US soldiers ransack Sunni mosque

[Zhade]

Not getting much attention in LBN, so I figured I'd throw it in here, too...


US soldiers ransack Sunni mosque

Iraq's minority faith targeted in hunt for weapons

Luke Harding in Baghdad
Saturday January 3, 2004
The Guardian

Surrounded by upturned chairs and an abandoned turban, Sabah Al-Kaisey surveyed his ransacked office yesterday.

The American troops who burst into his mosque on Thursday morning had smashed down the front gate, broken the air conditioners and ripped up the carpets. They had also thrown several Korans on the floor and allegedly punched the man giving the call to prayer in the face.

"They even took our nuts," said Mr Kaisey yesterday, opening the door of the mosque's empty fridge.

The troops who raided the Ibn Taymiyah mosque, used by Baghdad's Sunnis, appear to have been looking for weapons used by Iraq's resistance. They recovered a couple of AK-47s, hand grenades and an anti-aircraft missile, US military officials said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1115334,00.html

[IranianDemocrat]

1. America sucks! All soldiers are evil!

I guess this is what you want to hear huh?

[wtmusic]

2. America's Great! Our Soldiers Would Never Do Something Like That!

That what *you* want to hear?

[Zhade]

3. Uh...sure. Whatever you say, pal.

I was merely pointing to an unfortunate bit of news that, if true (and likely it is, as the Guardian is an excellent paper), will mean even worse things for the soldiers and the civilians in Iraq.

I hardly think all soldiers are evil. I demonstrated against this illegal war because I - unlike those advocating the war - actually support the troops as individuals, and would prefer they stay alive rather than die for lies and imperial greed on the orders of a traitor to this country.

[madforffingyears]

4. I knew it!

The truth finally comes out that the US soldiers are really just commom criminals and want to exploit the Iraq treasures. Why do we allow this to happen?

[Columbia]

5. Are you kidding?

You conveniently didn't bold this part:

The troops who raided the Ibn Taymiyah mosque, used by Baghdad's Sunnis, appear to have been looking for weapons used by Iraq's resistance. They recovered a couple of AK-47s, hand grenades and an anti-aircraft missile, US military officials said.

[jmatthan]

6. and of course you must believe your military officials!!

eom

[Columbia]

7. Seems to me

You believe what you want to believe regardless of evidence contrary to your preconceived notions of truth.

[Aidoneus]

8. that's not exactly an arsenal

The mosque's imam refers to these as being used by guards for defending the site. The AA is a bit hard to swallow, admittedly, but considering how dangerous things are even that isn't too surprising. This small selection that was supposedly found by occupation forces isn't exactly the sort of arsenal that could supply a resistance force, and instead suggests that of a small security detail to defend the site. But obviously they didn't defend the mosque well enough, for they could not prevent it from being assaulted and robbed by your pals..

[Columbia]

9. Let's think here...

Yes, the imam is really going to say "Yes, I've been letting the insurgents use this Mosque as a base of operations. Fortunately, we were able to use up most of the hand grenades and anti-aircraft missles in our last few attacks before we got caught. Praise Allah."

Defending the site... sure...

[DocSavage]

12. Small Arsenal

A couple of AK's I could believe, but the premise that AA rockets and Hand Grenads are used to protect the mosque is just a bit much. Last time I was at the Grenade Range, the damage that one did was quite considerable. I bet there would not be much of the interior left after a couple of those were used.

[Zhade]

11. Your aim is off.

If you want to allege some sort of bias due to non-bolding of information, try targeting the person who actually posted this - me - and not someone who had no control over the bolding issue.

In short, try reading more carefully before going off half-cocked to attack someone.

[Columbia]

13. I didn't mean him

My apologies

[Deja Q]

17. Iraq is defending itself the best it can...

If the US was invaded for whatever valuables it has (which, judging by the pay, must surely be actors, football players, and corporate CEOs - the very things few people would really want...), you can bet your sweet bippy that our churches would be converted to armories as well.

[izzie]

10. The bad thing is the people in Iraq think we did it, T or F?

Half the people in this country think Saddam did 911 so their you are.

[heidler]

14. If the US is wrecking stuff yet will this add to the our rebuilding costs?

I presume yes. If we're going to put Iraq back together then why do we keep digging the hole deeper?

[RedSock]

15. OUCH

"They even took our nuts," said Mr Kaisey ...


:)

[Sir Craig]

16. *Sigh*

"Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt."
(Men willingly believe what they wish.)
- Julius Caesar

"The newspaper is of necessity something of a monopoly, and its first duty is to shun the temptations of monopoly. Its primary office is the gathering of news. At the peril of its soul it must see that the supply is not tainted. Neither in what it gives, nor in what it does not give, nor in the mode of presentation, must the unclouded face of truth suffer wrong. Comment is free but facts are sacred."
- C.P. Scott (1846-1932)

That is all I have to say about this continuing tirade against American soldiers, not just on this thread but on all the others as well. It is clear that, even with a total lack of facts and a whole lot of rumor and supposition, there will be no objective discussions possible.

But that is not going to stop the call to arms, will it?

:eyes:

<edit> By the way, here is another article about those evil American soldiers. Sorry if it doesn't fit the popular view around here.