Failed bomber lost three brothers in Iraq

[leftchick]

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=123&art_id=qw1132061593820J635

By Randa Habib

Amman - An Iraqi woman who dramatically confessed on Jordanian television to her role in the deadly multiple bombings on Amman hotels last week had three brothers and a brother-in-law killed by United States forces in Iraq, officials and family sources said on Tuesday.

Jordanian officials said the woman captured Sunday, Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi, 35, had provided few leads apart from her apparent motivation and that the investigation was now focused on whether the bombers had accomplices in Jordan.

<snip>

Sajida Rishawi, whose explosives belt failed to detonate, had two other brothers killed by US troops in Iraq, Ammar and Yasser, according to Jordanian officials.

She has told investigators that Ammar and Yasser died in Ramadi, while Samer was killed in the former rebel stronghold of Fallujah, the security source said.

[SteppingRazor]

1. In fairness, though, her brothers weren't innocent bystanders...

One was the leader of a terrorist cell in Jordan, according to the article you posted, and was killed while fighting in Fallujah. Can't say about the other two, but given that they were killed in the hotbed of Ramadi, chances are good that they died fighting.

I'm sure this woman's loss is devastating, of course. But:

1) it sure as hell doesn't justify killing innocent civilians in a hotel.

2) At least one of her brothers, and probably all three, died in firefights, not as a result of so-called "colateral damage."

Just to present the other side of the story.

[leftchick]

3. I hope you were not implying that

I am in any way condoning her actions by posting this report. By reading it, it makes clear to me the notion of killing one resistance fighter or innocent civilian in Iraq can result in many new potential fighters/terrorists hell bent on revenge. It is a vicious and senseless cycle of violence we are in.

edit: I want to add this great article on who makes up the "multiple insurgency"

<snip>

Indeed, the enemy described by most - religious extremists from foreign nations, including elements of al-Qaida - makes up only a small percentage of the fighters in Iraq, Yaphe says.
"Ninety percent of this is an Iraqi event," she says.

<snip>

The roads near Najaf are routinely clear of hidden explosives and suicide car bombers, but small arms fire continues to be a hazard. That doesn't mean, however, those responsible for the gunfire are aligned, even peripherally, with Sunni extremists, like bin Laden and Abu Musab Zarqawi, more commonly associated with the insurgency.

"I've never met a single person who supports bin Laden or Zarqawi," says Will Van Wagenen, a Salt Lake City native and member of the nonprofit Christian Peacemaker Teams, who recently met with members of the al-Mahdi militia at Najaf's Wadi al-Salem cemetery, where they had clashed with U.S. troops for three weeks in August 2004.

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3213107

[soleft]

6. I didn't think you had posted a one side slant on the story at all

if that helps any

[SteppingRazor]

8. Absolutely true...

The cycle of violence could pretty much go on into perpetuity -- unless, of course, we do something "crazy" like bring the troops home immediately.

My sincerest apologies for suggesting that you were condoning the bomber's actions. It's not that I thought that you, particularly, were, but that people could read it that way. Just clarifying.


:pals:

[leftchick]

9. I am glad

The whole article is well worth the read and confirms our worst fears before the war started. The USA has opened Pandora's box and I have no idea if it can ever be closed. :(

peace,
lc

[Old and In the Way]

7. Kind of cyclical, though.

The more we fight, the more people die there, the more insurgents we create, the more people go nuts when they loose loved ones, the more these events occur. We'll never stop the violence in the ME...but we can extact ourselves from being a prime cause for increasing it.

[babydollhead]

2. three dead sons and a disowned daughter...

beginning to sound like negligence.

[lumpy]

4. 3 brothers,killed in Fallujah & Ramadi.

Revenge.

[babydollhead]

5. it was from an Oscar Wilde quote...

something like, lose one parent, it's tragic, lose both parents, begins to smack of carelessness.

[ElectroPrincess]

10. She's a real "chatty Kathy" of failed Suicide Bombers?!?

Gee, think she'll appear on "Nancy Grace" next?

This whole "dog and pony show" will soon be blown out of the water. As we speak, IMO Todo is pulling back the curtain. :tinfoilhat:

[progressivebydesign]

11. I'm not condoning the bombing at all.. But I wanted to add this point:

Her relatives were probably not resistence fighters nor terrorists before we invaded their Country. Not condoning any violence, but we have created an entire new culture of fighters and terrorists through our iron fist attack on Iraq. I think many AMericans forget, as we're now battling insurgents, that we started this war with "Shock and Awe" which was basically bombing the shit out of the country and killing thousands of innocents. Bush doesn't want you to remember that... he wants us to think that the insurgency came out of nowhere.

We have created a hell-hole in Iraq. I'm open to ideas on either side of the aisle on how to fix this colossal fuck up before more people have to die.

[fbahrami]

12. What do you expect?

Whether her brothers were by-standers, "terrorists", "insurgents", resisters, or freedom-fighters does not change the way she felt (which compelled her to act). Given this human trait for justice/revenge, I fear for "the West" and the world.