Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
San Diego Union-Tribune
October 31, 2007 Leaders opposed al-Qaeda in Iraq
By Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press
BAGHDAD – It had to be done quickly. Rogue Shiite militiamen were holding hostage a group of Sunni and Shiite tribal sheiks who had joined a revolt against al-Qaeda in Iraq. For the Iraqi government and its U.S. backers, the seven men represented a rare symbol of national unity.
A daring rescue operation secured their freedom.
A meeting yesterday between most of the former captives and military officials, including the Iraqi commander of the rescue operation, offered the first detailed picture of the tense and fast-moving events: the kidnapping, the slaying of one captive and the rescue mission Monday.
The sheiks, recounting their 30-hour ordeal, said they were tortured and humiliated. At least three sheiks were visibly bruised. One man's left eye was red and swollen. The two others had bruises on their backs, arms and legs.
Haroon al-Mohammedawi, the leader of the group from Khalis, where al-Qaeda in Iraq has a heavy presence, said: “We already forgot the pain and the wounds from our ordeal. We pledge to you, the people and leadership of Iraq, that we will stay the course.”
The kidnapping came shortly after the sheiks attended a meeting Sunday with government officials in Baghdad about battling al-Qaeda in Iraq and fostering peace between Shiites and Sunnis.
They were traveling back to their homes in Diyala province when the attackers intercepted their minibus in the capital's Shiite Shaab neighborhood. One of the sheiks resisted the kidnappers and was shot dead.
The U.S. military said the kidnappers were rogue members of the Shiite Mahdi army militia led by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
The military has claimed that such splinter Shiite groups are doing everything possible to stop Iraqis from joining U.S. forces in the fight against the Sunni al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Iraqi Maj. Gen. Riyadh al-Qusaibi said he and his troops combed orchards and raided homes in a wide area to the northeast of Baghdad before they finally found the house where the sheiks were held prisoner.
“The area where the house was is not fit for rats to live in,” al-Qusaibi said. “The kidnappers' response to our arrival was slow, and the gunfight lasted only minutes.”
Four of the kidnappers were killed in the gunfight and six were detained, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said. U.S. military officials, however, said the number of suspected kidnappers detained was much larger.
Al-Qusaibi said several of his men were superficially wounded, but none was killed.
October 31, 2007 Leaders opposed al-Qaeda in Iraq
By Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press
BAGHDAD – It had to be done quickly. Rogue Shiite militiamen were holding hostage a group of Sunni and Shiite tribal sheiks who had joined a revolt against al-Qaeda in Iraq. For the Iraqi government and its U.S. backers, the seven men represented a rare symbol of national unity.
A daring rescue operation secured their freedom.
A meeting yesterday between most of the former captives and military officials, including the Iraqi commander of the rescue operation, offered the first detailed picture of the tense and fast-moving events: the kidnapping, the slaying of one captive and the rescue mission Monday.
The sheiks, recounting their 30-hour ordeal, said they were tortured and humiliated. At least three sheiks were visibly bruised. One man's left eye was red and swollen. The two others had bruises on their backs, arms and legs.
Haroon al-Mohammedawi, the leader of the group from Khalis, where al-Qaeda in Iraq has a heavy presence, said: “We already forgot the pain and the wounds from our ordeal. We pledge to you, the people and leadership of Iraq, that we will stay the course.”
The kidnapping came shortly after the sheiks attended a meeting Sunday with government officials in Baghdad about battling al-Qaeda in Iraq and fostering peace between Shiites and Sunnis.
They were traveling back to their homes in Diyala province when the attackers intercepted their minibus in the capital's Shiite Shaab neighborhood. One of the sheiks resisted the kidnappers and was shot dead.
The U.S. military said the kidnappers were rogue members of the Shiite Mahdi army militia led by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
The military has claimed that such splinter Shiite groups are doing everything possible to stop Iraqis from joining U.S. forces in the fight against the Sunni al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Iraqi Maj. Gen. Riyadh al-Qusaibi said he and his troops combed orchards and raided homes in a wide area to the northeast of Baghdad before they finally found the house where the sheiks were held prisoner.
“The area where the house was is not fit for rats to live in,” al-Qusaibi said. “The kidnappers' response to our arrival was slow, and the gunfight lasted only minutes.”
Four of the kidnappers were killed in the gunfight and six were detained, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said. U.S. military officials, however, said the number of suspected kidnappers detained was much larger.
Al-Qusaibi said several of his men were superficially wounded, but none was killed.