. They also want to settle here to protect Israel,” he said. “But they’re wrong to believe they’ll succeed and that we’ll stay silent. We are waiting for a fatwa [religious decree] from our ulemas [religious scholars] to fight back,” he warned. “They don’t respect anything, not our land, not our people. They even shelled this mosque. We’re keeping quiet only because our ulemas have asked us to.” The mosque, in Baghdad’s northern Al-Azhamieh neighbourhood, was shelled by American forces on April 9 during fierce fighting with Saddam loyalists after the former Iraqi president was spotted in the area. Last week, around 10,000 marchers gathered outside the mosque to protest the American presence.

Banners on the mosque’s wall read: “Pull out tanks, don’t provoke people” and “No to Shiism, no Sunnism, yes to Islamic unity”. “The Americans came here to liberate us from Saddam, it’s fine, but now what? There is no security, no electricity and chaos has taken over,” said Ibrahim, another worshipper. “Our silence won’t last. The day our ulemas tell us to fight, the Iraqi people, Sunnis and Shiites united will rise in arms.” Another man in the crowd, referring to suicide bombers who carry out anti-Israeli attacks, shouted: “We have weapons, we will blow ourselves up like the Palestinians.” “There will be 100 Osama bin Ladens here if the Americans don’t pull out,” threatened another angry man, in reference to the Saudi billionaire who heads the Al Qaeda terror network.

The men also said a government of Iraqi exiles imposed by the United States was unacceptable. “Who are these people from outside? A five-star opposition made in the USA,” charge Saber al-Alami. “We have capable people inside Iraq; they will make themselves known when the time is ripe,” he said, declining, however, to name anybody in Iraq’s indigenous opposition. We must unite beyond our religious differences, we must form a government from inside,” said Ala Hussein. —AFP

[FreedomCalls]

Bring it on. It will get them out into the open. They will have proclaimed war on us, albeit a holy war -- a "jihad" where the rules of war still apply, making each one of them a fair and legal target. The Wahabbi sect is a cancer on Islam that needs to be cut out and destroyed.

[AndrewC]

What do you expect from a PAKISTANI rag?

[Billy_bob_bob]

I've got an idea. Let's make an offer to the Palestinians to become the new government of Iraq. We'll ship them in, assign them a few offices and properties, and then bug out.

I'm sure they'll all work it out just fine.

[A CA Guy]

Well if these bastards were aligned with Saddam, who gives a hoot.
If they attack, then after they are rid of the Iraqi's will have a more peaceful beginning than dealing with Saddam's fan club.

[Ronin]

I suggest a large show of force. A convoy of M-1s rumbling through the streets followed by a fly-over of A-10s and Apaches will make it clear to them that they are not in any position to make demands.

[CathyRyan]

I am really starting to not care much anymore.

[RLK]

I've got an idea. Let's make an offer to the Palestinians to become the new government of Iraq.

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That would be a hoot to watch.

[Genesis defender]

They don’t respect anything, not our land, not our people...
And to prove it, we American infidels deliberately tried not to kill civilians. Let me get this guy's reasoning perfectly clear:

American (and British) troops put out oil well fires and go out of their way to avoid killing civilians.
Ammar al-Shazam says we didn't respect anything.
If allied troops did the opposite, would we respect them then, according to mr. Shazam?

I guess we need to start burning oil and slaughtering civilians by the thousands to be respectful.

[SamiGirl]

Here we go again, another holy war. How many does that make?

[Constantine XIII]

That's funny, because hundereds of liberals at the UU church in New York did the same thing last week. :o)

Personally, I'm more afraid of home grown kookburgers!

[Normal4me]

I've got an idea. Let's make an offer to the Palestinians to become the new government of Iraq.

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That would be a hoot to watch.

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Better yet, give it to the Jews. [ducks and runs] Just kidding!

[Falcon4.0]

The one poll I'd like to see taken is, how many Americans are tired of hearing about a "Jihad" "A Holy War".

Take that towel off your head and bring it on!

[Dacus943]

"Iraqi Sunnis warn of holy war if US troops stay on"

Another pant load from the religion of peace! Headline should read:

Iraqi Sunnis wish for a 70% eradication of their male population!"

[Kadric]

I would love to see the a speech by the non Moslem leaders.

Any one wanting a piece meet us in western Iraq on July 31 2003.
After that date any countries people that attack us will be considered acting as an agent of that country. Any attacks by anyone on the properties or persons of the nations below signed will be considered an act of war by that country. The call for harm to any of the below signed by a leader of any organization will result in the elimination of that organization and all traces of said organization with extreme prejudice not allowing any neutral area. Any others providing cover or aid to such organizations shall be dealt with in like manner.

Now bring it on.

[yankeedame]

"...Take up the White Man's burden
And reap his old reward--
The blame of those ye better
The hate of those ye guard....

"And when you goal is nearest
(And the ends for others sought)
Watch sloth and heathen folly
Bring all your hope to nought..."

R. Kipling, "The White Man's Burden"

[Nick Danger]

“No to Shiism, no Sunnism, yes to Islamic unity”.

Yeah, that's what they're saying in Sunniland. Down in Karbala they have 25 years of Sunni-led "unity," and they want payback.

I think there have been enough jihads and fatwas and holy wars now that we've pretty much got the drill down. They scream, our press tells us that they're screaming and they might be dangerous, we send a big dog over there to bark at them, and they sit down and shut up until it all happens again. They sure are fierce talkers, though.

[Broward Lion]

These thugs are a vocal minority. If we arm the moderates to the teeth and shoot a few of the Jihad cheer leaders in the head, they will not gain control. Iraq will need a strong policing force to enforce consitution non theocratic rule. Rummy has it right. THERE WILL BE NO ISLAMIC RULE IN IRAQ. There may be thousands of dead radicals and unwashed imans, but never Islamic rule.

[manic4organic]

I'm thinking it's a typo. They really mean HOLEY war because it's them that ends up fulla holes.