US army rejects call to stop patrols in Baghad's powder keg Sadr City

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030815/wl_afp/iraq_us&cid=1512&ncid=1480

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The US army refused to stop its patrols in Baghdad's Sadr City despite warnings from Shiite Muslim leaders there that the restive district of two million people could explode if American troops return.

"We still have a security policy that needs to go on in that area," said army spokesman Colonel Guy Shields.

The refusal came after more than 10,000 faithful gathered in the impoverished district for special weekly prayers to denounce a perceived US army assault on their cherished faith.

"They were not just attacking a flag, they were attacking all of Islam," Sheikh Abdul Hadi al-Daraji told his congregation.

Daraji rejected a US apology for the incident in which an Iraqi was killed Wednesday in clashes sparked when American troops in a helicopter removed a religious flag from a communications tower in the Shiite suburb previously known as Saddam City.

And he warned: "We will not be responsible for what will happen to the Americans if they enter Sadr City again.

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[pw]

1. gives you a warm feeling

Who was the idiot who decided the flag should come down?

You can see the US point of view that declaring an area off limits to patrols is a really bad idea. But obviously a superficial apology isn't enough. I wonder if maybe reliable power and water would make residents feel more kindly toward them.

[colorado_ufo]

4. It was an accident, as I read it.

The backwash from a helicopter torn down the flag. Several people were injured and one man (Iraqi) died. This must have been some huge flag.

[IndianaGreen]

5. The flag had the name of Allah on it

actually it had the first verse of the Holy Qur'an on it:

In the Name of Allah, the Benificent, the Merciful

[NNN0LHI]

6. Did you see the video of that backwash tearing the flag down?

If you did, you would know that it was no accident.

Don

[Jacobin]

8. I watched a video of the chopper near the tower

It was very very very close to the tower. I don't think it was an accident. It looked like they were trying to blow it off.

I don't know why else the chopper would have hovered right next to a tower for several minutes and then left right after it blew down the flag.

[Sushi_lover]

2. 2 Million Shiites!!

wow. I am glad they're on our side. Glad they're Shiite instead of Sunni or we'd have a much bigger task searching thru there for Saddam.

2 million people is a heck of a lot of people. Let's hope we get them some power before they get mad.

[NNN0LHI]

3. Kick

[lanlady]

7. which one is it?

Is the army saying one thing and doing another?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=69172