Making Iraq safer for all----40 Iraqi soldiers executed

[kosar]

MORE > Last Updated: Sunday, 24 October, 2004, 18:58 GMT 19:58 UK

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Massacre of Iraqi army recruits


The bodies of the dead men were found by the roadside
The bodies of more than 40 Iraqi army recruits have been found following an ambush near the Iranian border in the north-east of the country.
Police said many of the soldiers had been shot in the head.

Hours later, a US diplomat was killed in a mortar attack at Camp Victory near Baghdad airport.

Ed Seitz, assistant regional security officer at the US embassy in Baghdad, is believed to be the first US diplomat killed during the current war.


A website often used by militants published a statement attributed to the group led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in which it claimed to have carried out the army recruits massacre.

This was an execution. We found the dead lying face down by the roadside with a single bullet wound

Police said the bodies of the recruits - who were not armed - were found near the village of Mandali, south of Baquba.

"This was an execution. We found the dead lying face down by the roadside with a single bullet wound to the head," Iraqi national guard commander Ali al-Kaaki is quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

A local police official said that all had their hands crossed behind their heads.

Interior Ministry spokesman Adnan Abdul Rahman said 37 bodies were found shot dead on the side of the road, while the bodies of 12 others were found in a burned bus.

There was confusion over the precise figures. The Iraqi National Guard said 48 troops and three drivers were killed.

 

[kosar]

Iraqi massacre 'was inside job'


The gunmen had information about the recruits, say officials
Security officials in Iraq say they suspect that militants who killed about 50 army recruits on Saturday may have been given inside information.
The officials say the militants must have been informed that the soldiers, who had just completed basic training, were being taken home in minibuses.

Their bodies were found close to their training camp, in the north-east of the country, near the Iranian border.

Local police say the convoy appeared to have been ambushed.

Police uniforms

"There was probably collusion among the soldiers or other groups," Diyala province deputy Governor Aqil Hamid al-Adili told al-Arabiya television.


"Otherwise, the gunmen would not have got the information about the soldiers' departure from their training camp and that they were unarmed," he added.

"This was an execution. We found the dead lying face down by the roadside with a single bullet wound to the head," Iraqi national guard commander Ali al-Kaaki said, according to the AFP news agency.

The BBC Baghdad correspondent says the increasing level of attacks shows both the ruthlessness and growing capability of militant groups in Iraq.

The rebels who ambushed the army recruits close to Baquba were reportedly dressed in police uniforms.

Web site claim

A website often used by militants published a statement attributed to the group led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in which it claimed to have carried out the army recruits massacre.

Al-Zarqawi's recently renamed group, the Al-Qaeda Organisation for Holy War in Iraq, said they had killed "apostates".

It appears that they were ambushed by a large, well-organised force with good intelligence

Unnamed security official
"The mujahideen killed them all, stole two vehicles and the salaries they had just received from their masters," a statement said.

Its authenticity could not be verified.

"It appears that they were ambushed by a large, well-organised force with good intelligence," a senior Iraqi security source told Reuters news agency.

The BBC's Claire Marshall in Baghdad says the army recruits were believed to have just finished a training course at a camp near the Iranian border.

They were ambushed on a remote road in Diyala province at sunset on Saturday, while travelling in three minibuses, in civilian clothes.

Reports suggest that the recruits were mainly from Shia cities in the south of Iraq, including Basra, Amara, Kut and Nasiriya, and were returning there after training in the desert camp.

Correspondents say Iraq's fledgling security forces are a prime target for militant groups.

Earlier on Saturday, 20 newly-recruited members of the Iraqi security services were killed in separate suicide bomb attacks.

 

[pirate fan]

This is a sad story. It must be something that so many Iraqie men still risk their lives trying to join the army or police to do what is right for the country. Some must really believe in freedom. How many bombs have blown up where recruits for the police or army have been. I myself would be scared to stand in line to join the police, but many still are going to help the cause. God Bless them all. I only pray that other terrorists would only lay down their guns and find peace for all.

 

[djv]

Ya it's got to be tough on them. First we blow the place to hell looking for something that's not there. And now they have this chit going on. Feel sorry for them. Ya some what. But I rather we worry about home and making it safer for all. My priority as president is the home land. No Bush didn't say that. As for middle east. Been screwing with each other for over 2000 years. Have a hunch we wont stop it. But can we make it worse. Looks like we did a good job of that.

 

[pirate fan]

Do the ends justify the means? maybe not in this case, but it isn't over yet and I still think things will eventually work out for the Iraqi people.

 

[CHARLESMANSON]

You're a true great American Kosar, I'll bet your parents are proud. Way to always stay positive about our country and it's efforts to fight terror. You must laugh inside everytime one of our guys gets killed because you sure are the first person to point it out. Typical whining crying fingerpointing liberal.

If you think Bush was wrong for attacking Iraq it's awful funny even John Kerry and Bill Clinton said there were WMDs before the invasion. Why won't any liberal explain that??

Iraq is on a path to freedom....it will just take time. Maybe you should talk to some soldiers who are over there. They will tell you a different story about the state of Iraq. The media only reports on the negative stuff, not the 95% positive. If you guys want to keep giving blowjobs to the biased liberal media that's your problem.

 

[spibble spab]

This is a sad story. It must be something that so many Iraqie men still risk their lives trying to join the army or police to do what is right for the country. Some must really believe in freedom. How many bombs have blown up where recruits for the police or army have been. I myself would be scared to stand in line to join the police, but many still are going to help the cause. God Bless them all. I only pray that other terrorists would only lay down their guns and find peace for all.

:iagree: very refreshing post

 

[spibble spab]

You're a true great American Kosar, I'll bet your parents are proud. Way to always stay positive about our country and it's efforts to fight terror. You must laugh inside everytime one of our guys gets killed because you sure are the first person to point it out. Typical whining crying fingerpointing liberal.

If you think Bush was wrong for attacking Iraq it's awful funny even John Kerry and Bill Clinton said there were WMDs before the invasion. Why won't any liberal explain that??

Iraq is on a path to freedom....it will just take time. Maybe you should talk to some soldiers who are over there. They will tell you a different story about the state of Iraq. The media only reports on the negative stuff, not the 95% positive. If you guys want to keep giving blowjobs to the biased liberal media that's your problem.

good post charley dont surf. and doesnt b.s.

hats off to you bro

:hitwithro kosar doesnt know any better.
he's a stone throwing child running from a tank right now.. go down swinging buddy

 

[THE KOD]

This is a sad story. It must be something that so many Iraqie men still risk their lives trying to join the army or police to do what is right for the country.

...........................................................

agree it is sad but its the only jobs in town for them.

I doubt this insurgency will ever end even when we leave. Iraq can only be controlled by someone like Sadamm dictator.

 

[THE KOD]

Typical whining crying fingerpointing liberal.

......................................................

kosar is not a liberal he is a centrist.

 

[spibble spab]

the insurgency will never end scott. i agree with you
it's the intensity and frequency that will decrease.
I disagree with you on the dictator thing. i think saddam
had something like twelve assassination attempts when he was in
power. our country is proof that democracy works. It's not perfect by any means. But the people need to rule. Not the ruler.
what if he's unstable like The Iyatollah (sp) Hitler, Kim Jong Il etc.
but i respect your opinion nonetheless on the matter

 

[THE KOD]

spib

thanks for respecting my opinion

really like that running wolf. Not sure why.

KOD