Shiite uprising erupts against US occupation of Iraq

[ConcernedCanuk]

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VERY intersting article - I suggest it deserves a good read,

The Article:
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By James Conachy
5 April 2004

. . . .

The uprising constitutes a staggering political crisis for the Bush administration. Every lie the White House told to justify the invasion of Iraq has now been shattered. Last April, it claimed that the columns of American tanks rolling toward Baghdad were bringing liberation to the Iraqi people, especially to the Shiite population that suffered repression under Saddam Hussein. Twelve months later, American troops are being prepared to kill or be killed in combat with hundreds of Shiite youth, who are so hostile to the occupation that they have taken up arms.

For months the Bush administration has maintained that opposition to the US-led occupation is confined to supporters of the former regime or foreign terrorists. It has insisted that the majority of the population is sympathetic to the US, that the security situation is improving and that it is developing an “exit strategy” for the 110,000 American troops still in the country.

The truth is that the White House had no political strategy when it ordered the invasion of Iraq, apart from using overwhelming force against any resistance to its agenda of seizing the country’s energy resources and installing a pro-US puppet government. The brutality, arrogance and recklessness of the American actions have produced nothing but suffering, mayhem and bitterness for the vast majority of the Iraqi people.

/snip/

In the clearest indication that the situation will not be brought easily under control, the main Shiite cleric, Ali al-Sistani, issued a statement late yesterday that, while appealing for calm, condemned the US-led coalition and declared that the actions of Sadr’s militiamen were “legitimate.”

The response in the United States has been hysterical, with calls by rightwing elements of the establishment to drown the uprising in blood. Speaking on Fox News, Lawrence S. Eagleburger, a former secretary of state in the first Bush administration, declared: “We have to start the killing... We have to do whatever it takes to put these people down.”

MORE
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Ummmm

I think these people are PISSED!

[MadProphetMargin]

1. Heh. Sunnis as Shiites banding together to oppose us. Looks like Bush

really IS a "uniter"...just not in the way he thought.

[Bubba Fett]

2. oh shit

"Ali al-Sistani, issued a statement late yesterday that, while appealing for calm, condemned the US-led coalition and declared that the actions of Sadr’s militiamen were “legitimate.”"

Sistani is THE most respected shiite cleric in Iraq, who has been a part of the government rebuilding process, unlike Sadr who declared Americans to be infidels who should be driven out of Iraq since day one. If Sistani really said that, well, the 'peace' process is over

I guess the shiite has hit the fan ?...

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. Even though it's daylight there now, all CNN's footage is from file

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NONE of it is live.

This worries me.

I tried for hours earlier to find a webcam or live coverage in Fallujah - NADA! Not even an up to date blogger!

300,000 people in "lockdown" - actually it's a SEIGE.

Did they cut off their hydro and communications too?

How are they supposed to get food and medical supplies?

Fallujah is gonna be a bloodbath

Even AlJazeera got turned away, and the Military wouldn't even let them photograph from OUTSIDE the city.

The US has literally isolated Fallujah from the rest of the world.

"Operation Freedom" my ass!

[MadProphetMargin]

10. Don't jump to conclusions. We'll know, soon enough.

[ConcernedCanuk]

14. No news, and a curfew? - this is Freedom? - even KIDS know better!

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Found another article:

US imposes curfew on Fallujah residents

April 05 2004

Fallujah residents said they heard instructions via loudspeakers on military vehicles driving around the city that included a strict curfew from 7pm to 6am.

"No demonstrations are allowed. There will be no negotiations with US forces," blared the loudspeakers.

Families were instructed to remain in one room when US forces raided houses in the city.

/snip/

Fallujah residents remained in their homes on Monday and most shops were closed.

LINK
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No negotiations - Curfews, cutting off supplies - yah like the word "freedom" is really coming to the top of the Iraqi's minds . .

For four murders, they are going to tear this city apart.

They don't tear cities apart in the USA when someone gets murdered, even for a cop they don't put it under "seige" which this is.

NO matter if they get every single person involved, the hatred that they will create in this city will last generations.

Just the fear in the childrens' minds will create hatred and more problems for generations to come.

But the boys gotta do the RohRoh thing . .

(sigh)

[Robin Hood]

4. When do the showers of roses begin to flow?

I'm still waiting. If it don't start raining petals soon than Bill O'Reilley owes Janneane Garrofallo an apology for being a lying moron turd.

[wtmusic]

5. 'Put these people down'...isn't that what you do to a dog?

Eagleburger is beyond contempt. A Nazi of the first order.

[MadProphetMargin]

11. A dog...or a slave. These Nazi snapperheads have had their way long

enough. Enough of their jabbering.

Bush and his jackbooted thugs must go.

That is all.

[w13rd0]

6. If Sistani is declaring that the actions of al-Sadr militia are legit...

...then we are trully and deeply fucked. The Iraqi police and militia we trained and armed are turning against occupation troops. Not good at all.

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. OK - it's 10:30am in Fallujah, WHY NO NEWS !! ??

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This is really bothering me

- all the buildup,

the newspeople turned away . .

Heck, is there noone in Fallujah with a phone or the internet than can get the news out?

SOMETHING has to be happening there - - -

_:mad:__:mad:__:mad:__:mad:__:mad:__:mad:__:mad:

IRAQ TIME CHECK

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dpibel]

9. Will you be quoting yourself soon?

As representing the sort of thing one typically finds on DU?

[MadProphetMargin]

12. This is the correct answer.

[Cat Atomic]

13. Hi Andy.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ConcernedCanuk]

17. Bush's new message, the Violence has got to stop!!

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Fallujah Under Siege by "Liberators"

[ConcernedCanuk]

15. i wonder how many people realize that the 4 killings were ONE YEAR

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after the US military fired on an unarmed crowd ther killing13, and then 2 more a few days later?

The dismemberment and atrocities were more likely revenge for wht the US did a year ago!!

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May 1, 2003
Killings in Al Fallujah, City of Mosques

Has America Taken on a New Military Culture with New Rules that Allow Us to Kill Civilians at Will?

By SAM HAMOD

Al Fallujah is known in Iraq as the "city of mosques." There is a reverence for the holiness of the city and Muslim leaders made clear to American troops that they did not want them in their city. The US troops responded by saying they had to be there for "security." The Muslim leaders, led by Sunni Imam Jamal Mahmood, said they had their own security. The US troops were determined to stay. They say, Saddam had weapons factories there. The Iraqis say the "factories" have been destroyed and there is no need for the US troops to stay. This is a situation that the Americans cannot say is being fomented by the Shi'a or Iran because Al Fallujah has always been a Sunni stronghold.

What happened next has raised questions among Iraqis and many international Middle East experts. Crowds gathered and demanded the troops leave. As the crowds became louder and more insistent, the American troops fired into the crowd and killed 13 people and injured more than 20 more according to doctors at the local hospital. The American troops said they were fired on; but all other witnesses at the scene denied the gunfire came from the demonstrators. Today, 2 more people were killed and more injured, with the Muslims of Al Fallujah and the city officials saying no one shot at the Americans, the American troops claiming otherwise.

There is something troubling about this situation. Why is it that crowds of people cannot be dispersed by tear gas rather than bullets? Certainly, this is not an unknown tactic.

http://www.counterpunch.org/hamod05012003.html
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So

"big circle keeps on turnin'"

The Iraqis will have to get even AGAIN !!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR !!