Saturday, January 3, 2004
Very good. The Coalition is doing what it needs to - political correctness be damned. Balancing the risk of raising the ire of certain elements with letting those same elements know that even Mosques are not safe haven for terror, the guys in Iraq are making the right choices. Take note that they're doing this with the cooperation of and information given to them by Iraqi informants, and our guys are now feeling enough in control to start taking these chances. A good sign.
Boston.com / News / World / Mosque in Iraq raided; Sunni leader detained
After US tanks cordoned off the Ibn Taymiya mosque Thursday, troops found a surface-to-air missile, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, grenades, a 60mm mortar tube, a 120mm mortar stand, bomb-making equipment, and other weapons, US Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt told reporters.
But the find came at a steep price in the battle for hearts and minds, and once again showed the challenge US troops face as they try to foil attacks without angering Iraqis.
An angry crowd of about 1,000 people gathered yesterday outside the mosque after Friday prayers, shouting "Jihad!" and accusing US troops of desecrating the mosque, roughing up religious leaders, and disrupting a meeting of a new political group that represents religious Sunnis...
