Iraq Rebels kill and display Americans

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-03-31 09:27pm

Yahoo News wrote:FALLUJAH, Iraq - In a scene reminiscent of Somalia, frenzied crowds dragged the burned, mutilated bodies of four American contractors through the streets of a town west of Baghdad on Wednesday and strung two of them up from a bridge after rebels ambushed their SUVs.

Five U.S. soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division also were killed when a bomb exploded under their M-113 armored personnel carrier north of Fallujah, making it the bloodiest day for Americans in Iraq (news - web sites) since Jan. 8.

The four contract workers were killed in Fallujah, a Sunni Triangle city about 35 miles west of Baghdad and scene of some of the worst violence on both sides of the conflict since the beginning of the American occupation a year ago.

Chanting "Fallujah is the graveyard of Americans," residents cheered after the grisly assault on two four-wheel-drive civilian vehicles left both SUVs in flames.

Residents in Fallujah said insurgents attacked the contractors with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. After the attack, a jubilant crowd of civilians, none of whom appeared to be armed, gathered to celebrate, dragging the bodies through the street and hanging two of them from the bridge. Many of those in the crowd were excited young boys who shouted slogans in front of television cameras.

Associated Press Television News pictures showed one man beating a charred corpse with a metal pole. Others tied a yellow rope to a body, hooked it to a car and dragged it down the main street of town. Two blackened and mangled corpses were hung from the green, iron bridge spanning the Euphrates River.

"The people of Fallujah hung some of the bodies on the old bridge like slaughtered sheep," resident Abdul Aziz Mohammed said. Some corpses were dismembered, he said.

The White House blamed terrorists and remnants of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s former regime for the "horrific attacks" on the American contractors.

"It is offensive, it is despicable the way these individuals have been treated," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

Referring to the planned June 30 transfer of sovereignty to Iraqis, McClellan said "the best way to honor those that lost their lives" is to continue with efforts to bring democracy to Iraq.

State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said the contractors, all men, "were trying to make a difference and to help others."

U.S. officials did not identify the dead or the nature of their work because the next of kin had not yet been notified.

However, early evidence indicated they worked for Blackwater Security Consulting, a company based in Moyock, N.C., the company said in a statement. The security firm hires former military members from the United States and other countries to provide security training and guard services. In Iraq, the company was hired by the Pentagon (news - web sites) to provide security for convoys that delivered food in the Fallujah area, the company statement said.

The abuse and mutilation of the contractors' corpses was similar to the scene more than a decade ago in Somalia, when a mob dragged corpses of U.S. soldiers through the streets of Mogadishu, eventually leading to the American withdrawal from the African nation. The images were broadcast worldwide and became the subject of the book and movie "Black Hawk Down."

On Wednesday, a man held a printed sign with a skull and crossbones and the phrase "Fallujah is the cemetery for Americans" beneath the blackened corpses after they were pulled from the vehicles.

One body was tied to a car that had a poster in its window of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the founder of the Palestinian militant group Hamas who was assassinated by the Israeli military in Gaza City.

Some of the slain contractors were wearing flak jackets, resident Safa Mohammedi said.

In Baghdad, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said the coalition would not be deterred from its mission to rebuild Iraq, and that numerous reconstruction projects were moving forward nationwide even though attention was focused on the attacks.

The roadside bomb that killed the five American soldiers Wednesday was in Malahma, 12 miles northwest of Fallujah, where anti-U.S. insurgents are active.

Their deaths raised the number of U.S. troops killed in March to at least 48, making it the second-deadliest month for U.S. troops since President Bush (news - web sites) declared an end to major combat on May 1. The deadliest month was November, when 82 U.S. troops were killed.

In all, at least 597 U.S. troops have died in Iraq since the war began March 20, 2003. Of the total, 459 have died since May 1 when Bush flew onto an aircraft carrier off the California coast to declare the end of major combat.

Kimmitt said that over the past week, there has been an average of 28 attacks daily against coalition military, compared with an average of just under 20 daily attacks in previous weeks.

In the deadliest previous incident this year, nine soldiers were killed Jan. 8 when their Black Hawk medevac helicopter crashed near Fallujah, apparently after being shot down.

Fallujah is in the so-called Sunni Triangle, where support for Saddam was strong and rebels often carry out attacks against American forces. U.S. Marines recently took over authority in the region from the departing U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division.

In an effort to forcefully establish their presence, the newly arrived Marines have conducted numerous patrols in Fallujah and have engaged in fierce firefights with rebels. In recent months, U.S. soldiers were not seen as often in the center of town.

The Marines have said they will aggressively pursue guerrillas in Fallujah. However, no U.S. troops or Iraqi police were seen in the area after the attacks Wednesday, and the city was quiet.

In nearby Ramadi, insurgents threw a grenade at a government building and Iraqi security forces returned fire Wednesday, witnesses said. It was not clear if there were casualties.

Also in Ramadi, a roadside bomb exploded near a U.S. convoy, witnesses said. U.S. officials in Baghdad could not confirm the attack.

Northeast of Baghdad, in the city of Baqouba on Wednesday, a suicide bomber blew up explosives in his car when he was near a convoy of government vehicles, wounding 14 Iraqis and killing himself, officials said.

Holy shit, what the fuck is going on in Iraq?

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2004-03-31 09:36pm

If the televison camera's were there then we know were it was, even if it was local of foreign media meaing we could have had a strike inbound on the crowd in under twenty minutes

Of course we are not the good old Soviet Union so we don't do things like firebomb crowds dragging American's body's through the streets but.... sometimes you want to forget that whole civilians thing even if these kids likley did not know better

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-03-31 09:47pm

mutilated bodies of four American contractors

Not even military personnel. Dirty fucking bastards. Now don't get me wrong, I was ready to nuke Somalia when I saw those images of Rangers getting drug through the streets, but at least it was combatants fighting combatants. These poor sons of bitches, by the looks of things, were trying to fucking rebuild Iraq.

Religion of peace...

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-03-31 10:10pm

Don't worry, the Iraqi people love westerners. Karl Rove says so.

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2004-03-31 11:20pm

And the States went in to free these people from a blood thirsty tyrant.

After this, if I was Bush, I'd be tempted to free Saddam and say 'here's your army back, we don't give a flying fuck anymore'

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2004-03-31 11:59pm

Howedar wrote:
mutilated bodies of four American contractors
Not even military personnel. Dirty fucking bastards. Now don't get me wrong, I was ready to nuke Somalia when I saw those images of Rangers getting drug through the streets, but at least it was combatants fighting combatants. These poor sons of bitches, by the looks of things, were trying to fucking rebuild Iraq.

Religion of peace...

They mutiliated a corpse. Calm down. They were civilians, and they shouldn't have been killed, and their killers are murderers. But these guys are a fiery mob, like you can see at any arranged student demonstration. Course they're going to parade around like barbarians. The Somalians defeated the Rangers, their enemy. They shamed themselves by mutilating corpses, but that hardly makes the crime worse.

And drop the religous angle; you're the one waving nukes around, Mr Goddite.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-04-01 12:01am

Stark wrote:They mutiliated a corpse. Calm down. They were civilians, and they shouldn't have been killed, and their killers are murderers. But these guys are a fiery mob, like you can see at any arranged student demonstration. Course they're going to parade around like barbarians. The Somalians defeated the Rangers, their enemy. They shamed themselves by mutilating corpses, but that hardly makes the crime worse.

I'll tell you I've been to numerous student demonstrations, but I'll be damned if I've seen one where people would mutilate a body and drag it around for show.

And drop the religous angle; you're the one waving nukes around, Mr Goddite.

What the fuck?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-04-01 12:04am

Howedar wrote:
Stark wrote:They mutiliated a corpse. Calm down. They were civilians, and they shouldn't have been killed, and their killers are murderers. But these guys are a fiery mob, like you can see at any arranged student demonstration. Course they're going to parade around like barbarians. The Somalians defeated the Rangers, their enemy. They shamed themselves by mutilating corpses, but that hardly makes the crime worse.
I'll tell you I've been to numerous student demonstrations, but I'll be damned if I've seen one where people would mutilate a body and drag it around for show.

You also haven't seen one in a country which was under military occupation where soldiers could effectively act as judge and jury.

And drop the religous angle; you're the one waving nukes around, Mr Goddite.
What the fuck?

He is referring to your "religion of peace" comment. Since you belong to a religious group yourself, and the nation which happened to start this war, he was accusing you of throwing stones from a glass house.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2004-04-01 12:07am

Howedar wrote:I'll tell you I've been to numerous student demonstrations, but I'll be damned if I've seen one where people would mutilate a body and drag it around for show.

I was refering to the mood, to demonstrate that its hardly sensible to blame all iraqis, even all the iraqis in the area, for the actions of such people, since after the deed, of course everyone'll jump on the bandwagon. The point being, that they're no more breaking the law or deserving of death as the guys who stand NEXT to the guys who throw stones at tanks.

And drop the religous angle; you're the one waving nukes around, Mr Goddite.

What the fuck?[/quote]

Gah. That was inappropriate. However, the 'religion of peace, ho ho' thing is incredibly irritating, especially in the same post as 'lets nuke Somalia cos they cut up some Rangers'. The number of knee-jerk 'nuke 'em all' statements on this board is fucking pathetic; you people are children.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2004-04-01 12:16am

Just seen the images on CTV....hanging body parts on a bridge,WTF was that for

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-04-01 12:25am

Darth Wong wrote:You also haven't seen one in a country which was under military occupation where soldiers could effectively act as judge and jury.

Nope, but he said you could see the attitude at "any arranged student demonstration".

He is referring to your "religion of peace" comment. Since you belong to a religious group yourself, and the nation which happened to start this war, he was accusing you of throwing stones from a glass house.

I thought it was fairly clear that my "ready to nuke Somalia" was an expression of my disgust and frustration regarding the actions of the Somalis in 1993, as opposed to a serious plan of action. But certainly I was unclear, and I will try to prevent that in the future.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 2004-04-01 12:27am

Perhaps we should send some B-52s over there and turn it into a graveyard for them.

Of course we are not the good old Soviet Union so we don't do things like firebomb crowds dragging American's body's through the streets but.... sometimes you want to forget that whole civilians thing even if these kids likley did not know better

We can't worm our way around that? We can get a B-52 or Spectre and kind of take care of them... oh wait we can use VX to take out the whole Sunni Triangle. I'm sure the Kurds won't object.

KrauserKrauser · Post by **KrauserKrauser** » 2004-04-01 12:31am

My fucking dad is a civilian contractor in Iraq, anyone that isn't outright fucking appalled by this needs to get some sense. Shit like this makes me want to carpet bomb the fuckers. Angry mob? Whatever, I hear spraying the crowds with .30 cal would calm 'em down a bit. Why exactly are these people worth a shit again?

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2004-04-01 12:35am

KrauserKrauser wrote:Why exactly are these people worth a shit again?

Because Richard Pearle and Paul Wolfowitz have this insane vision of reshaping the entire Middle East into a tamed, pet democratic satellite of the U.S. with Iraq as the starting block. Oh, and there was some bullshit about a phantom WMD arsenal somewhere in all that...

18-Till-I-Die · Post by **18-Till-I-Die** » 2004-04-01 12:38am

They're worth shit because they're people and living beings. Look, i'm not in favor of it either, but the fact is none of this would've happene din the first place if Bush hadnt started the war. Blame him, not them. They didnt start this, he did.

But, i can understand your feelings. You're very right to have them, considering the situation with your father being in the middle of a warzone. But remember who put him there...

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-04-01 12:43am

Krauser, you went to a place in order to "liberate" them from "oppression" (well, that was the fifth or sixth reason for the war anyway, I lost count). When they don't do what you want, you decide you want to use some public massacres in order to rule by fear and make them behave. Does the irony here not occur to you? I can imagine how you feel with your father being there, but to put it bluntly, no one put a gun to his head and forced him to go. He must have known the risks going in; I assume he's not an idiot.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2004-04-01 12:43am

I feel that in this case the crowd was manipulated by the resistors. It was they who killed the men, and likely excited the crowd to riot. My guess is that they wanted a Somalia redux to give the US a lot of bad policy to work out. Given the success of the Spain bombings, expect terrorist activity to increase to November in an effort to get a more 'agreeable' US president.

Its what I would do if I were them. If you can't break the back, break the spirit.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2004-04-01 12:47am

Darth Wong wrote:Don't worry, the Iraqi people love westerners. Karl Rove says so.

You know that is the most understated critisims that isn't leveled at the Bushites enough ... the simplistic and naive idea that they would have universaly been welcomed as 'liberators' in Iraq.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2004-04-01 01:06am

CaptainChewbacca wrote:I feel that in this case the crowd was manipulated by the resistors. It was they who killed the men, and likely excited the crowd to riot.

This was my point earlier, the issue being that the murderers are murderers, just like any other, and people who stand next to them and yell hardly deserve to be bombed, however misguided.

So, all you 'nuke em' guys: you claim to have freed Iraq from tyranny. Isn't tyranny favourable to being fucking NERVE GASSED en masse for a few murders? That'd really solve the US drug problem too

KrauserKrauser · Post by **KrauserKrauser** » 2004-04-01 01:14am

Darth Wong wrote:Krauser, you went to a place in order to "liberate" them from "oppression" (well, that was the fifth or sixth reason for the war anyway, I lost count). When they don't do what you want, you decide you want to use some public massacres in order to rule by fear and make them behave. Does the irony here not occur to you? I can imagine how you feel with your father being there, but to put it bluntly, no one put a gun to his head and forced him to go. He must have known the risks going in; I assume he's not an idiot.

My statement for the harming of the protestors was just emotion. I am for the actions in Iraq but actions like this, well they really suck. I just want my dad to get back safe, then I'll worry about the politics of the situation.

CJvR · Post by **CJvR** » 2004-04-01 05:23am

Howedar wrote:Not even military personnel.

The valiant Iraqi "resistance" find it safer to attack civilians, the US troops cheat - they shoot back.

CJvR · Post by **CJvR** » 2004-04-01 05:25am

Solauren wrote:And the States went in to free these people from a blood thirsty tyrant.

After this, if I was Bush, I'd be tempted to free Saddam and say 'here's your army back, we don't give a flying fuck anymore'

Except that these fellows probably was Saddam's hired torturers & murderers before the war. Give Iraq to the Shiites instead and let them go mideval on the Sunni.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2004-04-01 05:41am

Can't we just... you know... nuke em' all and let Allah sort them out or something?

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2004-04-01 05:43am

Adolf's protege wrote:Except that these fellows probably was Saddam's hired torturers & murderers before the war. Give Iraq to the Shiites instead and let them go mideval on the Sunni.

Brilliant, the great and magnanimous United States of America, home of the free and all that, liberated Iraq from the tyrany of Saddam... to start an ethnic cleansing directed at a third of the population. Yeap, sponsoring the oppression of 10 million sunni's sure will go a long way in "stabilizing the region", "winning hearts and minds" and will undoubtedly be appreciated by the rest of the world.

Dargos · Post by **Dargos** » 2004-04-01 05:45am

Now..when I first saw this I had flash backs of the Somalia incident. My first reaction was "FUCK IT. GET ARE GUYS OUT OF THERE AND LET EM ALL DIE THE SORRY FUCKS!" But realisticaly I hope we don't cut and run like we did in Africa. Don't get me wrong here. I do NOT think the Iraq conflict and occupation is a good thing, but we are there, we started it, we need to finish it no matter what and hope that something good comes out of all this crap.