Posted on 04/10/2004 12:16:30 PM PDT by Jagdgewehr
AMMAN, Jordan – A long row of battered taxicabs lined a street yesterday in downtown Amman, waiting to carry eager young Iraqi exiles home to battle.
Emboldened by news accounts of Islamic militiamen fighting U.S.-led forces, many Iraqis said they were keen to replenish the uprising that has left hundreds of their countrymen and at least 47 coalition troops dead this week.
Shiite and Sunni Muslims, age-old rivals, taunted one another about which sect was punishing the Americans more.
"You always boast about what's happening in Fallujah," a young Shiite man shouted to a Sunni. "But look what we're doing in Karbala and Najaf."
Mostly Sunni Fallujah has been a hotbed of resistance to the occupation. Najaf, a Shiite holy city in southern Iraq, is where radical young cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is believed holed up against coalition forces. His Mahdi army militia has captured parts of or entire southern cities, including the holy city of Karbala, and continues to fight U.S. forces street by street in several areas.
New recruits in Amman crammed food and clothing into orange-and-white Iraqi taxis yesterday in a quarter of the Jordanian capital known as "Iraqi Row." Hundreds more Iraqi men gathered after prayers to trade news about the bloodshed and say goodbye to friends who had pooled their money for a $300 ride to the battle. About a dozen cabs loaded up in the course of an hour, each with three or four recruits.
"I want to fight," said Mohsin al Maamuri, 31, who was packing supplies into a car bound for the southern Iraqi city of Hilla. "I've spent two years in Amman, and I planned to stay longer. I even bought furniture. But when I saw the pictures on TV this week, I had no choice. I have to go join the Mahdi army."
Other exiles were unsure whether the time was right. Some pointed out that the militias were losing ground and that joining the cause meant certain death. Others were proud of the essentially occupation-free zones the guerrillas had established, especially around Shiite shrines.
More than 460 Iraqis have been killed in this week's fighting, most during clashes in Fallujah, west of Baghdad. Death tolls are uncertain in the south.
Each Friday, drivers arrive at the Iraqi quarter with bags full of letters from home. Lucky recipients rip open envelopes to get dispatches from loved ones whose phones don't work.
Mohammad Khazal, 30, a college student, waited in vain yesterday for a letter from his parents in Nasiriyah, where al-Sadr's troops overwhelmed Italian forces and won control of most public buildings this week.
Several of Khazal's Iraqi classmates left Amman to join the Mahdi army, but he refused to go. He disparaged al-Sadr's supporters as thuggish militants.
"My friends feel they have to join the resistance, that this is the time," Khazal said. "But it's not the suitable time and this is not the suitable way. I was shocked such a small group can overtake whole cities. Where were the police? Where were the Americans?"
Incorrect. This is an opportunity for the bad guys to show themselves. I would not give too much weight to what you hear from the press for a couple of days. Things will be cleaned up.I figure there may be 20,000 in there at least, and they are very heavily armed.
You and what intel source tells you that? Even if it was every stinking sand-ni##er in Fallujah, it's still no match against US Forces.480 killed, however many were civilians.
Wake up, they are all civilians. There is no Iraqi military at the moment.Sun Tsu
Most of these terrorist thugs can't even read. Sun Tsu is required reading for anyone in the Marine Corps. G-5 and above.I am sure they are taking heavy losses. About 15% are not that religious though - careful with labels.
I don't buy into your political correctness. The labels I use accurately describe the enemy. It is political correctness and touchy-feely, hurt no one's feelings bull crap that makes people lose sight to what America is fighting. I don't care that 15% of not that religious. They are Muslim. If that doesn't mean anything to you then perhaps you are willing to submit to Allah as well.
You simplify warfare. 20 million Soviets gave their lives and that *sacrifice* was crucial.
I don't simplify warfare. I was describing just one aspect about the enemy and it happens to pretain to warfare. You didn't understand my point. These terrorists want to give their lives. The Soviets didn't want to give their lives. Their lives were taken in battle against Germany. There is a difference in wanting to give your life and the enemy taking your life. I am positive that the Soviets didn't want to die. Either these scum want to die, or they are too ignorant to understand that they will die. Either way, if they keep it up, they will die. By the way, the way I described that, "No war has ever been won by dying for one’s country. ..." is a quote from Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. Considering he was one of the finest generals in history, I think you have an up hill battle in convincing me or anyone else that you know jack about warfare.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.