lol i wonder how ppl like daniel pipes and robert spencer and their cronies would react to this, american troops working with "jihadists" as these guys call them lol.
Former insurgents face al-Qaida wrath By LAUREN FRAYER, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 49 minutes ago
BAGHDAD - Wearing a bandanna that hides his face, Omam Abed leads U.S. soldiers on raids in the west Baghdad streets where he grew up — kicking down doors and interrogating neighbors in search of fighters for al-Qaida in Iraq.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 20-year-old is part of a ragtag collection of former Sunni insurgents — some even from the al-Qaida ranks — who have thrown their support behind U.S.-led security forces under pacts of mutual convenience.
The Sunni militiamen have grown leery of al-Qaida in Iraq and its ambitions, including self-proclaimed aims of establishing an Islamic state. The Pentagon, in turn, has latched onto its most successful strategy in months: partnering with former extremists who have the local know-how to help root out al-Qaida in Iraq.
But for Abed and others, this new war also brings grave dangers.
In Abed's Amariyah neighborhood — an affluent district that was home to privileged insiders under Saddam Hussein — the U.S.-allied band of about 150 former Sunni militants is now the No. 1 target for al-Qaida hitmen.
Last month, two of Abed's best friends, both 18-year-old members who also decided to aid U.S. forces, were dragged out of their high school during final exams and beheaded. Their bodies were flung up into a tree with the severed heads displayed on the sidewalk below, according to Abed and U.S. military officers stationed in the area.
There was no claim of responsibility, but the scene didn't need one. All knew it was a ghastly warning to residents who choose to challenge al-Qaida in Iraq, which takes inspiration from Osama bin Laden but whose direct links to his terror network is unclear.
"They weren't wearing masks on missions, so al-Qaida recognized who they were. They were my friends — we were always the three of us, like brothers," Abed told The Associated Press in an interview this week, choking back tears.
He would not give his real name out of fear for his safety, and would not comment on his past insurgent activity. His codename — Omam Abed — means "courageous slave" in Arabic.
Since the murders, Abed wears a mask or scarf to conceal his identity when he accompanies U.S. and Iraqi soldiers on raids. These are the same palm-shaded streets with wide green lawns where he played as a boy. His father was a prominent businessman who owned a textile factory here before fleeing to Syria in 2003. Almost everyone knows Abed and his family.
"I want to stay and help my neighborhood, and the future of my country, but sometimes I'm scared I'll also be targeted," he said.
The Amariyah beheadings — and waves of other attacks — suggest a mounting al-Qaida campaign of reprisals against fellow Sunnis who challenge group's footholds in Iraq.
On Saturday, militants bombed the northern Baghdad home of a moderate and highly regarded Sunni cleric, Sheik Wathiq al-Obeidi, who had recently spoken against al-Qaida. He was seriously wounded and three relatives were killed.
The same day, police said a local tribal leader in Albu Khalifa, a village west of Baghdad, was killed by gunmen who stormed his home. Sheik Fawaq Sadda' al-Khalifawi had recently joined an anti-al-Qaida alliance in Iraq's western Anbar province.
The U.S. military credits these relationships with weakening al-Qaida in its former strongholds in Baghdad, Anbar and Diyala province north of the capital. In Diyala, about 16,000 U.S. and Iraqi troops began a military push this week against Sunni insurgents who have fled a crackdown in the provincial capital of Baqouba, the military said Tuesday.
In Abed's Amariyah neighborhood, attacks on U.S. and Iraqi soldiers and civilians dropped from 40 in the last week of May to just six incidents in the first week of August, according to U.S. military figures.
But in most cases, the U.S. military is unable to offer protection to its unexpected allies.
Abed wears a beige bulletproof vest with "Allah Akbar" — `God is great,' in Arabic — written in permanent marker across the front. He bought it on the black market with his own money. He does not earn a salary for working with U.S. forces, and the military does not provide him with weapons, equipment or safe haven.
Several times each week, mortars fall on the headquarters of Abed's group — known by various names including the Freedom Fighters and Amariyah Volunteers. The group's leader, a 40-year-old who uses the nom-de-guerre Abu Abed, said his fighters foiled two attacks in which suicide bombers disguised as women tried to infiltrate security around his base.
"(Al-Qaida) is trying to get me or my family. I'm constantly changing locations — not staying in one place longer than a few hours — and moving my children," said Abu Abed, who also refused to comment on his own insurgent past.
American military officials acknowledge that Abed's group is in danger because of its cooperation with U.S. forces. But — as former insurgents — the fighters are not eligible for services provided to civilians or legitimate Iraqi security forces.
"It's just not something we can do," said Lt. Col. Dale Kuehl, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment.
At least two members of the group were former allies of al-Qaida, said Kuehl, 41, from Huntsville, Ala. Others, he said, were part of the Islamic Army in Iraq, the 1920s Revolution Brigades and Tawhid and Jihad — all Sunni insurgent groups responsible for past attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq.
The U.S. military offers humanitarian aid, but the fighters are denied access to U.S. bases and military hospitals. American medics, however, have treated them on the battlefield.
Kuehl is awaiting approval from his commanders for a 90-day security contract under which the fighters would be paid to man checkpoints and conduct regular patrols through Amariyah. The salaries would be commensurate with the Iraqi police, about $300 a month.
Until the contract wins U.S. approval, the fighters remain unpaid volunteers.
Capt. Dustin Mitchell, with the 1st Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Reconnaissance Troop, said it sometimes creates awkward moments for his soldiers.
"We try to help them out within the guidelines if our commanders approve it," said the Louisville, Ky., native. "If not, we're the guys who look them in the eye and have to say, `I'm sorry.'"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070814/...raq_abed_s_war
lol i wonder how ppl like daniel pipes and robert spencer and their cronies would react to this, american troops working with "jihadists" as these guys call them lol.
format_quote Originally Posted by MTAFFI
al-Qaida have show what type of Islam state they want.
What do Muslims say about this?
-
Yesterday was a bloody day in Iraq. Four suicide truck bombings at the same time!
Deadly Iraq sect attacks kill 200
At least 200 people have been killed in a series of bombings apparently aimed at a Kurdish religious minority group in northern Iraq, officials say.
Some 200 more were reported injured as at least four blasts hit areas home to the Yazidi sect near the city of Mosul.
The deadly attack was one of the most lethal insurgent strikes in more than four years of war in Iraq.
The US called the bombings "barbaric", while a Kurdish official said Baghdad had failed to protect the Yazidi.
In a statement, the White House insisted US forces and the Iraqi government would continue to "beat back" the "vicious and heartless murderers".
The BBC's Richard Galpin, in Baghdad, says that with the Americans concentrating on their military effort in the capital, officials fear the insurgents are moving into new areas where they can attack so-called soft targets.Because of the inaction of the government in Baghdad and their inability to protect the population they are suffering the way they are now
Khaled Salih
Kurdistan Regional Government
A spokesman for the Kurdistan regional government, a semi-autonomous authority which governs three northern Iraqi provinces, described the Yazidi as a "threatened minority" and said Kurdish forces might have protected them from harm.
"We would certainly be able to improve security if we were allowed to operate in that area," Khaled Salih told the BBC.
"But because of the inaction of the government in Baghdad and their inability to protect the population they are suffering the way they are now," he added.
Digging for bodies
Tuesday's co-ordinated bombings in the villages of Qataniya and Adnaniya involved a fuel tanker and three cars, officials said.
"My friend and I were thrown high in the air. I still don't know what happened to him," Khadir Shamu, a 30-year-old Yazidi, told the Associated Press news agency.
The mayor of Sinjal, a nearby town, said he expected the final death toll to rise.KEY FACTS: THE YAZIDIS
Religious sect found in northern Iraq, Syria and the Caucasus
Majority of estimated 100,000 followers live in Iraqi Kurdistan
Doctrine is an amalgam of pagan, Sabean, Shamanistic, Manichean, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian and Islamic elements
Yazidis believe in a Supreme God, but do not believe in evil, sin, hell or the devil
Violation of divine laws can be expiated by metempsychosis, or the transferring of a soul from one body to another
Principal divine figure, Malak Taus (Peacock Angel), is the supreme angel of the seven angels who ruled the universe after it was created by God
"We are still digging with our hands and shovels because we can't use cranes because many of the houses were built of clay," Dhakil Qassim told AP.
"We are expecting to reach the final death toll tomorrow or [the] day after tomorrow as we are getting only pieces of bodies.
Tensions between the Yazidi sect and local Muslims have grown since a Yazidi girl was reportedly stoned by her community in April for converting to Islam.
The sect is due to vote later alongside other Kurds outside the Kurdish autonomous region in a referendum on joining the grouping.
Correspondents say the planned referendum makes northern Iraq's Kurds a target for politically-motivated attacks.
Yazidis worship an archangel, sometimes represented by a peacock figure believed by some Christians and Muslims to be the devil.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...st/6946028.stm
Published: 2007/08/15 08:12:42 GMT
© BBC MMVII
may God help these peopleformat_quote Originally Posted by KAding
Yesterday was a bloody day in Iraq
The Coalition Should Leave Iraq Then Horrible Incidents Like This Will Not Happen.
we will see..... lets hope soformat_quote Originally Posted by ISLAMASWEENEY
:confused:
Yes Lets Hope Sp I Think Britain Might Soon Leave Basra Is Virtually Under Iraqi Control We Should Have A Air Force Base.
It's not the 1st time the US has done this.lol i wonder how ppl like daniel pipes and robert spencer and their cronies would react to this, american troops working with "jihadists" as these guys call them lol.
Yes They Worked With The Northern Alliance In Afghanistan Against The Taliban.
lol your question is an oxy-moron! or a very stupid one! the 2 men AQI killed were working AGAINST AQI so the news report itself answers the Q for u! sheesh do you guys act willfully blind to try and make all Muslims look bad or what?format_quote Originally Posted by Joe98
This does it make it painstakingly obvious that no matter what a Muslim does against extreme elements that westeners will never care this is the best example, here u have certain Muslim Iraqis who are FIGHTING against AQI and are getting killed, yet u still get a westerner asking erm so what do u Muslims have to say about AQI and their ways?!its starting to really get annoying now
so then by your logic the US are the good guys since they are teaming up with the Muslims fighting the AQI? I guess the US does have reason to stay there then right? sheesh I mean make up your mind!format_quote Originally Posted by The_Princelol your question is an oxy-moron! or a very stupid one! the 2 men AQI killed were working AGAINST AQI so the news report itself answers the Q for u! sheesh do you guys act willfully blind to try and make all Muslims look bad or what?
This does it make it painstakingly obvious that no matter what a Muslim does against extreme elements that westeners will never care this is the best example, here u have certain Muslim Iraqis who are FIGHTING against AQI and are getting killed, yet u still get a westerner asking erm so what do u Muslims have to say about AQI and their ways?!
Well, when the US leaves practically no one will be reporting about it at least. I suppose that in itself can help deescalate Muslim-Western tensions.format_quote Originally Posted by ISLAMASWEENEY
COOL! Then all you need is an air force!format_quote Originally Posted by ISLAMASWEENEY
Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. It took 4 years to get to this point. They don't object to AQI blowing up the Shia or knocking the dome off a mosque or two. They finally got tired of AQI cramping their style in their own neighborhoods. This is NIMBY syndrome (Not In My Back Yard).format_quote Originally Posted by The_Princelol your question is an oxy-moron! or a very stupid one! the 2 men AQI killed were working AGAINST AQI so the news report itself answers the Q for u! sheesh do you guys act willfully blind to try and make all Muslims look bad or what?
This does it make it painstakingly obvious that no matter what a Muslim does against extreme elements that westeners will never care this is the best example, here u have certain Muslim Iraqis who are FIGHTING against AQI and are getting killed, yet u still get a westerner asking erm so what do u Muslims have to say about AQI and their ways?!
Iraqis battle 'al-Qaeda forces'
Iraqi citizens and police have clashed with alleged al-Qaeda fighters in the town of Baquba, resulting in 14 deaths, according to police.
The battle began early on Wednesday after mortar rounds fell on Buhriz, a suburb of Baquba, about 60km northeast of Baghdad, an unnamed police officer said.
Residents and police battled the fighters, suspected of having links to al-Qaeda, for three hours, the officer said.
(More)
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exer...695831B963.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHRd4EwF4MI
consider this my reply
Did you send your reply to al Jazeera?format_quote Originally Posted by Haidar_Abbas
Going to war with Islam will be the destruction of the evil American empire. It seems americans dont care that the whole world hates them, America has become the monster it claims to fight, now isnt that ironic.
format_quote Originally Posted by NobleMuslimUK
Maybe that's why America is not at war aginst Islam. :confused:
Pure Westophobia.
:grumbling
Hide
Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks