U.S.-Led Forces Tighten Grip, Draw Complaints

[Rose Siding]

SAMARRA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S.-led forces tightened their grip on a rebel-held city on Sunday in the first step of a campaign to take back all of Iraq but ignited complaints about the cost in lives and suffering.

Aid organizations said they were concerned about a lack of water and power in the city of Samarra and the fate of hundreds of families forced to flee. Questions arose also about the number of civilians killed.

A man who gave his name only as Abu Qa'qa, and who said he had fled Samarra on Sunday, told reporters in Baghdad he had seen stray dogs picking at corpses in the street. He said he had seen several incidents of civilians being killed.
...........
Firdoos al-Ubadi, an Iraqi Red Crescent spokesman, said her group and other aid organizations had received a letter from Iraq's Human Rights Ministry describing the situation in Samarra as a tragedy and calling for emergency assistance.

The ministry was not available to confirm the letter.

Iraq's interior minister, who visited Samarra on Saturday, said no civilians had been killed in the day-and-a-half blitz, a statement that angered some residents who said they had lost family members, including children, in the fighting.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6397465

[Jacobin]

1. "complaining" about killing their relatives

Oh, okay, just 'complaints'......like what? they are whining about us killing their relatives.

Jeezus H. Christ the media in this country are a bunch of barbaric pricks

[MisterP]

9. I thought Reuters was U.K.-based;

and we don't know which of the paragraphs are from "embedded" reporters (sleeping with your investigatory subject) or from real journalists.

[mike_c]

2. all corpses are automatically "not civilians...."

NOTHING that the U.S. government says or that the U.S. corporate press reports about Iraq is credible. Not. One. Thing. Nada.

Government based upon deception, where lies and spin take the place of information. I am so disgusted by what has become of this country!

[shadu]

7. The IDF playbook is in play:

"all corpses are automatically "not civilians..."

The US and israel are truly steeped in abomination.

[madmom]

3. heard on car radio that Iraqi's are so afraid...

to even come out of their homes that they are burying their dead in their gardens.

[shadu]

8. What a horrible horrible thought!

God Damn you, mr bush!

[madrchsod]

4. nothing to see- move on

bush`s visions of freedom as the dogs are eating the entrails of the dead...

[leftchick]

5. More War Crimes from US Terorists....

<In 36 hours of fighting, the U.S. military said it killed 125 guerrillas and seized 88 in Samarra. Residents said bodies were left in the streets, untended due to the fear of snipers.
Families tried to bury their dead on Sunday, but the road to the cemetery was blocked off by U.S. troops, witnesses said. >



An Iraqi woman cries after her sister and aunt were killed during clashes in the northern city of Samarra October 3, 2004. U.S.-led forces tightened their grip on the rebel-held city Samarra on Sunday in the first step of a campaign to take back all of Iraq (news - web sites) but ignited complaints about the cost in lives and suffering. REUTERS/Akram Saleh

[Ohio rules]

6. The Iraqi army is getting stronger

What is overlooked in this Samarra operation is the fact the Iraqi army is taking a larger role.
I saw an Al-Jazeera article,they never went into much detail on that spin....
It wasn't 100% USA
They have to take back their own country and earn respect from the nations in the region.

This is what John Kerry expects...this is what he inherits....

[shadu]

10. Please stop getting your news from The Funny Papers!

I have seen no indication that what you say is true.
Quite the opposite.

Samarra looks like another massacre to me.

[JoFerret]

11. We have yet to hear the true death toll

...whatever it is, it certainly looks like another PR disaster for the US (and likely for Allawi too.)

[Ohio rules]

14. You need to stay away from FOX news,DRUDGE Report

and all other main stream media.

"I have seen no indication that what you say is true."

[progressivebydesign]

12. No. The Iraq Army is being used more to help Bush's re-election..

See.. the more we shove the IRaqi Army (who is undoubtedly undertrained and underequipped) out there, then the less US casualties are reported this month.. The month before the election, Bush can't have another deadly month for US troops, it'll hurt his re-election. Be assured THAT is the most important thing to Bush and his friends right now.. The Iraqi military are being used because NO ONE tracks THEIR deaths!!! We have NO idea how many of the Iraqi military were killed.. It's all about the election. Sick, but true.

This attack in Samarra IS another Fallujah. Burying their dead in the gardens, in a soccer stadium, civilians killed everywhere. Roads blocked... it's sickening. These operations remind me of a police department bombing a city block to get some gang members. For the US, who is trying to do all this to make things look rosy for Bush's re-election campaign, cannot differentiate between insurgents and civilians.. because insurgents ARE civilians. They don't wear t-shirts with big I's on them!! They are bombing civilian neighborhoods.. where they think the "insurgents" are hiding.. it's ridiculous.

[leftchick]

15. yup it was the Irai forces with their hellfire missles...

from THEIR helicopters and all of those Iraqis driving their Bradleys and Abrams... omg.... you really believe that bullshit? May I purchase what you smoke somewhere?

[Jacobin]

18. So, who do you think the new Iraqi army will be loyal to and obey?

Allawi?????

Somehow, I don't think so..

[byronm]

13. Using force for political backup

I highly doubt that 1/20th the people killed were "terrorists".. if anything people taking arms to defend themselves against the overwhelming use of US force..

When will Bush learn that these invasions enforce hatred and not freedom?

[Disturbed]

16. "Iraqi's are so afraid"

This is the new plan. Bomb them until they no longer support the Insurgency. The goal: Pave the way for permanent US Puppet Govt. Most Iraqis would vote for Saddam or al Sadr before they would vote for Allawi and his henchmen.

Saddam was brutal but he did provide some modicum of Social Programs for Iraqis. Free Health Care and Full Education. Shit! The US says it cannot afford such programs and is cutting as many Social Programs as it can.

Amerika is rapidly veering toward a Neo Fascist Police State.

[wildwww2]

17. When will Bu$h care? Would be the better question.

And the answer is never.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President