10.03.2004
Military activity in Samarra and elsewhere.
US and Iraqi government officials claim that the worst of the past days' fierce fight in the Sunni stronghold of Samarra has ended. Lengthy AP report.
The so-called resistance is adamant that no successful elections are to be held in January. Their sole objective is instability. What are they fighting for? That's the question that these people must answer objectively and clearly.
In this same article, another very interesting piece of information is gleaned:
That's rather odd. What interest does 'the resistance' in Iraq have in a 'cleric' in Indonesia? How does that play out on the streets of Baghdad?
Omar of Iraq the Model reports that four tribal chiefs in the city of Fallujah are fed up with militants there, and are ready to galvanize their people to rid the city of them.
This is good news. It says: "No, we want no more of US forces shedding the blood of our people -- we'll do it ourselves, thank you."
US and Iraqi government officials claim that the worst of the past days' fierce fight in the Sunni stronghold of Samarra has ended. Lengthy AP report.
Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan claimed success, telling the Arab television station Al Arabiya: "It is over in Samarra."
Maj. Gen. John Batiste, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, said he was "very confident that the future of Samarra is good."
"This is great news for the people of Samarra, 200,000 people who have been held captive, hostage if you will, by just a couple of hundred thugs," he said.
The so-called resistance is adamant that no successful elections are to be held in January. Their sole objective is instability. What are they fighting for? That's the question that these people must answer objectively and clearly.
In this same article, another very interesting piece of information is gleaned:
Another group said it had kidnapped 10 hostages -- six Iraqis, two Lebanese and two Indonesian women. It demanded the release of a hard-line Indonesian cleric imprisoned in his home country, but the cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, demanded the militants release the women and rejected any release as a result of kidnapping.
That's rather odd. What interest does 'the resistance' in Iraq have in a 'cleric' in Indonesia? How does that play out on the streets of Baghdad?
Omar of Iraq the Model reports that four tribal chiefs in the city of Fallujah are fed up with militants there, and are ready to galvanize their people to rid the city of them.
Same sources pointed out that thousands of armed men from these tribes are ready to sweep the city of Fallujah, and that they have received letters from many respectable figures in Fallujah including some clerics that plead to the Iraqi tribes to save the citizens of Fallujah from the deteriorating condition under the rule of armed gangs and terrorists.
On the other hand a declaration signed by major political parties and social groups in Fallujah was distributed in the city confirming that the people of Fallujah support strongly holding the elections at the decided time on the condition that it should be honest. The declaration affirmed their support to the IP and ING in their attempts to restore order to the city, yet they said that they will stand against any American attack on their city.
This is good news. It says: "No, we want no more of US forces shedding the blood of our people -- we'll do it ourselves, thank you."
// posted by HunterByrd @ 9:46 AM 
