Executions on Tape: Iraqi vs. Iraqi
Email A new propaganda video posted by Sunni insurgents on the Internet shows graphic scenes of the execution of more than a dozen captured fighters who were supposedly working with Iranian agents in Iraq to attack Sunni neighborhoods. The tape shows what the insurgents describe as Iranian weapons smuggled to the rival Shiite militias and a specific piece of communications equipment labeled, in Farsi, "The Iranian Ministry of Defense." The United States is never mentioned in the 30-minute tape, which focuses entirely on the bloody showdown between the two Islamic sects, Sunnis and Shiites. THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS Blotter New Video Heralds ‘Islamic State of Iraq’ Iraq Weapons — Made in Iran? Click Here to Check Out the Latest Brian Ross Webcast The Army of the Supporters of al Sunna, the group that released the tape, shows numerous pictures of bodies, including those of children, and claims they were all killed by Shiites. Two Sunni men, who allegedly survived a massacre in which the rest of their families were killed, claim they were interrogated by Iranian agents and tortured. "This is an ideological migration," Nibras al Kazimi, visiting professor at the Hudson Institute tells ABC News. Al Kazimi, who has seen the video and regularly writes about events in the Middle East, explains that insurgent groups are changing their focus from the Americans and the Iraqi National Guard to Shiite militias. Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
Al Kazimi disagrees with those who label the situation in Iraq "civil war." "There are marginal groups on both sides that are killing people," he says, adding that when he sees spikes in numbers of people killed he attributes it to the same number of killers committing more crimes. "We have not seen bricks flying around or cars being burnt on the streets. We have not seen an outbreak," he says. The video goes on to show a Shiite man identified as "Hazem al A’raji, one of the prominent leaders of al Sadr movement and al Mahdi Army," repeatedly calling on Shiites to bear arms and kill "Wahabbis and Baathists." "Carry your weapon and fight every impure Wahhabi. Yes, I tell you that, and I am responsible for what I say," says "al A’raji," who was supposedly appointed by radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr as the Imam of the Shiite shrine of al Kazemeya in Baghdad. Men described as captured members of al Mahdi Army are seen on the tape, sometimes blindfolded and with their hands tied, admitting to targeting Sunnis. One man claims that the Iraqi government brings the weapons from Iran to supply al Mahdi Army. The group also claims that Iraqi police and National Guard turn a blind eye towards Shiites’ killing of Sunnis. So-called "eye witnesses" talk about members of Iraqi police being present during specific incidents without intervening. The video also shows "members of al Mahdi Army" allegedly "celebrating the killing of Sunnis" and freeze the picture a number of times to point to trucks carrying members of Iraqi police or National Guard that were passing by and did not stop. The group’s claims on the tape could not be independently verified, although U.S. officials increasingly blame Iran for providing weapons and advisers to the Shiite militias. U.S. officials had told ABC News there was evidence that Iran was supplying Shiite militias with weapons. The video is expected to increase the already high tension between Sunnis and Shiites, especially amongst members of jihadist forums where it was posted.
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A VERY important piece of the war, that the global media has refused to report on.
Iran’s involvement.
When the war in Iraq is fueled by Iran’s influence, then it is a war between 2 sovereign states and NOT a civil war.
I find it repulsive how the media can’t wait to call it a civil war, and refuses to acknowledge any involvement by the Iranians.
And it mentions no Americans, which tells us that they hate each other more than they hate us.
I guess a 10-year war between Iraq and Iran is still remembered by some… Forgotten by the media.
Posted by: JelloBiafra | January 29, 2007, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
“U.S. officials had told ABC News there was evidence that Iran was supplying Shiite militias with weapons.”
And ABC swept this information under the rug, being that it goes against the ‘Civil War’ theory.
Posted by: anon | January 29, 2007, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
No it is a civil war. Specifically it is a war between the Shias and Sunnis in Iraq. But Iran is not the only ones fueling the war in Iraq. Sure, Iran is sending arms to aid the Shiites. I thought we’ve known this for a long time. The U.S. is also contributing weapons and training and cash, which is then used against U.S. troops. And I am sure various Sunni led nations or groups are aiding the Sunnis in Iraq. In summary, Iran IS fueling the war in Iraq, just as America is and many other nations or groups are, all trying to impose their own political will on the nation of Iraq. But first and foremost there is no peace in Iraq because the Shiites and the Sunnis are at war. There will be no peace there until those two groups learn to live and govern together, regardless of what the US, Iran or other nations do or don’t do. As for you fantasy world living freaks who believe George Bush is infallible and the media is to blame for all that is wrong in the World, ABC has not swept Iran’s involvement under the rug. I recall ABC reporting on Iran’s alleged involvement in providing shaped charges IEDs months ago. Why are you freaks so sensitive about the situation in Iraq being termed a civil war?
Posted by: Sean | January 29, 2007, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
Great post Sean, until the rants creeped into it… I think you prove my point on a couple of notes…
Many problems within Iraq, are due to outside influences. But the media likes to paint Iraq into a box. They like to believe Iran, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt aren’t just salivating at the thought of reaping the rewards of Iraq.
We are not at war with Iraq. We are at war with Iran. But nobody (including GWB) wants to come to that realization.
The media wants us to believe that if we leave, they will celebrate our departure, and it won’t turn into hell on earth.
Has ABC ever asked “What will happen if we leave?” No, they haven’t. They never asked that during Vietnam either. And they also never heard of the Khmer-Rouge.
Posted by: JelloBiafra | January 29, 2007, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
(cont’d)
“I recall ABC reporting on Iran’s alleged involvement in providing shaped charges IEDs months ago.”
Yes, every couple of months, ABC MIGHT provide a story on Iran’s involvement. But they will NEVER run those types of stories like they did about Gitmo or Abu Ghraib (every day of the week, every week of the month, for 6 consecutive months.) And it is only your ‘crystal clear’ memory that allowed you to even REMEMBER that they ran the story.
I do not support GWB, but I do support the war on terrorism. It’s not my fault our leader is an idiot.
But it’s better then just surrendering as John Kerry would have done, and which Bill Clinton DID do.
Posted by: JelloBiafra | January 29, 2007, 6:22 pm 6:22 pm
Today – Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad outlined an ambitious plan on Sunday to greatly expand its economic and military ties with Iraq.
Anywhere on ABC.com/frontpage ???
No, didnt think so…
Posted by: anon | January 29, 2007, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
We targeted the Sunni Baathist during the initial invasion.Isn’t it ironic that our neighborhood arch-enemy Iran now targets that same group? The Shiites are playing both sides and we are letting them..
Posted by: chris | January 30, 2007, 12:12 am 12:12 am
The simle truth is that Sunni’s and Shia peacefully co-exist almost nowhere. As a matter of fact, these two religious groups don’t tolerate any other religious group unless made to by brute force or intimidation. That is how Saddam did it, how the Saudis, Turks, Iranians and Syrians do it to this day. Every Islamic country uses force to one degree or another to keep these lunatics from slaughtering each other. Why it has to be this way, I don’t pretend to understand. But it isn’t all that hard to recognize that it is true.
To blame the US for this dynamic is ludicrous! Our fault is pure naivete. We thought, if given the opportunity, they would choose to live in peace and harmony and we were wrong.
Posted by: Dave D | January 30, 2007, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
JelloBiafra I would like to continue your comment regarding the War in Iraq is also a War on Iran. I also believe The War in Iraq is not an isolated war, this war is not contained to just Iraq. Rather, this is a war against every radical country such as:Syria, Libya, Palestine etc.. who is currently taking advantage in various forms of influence and who would take even further advantage if the instability of Iraq was further weakened by a withdrawal of US forces in Iraq. So to continue your statement: this is War with Syria, this is a War with Libya, this is a War with Palenstine. It is naive for those who are of the belief that withdrawl from Iraq will bring about the cessation of violence. Rather, I believe a withdrawal from Iraq will leave the young government of Iraq vulnerable to outside influences and as a result would allow a radical Islamic government full of hatred for the US to take place.
Posted by: Christina | January 30, 2007, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm
No the US withdrawing from Iraq will not bring an end to violence there. It will just bring an end to the BILLIONS (actually probably trillions) of dollars FUTURE taxpayers will have to pay for Iraq and an end to the US deaths there. The violence will continue with us or without. Yes and media you all are so paranoid about is not running stories every day about Iran’s involvement like they covered Abu Ghraib or Gitmo when they were in the news. Maybe because we do not have the direct proof of wrongdoing by Iran like the pictures we had of our own wrongdoing.
All we have is the US military and administration saying weapons are coming in from Iran. Gee, what is the track record of this administration making claims about weapons in other countries in this region? But so what, Abu and Gitmo deserved the attention they got if not more. I hate to see our country being hypocritical, espousing democracy, justice, and talking about good triumphing over evil while pulling that crap and crap like extraordinary rendition.
Bottom line, the “war” in Iraq has nothing to do with America’s security. Never has.
Posted by: Sean | January 30, 2007, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
Thank you for your comments
Christina. Although I don’t like it anymore than you do, I believe everything you said is True.
I also believe there is a concrete reason why the media refers to this as “The War in Iraq” instead of “The War on Terrorism”.
“War in Iraq” – gives us the impression that the war is ‘boxed up’ in one specific area.
The “War on Terror” Is MUCH broader, and harder to define, and harder to fight. Mostly because you have no idea who your friends or enemies are.
From Somalia, to Rwanda, to Niger, to Venezuela, and to Russia. Enemies are forming. They fight for nothing. They live for nothing.
But their will is strong. If ours is not, we will surely lose.
Posted by: JelloBiafra | January 30, 2007, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
i do not believe we should be in iraq in the first place.
Posted by: ashley | January 31, 2007, 8:33 am 8:33 am