Mosques on Front Line of Battle With U.S.

[DuctapeFatwa]

"It's not enough for them to defile the land, they also wanted to defile God's book and then violate the sanctities of Muslims," the preacher shouted, his words carried into the street by loudspeakers. "The grandsons of monkeys and pigs, who don't know their mothers or fathers, trespass on the book of God!"

Moustafa Mohammed, a 19-year-old college sophomore squatting in the mosque, listened in anger and pain. "Islam today is being humiliated," he said. "We ask God to make us victorious. They are hurting Muslims. ... It's horrible."

Lt. Col. Chester C. Egert, a chaplain with the 101st Airborne Division, said some imams also argue "that U.S. soldiers or coalition forces are causing decadence and a decrease in morality."

"In general, I don't think the population is inclined to buy into jihad or fighting against the coalition," Egert said..."The talk of the preachers is a result of the social pressure in their areas," he said.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20031110_92.html

[cliss]

1. I believe that is the new US policy:

to consider no building "sacrosanct" or otherwise unsearchable. The reasoning is that resistance fighters have hidden weapons and arms caches in mosques, knowing that they are basically 'off limits'. No longer, apparently.

In my opinion, this is like pushing a stick inside a hornet nest. It will only serve to inflame already infuriated locals. This may be the last straw. The muslims are nothing if they are not religious. Iraqis will see Americans as trampling on their holy grounds.

The Lt. Colonel is also showing his appalling lack of knowledge about Iraqis themselves by stating, "I don't think the population is inclined to buy into jihad...". He may have occasion to regret his words.

And I can't understand the next sentence, "the talk of preachers is a result of the social pressures in their areas". I'm not sure what he means by this, but it's pretty obvious that the 'talk of preachers' is meant to be insulting or otherwise minimalizing what they have to say.

First of all they're not preachers. They're imams, holy men who are listened to and set policy, not blow off steam because of social pressures, like he's inferring.

[The Magistrate]

2. Chaplain Egert, Mr. Fatwa

Needs to learn to watch both sides of his mouth, so they may speak in unison.

If the public is not inclined to buy into jihad against the invaders, what is the source of the social pressure he feels the imams are catering to?

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. LOL that was my favorite part of the article

Even better, except for you, maybe a few other people on here, and me, it went entirely unnoticed, unremarked, and of course, unquestioned.

;)

[The Magistrate]

5. Some Of Us Old Counter-Revolutionaries Are Pretty Sharp, Mr. Fatwa

It does seem clear beyond peradventure the great bulk of the population of Iraq has no wish to be occuppied by any foreign soldiery, and whatever beliefs are useful to steel young men to action can be expected to enjoy a boom. A military and political leadership that does not recognize this is certain to fail in its object. We are in agreement, it would seem, that in this instance, that would be a desireable thing, each from our differing perspectives.

[kayell]

4. Gee, I wonder what US preachers would have to say

If the US was occupied by a foreign army with no respect or understanding of our religious or cultural customs?