Attack On Marines Near Mosque
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| Wed, 04-07-2004 - 6:22pm |
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
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April 7, 2004
Release Number: 04-04-07
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTACK ON MARINES NEAR MOSQUE
FALLUJAH, Iraq - U.S. Marines observed anti-Coalition Forces today firing from the Haj Musheen Abdul Aziz Az-Kubaysi mosque complex in Fallujah. In order to gain access to the compound housing the mosque, Marines used air support to breach a wall located several hundred yards away from the actual mosque structure. One anti-Coalition force member was killed in the attack. There is no report of civilian casualties.
Marines on the ground observed no damage to the mosque. The anti-coalition forces firing from the mosque wrongfully violated the law of war by conducting offensive military operations from a protected structure. As a result, the mosque lost its protected status and therefore became a lawful military target. Nevertheless, the Marines only targeted the wall surrounding the compound in order to prevent damage to the mosque.
Initial reports indicate a platoon-size force was firing RPGs and small arms from fortified battle positions inside of and on top of the mosque. Following the strike, Marines also recovered a fully functional mortar from inside the compound.
This mosque was repeatedly used as a base to target Iraqi and Coalition forces throughout the day. The breach of the wall was a graduated response to the threat.
I Marine Expeditionary Force will continue to employ precision weaponry in order to protect lives of non-combatants, private property, medical facilities, and religious structures in accordance with the law of war.
For more information please contact MAJ JOHNSON at johnsontv@imefdm.usmc.mil or neil.harper.82@d82.army.mil
http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/news_release.asp?NewsRelease=20040407.txt

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Kennedy is not the first person to make that remark. I heard the same "quote"
Polls are showing approval of Bush's handling of the war is fading. See http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=210 To call anything 'extreme" is to imply that a relatively small percentage adhere to a philosophy/belief/opinion. According to the Pew Research Center, 35% think the decision to wage war was wrong. That's a hefty percentage to call extreme.
Your perception that both the "extreme left" and terrorists have much in common is astonishing. I'm assuming that you're basing that on politics, not the freedom and wellbeing of either the American or the Iraqi peoples. It seems as though you seek to demonize those who don't fall in and toe the line. Guess what a democracy is about--freedom of speech! If you believe that Saddam Hussein was a repressive and unprincipled dictator, then you CANNOT espouse his beliefs about stifling dissenting opinions and still look credible yourself.
And I'm amused, almost beyond saying, at your use of the word "propaganda". This administration has spun words, indulged in selective intelligence, misrepresented situations and been both secretive and jealous of the powers of the presidential branch--and you're using the word propaganda. I am rolling on the floor, laughing my a** off!
So your words are sad, NOT true.
Gettingahandle
Ignorance is Nature's most abundant fuel for decision making.
"In the first place, while I'm not a fan of Sen. Kennedy, he has no control over someone else quoting him for their own purposes. What's he supposed to do? Sue the guy? Secondly, I don't know anyone who would even take that seriously. It's propaganda - what do you expect? As for it's effect on our troops...if they haven't been schooled in propaganda, then our military is the one doing them a disservice."
So, go ahead and continue "laughing your a** off", I think I'll join you.
ITA
IMHO, they were used to further a goal that I'm sure Sen. Kennedy would NOT endorse...that of inciting rebellion.
And I never asserted that you personally, (who has been saying that you aren't extreme left wing) wanted our soldiers to die, but I know that the extremists in the left wing leadership clearly do. The more that die, the better the chances of success in November. I find that dispicable.
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