Here is still more evidence of the impossibility of distinguishing jihadists from anti-jihadists in Iraq. This is of course exacerbated also by the stubborn unwillingness of the American leadership even to address this problem properly, and to begin speaking out about the jihad ideology of Islamic supremacism and the necessity for Iraqis to renounce and restrict political Islam, the way Ataturk restricted it for the Turks in the 1920s, if they really have any desire (which in itself is doubtful) to establish a viable republic.
By Lee Keath for The Associated Press (thanks to Diana West):
BAGHDAD (AP) — U.S. forces battled Iraqi police and gunmen Friday, killing six policemen, after an American raid captured an Iraqi police lieutenant accused of leading a cell of Shiite militiamen, the military said.Seven gunmen also died in the fight, a rare open street battle between American troops and policemen. Washington has demanded the government purge its police force of militants, and U.S. and Iraqi authorities have arrested officers in the past for militia links. But the Bush administration said in an assessment Thursday that progress on that front was "unsatisfactory."
The lieutenant was captured before dawn in eastern Baghdad, but the soldiers came under "heavy and accurate fire" from a nearby Iraqi police checkpoint, as well as intense fire from rooftops and a church, the military said in a statement.
No doubt this was intended to draw return fire that could be portrayed before an eager international media as "American forces fire on church."
As the Americans fired back, U.S. warplanes struck in front of the police position, without hitting it directly, "to prevent further escalation" of the battle, it said. There were no casualties among the U.S. troops, but seven gunmen and six of the policemen firing on the Americans were killed, the statement said.The captured lieutenant was a "high-ranking" leader of a cell suspected of helping coordinate Iranian support for Shiite extremists in Iraq as well as carrying out roadside bombings against mortar attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces, the military said. The lieutenant is believed to be linked to the Quds Force, a branch of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, it said.
A spokesman for the Iraqi Interior Ministry, which controls the police, said he had no immediate information on the clash and refused to comment.
The U.S. military accuses Iran's Quds Force of organizing Shiite militants into so-called "special groups" and arming them with weapons and explosives — including a particularly deadly form of roadside bombs called explosively formed penetrators. Iran denies the claims.
Infiltration by Shiite militias is pervasive in the Iraqi police, fueling a deep mistrust of the force among Iraq's Sunni Arab minority, who often accuse policemen of involvement in kidnappings and slaying of Sunnis — or at least ignoring them.
...some time ago a convoy of men dressed in police uniforms, driving Iraqi police vehicles entered an Iraqi secured "safe compound", kidnapped and killed 4 American soldiers...I wonder if the Iraqi police officers killed were participants in this incident....
.....An American soldier should only trust another American soldier....and keep everyone else in front....
Islam is for losers....
This isn't bad news for the educated infidel. Given the astonishing brutality of the Sunni takfiris, I would expect the Shia of Iraq to know precisely what they're dealing with. Anyone who thinks Iran will just walk in and take over when the US vamooses outta there hasn't read up on al-Qaeda.
GWB has started the Muslim War of the Millenium.
It will last decades, centuries, forever...
It's so incredible how the most zealously religious people on Earth are also the most violent and murderous.
Hey Islamists - Do you see a contradiction there?
No, I didn't think so.
"As the Americans fired back, U.S. warplanes struck in front of the police position, without hitting it directly, "to prevent further escalation" of the battle, it said."
Imagine if we had fought WWII or the Revolution or any war in a way "to prevent further escalation of the battle????" The best way to do that is to kill as many of the enemy combattants as quickly as possible. That doctrine still holds even here, when fighting the hydra-headed Jihadis. This PC nonsense has no place when our troops are under fire.
President Bush just dismisses our anger and frustration at Iraqi jihadists as "war fatigue".
Those poor, downtrodden Shiites are just feeling their oats, huh? Maybe this is growing pains? Let's hear how the American Constitution took thirteen years to take effect after the Declaration of Independence. (It's a distortion, since our first government was set up two years before the Revolutionary War even ended. Although it was weak and proved to be insufficient, it nevertheless remained in place until the Constitution was ratified and George Washington was elected. And all of this was done with horse and buggy travel. No modern communications. What is Iraq's excuse?)
This lieutenant was working with the Iranian police forces. So how would Iran "take over" Iraq if we left? Iraqis are already joining Iran in a de facto union while we are in the room. The only people we are "protecting" from Iran are the Kurds. And if we are forced to leave a brigade or two in Iraq to defend the Kurds even after the Arabs decide to stop their own mutual slaughter, how long will it be before the Kurds decide they might as well be independent? What would they gain by remaining in a confederation with people who are willing to kill them once they get around to it?
The Shiites are busy with the Arab Sunnis right now, but why should any Kurd think that once the Sunnis have been disposed of, they won't be next on the Shia hit list? They're Sunnis, too.
Why is Al-Sadur still alive?? We are not fighting to win. The President keeps talking about finishing the job. WELL LET'S FINISH IT!!! Stop the diplomacy crap and untie our military's hands.
The only thing they understand is overwhelming force. We have it. We need to use it.
""As the Americans fired back, U.S. warplanes struck in front of the police position, without hitting it directly, "
.....obviously, they need to partake in more sessions on the practice range....
I think our training them will continue to come back to haunt us...as they learn our weapons and tactics, they will us them against us more and more as this conflict continues.
er...USE them against us.
I would hope that the Viet Nam war Phoenix Program has been re-instituted in Iraq and wherever Jihadi operate. Identifying and removing key planning and operational personnel is a primary key to stopping global Jihad. Phoenix is just the type program needed to root out Jihadi infiltrators wherever they are.
The problem with the conflicts in both Iraq and Afghanistan is that our soldiers do not know who the enemy really is. Is it the little old lady walking down the street with the cane, or is it the 11 year old little boy riding his bike down the street?? Those who we are to trust; can not be trusted.
Greetings:
My brother and I against our cousin; My cousin and I against the stranger.
Its not that these guys have no allegiance, it's that they have too many allegiances.
So... now that the Iraqi Security Forces have "stood up" (though not quite in the way once envisioned), can we finally "stand down"?
"Why is Al-Sadur still alive??" Well, good question. This was reported on several months ago. The reason is fairly straightforward. How the Iraqi "government" currently operates is through political "parties" -- but these political parties, only gain their clout through the power of armed militias...in other words, if you're a member of Party X, you'll only have "respectability" if you can demonstrate your power/control (that's through armed gunmen at your command). AND, guess who al-Maliki's "armed militia" which props him up is? Why, you guessed it! It's Muqtada al-Sadr ...the radically anti-American, fire-brand Islamist. That's why no one goes after al-Sadr (if they did, Maliki would be finished.) (I've also read the al-Sadr gets his marching orders from Iran.)
The US must get off the oil dependency it has been on. People need to stop buying the 300 HP and start getting the 4 cylinder ones. Auto makers must push out more affordable hybrid models. I'm sick of the god damned Arabs controlling us because of oil. People, please consciously start to change wasteful habits. Thank you
U.S. troops battle Iraqi police, gunmen
Another "no shit Sherlock" moment , folks.
From songdongnigh"I would hope that the Viet Nam war Phoenix Program has been re-instituted in Iraq and wherever Jihadi operate. Identifying and removing key planning and operational personnel is a primary key to stopping global Jihad. Phoenix is just the type program needed to root out Jihadi infiltrators wherever they are."
Very true. The Phoenix program would certainly have increasd the tactical effectiveness greatly.
However, for a Phoenix program to work we need huge dollops of INTEL , and , boy , do we have none or what.
One reason lies in the fundamental flaw in the invasion. The Iraqis are supposed to love us , remember ? All the crap about dancing in the streets , etc.
That's why the Administration talk non stop of only fighting people who are coming from outside of Iraq to fight. They are still pretending this violence is originating from outside of the country.
Another problem is it won't clear up the strategic failure. Even if Iraq's violence completely disappears, the constitution will still based on the Kuran and these crazed muslims will still be voting for their crazed candidates.
So , even if the yanks win, they still lose.
That's how bad this crazy this "Let's invade Iraq" plan really is. There is no winning solution. NONE. We're fucked whatever we do
Democracy for these people is the worst possible idea. EVER . Even the crazed Saudi government are preferable to the democratic alternative which would see Bin Laden in power on a landslide.
The invasion of Iraq must surely go down as the most naive, lazy, arrogant plan in history.
In Roman days they'd cut off the leaders heads if they f*&*^d up. Maybe the Romans were onto something.
Trust no Muslim!!!!Trust no Islamic!!!!They will shake your hands with the right and cut your throat with the left...while grinning at you.