Officials Quash Rumors About Bombings in Iraq

American Forces Press Service ^ | March 3, 2004 | By John D. Banusiewicz

[Calpernia]

Coalition officials in Iraq today struck down rumors surrounding the capture of would-be, failed bombers connected to the March 2 attacks that killed scores and injured hundreds of Shiia pilgrims in Baghdad and Karbala.

Senior coalition spokesman Dan Senor and Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy operations director for Combined Joint Task Force 7, addressed the rumors at a Baghdad news conference.

Kimmitt said the night before the explosions, a car approached a checkpoint in Basra, and several people jumped out and ran away. It was treated as a car bomb and soldiers conducted two controlled explosions to neutralize it, but in the final analysis it turned out to be a hoax, Kimmitt said.

Other reports of people being captured wearing explosive belts, placing explosives on roads or tossing grenades from rooftops haven't checked out, Kimmitt said.

"We also had heard through the rumor mill that there were a number of women picked up. That turned out to be false as well," the general told reporters. "I think all these other reports that you may have heard, none of them have really borne out to be consequential."

The general gave reporters updates and clarifications on the bombings.

Iraqi police reported that three suicide bombers detonated explosives: two at the gates and one inside the al-Kadamiya mosque in Baghdad, Kimmitt said. The police apprehended two people, both of whom were later released, he added.

The Karbala attack, Kimmitt said, comprised a suicide bomber in the city center, explosive-laden pushcarts on roads, and possible mortar rounds fired from nearby. He said one explosion happened in the city center, with multiple explosions three to four miles away.

People in the crowd pointed out 15 people who might have been involved in the Karbala attack, and they're being held for questioning by police and coalition forces, Kimmitt said. He added that 10 are believed to be Iraqis.

Senor said the Iraqi Governing Council postponed a signing ceremony for the country's interim constitution out of respect for the families in mourning after the attacks. But he quickly added the attacks will do nothing to derail the process of Iraqi sovereignty turning back to the Iraqi people June 30.

"What we are trying to do here, and (are) working with the Iraqi leadership in doing, is building a sovereign, democratic Iraq," Senor said. "It would be one of a kind in the region, and if we are successful, it will send a very direct message to the terrorists – and they recognize this, and they recognize the stakes are very high for them.

"Nothing will defeat the terrorists and their cause more than our success in building a sovereign and democratic country here that improves the lives of its citizens," Senor continued. "And it'll put an end to the scapegoating. It'll put an end to the blame game. It'll do more to turn back the cause of the terrorists than anything else we do."

Senor held up a copy of a letter fugitive terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi wrote to leaders of the al Qaeda terrorist organization, intercepted with the capture of the courier who was carrying it.

"It's exactly what (Zarqawi) says, over and over and over: that once the Iraqis are successful in building their democracy, the terrorists will lose their pretext; they will lose their excuse."

[Calpernia]

Coalition Provisional Authority

Combined Joint Task Force 7

Text of Intercepted Zarqawi Letter to al Qaeda Leaders

L. Paul Bremer
Administrator
Coalition Provisional Authority
Statement on Ashoura Bombings
2 March 2004

Today terrorists have again struck the Iraqi people. We of the Coalition offer our deepest sympathy to the families of those who were murdered and to the wounded. We pray for your strength in this time of sorrow.

Along with civilized people everywhere we share your horror at these evil acts and utterly condemn the acts and those who carried them out.

We of the Coalition will not abandon the people of Iraq. The Coalition is even now providing all possible medical care for the wounded. And I pledge the full capacity of the Coalition to bring these murderers to justice as Iraq continues its march to democracy and sovereignty.

* * *

Terrorists have murdered and maimed on one of the holiest days of the year, the day that commemorates the death of Imam Hussein.

We know they did this as part of an effort to provoke sectarian violence among Muslims. We know they chose this day so that they could kill as many innocents as possible.

Why would anyone want sectarian violence?

The terrorists want sectarian violence because they believe that is the only way they can stop Iraq’s march toward the democracy that the terrorists fear.

We know that the terrorists fear democracy because they said so. In a recent letter the terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi wrote that democracy was coming to Iraq and that once Iraq was democratic there would be no pretext for attacks. And so Zarqawi has admitted that the terrorists are in a race against time.

It is a race they will lose.

They will lose because the Iraqi people want and will have democracy, freedom and a sovereign Iraqi government.

An Iraqi government is coming. This week, after an appropriate period of mourning, the Iraqi Governing Council will sign the Transitional Administrative Law. That law brings with it all that the evil-doers fear:

• They fear an Iraqi government controlled only by Iraqis. • They fear equality before the law for all of Iraq’s citizens. • They fear Democracy.

After the law is signed, Iraq’s journey to a future of hope will continue.

On June 30, the Coalition will turn sovereignty over to the Iraqi people. Next year there will be three elections and Iraq will end 2005 with an elected government sovereign throughout the Land Between Two Rivers.

* * *

Iraq stands at the forefront of the war on terrorism.

It is, at heart, a war between the forces of decency and the forces of evil.

It is a war between those who value and defend the innocent and those who murder the innocent and hold them valueless.

It is a war for Iraq’s future, a war between a future of hope and a future of fear.

The Coalition stands firmly with the forces of decency, with those who protect the innocent, with those who will bring about Iraq’s future of hope.

Aash al-Iraq!

[Calpernia]

Pro Military, Pro Coalition, Pro de-Baathification News!

Senor said the Iraqi Governing Council postponed a signing ceremony for the country's interim constitution out of respect for the families in mourning after the attacks. But he quickly added the attacks will do nothing to derail the process of Iraqi sovereignty turning back to the Iraqi people June 30.

"Nothing will defeat the terrorists and their cause more than our success in building a sovereign and democratic country here that improves the lives of its citizens," Senor continued. "And it'll put an end to the scapegoating. It'll put an end to the blame game. It'll do more to turn back the cause of the terrorists than anything else we do."

Private Mail to be added to or removed from the GNFI (or Pro-Coalition) ping list.

[Cap Huff]

First reports are sometimes interesting, but off the mark. It is clear this is a different tone from some of the early reports.

[eccentric]

Let's send some pigs to Irag for a terrorist graveyard.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping.

Nice to hear some facts!

[TexKat]

Ping

[Khan Noonian Singh]

<<"Nothing will defeat the terrorists and their cause more than our success in building a sovereign and democratic country here that improves the lives of its citizens," Senor continued. "And it'll put an end to the scapegoating. It'll put an end to the blame game. It'll do more to turn back the cause of the terrorists than anything else we do." >>

IOW, it is in the interest of the United States to minimize terrorist activity, and to deny it when possible. Hardly a surprise. Abject denials have been made in other circumstances.

[Iberian]

Why would we hide anything in this theater. We are there to help the stupid martyr syndrome "culpa mea" attitudes. Kiss my American A$$, and keep your sandals to yourself.

[swarthyguy]

And sometimes first reports are far more accurate than the spin put on later by official sources.

FWIW, don't buy one word. It is in the interest of the US Coalition to minimise the scale of this major attack.

The Attacks were large, coordinated and carried out effectively; if we caught other jihadis before they blew up, it's a tribute to the Iraqi police and US troops.

However, if all jihadis blew up successfully, then their success percentage was higher. Which is what the esteemed General seems to be saying.

[windchime]

Bump!