Posted on 02/24/2006 3:53:10 PM PST by genefromjersey
The Askariya Mosque Bombing- An Inside Job ?
I have read some informal estimates –full of caveats – suggesting the bombing of the Askariya Mosque – said to be one of the holiest places in the Shi’ite Muslim world – may have been an “inside job” ; and that it may well have been carried out by pro-Iranian followers of a radical Iraqi Shi’ite: Muqtada al-Sadr.
- The mosque, which is located in a predominantly Sunni area of Samarra,seems unlikely to have been accessible to anyone but known Shi’ites.
- The explosive charges were probably laid in a walkway, about halfway up the dome : a circumstance suggestive of free access.
- The amount of explosive used (about 60 lbs of C-4 equivalent) again suggests free access by at least two people, who may have had to make repeated trips during the setup process.
- The setup time was probably 3-4 hours– which again suggests virtually unrestricted access.
Q. Why would a pro-Iranian Shi’ite radical want to do such a thing ?
A. If a civil war could be ignited , and Iran persuaded to invade (under the pretext of “rescuing” the endangered Shi’ite brethren) , it might be worth “a little structural damage” to a mosque – especially when the image of the damaged mosque* would serve to further inflame the populace.( Al-Sadr already has armed militia men out on the streets “because the Americans cannot protect us.”)
This not a particularly attractive prospect for us – or for anyone else in harm’s way !
*The Askariya Mosque is said by Shi’ites to be the place where Muhammad al-Mahdi-the promised redeemer of Islam –will materialize just before the End of Days. It is considered a “Shi’ite shrine” ; however, it is worth noting both “main branches” of Islam have shown no reluctance to use “holy buildings” ( pretty much a Western concept) for weapons storage, ambushes,and other “unholy” uses.
The understanding of Islamic logic has always been something that eludes me.
Shades of Kristalnacht???
It was pretty obvious from the pictures of the destruction
that whoever did it was knowledgeable in the use and placement of explosives.
What I read was that as many as 6 to 8 men dressed in
police uniforms entered the mosque.
The Alquieda lackeys of Iran's fanatical mullahs probably
did this, fear and terror are easy to fan into flames.
We can look forward to hearing that the Kurds are somehow behind this too, just to keep the pot boiling over.
Sure hope the ground forces and the Iraqi police can
bring whoever did this to the surface, soon!
I have a hard time believing that dedicated Shi'ites would destroy one of the most important Shi'ite shrines. A little like Catholics blowing up Saint Peter's.
It's possible.
Early stories said that the perpetrators were dressed as police officers, which might explain how they got in.
I'm sorry we don't seem to have heard much more. If they have the perps in custody, it seems like they should be questioning them and announcing the results.
I've read the call to morning prayers was at 5 am...the bombing took place at 6:55 am...so how would they plant as much as 200 lbs of explosive in that short of time...unless the perps where hiding in the mosque overnite.
Pop, we're looking at it from a Western point of view.
They use mosques for just about anything but keeping pigs.
I saw somewhere, the last time repairs were done on the place was 1905 (!)
This is senseless. The fact this shrine is not in a Shi'ite region makes it more likely it was Sunnis or AQ. They wouldn't get away with such an action in Karbala or Najaf.
Could be I guess. If it is somehow connected with this Mahdi nonsense, then that could point to that nut cup Iranian president, Ahzdkeoqad*sl/ or whatever the fool's name is since he's a fanatic of that whole Mahdi slop.
But Al Sadr was calling for calm this morning, so that sort of brings this theory into question. But then again the guy is so crazy maybe he forgot he ordered this.
>Pop, we're looking at it from a Western point of view<
Not that it couldn't happen here, gene. The Islamic mentality may not be regional, but a question of degrees of evil, for evil is universal. Some may call it "strategy". Anything to jeopardize what the U.S. is attempting to establish over there.
This is senseless. The fact this shrine is not in a Shi'ite region makes it more likely it was Sunnis or AQ. They wouldn't get away with such an action in Karbala or Najaf.
Sunnis/insurgents/AQ rigged bombs inside slain children while inside Mosques to kill grieving parents...
You really think it's above anyone over there to blow up their own mosques to stir anger?
I thought it was Sadr all the way, and i posted my views the same few hours after it was posted here, when the bombing happened.
no question about it.
Do you seriously think AQ Sunnis would be able to get near a Shi'ite mosque after all the attacks they've done ?
I'd say it's more like Hitler burning down the Reichstag.
"Do you seriously think AQ Sunnis would be able to get near a Shi'ite mosque after all the attacks they've done ?"
They get near such mosques all the time. As for the shrines these are better protected. The one they attacked happened to be the one Shi'a shrine located in a Sunni city.
Assume there are Catholic shrines in Belfast. All but one are in the Catholic neighborhoods. Which one would Protestant terrorists strike if they were inclined so?
So perhaps Iran is being drawn into Iraq to help remove the pre-emption issue.
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