AP: U.S. troops say 100 militants captured near Najaf

[Eugene]

U.S. troops say 100 militants captured near Najaf

41 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - In its first full statement on what Iraqi officials called a major
battle with a messianic cult south of Baghdad, the U.S. military said on Monday that
100 militants were captured in the operation.

It made no mention of Iraqi officials' accounts of 200-300 cult followers killed in nearly
24 hours of fighting near the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf. The only casualties it reported
were two U.S. soldiers killed when their helicopter came down during the fighting. Their
deaths were reported on Sunday.

Describing the enemy as both "insurgents" and "militias," terms frequently applied to Sunnis
and Shi'ites respectively, the military said the incident began when more than 200 gunmen
attacked a joint Iraqi army and police patrol investigating a report of a planned attack
on pilgrims near Najaf.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070129/wl_nm/iraq_najaf_usa_dc_1

[spanone]

1. Now we're fighting messianic cults? Plus Shia plus Sunni? Get the feelin' we're not welcome?

[maddezmom]

2. how many women and children?

this story is so freaking strange on so many levels.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. "U.S. troops say..."

Hmm. Somebody's trying to pass off the military's bullshit on the troops.

[BluePatriot]

4. Cue the Iranian passports (nt)

[justiceischeap]

5. Messianic Cult

Isn't "messianic" traditionally associated with Christianity?

So now we're killing Christians? Way to go Shrub!