Posted on 09/13/2007 9:08:16 AM PDT by Kaslin
BAGHDAD - The most prominent figure in a U.S.-backed revolt of Sunni sheiks against al-Qaida in Iraq was killed Thursday by a bomb planted near his home in Anbar province, 10 days after he met with President Bush, police and tribal leaders said.
Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha was leader of the Anbar Salvation Council, also known as the Anbar Awakening — an alliance of clans backing the Iraqi government and U.S. forces.
Officials said his assassination would be a huge setback for U.S. efforts in Iraq, because it sends a message to others who are cooperating with coalition forces or thinking about cooperating against al-Qaida.
Abu Risha and two of his bodyguards were killed by a roadside bomb planted near the tribal leader's home in Ramadi, Anbar's provincial capital, said Col. Tareq Youssef, supervisor of Anbar police.
A spokesman for Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, confirmed the report.
"It is confirmed that the sheik and two of his bodyguards were killed today near or outside his home," Col. Steven Boylan said in an e-mail from Washington, where Petraeus testified before Congress this week on recent successes in Anbar province.
No group claimed responsibility for the assassination but suspicion fell on al-Qaida in Iraq, which U.S. officials say has suffered devastating setbacks in Anbar thanks to Abu Risha and his fellow sheiks. It's unclear how his death would affect U.S. efforts to organize Sunnis against the terrorist network.
Abu Risha was among a group of tribal leaders who met with Bush on Sept. 3 at al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province.
It was not the first time that Abu Risha has been targeted. A suicide bomber tried and failed to kill him on Feb. 19. That same day, gunmen ambushed a minivan on the main highway from Baghdad to Anbar and killed all 13 passengers who were accused of opposing al-Qaida in Iraq.
In June, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the lobby of Baghdad's Mansour Hotel during a meeting of U.S.-linked Sunni tribal leaders, killing 13 people and wounding 27. Among those killed was the former governor of Anbar and sheik of the al-Bu Nimir tribe, Fassal al-Guood — a key ally of Abu Risha. A day later, al-Qaida in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack.
"It is a major blow to the council, but we are determined to strike back and continue our work," said Sheik Jubeir Rashid, a senior member of Abu Risha's group. "Such an attack was expected, but it will not deter us."
He said the bombing took place at 3:30 p.m. as Abu Risha was returning home.
A Ramadi police officer said Abu Risha had received a group of poor people at his home earlier in the day, as a gesture of charity marking the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity out of security concerns, said authorities believed the bomb was planted by one of the visitors.
Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said that after the first blast that killed Abu Risha, a car bomb exploded nearby.
"The car bomb had been rigged just in case the roadside bomb missed his convoy," Khalaf said. There were no casualties from the car bomb, he added.
After the bombing, police announced a state of emergency in Ramadi and set up additional checkpoints throughout the city, Rashid said.
Anbar police were investigating the attack, and the Interior Ministry would send a committee to assist, Khalaf added.
A senior member of Abu Risha's group, Sheik Jubeir Rashid, called the assassination a "criminal act" and blamed al-Qaida.
"It is a major blow to the council, but we are determined to strike back and continue our work," Rashid said. "Such an attack was expected, but it will not deter us."
The Interior Ministry swiftly ordered plans for a monument built to honor Abu Risha as a "martyr," Khalaf said. It would be build either at the explosion site, or at the center of Ramadi, he said.
May this incident enrage the Iraqis into further distancing themselves from the evil ones destroying their country! They are a passionate people, and I pray that God will give them the courage to stand up for themselves FULLY and fight back!
Already posted in Breaking news:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1895802/posts
Good grief, it is an evil act perpetrated on someone who was trying to help his country become civilized.
When will the MSM start calling a spade and spade?
They have done this to Israel for decades, promoting the bombings and murders of civilized people, as a win.
If this were America or Israel who had killed a person or a group of people, or innocents, who were trying to do good, the media would destroy them.
There are indeed no “news” media. There are the lib propagandists and there is us.
This is not the same article, besides the link you posted ie from Al Jazzeera
The MSM is in the pockets of the terrorists
This is not sad. It is war. When they called WTC911 a ‘tragedy’ and lowered the flags for a month it was sickening. It was war and so is this: the banners need to be held high!
Ok. Should check first.
One of the best ways to assist our military in Iraq is to get rid of the JAG officers and let our troops do their job.
Big brass ones on this guy. Good for them. This is the attitude that we've been needing to see for so long. This is big and it matters.
This was probably a bad error on Al Qaeda’s part. The next guys that this coalition captures are going to have umm....difficulties.
This was probably a bad error on Al Qaeda’s part. The next guys that this coalition captures are going to have umm....difficulties.
IOt is true that this is war, but it is sad because the sheik was not only helping us, he was also helping his province
IOt= It
This more than anything shows how fervently the left wants us to lose this war.
When we kill a high ranking al Qaeda leader, we are told this will enrage the people and cause even more terrorists to join the fight against us. When then they kill a leader on our side it is a "huge setback".
Baloney. If the Iraqis want their country, they need to stand up and fight for it against the foreign al Qeada terrorists.
Something tells me they will, and this bombing is even more incentive for them to do so.
I see the residents of the province and the tribe taking this personally and going all out to destroy the invaders (Alqaida and other foreigners from Iran, Saudi, Jordan, Syria, and other sandpiles), maybe catching them in the act of setting roadside bombs at night, but catching them whenever and wherever.
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.