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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: tejek who wrote (208707)	10/26/2004 2:57:09 PM
From: Road Walker	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1574216

Ungrateful? Iraq Blames U.S.-Led Forces for Army Massacre 43 minutes ago Top Stories - Reuters By Michael Georgy BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq (news - web sites)'s U.S.-backed government said on Tuesday that "major neglect" by its American-led military allies led to a massacre of 49 army recruits at the weekend. In one of the bloodiest attacks on Iraq's fledgling security forces, the unarmed recruits were shot in the back of their heads after being stopped by guerrillas posing as policemen as they traveled home for leave in the northeast of the country. "There was an ugly crime in which a large group of National Guards were martyred," Prime Minister Iyad Allawi told Iraq's national assembly. "We believe this issue was the outcome of major neglect by some parts of the multinational (forces)," he said without elaborating. A statement by the U.S.-led multinational forces in Iraq blamed the killings on "terrorists." "This was a cold-blooded and systematic massacre by terrorists. They and no one else, must be held fully accountable for these heinous acts," it said. "The IIG (interim government) is investigating this tragic incident. We will provide full support and cooperation to establish the facts and avoid repetition of similar events," it said. It was not clear if U.S.-led forces were involved with or trained the army recruits at the Kirkush base where they were stationed. Hours after Allawi spoke, an Iraqi militant group said it had abducted 11 members of the Iraqi National Guard and posted their pictures on its Web site on Tuesday. "We captured 11 of the apostates," the Army of Ansar al-Sunna said in the statement, dated Oct. 21. The authenticity of the statement and pictures could not be immediately verified. A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said he had no information on the abductions. Allawi had ordered investigators to find out if the attackers had inside information, a source close to Allawi said. Iraq's interim government faces the daunting task of containing a relentless insurgency with security forces who cannot protect themselves ahead of elections scheduled for January. U.S. troops stepped up pressure on the rebel-held Iraqi city of Falluja on Tuesday, the epicenter of resistance to the interim government and its U.S. allies. American forces cut off roads and reinforced positions around the town as jets criss-crossed the sky ahead of an expected assault designed to crush al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his Muslim militant network. Witnesses said U.S. tanks and armored vehicles blocked the main highway to Jordan that runs just north of Falluja, as warplanes roared overhead. Troops took up positions in empty buildings on the Sunni Muslim city's southern perimeter. A civilian driver was shot dead near a U.S. checkpoint on the highway, witnesses said. The military said it was checking the report. Only one road leading northwest out of Falluja, 50 km (32 miles) west of Baghdad, was open to civilian traffic. FAMILIES FLEE FALLUJA Many families have already fled Falluja fearing a U.S. offensive to bring the city under government control. The U.S. military said it carried out a "precision strike" on a Zarqawi safe house in Falluja, killing one of his aides. It did not name the man or his nationality. Residents said one house was destroyed and three damaged in the strike. Hospital officials reported no casualties. It was the second time in a few days the military said it had eliminated a Zarqawi associate without identifying him. On Saturday it said it captured a "senior leader" of the group in a raid in southern Falluja. Interim Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said the government was seeking a political solution in Falluja to "separate the local population from the foreign fighters, the terrorists. "We are trying to exhaust all political channels and avenues before any final decision is made," he told the BBC. Falluja residents deny foreign fighters led by Zarqawi are in their midst. They say they will accept the return of Iraqi security forces, but want no Americans to set foot in the city. Zarqawi's group has claimed responsibility for suicide bombings, hostage beheadings and other attacks, including the weekend slaughter of the army recruits and three civilian drivers on a remote road. Iraq has witnessed a surge in violence since the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began in mid-October. Tuesday was an unusually calm day. Two roadside bombs blew up near police patrols in Baquba, northeast of Baghdad, on Tuesday, killing one policeman and wounding seven, police said. Two civilians were also wounded.

To: tejek who wrote (208707)	10/26/2004 3:01:34 PM
From: Tenchusatsu	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1574216

Ted, It tells you little about secularism but it tells you a lot about how the lines between church and state have blurred under this administration. These days, the line between church and state is being drawn by those who think freedom of religion means freedom FROM religion. It's the reason why the ACLU is forcing L.A. County to remove a tiny little cross from its seal, costing taxpayers there $80,000. A small price to pay to enforce the separation between church and state? Or the result of secularism run amok? Tenchusatsu