Posted on 06/25/2007 11:25:30 AM PDT by swarthyguy
Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) had tarnished its name here by publicly attacking and murdering children, videotaping beheadings, all while imposing harsh punishments on Iraqi civilians found guilty of violating morality laws prohibiting activities like smoking. The AQI installed Sharia court had sanctioned the amputation of the two “smoking fingers” for those who violated anti-smoking laws. In part because local sentiment was shifting against it, AQI synthesized with other groups and undertook an image makeover, christening itself “The Islamic State of Iraq.” But the new name was just lipstick on a pig here.
On the evening of the 24th I spoke with a local Iraqi official, Colonel Faik, who said the Muftis would order the severance of the two fingers used to hold a cigarette for any Iraqis caught smoking. Other reports, from here in Diyala and also in Anbar, allege that smokers are murdered by AQI. Most Iraqis smoke and this particular prohibition appeared to have earned the ire of many locals. After an American unit cleared an apartment complex on the 23rd, LTC Smiley, the battalion commander, reported that residents didn’t ask for food and water, but cigarettes. In other parts of Baqubah, people have been celebrating the routing of AQI by lighting up and smoking cigarettes.
Other AQI edicts included beatings for men who refused to grow beards, and corporal punishments for obscene sexual suggestiveness, defined by such “loose” behavior as carrying tomatoes and cucumbers in the same bag. These fatwas were not eagerly embraced by most Iraqis, and the taint traveled back to the Muftis who sat in supreme judgment. Locals, who are increasingly helpful in pointing out and celebrating the downfall of AQI here, said that during the initial Arrowhead Ripper attack the morning of the 19th, AQI murdered five men. Townsend’s men found the buried corpses behind an AQI prison, exactly where they’d been told to look for the group grave. Locals also directed Townsend’s men to a torture house. Peering through a window, American soldiers saw knives, swords, bindings and drills. AQI is well-known for its macabre eagerness to drill into kneecaps, elbows, ribs, skulls, and other parts of victims.
One local Mufti who was said to have always worn a hood and sunglasses—and to have somehow disguised his voice—was pointed out to the Iraqi Army this weekend, who promptly captured him. Iraqi officials said today that although they did not previously know that this man was a Mufti, his name had been on their target list. The Mufti is being questioned and his name has not been released.
Smoking is bad, and AQ is on the right track.
Might not be a bad method to implement here in the LandoftheFreeandHomeoftheBrave. Why are we allying with smokers and non smokers. It's UNAMERICAN.
>>Why are we allying with smokers and non smokers
>>Why are we allying with smokers AGAINST| non smokers
Sounds like they’ve watched one too many Stephen King movies...
..but..heroin..is..okay
okay..to..use,
okay..to..fund..wars..with
Or one too many Bloomberg speeches.
Wow. One need's an advanced degree to know what's going to tick off these people.
I laughed at that one.
Imagine eating a banana in public!
Because we are not anal-retentive level control freaks like those insane Islamics are, that's why.
If you feel so compelled to to control other people to this degree, then I'd suggest that perhaps you are a Muslim and don't know it.
(BTW, I'm a non-smoker.)
I assume you’re being sarcastic, otherwise you’re in the wrong place.
Maybe they should try updating their color palette. I hear that banana yellow and royal blue are the hot colors this summer.
A lot of fingers to chop for Al-Q, since virtually all Iraqis are smokers. After chopping purple fingers, the Al-Qanazis turn to chopping yellow finger.
WTF, don’t you think it’s absolutely UnAmerica to encourage smokers in Iraq when we are conducting a well justified jihad against them here in the Homeland.
You have to admit that this is a rather effective method of smoking cessation. Either you go left handed or like a chimp learn to use your feet.
I think we ought to be a lot more understanding of AQ; after all, in this behavior we agree on the ends.
Perhaps we could start with pillorying and public stoning, after being tagged as repeat offenders, we could proceed to a digit decapitation.
I thought of "Cat's Eye" right away too. Alan King was brilliant.
Scary how easy that is to "Americanize".
Smoking is a bigger threat to America than AQ.
Why can’t you see that this is potentially a common ground.
We could move forward together, today smoking, tomorrow other unhealthy behaviors.
We (America and AQ) do agree that smoking is bad, it’s just the means we differ on, and so we could start with out commonalities.
Why should our soldiers support scumbag smokers?
Wonder what AQI would do with trans-fat eaters...
Am I going nuts or is this headline just a bit confusing?
ou hink the reportr a smker?
Off with their bellies!
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