People of Iraq, Your Children Are At Risk

November 5, 2004
Release Number: 04-11-12


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


INSURGENTS TARGET CHILDREN OF RAMADI

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq – An Army unit assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force, discovered and defused an explosive-laden youth center in Ramadi Nov. 4, which was rigged by insurgents to detonate and potentially kill dozens of Iraqi children. They also discovered more than two tons of explosives hidden in a mosque.

The discoveries were made during a sweep of the city looking for improvised explosive devices.

After a thorough investigation of the youth center, the Soldiers discovered that the explosives were rigged to detonate three ways: through a light switch, a remote control and by wiring that ran from the youth center to the nearby Al-Haq Mosque, where the unit discovered the firing mechanism.

At another mosque, a search yielded the discovery of more than two tons of ammunition, explosives, mortar systems and RPGs. Artillery rounds; assault rifles and various IED-making materials were found, as well. Fifty suspected insurgents were also detained during the sweep.

Mosques are granted protective status due to their religious and cultural significance. However, when insurgents violate the sanctity of the mosque by using the structure for military purposes, the site loses its protective status.

Great care is taken by the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines of I Marine Expeditionary Force, who are committed to assisting Iraqi Interim Government in providing security to Iraqi people.

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The Iraqi People must turn on these insurgents, these foreigners who are killing their life's blood. Their future, their freedom is in their own hands. The Insurgents have laid the gaunlet with roadside bombs at the Iraqi People's feet. Band together and rid your country of these evil doers now. Your children are at risk.


ALSO

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,137835,00.html

Saudi Scholars Urge Iraqis to Back Militants
Saturday, November 06, 2004 FOX NEWS

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Prominent Saudi religious scholars urged Iraqis to support militants waging holy war against the U.S.-led coalition forces as American troops prepared Saturday for a major assault on the insurgent hotbed of Fallujah (search).

The 26 Saudi scholars and preachers said in an open letter to the Iraqi people that their appeal was prompted by "the extraordinary situation through which the Iraqis are passing which calls for unity and exchange of views." The letter was posted on the Internet.

"At no time in history has a whole people been violated ... by propaganda that's been proved false," Sheik Awad al-Qarni (search), one of the scholars, told Al-Arabiya TV.

"The U.S. forces are still destroying towns on the heads of their people and killing women and children. What's going on in Iraq is a result of the big crime of America's occupation of Iraq."

In their letter, the scholars stressed that armed attacks by militant Iraqi groups on U.S. troops and their allies in Iraq represent "legitimate" resistance.

The scholars were careful to direct their appeal to Iraqis only and stayed away from issuing a general, Muslim-wide call for holy war. They also identified the military as the target, one that is considered legitimate by many Arabs who view U.S. troops and their allies as occupiers.

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The Iraqi People must decide if they are first Iraqis, or Arabs, or Islamist. Now that they are a soverign nation there is a difference.
Also it would be wise for the Iraqi People to examine whether these Saudi scholars are truly learned men. The Islamic scholar of yesteryear, who were of high knowledge, revered and respected did not espouse or proclaim what these men say. To whose advantage is it that what they perscribe contributes to? Certainly it is not to the freedom, liberty, peace and happiness for the Iraqi People.

Tomorrow We Should Think Before We Vote.

Americans should stop this very minute where ever they are, in whatever they are doing and ask themselves, "Where do I stand as an American today, am I only a Democrat or a Republican, an Independent or am I an American, for America, a member of a democratic society, a champion of freedom and liberty in the world?"

We are standing as a nation on the edge of a growing crisis that may be our undoing, and could very well do what Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and all those in the world who profess to be enemies of the people of the United States, hope to do themselves in the name of their ideology and hatred, divide us and then destroy us as a nation.

Think of the moment you first laid your eyes on the twin towers of the World Trade Center being attacked and burning intensely and the horror of all those innocent people trapped and dying in those two towers, then the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Remember how you felt in your heart, and then your American heart. Did we go into Afghanistan and rout out the Taliban and Al Qaeda with anything but the sword of patriotism and a returned declaration to an "Act of War." We meant then as we resolved (and I hope we still resolve now) that life, liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness, in the wake of that fierce attack, is our cause and motive in all our endeavors, warlike and otherwise, hence after September 11th.

Yet I sense, as many American must also be sensing, an uneasiness eating away at the edges of this mighty resolve of the last three years. We are being moved (by the daily killing and injuring of our troops in Iraq) to remember another conflict of war where the killing of American men and women in combat grew to such proportions that we as a nation wearied both in anguish and realism of the fight and its original purpose, and it tore us apart as a nation and a people, and the United States finally in 1975 walked away from that distant land and left it to its own divided self and their neighbors.

While the debate was just a whispered murmurs in our ears during the primaries, it has become a contentious tug of war of fear and hate between our two political parties during the presidential election campaigns. We must as a nation reaffirm our stand on World Terrorism, not because of September 11th, but because we need to remember who we are and what we stand for as Americans and as a nation.

We must not say of Iraq, wrong time, wrong place, unless we are going to say wrong people under right sadistic dictator. Afghanistan and Iraq, where we have forged a path against terrorism and for freedom, liberty, justice and possible happiness that these countries' people may create for themselves. They could not have done it on their own and the Americans have helped them. There on their soil is American blood as testament to the true American nature in times of the horror of evil, war, crisis and aftermath.

We are not what many of the world believe, "a fat, selfish, pleasure seeking-loving, arrogant and morally corrupt people" who have no sense of good, truth, honor, and justice. I ask "Does this describes you?" "Is this what Americans are?" "I say "No," and look into the face of any American who is in Afghanistan and Iraq and tell him or her otherwise! We have been the hope of freedom and liberty from tyranny for many people througout history and the world. The list of nations includes France and Germany, Italy and Poland to name a few.

We are not on the easy path. The easy way out would be to divert our attention, change our intention and forget our purpose. Are Americans so soft in spirit? Do we tire so easily when the work becomes hard? Do we ignore the truth because we would much prefer the attractive lure of lies. Are we so confused, questioning, stressed and weak here at home, with political agendas, preferences and hates, that we forget who we are as a nation and what we stand for? How can we forget our purpose and mission in Afghanistan and Iraq, reference Vietnam, start grumbling about practicalities, and try turning our attentions to problems at home, and our attention away from the greatest threat to our national security, terrorism.

I say if we as a nation, misunderstand our resolve among ourselves now, during this presidential election, then that misunderstanding and division between us will grow louder and clearer to the rest of the world and all its people as it has to Osama bin Laden (in view of his latest video tape recording "Message to America"). And it will not end after the election results are in.

We are not to be against each other so that our enemies may enter us and destroy us from within. We are not hurting anyone but ourselves when we stand divided. In Iraq, as in Afghanistan, our nation's lifeblood, our actions and our resolve are putting our money and our troops where our mouths are. Be proud, steadfast and certain in your country's stand and resolve to follow through. Do not vote with your fear, your hates and your disagreeableness. Vote with what you know is right, good and true and as every American in history has,vote with your country's best interest in your heart and your mind. Stay the course.

No other nation on the face of the earth is fighting terrorism with its whole self. No other nation on earth is, with all its natural resources, its blood, sweat and tears, trying to rid the world of terrorism to make it safe for all people everywhere.

We must remind ourselves, when we doubt our actions and the future, of all the horrors of September 11, 2001. We must remind ourselves of what we individually and as a nation decided and resolved to do on that day, not only at the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, as the attack was happening, but in the days afterwards when we realized the utter devastation wrought on so many human lives, and the true meaning of hate and terrorism. We chose to resolve never to let it happen on our soil again or in any other country of decent and innocent people for that matter. We must remember our purpose and our mission as Americans, and as a free nation.




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