Iraqis Call For Jihad Against U.S.; "Every Iraqi is worth more than 40 Americans,"...
An explosion late Monday in a mosque compound in Fallujah that killed 10 Iraqis, including the mosque's spiritual leader, has enraged the city's residents and prompted calls for a holy war against the United States.People in Fallujah said Tuesday that American forces launched a missile into the mosque, a charge the U.S. military denied...
"Every Iraqi is worth more than 40 Americans," shouted Salah Kuder, his face dripping sweat as he gestured angrily with his fist. "If they think we're afraid of their guns, we're not. This is not Afghanistan. Are they here to help us or are they here to kill us?"
The explosion late Monday at Fallujah's al Hassan mosque decimated a small building that contained the sleeping quarters, office and classroom of the mosque's imam, the Muslim equivalent of a minister. Most locals interviewed said a U.S. military helicopter or plane fired a missile at the building. A U.S. Army commander in the city denied those charges, saying the explosion came from within the structure...
Blood was splattered against the wall of the mosque, which adjoined the building. Volumes of the Koran in a heap were burned and smeared with blood.
The imam, Laith Khalil, was teaching a small group of students about 10:50 p.m. when the boom came, said Abu Omar, who leads the call to prayer for the mosque.
Khalil was found in the street and taken to a hospital in Baghdad, where he soon died, according to medical staff.
Those closer to the source of the explosion were torn to pieces. Fragments of intestines were wrapped in blankets in front of the mosque Tuesday morning before being placed in coffins.
"We heard the noises of aircraft over us," said Omar, who said he was on the grounds of the mosque at the time. "There was a light in the air, and a rocket fell and hit the classroom."
As Omar spoke softly under a thatch roof, which hung over a series of prayer mats, hundreds of angry men milled about.
"It is a war against Islam," said Annis Abdul Sater. "Not only the Iraqi people but all the Muslims in the world will fight the Americans."
Sater said he was at the April demonstration in Fallujah when American soldiers shot and killed more than 12 residents. At the time, he said, he thought the troops may have been targeting the crowd - which was protesting the U.S. presence in town - because it was a group of Muslims, but he decided to reserve judgment. The explosion Monday night, he said, made up his mind: The Americans must be killed, he said, because they are the enemies of Islam.
Other agreed.
"If they kill one of us, we will kill 10 of them," said Munir Abad, the veins on his face bulging with rage. "We will win. By Allah's will, we will win."
Holding a Koran with blood on its creases, Hamza Hussein pumped the book in the air and shouted, "There is no God but Allah. America is the enemy." A crowd of men and children, fists raised, screamed back, "There is no God but Allah. America is the enemy."
Many at the mosque said the Americans targeted Khalil because he'd spoken harshly about U.S. troops at Friday prayers...
Earth to evil bastard and stupid idiot muslim shit-for-brains and worthless piece of offal: The kill ration so far has been about 50,000:1 in OUR favor. Better get a new plan.