'Foreign Nationals' Gunned Down in Iraq

[NetGear]

Anti-war RATs will be quietly pleased at this development, because they will see it as a Coalition failure.

Bomb Kills Five U.S. Troops in Iraq
Mar 31, 7:30 AM (ET)

By SAMEER N. YACOUB

FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) - In one of the bloodiest days in weeks for the U.S. military, five troops died when a bomb exploded under their military vehicle west of Baghdad on Wednesday. At least four foreign nationals, including one American, were killed in a separate attack and some of the bodies were burned, beaten and hanged from a bridge.

The explosive device that killed the American troops blew up when their vehicle ran over it, U.S. Army Col. Jill Morgenthaler said in Baghdad. The attack happened in Anbar province, which encompasses Fallujah, Ramadi and other towns where anti-U.S. insurgents are active.

Residents said the bomb attack occurred in Malahma, 12 miles northwest of Fallujah. U.S. Marines operate in the area, but it was unclear whether the slain troops were Marines.

In another attack Wednesday, gunmen in Fallujah attacked two four-wheel-drive civilian vehicles, killing their occupants and setting the cars on fire. Some witnesses said four people were in the vehicles, others said six.

Footage from Associated Press Television News showed one man beating a corpse with a metal pole. Others tied a cord to one of the bodies, attached it to a car and drove it down a street, surrounded by a cheering crowd. An Associated Press reporter saw two blackened bodies hanging from a bridge.

[David Gold]

The sickos representing the Religion Of Peace. The good news is that the majority of Iraqis hate these people too. Reuters

Iraqis Drag Bodies Through Streets After Attack
49 minutes ago Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo!


By Michael Georgy

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - A vengeful crowd of cheering Iraqis dragged the burned and mutilated bodies of four contractors -- three of them American -- through the streets of Falluja Wednesday after killing them in a vehicle ambush.



In a separate attack five American soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb was detonated beside their armored vehicle convoy west of Baghdad, the U.S. army said.


The White House vowed that the United States would stay the course in Iraq (news - web sites) despite another bloody day.


The Falluja violence began when guerrillas attacked two four-wheel-drive vehicles on a main road. A crowd set the vehicles ablaze and dragged the bodies through the streets of the town 50 km (32 miles) west of Baghdad, witnesses said.


Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, deputy director of operations for the U.S. army in Iraq, said all four contractors in the vehicles were killed. He said they were working for the U.S.-led occupation authority in Iraq.


A State Department official in Washington said three of the four were U.S. citizens but gave no further details.


"These are horrific attacks by people who are trying to prevent democracy from moving forward, but democracy is taking root," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. He said the United States was holding fast to a June 30 deadline for handing over power in Iraq to a transitional Iraqi government.


Television pictures from Falluja showed one incinerated body being kicked and its head being stamped on by a member of the jubilant crowd, while others dragged a charred and blackened body by its feet.


As one corpse lay burning on the ground, an Iraqi came and doused it with petrol, sending flames soaring into the air. At least two bodies, their skin burned away, were tied to cars and pulled through the streets, witnesses said.


"THE FATE OF ALL AMERICANS"


"This is the fate of all Americans who come to Falluja," said Mohammad Nafik, one of the crowd surrounding the bodies.


Some body parts were pulled off and left hanging from a telephone cable, while two incinerated bodies were later strung from a bridge and left dangling there.


A young boy beat one of the incinerated bodies after it was pulled down with his shoe as a crowd cheered.


"I am happy to see this. The Americans are occupying us so this is what will happen," said Mohammad, 12, looking on.


As the victims lay burning, a crowd of around 150 men chanted "Long live Islam" and "Allahu Akbar" ("God is Greatest") while flashing victory signs for the television cameras.


No U.S. soldiers or Iraqi police were seen in the area for several hours after the attack, but a U.S. fighter plane roared overhead, prompting the crowd to scatter.


Falluja has been one of the most violent, restive towns in Iraq since the U.S.-led occupation began. There are almost daily strikes against U.S. military convoys in the area.


More than 400 U.S. soldiers have been killed in action since the start of the war, many of them in attacks using improvised explosive devices -- charges hidden in a plastic bag, soft drink can or dead animal and wired to a simple detonator.

As well as attacks on U.S. and coalition troops, there has been a sharp increase in insurgent strikes against foreign civilians in recent weeks.

In March alone, 12 foreign civilians have been killed in drive-by shootings or similar attacks.

With less than 100 days to go before U.S. authorities hand over sovereignty to an Iraqi government, the U.S. military, Iraqi police and other local security forces are still battling to bring security to the country.

Wednesday's scenes were reminiscent of an October 1993 incident in Somalia when 18 U.S. Army Rangers and one Malaysian were killed in the downing by Somali militias of two U.S. helicopters. Mobs dragged the corpses of Americans through the streets of Mogadishu. (Additional reporting by Fiona O'Brien)

[rachel]

"It is a worthy thing to fight for one's freedom; it is another sight finer to fight for another man's." --Mark Twain

[Bodie]

The question isn't whether or not the Iraqi's hate the insurgents too. The question is whether or not the Iraqi's will ever do anything about them on their own.

[NetGear]

That's what has been on my mind all day, Bodie. It's now time for law-abiding Iraqis to realize that they need to wake-up and smell the curry. Yes, we're there, now, but one day we will not be there. Start developing your own way of intelligence and elimination, and direct it at the insurgents; while they're asleep. A knife to the throat, a bullet to the head. Quietly and in a methodical manner.

[HarrysAfroHut]

while they're asleep. A knife to the throat, a bullet to the head. Quietly and in a methodical manner.

Rambo alive and well in your world then? I think that part of the idea of this invasion was to establish the rule of law and part of that (and correct me if I'm wrong), does not involve letting armed militia's run round declaring who is guilty because of multiple possible reasons (political, tribal, family etc) and afterwards declaring them a terrorist.

Do you really think that will work or does it just sound good?

"It is a worthy thing to fight for one's freedom; it is another sight finer to fight for another man's." --Mark Twain

nice. Here's another from the great man..

“Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception.”

The Mysterious Stranger (1916) Chapter 9

Uncanny!

[NetGear]

Works for me, Afro.

[DoubtingThomas]

It's ironic that Rachel quotes Twain because he almost certainly would have opposed the Iraq War. He was an outspoken critic of the Philippine War during which US imperialists brutally suppressed the Filipinos to gain access to trade with China.

[fs1797]

Hi Afro,

"Nice one, Cyril". Hope that doesn't date me and pre-date you(Knowles, in case it does). I lived in Norf London and supported Spurs, didn't I?

Had me puzzled there with 1916, but I see it was posthumous. I'd never heard of "The Mysterious Stranger" before.

[rachel]

It's ironic that Rachel quotes Twain because he almost certainly would have opposed the Iraq War.

Right. Nice to know that you can read minds posthumously doubt.

Between believing a thing and thinking you know is only a small step and quickly taken.
- "3,000 Years Among the Microbes"

I would rather have my ignorance than another man's knowledge, because I have so much more of it.
- Letter to W.D. Howells, 2/10/1875

--Mark Twain

Mark Twain was appalled by war in general and wrote quite a bit about his feelings regarding it. However, he was also quite frequent in his self-deprecation and acknowledgement that he wasn't all-knowing or even close to.

[Osiris]

American Optimism Tested Again After 4 U.S. Civilians Are Killed

Excerpt: By JOHN F. BURNS 11:27 PM ET
The scenes from Falluja do not appear to fit the theory put forward by the U.S. military that Islamic militants are behind attacks in Iraq.

Now tell us all about the slow process toward normalcy. That is if you can get away from debating whether or not Mark Twain was prop peace or not.

[rachel]

Oh please Os, the New York Times?

One body was tied to a car that had a poster in its window of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the founder of the Palestinian militant group Hamas who was assassinated by the Israeli military in Gaza City.

.......

Fallujah is in the so-called Sunni Triangle, where support for Saddam was strong and rebels often carry out attacks against American forces.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040401/D81LNKRO0.html

Nah, no Islamic militants in evidence here...that poster was in the car window because the owner mistook it for a "missing child" photo from a milk carton. :roll:

Now tell us all about the slow process toward normalcy. That is if you can get away from debating whether or not Mark Twain was prop peace or not.

Ok. This is part of the slow process toward normalcy. Remember WW2 Germany? The Nazis didn't all walk out with their hands on head because Hitler died...horrible casualties were racked up digging them out. No war is casualty free Os, nor is any revolution. The Iraqi revolution, with the help of the US is far less bloody than most.

Sorry if the slight, and short lived side discussion about Mark Twain tried your patience...I would never have guessed that you were such a stickler for staying on the main point by your past posts. :moon:

[NetGear]

It's American resolve that is being tested, and there are a bunch of resolve-less RATs out there. A shameful lot.

[David Gold]

The handwringers were alive and well after WWII. Allied forces in Germany suffered significant losses during the occupation. There are remarkable differences, of course. However, the difficulties of dealing with occupied Europe and Japanposed significant dangers and difficulty. Good reading.

Werwolf!: The History of the National Socialist Guerrilla Movement, 1944-1946


Werewolves

[Osiris]

I am not saying to pull out, nor anything about wringing of hands. I am talking about those post in the "near normalcy range" as what was being said earlier. This Falluja, where we see citizens, even youth involved in such desecration of a human body. How are you going to respond to that?

[HarrysAfroHut]

Works for me, Afro.

meaning you're not truly interested in peace for the Iraqi's then Netgear. Fine.

"Nice one, Cyril".

Hi fs1797.

Nice one Cyril
Nice one son
Nice one Cyril
Lets have another one!

Ah they dont make the songs like that no more eh!

Actually it does predate me but I remember the song still. I'm a Millwall boy so off to the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend (our first time since 1937 - I hope that predates you!)

[NetGear]

meaning you're not truly interested in peace for the Iraqi's

I sure don't want peace for the Iraqi insurgents, that is certain. I want them to die.

On another semi-related issue -- I despise bleeding hearts. Especially when those hearts bleed for terrorists.

[fs1797]

Hi again Afro and goodbye too,

I'm quitting this forum and a related one here in the Dallas area.

1937 does pre-date me but not by as much as I'd prefer.

Tough match up there in The Stadium of Light. Best of luck with that and promotion to the Premiership.

Thanks again for the uncanny quote from Twain. It takes a literary genius to cut through all the crap and express it so well in so few words. An American genius describing an American situation. I assume he'd reached that conclusion from the Philippine adventurism but he could just as easily have been referring to Iraq today.

[HarrysAfroHut]

Quote:
meaning you're not truly interested in peace for the Iraqi's

I sure don't want peace for the Iraqi insurgents, that is certain. I want them to die.

However the situation you described was bound to lead to bloodshed for all Iraqi's and yet still you gave your glib "works for me" response.

Not very good at thinking the situation through are you. Do you work for the Pentagon by any chance?

On another semi-related issue -- I despise bleeding hearts. Especially when those hearts bleed for terrorists.

Whats your point? I despise chickenhawk apologists for lies, murder and imperialism so looks like we'll be getting on fine then.

Hi again Afro and goodbye too,

I'm quitting this forum and a related one here in the Dallas area.

A pity fs. Let me guess, DallasDigest is the other board you are quitting? I got booted off there by the ridiculous "host" because I was too good at pointing out the fallacies of their pro-war arguments. That was BEFORE all the lies were exposed in the aftermath so just as well for them that Kevin does not allow much dissent from the GOP line.

Be lucky anyway - and keep that Twain quote handy!

[NetGear]

No big deal, Harry. We just don't agree, and it's a waste of time going back and forth, ad nauseam. You're new here, but I don't do that sort of thing. Have better things to do.

Cheerio.