Iraq police dismiss US claims in Falluja

[leftchick]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/EA2EC375-43E7-43B7-80E9-3C1E2CDFE1A2.htm

<snip>


Top Iraqi security officials in the city of Falluja have dismissed US claims that a house destroyed by a deadly American air strike was used by al-Qaida fighters.

Brigadier Nuri Abudi, a member of the Falluja Brigade entrusted by the US occupation with imposing security in the city, said evidence showed the destroyed building was the home of an extended Iraqi family.

"We inspected the damage, we looked through the bodies of the women and children and elderly. This was a family," he said on Sunday.

"There is no sign of foreigners having lived in the house. Zarqawi and his men have no presence in Falluja," he said, referring to Abu Mussab Zarqawi.

[bemildred]

1. Suckered again. nt

[UpInArms]

2. related article: Senior officer of Fallujah Brigade disputes U.S. airstrik

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-06-20-iraq-airstrike_x.ht...

FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) — A senior officer of the U.S.-backed Fallujah Brigade on Sunday disputed U.S. claims that an American airstrike had hit a safehouse of terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's network.

The Health Ministry said at least 16 people were killed in the attack Saturday; witnesses put the number of dead at least 20, including women and children.

Col. Mohammed Awad said members of the Fallujah Brigade had investigated the site and "affirmed to us that the inhabitants of the houses were ordinary families including women, children and elders."

"There was no sign that foreigners have lived in the house," Awad said.

Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, coalition deputy operations chief, told reporters Saturday that multiple intelligence sources reported that the house was used by the al-Zarqawi network, which U.S. officials believe operates in Fallujah.

...more...

I despise Kimmitt - he is a criminal and should be imprisoned at the Hague for life.

Although USA Today has proven itself to be a rather shoddy paper (was there a question?) I am glad that they are printing this in the US - not too many US sources for any of the truth these days.

[maggrwaggr]

3. "we looked through the bodies of the women and children and elderly"

I guess that falls into the "kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out" SOP.

nice! Proud to be an American this father's day

[sampsonblk]

4. Happy Father's Day

Dead women and children??? ...disgusting. I think I am going to take my son for a walk or something. Maybe a prayer would also be in order. This is sickening.

[UpInArms]

5. in the inimitable words of Gen. Kimmitt

The Marines and coalition officials say they doubt many civilians have been killed in Fallujah and promise that their rules of engagement limit civilian casualties. "My solution is change the channel," Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said earlier this week, after being asked about TV images of dead Iraqi civilians.

"The stations that are showing Americans intentionally killing women and children are not legitimate news sources, that is propaganda, and that is lies."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0415/p01s02-woiq.html

[Woodstock]

6. Just like with the wedding party

Would Bush authorize missile strikes on Crawford, Texas under similar circumstances? Why is Iraqi life worth less than American life? I'm so sick of the slaughter of innocents in our name.