Al-Qaida-linked group claims U.S. deaths By HAMID AHMED, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 23 minutes ago
BAGHDAD - An al-Qaida-linked group claimed responsibility Tuesday for double suicide truck bombings that killed nine U.S. paratroopers in the worst attack on American ground forces in Iraq in more than a year, saying it sent "two knights" for the attack.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella group of Sunni militants that includes al-Qaida in Iraq, said it was behind Monday's double attack on a U.S. patrol base in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad — an area that has seen violence spike since American troops surged into the capital to halt violence there.
"The first knight exploded his truck on them and he was followed by his brother in the second truck, exploding it on what remains from the soldiers inside the headquarters," said the statement, posted on a militant Web site.
The victims were all members of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, said a spokesman for the Fort Bragg, N.C.-based unit. It was the highest number of casualties for the division since the war began, Maj. Tom Earnhardt said.
"We are recovering, supporting the families during this time of loss, praying for them and continuing our mission," said Lt. Col. Michael Donnelly, the U.S. military spokesman in northern Iraq. "The enemy brings nothing to benefit the people — nothing."
In its Web posting Tuesday, the Islamic State of Iraq, an insurgent umbrella group that includes al-Qaida, put the number of Americans killed at 30.
"Almighty God has guided the soldiers of the Islamic State of Iraq to new methods of explosions," it said without elaborating. The message appeared on a Web site that frequently airs communications from militants, but its authenticity could not be independently confirmed.
According to a senior Pentagon official, Monday's attack involved suicide bombers in two large dump trucks. One of the trucks got very close to the Sadah patrol base building, and the other one was further away, the official said, adding that at least some of the casualties may have been caused by the collapse of two walls.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information has not yet been released, also said that 15 of the 20 troops who were injured have returned to duty.
It was single deadliest attack on ground forces since Dec. 1, 2005, when a roadside bomb killed 10 Marines and wounded 11 on a foot patrol near Fallujah. Twelve soldiers died when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Diyala on Jan. 20. The military said it might have been shot down but the investigation is still ongoing.
The use of a suicide bomber in a direct assault against U.S. forces was unusual. Militants, seeking to avoid American firepower, have mostly used hit-and-run ambushes, roadside bombs or mortars on U.S. troops.
On Feb. 19, insurgents struck a U.S. combat post in Tarmiyah, about 30 miles north of Baghdad, killing two soldiers and wounding 17 in what the military called a "coordinated attack." It began with a suicide car bombing followed by gunfire on soldiers pinned down in a former Iraqi police station where fuel storage tanks were set ablaze by the blast.
American troops are facing increasing danger as they step up their presence in outposts and police stations in Baghdad and areas surrounding the city, as part of the security crackdown to which U.S. President George W. Bush has committed an extra 30,000 troops.
Sunni militants are believed to have withdrawn to surrounding areas such as Diyala where they have safe haven. The U.S. command also deployed an extra 700 soldiers to the province last month.
In telephone interviews, residents of the Ameen area south of Baqouba on Tuesday described what they believed was the same attack that killed the nine soldiers.
The residents, spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear for their safety, said gunmen first fired on American snipers at a U.S. base housed in an old Iraqi primary school, then a suicide car bomb rammed a checkpoint at the school's entrance, breaking through blast walls and other fortifications. The first explosion left a path for a second suicide vehicle, a truck, to approach the building, the witnesses said.
Several American soldiers were caught beneath the building as it collapsed in the explosion, the residents said.
Another U.S. soldier was also killed Monday in a roadside bombing in Diyala, the military said — bringing the daily American death toll to 10. A British soldier was also shot to death while on patrol in the southern city of Basra, officials said.
The deaths raised to 85 the number of U.S. service members who died have in Iraq in April, making it the deadliest month for American troops since December, when 112 died.
Police in the same province as the attack on the U.S. base said gunmen disguised as Iraqi soldiers killed six Iraqis and burned five homes Tuesday in an unrelated attack. South of the capital, a family of seven was shot to death in their beds at dawn by masked gunmen, neighbors and police said.
On the outskirts of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, a suicide truck bomb exploded at a police checkpoint on the outskirts of Ramadi city on Tuesday, killing 15 people, police said.
And in Baghdad, two bombs went off outside the Iranian Embassy on Tuesday for the second consecutive day. Six civilians were injured, police said. Tension has risen over allegations by the U.S. and some Sunni politicians in Iraq about alleged Iranian interference in the country.
Eighty-three Iraqis were killed or found dead around the country in those attacks and others.
British forces transferred another military base to Iraqi troops in Basra in the country's south, ahead of the planned withdrawal this summer of about half of Britain's contribution to the U.S.-led coalition here. Two other British bases — al-Saie and Shatt al-Arab — were turned over to Iraqi forces in Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, in the past month.
The bulk of Britain's about 7,500 soldiers in the city will now operate from a base at Basra's main airport.
In other violence Tuesday, two mortar rounds hit a market in southern Baghdad, killing 10 people and wounding 16 others, including women and children, police said.
So here again we see who is on the side of right and wrong. Today in Iraq, the dealiest day in nearly 5 months, a whole 9 US soldiers died at the hands of two suicide bombers, with dump trucks. In the whole month, only 85 have sadly died. However, while killing those soldiers (as is to be expected in war) the groups have also managed to kill 83 civilians. Does this disgust anyone anymore or is it just common place in this country? These groups killed nearly as many civilians in one day as they have soldiers in a month, and these are the same groups that wish to run the country. So again I ask, is the US at war with Iraq or are these political and religious extremist at war? Who is trying to do the right thing and who is doing the wrong? Absolutely and totally disgusting display of character and respect for life, these people have...
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left."
- Bertrand Russell
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat." - Napoleon Bonaparte
"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the
enemy." - George Washington
That's a lie! They have not killed more civiliians than the Americans. Come to that, their attacks account for 5 percent of the action. I should give you the same rant you gave Noble Muslim... but - blah!
How do you call that a lie? Take a look at the numbers, how many are dead in Iraq? How many were civilians? The US didnt kill all these civilians, so that only leaves a certain number of groups responsible.. You have a bad case of denial yourself it seems. This month alone (as of the day of my post) 85 troops dead, number of civilians killed by these militant groups was 83 that particular day. Say what you want but it is absolutely undeniable that these people kill more civilians than they do their enemy. One would think that the civilians are tired of the militants killing them and probably support the troops for at least trying to police their land.
PS Thanks for the link, I didnt see anything about Israel in there though (I just skimmed it, so feel free to correct me if I am wrong) EDIT: just saw the other link, thanks!
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left."
- Bertrand Russell
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat." - Napoleon Bonaparte
"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the
enemy." - George Washington
How do you call that a lie? Take a look at the numbers, how many are dead in Iraq? How many were civilians? The US didnt kill all these civilians, so that only leaves a certain number of groups responsible.. You have a bad case of denial yourself it seems. This month alone (as of the day of my post) 85 troops dead, number of civilians killed by these militant groups was 83 that particular day. Say what you want but it is absolutely undeniable that these people kill more civilians than they do their enemy. One would think that the civilians are tired of the militants killing them and probably support the troops for at least trying to police their land.
PS Thanks for the link, I didnt see anything about Israel in there though (I just skimmed it, so feel free to correct me if I am wrong) EDIT: just saw the other link, thanks!
It's the second link. I added a bunch, not that any of this matters. Bottom line is, the Iraqis don't like the occupation an they'll fight it... even if that means: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
You just run those numb3rs... I know people can do this. It's just math. I gave you every link you need, but take your time and read the words like someone who is interested in what they have to say. That's why all this is happening, by the way. Because Iraqis are talking.. but no one seems to be listening.
It's the second link. I added a bunch, not that any of this matters. Bottom line is, the Iraqis don't like the occupation an they'll fight it... even if that means: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
You just run those numb3rs... I know people can do this. It's just math. I gave you every link you need, but take your time and read the words like someone who is interested in what they have to say. That's why all this is happening, by the way. Because Iraqis are talking.. but no one seems to be listening.
Ninth Scribe
So are you saying that the US has killed more civilians in Iraq than these other groups or not? I can answer it for you but I would like it better if you posted it yourself.. When the US does leave Iraq, and the time is coming, these people will fight and kill many many many more civilians and Iraq will be under the control of another tyrant. Would you rather the US leave and allow this or stay and at least try to stop it?
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left."
- Bertrand Russell
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat." - Napoleon Bonaparte
"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the
enemy." - George Washington
Many Sunni "resistance" groups have already aided the U.S. a number of times with the locations of these foreign Al-Qaeda types, so it would seem the "invitation" Ninth-Scribe eluded to is wearing thin. It wouldn't surprise me if it was the Sunnis who gave up the location of Zarqawi to the U.S. Granted, most of this "aid" isn't coming from the kindness of their hearts or their aversion to killing women and children in the street, but as a method to gain power in their own region of Iraq.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
Iraqis fight as they fight, does it disgust anyone or does not - doesn't really matter for people on the ground.
Countries don't get invaded everyday, when it happens - people react, iraqis reacted the way they do, I expected the resistance. Let's not generalize, there are iraqis who target invaders and avoid civil casualties, if I were iraqi and had the guts and the opportunity I would've made it my duty to kill as many invaders as I can avoiding civil casualties(why would i want to kill my brother anyway?).
Do you expect that anyone on this forum will say that they condone muslims killing muslims? Or do you expect that someone would say that iraqis fighting invaders are wrong and should stop?
I heard Americans intentionally go to dangerous towns and give out candy to kids so they can become human sheild for them...
It wouldn't surprise me if it was the Sunnis who gave up the location of Zarqawi to the U.S. Granted, most of this "aid" isn't coming from the kindness of their hearts or their aversion to killing women and children in the street, but as a method to gain power in their own region of Iraq.
Most of the "aid" isn't coming from the kindness of America's heart either. You should just read all those sales sheets. Do the math. Man... am I in the wrong business. But the door swings both ways. Sorry. I can't believe you just advocated torture, but I suppose the intel justified the means? Whatever. It changed nadda. The war is on, and it will continue to be so since the only thing both sides agree on is the sick reality that war is the only way to resolve this problem. No, I can't blame Iraqis for fighting an invasion and yes, I fully condone their use of foreign armies... as does the U.S. (Canada, U.K., etc.).
Judging from all I've learned here, this discussion is a waste of time.
Ninth Scribe
Last edited by Ninth_Scribe; 04-27-2007 at 04:15 PM.
Most of the "aid" isn't coming from the kindness of America's heart either. You should just read all those sales sheets. Do the math. Man... am I in the wrong business. But the door swings both ways. Sorry. I can't believe you just advocated torture, but I suppose the intel justified the means? Whatever. It changed nadda. The war is on, and it will continue to be so since the only thing both sides agree on is the sick reality that war is the only way to resolve this problem. No, I can't blame Iraqis for fighting an invasion and yes, I fully condone their use of foreign armies... as does the U.S. (Canada, U.K., etc.).
Judging from all I've learned here, this discussion is a waste of time.
Ninth Scribe
Is it? It seems you want to derail the discussion because you dont like the sad reality of it. You have now said you condone the us of foreign armies, here is my next question to you, who in Iraq asked for them? Surely not the people they are killing by almost the hundreds everyday. As I said in my first post and my last post to you, who is right and who is wrong? The "freedom fighters" that you love so much kill as many innocents a day as they kill their "enemy" every month. The US forces are rarely seen killing innocents everyday, who is the real enemy to Iraq? Who is the real reason that the country is in the state that it is in? I am asking for straight answers, dont beat around the BUSH and tell me a bunch of nonsense, just answer those questions straight up.
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left."
- Bertrand Russell
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat." - Napoleon Bonaparte
"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the
enemy." - George Washington
Is it? It seems you want to derail the discussion because you dont like the sad reality of it. You have now said you condone the us of foreign armies, here is my next question to you, who in Iraq asked for them? Surely not the people they are killing by almost the hundreds everyday. As I said in my first post and my last post to you, who is right and who is wrong? The "freedom fighters" that you love so much kill as many innocents a day as they kill their "enemy" every month. The US forces are rarely seen killing innocents everyday, who is the real enemy to Iraq? Who is the real reason that the country is in the state that it is in? I am asking for straight answers, dont beat around the BUSH and tell me a bunch of nonsense, just answer those questions straight up.
Your answers are simple its the people in charge of America that are responsible, they are the enemy to you and the whole world, their only friend is money.
Why was Iraq invaded well the list is endless, but you can be certain the things not to be included in that list are WMD, or liberating Iraqis.
The regime in US has the blood of many on their hands, but it will not be long before the nausea of living in a artificially controlled environment hits home in the western world. This is leading to just as worse in the western world as it is in the middle east.
May Allah SWT give patience and victory to all the muslims over their opressors. Ameen
Your answers are simple its the people in charge of America that are responsible, they are the enemy to you and the whole world, their only friend is money.
Why was Iraq invaded well the list is endless, but you can be certain the things not to be included in that list are WMD, or liberating Iraqis.
The regime in US has the blood of many on their hands, but it will not be long before the nausea of living in a artificially controlled environment hits home in the western world. This is leading to just as worse in the western world as it is in the middle east.
May Allah SWT give patience and victory to all the muslims over their opressors. Ameen
so to you the enemies are the US forces in Iraq that are trying to stabilize and not the ones who are killing all of the civilians and creating anarchy? Why would Allah grant victory to these people, they are not protecting or serving, they are killing and punishing the Iraqis, not the US, how can you not see this? By the way you only answered 1 question
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left."
- Bertrand Russell
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat." - Napoleon Bonaparte
"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the
enemy." - George Washington
Why does it matter who claims it? That's a remarkable question.
The call to jihad we see is not a function of these killers being “made" by U.S. foreign policy, their hatres of Jews or any others’ foreign policy. They are in fact, mobilized by it when it doesn’t yield to their arrogant claims of entitlement.
The names they operate under are subordinate to the cause of their ideology: Islamic Jihad, Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah (Hamas), Abu Sayyaf, Tanzim Qa'idat Al-Jihad in Bilad al-Rafidayn (al-Qaeda in Iraq), Hizbullah, Al-Ikhwan Al-Moslemoon (the Muslim Brotherhood), and countless others.
Jihad is a fundamental component of orthodox Islamic doctrine, and it always has been.
What more evidence do you need that this is the way of the world before we went into Iraq? If 9/11 doesn't convince people like you that life and liberty are not the primary concern of these murderous Islamic ideologues, then nothing will. Maybe a 737 plowing into another mega building on a pastoral September day will make you realize how deeply and just-as-likely a victim you are as anyone else.
Are you saying such people twist Islamic doctrine or are you saying Islamic doctrine itself is to blame?
so to you the enemies are the US forces in Iraq that are trying to stabilize and not the ones who are killing all of the civilians and creating anarchy? Why would Allah grant victory to these people, they are not protecting or serving, they are killing and punishing the Iraqis, not the US, how can you not see this? By the way you only answered 1 question
We have to use some brain cell’s here. What happens if you take down a government?
Something called a power vacuum, where people try and get as much power as they can.
They US destroyed a government that had a police force, army and the economy of Iraq.
They made a nice green zone for the US and ally’s …..the other Iraqis well they have to fight for themselves. So then you take out the structure of a country you get anarchy.
So are you saying that the US has killed more civilians in Iraq than these other groups or not? I can answer it for you but I would like it better if you posted it yourself.. When the US does leave Iraq, and the time is coming, these people will fight and kill many many many more civilians and Iraq will be under the control of another tyrant. Would you rather the US leave and allow this or stay and at least try to stop it?
The Numb3rs themselves aren't at issue here. One day the U.S. will lead the body count and a month later the Mujahideen will take the lead. It can change, so it's pointless to follow the body count. It's about how the agression is justified.
Don't be too worried about what will happen after the U.S. leaves. This isn't the first time someone opened the gates to Baghdad... and there are ways to reconcile the family. But the government that has been appointed is obviously not acceptable, if for any other reason, to accept it, is an admission of Iraq's defeat by America. These are proud and honorable men and they will not be so easily disgraced. America is not the one to stop what it was the one to start. It only adds insult to injury.
And, I don't agree with Al Qaeda in all ways. In fact, I've completed a very detailed study of Kaab al-Ahbar that I intend to use to demonstrate how much I disapprove of these conversions by sword (their plan is to convert the world in 100 years time). If you want, I'll PM you that page. It is a check-mate.
Words are my best weapon
The Ninth Scribe
Last edited by Ninth_Scribe; 04-28-2007 at 08:05 PM.
Is it? It seems you want to derail the discussion because you dont like the sad reality of it. You have now said you condone the us of foreign armies, here is my next question to you, who in Iraq asked for them? Surely not the people they are killing by almost the hundreds everyday. As I said in my first post and my last post to you, who is right and who is wrong? The "freedom fighters" that you love so much kill as many innocents a day as they kill their "enemy" every month. The US forces are rarely seen killing innocents everyday, who is the real enemy to Iraq? Who is the real reason that the country is in the state that it is in? I am asking for straight answers, dont beat around the BUSH and tell me a bunch of nonsense, just answer those questions straight up.
I'm not trying to derail your discussion. I'm just saying there is very little I can add that hasn't been covered already. You have yet to produce a presentation of facts that will change my view and I obviously cannot produce a presentation that you would find acceptable. So I judge the matter pointless. When I judge a matter... it is a personal judgment that only concerns my path. Not yours. The judgment is that I need to stop this and go back to the drawing board (for the thousenth time) and produce another presentation!
I can answer the question you asked: Who invited the foreign fighters? The Iraqis did. Zarqawi answered the call from Ansar al Sunnah. Now there is collective, the Islamic State of Iraq - of which one military wing is Zarqawi's Al Qaeda in Iraq. In other words, Al Qaeda in Iraq does not run the state. They merely defend it.
The Ninth Scribe
Last edited by Ninth_Scribe; 04-28-2007 at 09:08 PM.
I'm not trying to derail your discussion. I'm just saying there is very little I can add that hasn't been covered already. You have yet to produce a presentation of facts that will change my view and I obviously cannot produce a presentation that you would find acceptable. So I judge the matter pointless. When I judge a matter... it is a personal judgment that only concerns my path. Not yours. The judgment is that I need to stop this and go back to the drawing board (for the thousenth time) and produce another presentation!
I can answer the question you asked: Who invited the foreign fighters? The Iraqis did. Zarqawi answered the call from Ansar al Sunnah. Now there is collective, the Islamic State of Iraq - of which one military wing is Zarqawi's Al Qaeda in Iraq. In other words, Al Qaeda in Iraq does not run the state. They merely defend it.
The Ninth Scribe
Then you have to deal with the fact that there is no "Islamic State of Iraq", only the suggestion of such a thing. Zarqawi is dead. The Sunni insurgency has become almost exclusively devoted to killing Shia, and vice versa.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
Do you not understand that the most prolific killers of Moslems are other Moslems? The tribal warfare and tit for tat killings are further exasperated by the centuries old feud that divides the sunnni and shia.
They didn't fight each other until AFTER the U.S. invaded and Divisions are like branches on the same tree... its all a question of proper names and places. Ye of little faith. The Bush Administrations makes excuses for itself, but the result will not change.
format_quote Originally Posted by Ruggedtouch
Just who is it that Al Qaeda is defending Iraq from; other Iraqi’s? <-- That’s a rhetorical question!
Certain of the Iraqis see it that way and they don't care for the Bush administration's excuses and justifications. Since the Bush administration has decreed that a contest of war will decide the new government... so be it.
Thus far, all I've heard is Americans accuse others of being guilty of the same crimes it has commited. From wedding parties to children to civilians to sectarian preferences to outside interference. I can still hear the whining: "Well, Al Qaeda used chlorine bombs and made people sick. - as if this is any different from America's use of White Phosphorous in Falluja? Spare me the complaints. It takes two (2) to make a war and for every American who thinks like you, there is a Arab who doesn't.
You might want to run those numbers a bit more carefully. Both sides can insure this contest will last for generations.
The Ninth Scribe
Last edited by Ninth_Scribe; 04-29-2007 at 06:02 PM.
Then you have to deal with the fact that there is no "Islamic State of Iraq", only the suggestion of such a thing. Zarqawi is dead. The Sunni insurgency has become almost exclusively devoted to killing Shia, and vice versa.
Hmm... so the 99 U.S. soldiers who died this month are the result of a... suggestion? Wow!
Can't wait to see what happens when they become a... statement.
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and share your thoughts. Sign Up
Quote
Hide
Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
Bookmarks