U.S. tribal allies in Iraq angry over airstrikes

[Robbien]

Source: Reuters/Canada

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces said they had killed 25 suspected insurgents in operations targeting al Qaeda militants near the capital, but Sunni Arab tribal leaders accused them on Thursday of killing pro-U.S. fighters.

. . .

"Coalition forces observed several armed men in the target area and, perceiving hostile intent, called for supporting aircraft to engage," it said in a statement. It did not say whether the gunmen had fired on the soldiers, but U.S. military spokesman Major Winfield Danielson said troops had engaged a "hostile force" and that three weapons caches had been found in the area containing anti-aircraft weapons and surface-to-surface missiles.

The head of the Taji "Awakening Council," which is aligned to U.S. forces, Sheikh Jassem, said the weapons belonged to the Islamic Army. Elements of the nationalist Sunni insurgent group have recently begun to work alongside the U.S. military to fight al Qaeda.

"Yes there were anti-aircraft weapons, but they belonged to the Islamic Army, who have made a deal with the Americans to keep them to hit al Qaeda," Jassem said.

He said the U.S. assault on his men began late on Tuesday night in the al-Nebaei area near Taji and lasted about 12 hours.

"The Americans in Taji are our friends. If the attack was a mistake, we just want to know the reasons. If they attacked us deliberately, then we will decide what to do," Jassem said.

Read more: http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-11-15T155142Z_01_L06676676_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAQ-COL.XML&archived=False

[TwilightGardener]

1. Ooops, we're losing track of the folks we're paying and arming to be on our side.

Can't really blame our soldiers for not being clear on who's our friend and who's the "enemy" over there.

[Tempest]

2. It's brilliant

Give them the weapons, destroy the weapons and then give them more to replace them.

U.S. arms dealers get obscenely rich and everyone involved gets kickbacks.

[TwilightGardener]

3. LOL! Also brilliant: seizing "weapons caches"--sounds like we're just reclaiming our

own stuff, after they were given to "friendly" Iraqis on our payroll to hopefully kill "insurgents".

[kisserofsinners]

4. just like a video game... n/t

[DCKit]

5. Isn't that a U.S. industrialist tactic/heritageboing back to WWI? nt

[rodeodance]

6. I have to admit\ it is difficult for me to keep track of the good guys vs the bad guys

[acmavm]

7. Sounds like we're still enforcing the old 'kill 'em all and let God

(or whomever) sort it out'. In this case I guess it would be Allah. Regardless, if they're dead they can't complain about us stealing thier oil and occupying their country.

[leftchick]

8. Sheikh Jassem,

I think you know what to do. NEVER trust the Occupier.

[Trillo]

9. Inferentially, al Qaeda could have aircraft.

Why else the need for anti-aircraft weapons.