Retribution attacks begin.
Retribution attacks begin.
Four Sunni mosques have been attacked today in apparent retribution for yesterday’s bombing of the Golden Dome Shiite shrine in Samarra, “where a 2006 bombing unleashed a wave of sectarian violence that gripped Iraq for over a year.”
UPDATE: Washington Post’s Dan Froomkin made an important point during a reader chat today: sectarian violence in Iraq was taking place long before the Samarra attack last year:
Milwaukee: Dan, I was very surprised at this morning’s media coverage of the bombing at the shrine in Samarra. Every media outlet I checked (including The Washington Post, CNN and MSNBC) reported that the earlier attack on the shrine sparked the current wave of violence in Iraq. I know that’s the picture the president has painted, even though the sectarian violence in Iraq was pretty intense long before that first bombing. Has the mainstream media simply taken Bush’s version of the facts and accepted it? This really shakes my confidence in American journalism.
Dan Froomkin: The blasts at the mosque today are portentous. And there’s little doubt that the original blast accelerated sectarian violence in Iraq.
But your concern is legitimate. Bush’s repeated insistence that Iraq’s civil strife only dates back to that original attack (in February 2006) is ahistorical. As McClatchy’s Mark Seibel has explained, it “understates by at least 15 months when Shiite death squads began targeting Sunni politicians and clerics.”
I understand early coverage, in all the excitement, using shorthand and/or glossing over the history. But I hope this will be made more clear as the day progresses.
If that doesn’t happen, what you’ll be watching unfold before your eyes is another example of Bush’s ability by repeating things over and over again of getting them accepted in the media narrative even if they’re not true.
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I thought we already escalated.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:06 pmThe Republicans couldn’t get as big of a civil war the first time they bombed the Golden Mosque, so they figure if they take it out completely, they can really get stuff rolling.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:06 pmSadly, I expect our troops will be dying at an even faster rate now.
Anyone still supporting this war has blood on their hands.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:09 pmAren’t they ALL technically “retribution attacks”???
June 13th, 2007 at 1:10 pminSURGEnts
June 13th, 2007 at 1:10 pmReligion has been the root cause for nearly every war since time began.
Original post indicated Al Queda.
Now, they’re saying an ‘inside job’ by Iraqi police.
Maybe ‘Plan B’ should be to guard the borders & let them all kill each other?
OTOH, I’m sure the Chimp’N Chief has a plan.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:11 pmNow the US is supplying the Sunni’s with weapons and who’s giving the Shiites their weapons. Who’s side is Iraq on and the Saudi’s. Doesn’t anyone really know or should the US just appoint George W. Bush as President of Iraq. No wonder the place is a mess. Well at lease General Pace wont have to lie anymore a new liars will replace him. Oh I wonder if McCain still wants to go shopping in the Iraq market? Once the invaders are gone Iraq can settle it’s own problems. Look at Palestine as they had an election and voted for Hamas yet Bush said he didn’t want Hamas as rulers. What would have happen in our so called Democracy if Americans said because Bush stole the election we wanted him out? Now we know the lies and crimes done during both election we set back and do nothing.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:14 pmConnie Rice isn’t respected by any of the foreign leaders so now she’s talking about crimes against children. No mention of Fingers Foley and his crimes against kids while in office.
OTOH, I’m sure the Chimp’N Chief has a plan.
Comment by Zimzone — June 13, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
This IS his plan.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:14 pmStuck in the middle with those insurgency blues.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:14 pmThere seems to be some circular logic in Mr. Snow’s comments. Al Qaeda attempts to inflame sectarian tensions -> this bombing will inflame sectarian tensions -> this bombing must be al Qaeda.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:17 pmAre they (Iraqis) sprinting to the finish or is it more like freedom’s on the march?
June 13th, 2007 at 1:20 pmAmazing how Iran has gotten the cannon fodder bogged down while thier warpig master keep chasing the Oil Carrot
June 13th, 2007 at 1:21 pmWhat that Iraq needs is a distator who seems more interested in building make-work palaces to himself and who is contained with UN Sanctions and a no fly zone, but can maintain peace and order in the country. Ya know, kind of like what we had back in oh, 2002.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:21 pm“Put your bombs between the minarets…down the Casbah way-y-y!”
June 13th, 2007 at 1:22 pmBush’s remaning supporters, Southern Republicans, are always itching to re-fight a civll war….here’s their chance.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:23 pmTouch’e, Spudge
Anyone moving to Albania?
Bush, perhaps?
June 13th, 2007 at 1:23 pmChimpy and Loserman say we are making progress in Iraq.
What a couple of dumbass homos. They should quit their jobs and move to Castro Street, where they can make-out all day long.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:30 pmDon’t repeat the meme.
There was plenty of sectarian violence before the golden dome was hit. There was plenty of sectarian violence after.
This is just another day in George Bush’s Iraq.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:32 pmIts an old meme from 2000, I’m stealing it.
Loserman lost the primary and got a do-over.
We need to bash him mercilessly. He’s a scumbag.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:40 pmI will throw in a question. What if it wasn’t an insurrgent attack but something more calculated done by someone with an agenda here. Perhaps with all the “we need to bomb Iran” rhetoric that is starting to ramp up with the neocons and Israel, what if this bombing was meant to draw in the Iranians.. Wasn’t it an important Shiite Mosque that was bombed yesterday, and aren’t the Iranians Shiites, and don’t they hate the SUnnis? Wouldn’t something like this anger them and draw them in to support going after the Sunni’s in retribution, and couldn’t the US and Israel then use that to point the finger at them and go “Ah-ha!” and use that as the excuse to go after them? Ever heard of entrapment? They have been trying for MONTHS to find evidence to give them the excuse to bomb, no matter what they say. Their actions (the Administration) show that IS what they are heading towards.
I am questioning EVERYTHING at this point. Especially when this comes on the heels of Liebermann going on the TV to say we need to bomb. What a coincidence..
June 13th, 2007 at 1:46 pmOriginal post indicated Al Queda.
Now, they’re saying an ‘inside job’ by Iraqi police.
#
Comment by Zimzone — June 13, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
#
I’m wondering if it is both - the Al Qaeda who are part of the Iraqi police. It’s not like they go through background checks, or have any way of verifying that the people we arm and equip are not Al Qaeda.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:47 pmSpudge Boy’s got it.
In February 2006 it became apparent to the US government that their plan to install Allawi as a puppet leader in Iraq had failed and unplanned elections had resulted in an unwanted Shia-led government in Baghdad. A new policy of ‘divide-and-conquer’ was clearly necessary.
Sammara itself is a predominantly Sunni city and the Askariya Mosque falls under the Sunni Endowment, a government body that caters to the needs of Sunni mosques and religious establishments throughout the country.
During its 100-year existence, the Askariya Mosque, housing the 1200-year shrine, was never attacked. The Sunni population of Sammara took particular pride in its care, a symbol of Shia-Sunni brotherhood.
Sammara is the site of the disappearance of the 12th and last Imam — Mohammed al-Mahdi, a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed. It is said he will return to restore justice to the world.In addition to Najaf and Karbala, Sammara is also a destination for Shia pilgrims from around the world. In early 2006 Samarra was completely surrounded by a five foot berm, with only a few access points, and was fully under the control of the US army with an all-night curfew during which nothing moved except military units.
The curfew in Samarra started at 8pm. On February 21st, 2006, at 8:30pm, according to a witness, joint forces of the Iraq National Guard and the American Army appeared, then left at 9, then reappeared at 11pm. At 6am on the morning of the 22nd the Iraqi Army unit left the area, and at 6:30 the Americans left. The first explosion occurred at 6:40, the second at 6:45.am. The Askariya Mosque in Sammara was partially destroyed with the 1200-year shrine gutted. As Sunni mosques were burned in reprisal attacks and Sunnis were gunned down in the streets,
Iraqi officials said the attack on the shrine was the work of “specialists”. Construction Minister Jassem Mohammed Jaafar, who toured Sammara and inspected the damage incurred to the shrine, said the placing of explosives inside the dome was meticulous and must have taken at least 12 hours.
“Holes were dug into the mausoleum’s four main pillars and packed with explosives,” he told the media, adding that work on each pillar must have taken at least four hours.This is an astounding statement to make. This means that the perpetrators had free rein for much of the time to carry out their heinous crime.
Hoping to find answers and interview residents of Sammara, the Al-Arabiya news network dispatched three of its journalists, including former Aljazeera reporter Atwar Bahjat, herself a native of the ancient city. Sources in Iraq say she was interviewing residents when a truck full of unknown armed men abducted her as she screamed for help. Bahjat, 30, of mixed Sunni-Shia heritage, was found executed outside Sammara, along with her cameraman and sound technician. Her field equipment and video were missing.
One top Shiite political leader accused US ambassador Khalilzad of sharing blame for the attack on the shrine in Samarra. “These statements … gave green lights to terrorist groups. And, therefore, he shares in part of the responsibility,” said Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq and the former commander of its militia.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:48 pm.
June 13th, 2007 at 2:02 pmSo if it is al-Qa’ida, does this break their alliance with the Islamic Army in Iraq?
June 13th, 2007 at 2:21 pmThis is great news.
June 13th, 2007 at 2:24 pmI hope attacks in Iraq increase.
I hope 100 American troops die this week.
This is great.
It helps us Democrats!
Uh, toaster head, the Islamic Army is Sunni, and this was a Shiite shrine, so…
June 13th, 2007 at 2:32 pmPart of this argument is just plain despicable. So, now being gay in the military might suddenly be acceptable to the military just because they need more bodies to fill their quotas? Despicable!
June 13th, 2007 at 2:39 pmGays are human beings just like the rest of us and can serve their country as honorably, as bravely, and as effectively as any other human being in this country.
I am so sick of the arrogance and self-righteousness of people making decisions in this country!
oops..wrong thread..
June 13th, 2007 at 2:41 pmUh, toaster head, the Islamic Army is Sunni, and this was a Shiite shrine, so…
Comment by RUCerious — June 13, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
Right, but in the truce they signed last week, they were going to “avoid the spilling of Muslim blood” and focus their efforts on the occupiers. Of course, if they don’t consider Shi’ites Muslim, then this would be a moot point.
June 13th, 2007 at 2:53 pmMuslims are killing each other in record numbers in the Gaza Strip! There is a God after all!
June 13th, 2007 at 3:12 pmMichael, you’re a moron.
June 13th, 2007 at 4:00 pmThis is great news.
I hope attacks in Iraq increase.
I hope 100 American troops die this week.
This is great.
It helps us Democrats!
Comment by Mr. Roboto — June 13, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
Fu*k you you worthless piece of sh!t. Take your hatred and spew it somewhere else. Get down on your well used knee pads and thank your big glowy man in the sky that you aren’t anywhere near me in real life or I would put you on your little scrawny republican a$$, mother fu*ker.
June 13th, 2007 at 4:20 pmMuslims are killing each other in record numbers in the Gaza Strip! There is a God after all!
Comment by michael — June 13, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
Haven’t you been warned about pissing off Daryll’s god? Admittedly D’s got his god’s ideas all mixed up but none the less the Big Cheese does not take kindly to inhumanity
June 13th, 2007 at 4:47 pm“Michael, you’re a moron.
Comment by JG — June 13, 2007″
How long did it take you to come up with such a intelligent come back?
June 13th, 2007 at 4:58 pm“Michael, you’re a moron.
Comment by JG — June 13, 2007″
How long did it take you to come up with such a intelligent come back?
Comment by michael — June 13, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
How long did it take you to make yourself look like an moron?
June 13th, 2007 at 5:48 pm