U.S. and Iraqi forces raid leading Shiite mosque in Baghdad

McClatchy Newspapers ^ | February 15 2007 | Richard Mauer

[jmc1969]

A U.S. military spokesman on Thursday hailed a joint American-Iraqi raid on Baghdad's leading Shiite Muslim mosque as proof of that the Baghdad security plan is being applied evenly against all sides of the country's sectarian divide.

The raid, which took place Wednesday, angered the mosque's imam, who took the unusual step of canceling Friday prayer services at the historic Baratha mosque, where, Shiites believe, Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali, converted a Christian missionary to Islam in the seventh century.

Sheik Jalal al-Din al-Saghir, a member of parliament from the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, denounced the raid, which the U.S. military said had turned up a cache of illegal weapons. The Supreme Council is one of Iraq's largest political parties and part of its governing coalition.

Searching mosques has been a particularly sensitive issue since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. In delivering the decree that legalized the security plan earlier this week, Iraqi army Lt. Gen. Aboud Qanbar said soldiers would enter mosques only if they were used "for illegal purposes" or to protect citizens from harm.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the U.S. military said the mosque was raided "during operations targeting illegally armed militia kidnapping, torture and murder activities." It said the mosque was used "to conduct sectarian violence against Iraqi civilians as well as a safe haven and weapons storage area for illegal militia groups."

The Supreme Council's armed wing, the Badr Organization, has been accused of kidnapping and torturing Sunnis.

[jmc1969]

Ping

[Allegra]

The gloves are coming off and the Democrats will be deeply saddened at the results.

[rdl6989]

Mosque's won't be a safe haven anymore for Mookie's minions. Good news!

[jmc1969]

Yup, the gloves have finally come off.

[jmc1969]

These weren't Mookie's goons these were SCIRI's goons

[rdl6989]

Oops, I stand corrected.

[Danae]

Awww damn, the poor insurgents got now guns... oh... the horror....... oh the DEPRAVITY of taking their weapons..... awwwwww.


/sarc

[musicman]

Maybe THIS kind of thing is finally over???

[Maynerd]

Yup, the gloves have finally come off.

I hope so. But why were the gloves on in the first place? And why did Bush et al allow it?

IMHO we should either get serious and fight to win or bring da boys home.

[Allegra]

Perhaps I need to revive my tagline regarding the "Cut and Run" crowd and how I feel about them...

[jmc1969]

Lots of mistakes were made. I could go on and on as to why they were made.

But, I will just say certain people in the Pentagon, WH, and certain generals were more interested in trying to make the NY Times happy and sliding out of Iraq ASAP instead of fighting to win this war.

[Maynerd]

Perhaps I need to revive my tagline regarding the "Cut and Run" crowd and how I feel about them...

I'm all in favor of stomp and kick ass. I just don't like half ass pc rules of engagement that lead to the injury and death of some of the best our country produces.

BTW I pinged your homepage. Very entertaining. You've got moxie and then some.

[msnimje]

Is they find terrorists or weapons in a Mosque they should close it down.

[chuckles]

Just announce that any mosque that is found in connection with the bad guys will be leveled. Then do it.

[taxesareforever]

who took the unusual step of canceling Friday prayer services at the historic Baratha mosque,

Allah ain't going to like that. They better hide in the pig sty.

[Stump]

"Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali, converted a Christian missionary to Islam..."

I wonder how large of a sword he used to accomplish the conversion?

[madconserv]

They don't use large sharp swords. They use butter knives and box cutters. Ask Nick Berg and the 911 passengers.

[EDINVA]

Let's face it, political correctness has cause much of the problem with the war in Iraq. We weren't about to go into those mosques, so they were free to be centers of terrorism. This is long overdue.

[The SISU kid]

Stay safe Baby-girl!!!!

(you're one of my HEROS)

8^)

[TomasUSMC]

Army Sgt. Daniel Dobson, 22, of Grand Rapids, Mich., is on his second tour in Iraq. I asked him what he thinks of the growing opposition to the war. Writing from Mosul, he says he appreciates the freedom Americans have to protest, but adds:

"The American military has shown a stone-cold professional veneer throughout the seething debate raging over Iraq. Beneath that veneer, however, is a fuming, visceral hatred. We feel as though we have been betrayed by Congress."

Sgt. Dobson believes the military is being hamstrung against an enemy with no reservations or restrictions:

"It is our overwhelming opinion that we have not been allowed to conduct the war to the fullest of our capability; neither do we feel that we should pull out because of a lack of 'results.' War is not a chemistry set with predetermined outcomes or complications. With a great army matched with an equally cunning enemy, we find ourselves in a difficult, but winnable fight. We do not seek results; rather, we seek total and unequivocal victory."

[TomasUSMC]

What this article doesn't say is that the mosque would not have been touched unless iraqi troops accompanied American troops into the mosque, if our troops were allowed to enter it at all.

It should have just been leveled with a couple of 2000 lb bombs at night. The message would have then gotten around - help the terrorists = lose a mosque.... instead we continue to risk lives to save moslem real estate.

[Plateau]

"Ali, converted a Christian missionary to Islam in the seventh century."

Using only a sword, ropes, and 4 men to hold him!

[Allegra]

This is long overdue.

I guess you haven't read my many posts on this subject over the past couple of years. Otherwise, you would not be addressing me as if I am unaware of the situation. ;-)

[Allegra]

Thanks. :-)

[Sword_Svalbardt]

It's hard to denounce anything with an American assault rifle up your nose.

[Marine_Uncle]

If I may. Do understand that until a few months back the Iraqi forces where not ready to perform an operation such as this. One has to understand they and we have been preparing their battalion/regimental levels for more then a half year to reach a point where they would no longer fail when carrying out any independent missions.
This "surge" is not some little two day battle. It is going to go on for many months. Iraqi units have been training and getting hardened then moved around, to better equipe those BN/RMs in divisions spread across a number of provinces.
All along there have been problems with the IG's Military and Interior cabinets coming up with adequate sufficient payrolls to pay their troops.
Their army is still in it's infancy in many ways. Please do not think for a minute their army can function like ours or the Brits.
Just a few short weeks ago we where still hearing that the Iraqi units that would be included in this long term action where still understaffed.
And since Maliki has wanted the Iraqi's to take the lead, which in really is a good idea, it simply has taken a lot longer then one might think to put together a real cohesive force that will be able work well with the US and Brits over a period of sustained raids.
Enough said. I think you may have a bit better idea as to some of the complex things that must be put in place before one can go into battle with a chance of success.

[Coffee_drinker]

Believe me most of us freepers really appreciate your inside comments on the situation and value them greatly. Stay safe and thanks for your contributions and hope to have you home in the states soon.

TC

[sruleoflaw]

Dear TomasUSMC, Where did you obtain or read the comments by Army Sgt. Daniel Dobson? I couldn't find them in the article. I'd love to use them in an op-ed. My home e-mail is swampler@jps.net I'd be grateful to hear from you.

[TomasUSMC]

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/02/a_letter_from_mosul.html

[Candor7]

The gloves are coming off and the Democrats will be deeply saddened at the results.>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thanks for keeping us all in touch with OTG ( on the ground) perspectives.When I want to find out whats happening in Bagdad OTG, I simply see what threads you have posted on!

Anyhow, I thought that I should reply to your observation about the Dems. I am convinced that they mean to cause a US loss in Iraq, because they know that a win in Iraq will likely mean another Pubbie President in 2008.

With the initial good news out of Iraq , on Bagdad's precipitous drop in homicides, and the sprint of Mookie out of the country, the Dems are going ballistic here, as if the war were a part of a political campaign. They damn their own political souls to perdition. And our President does the rope-a-dope while the Dems self destruct. Interesting!

I think the public sees the Dems for what they really are after these last few days, and generally do not like how ugly they are now. I hope the Dems keep going ballistic, and that the good news from in country keeps rolling on.

Stay safe Allegra, and keep your SDW cocked and locked. In Times of change, the squeeze can come on fast.

Thanks again.

[McGavin999]

Allegra, we will know that Iraq is stable when you decide to do your R&R in one of the finer hotels over there. Who knows, maybe someday we will all fly over there and go on a massive shopping spree with you :o)

[Mr_Tiki]

What people don't realize is that this mosque is an anti Al-Qaeda, anti Saddam place.

Just check their website here:

http://www.burathanews.com/

That's why they were targeted twice with Al-qaeda suicide bombings in the past. Its no wonder that neither the US nor the Iraqis are admitting authrorizing this raid.