Arrests in Shiite Shrine Bombing

[bemildred]

Source: ABC

The Iraqi national police have arrested 13 police officers who were guarding the al-Askariya mosque when it was attacked Wednesday, the U.S. military said today.

Among those arrested was the commander of the emergency service unit at the mosque. The military statement did not specify the charges, but U.S. military officials have told ABC News the bombs that destroyed the minarets at the revered Shiite shrine appear to have been planted inside the building, even as it was supposed to be under guard by the police commandos.

It remains unclear whether they were suspected of actually playing a role in the attack, were derelict of duty or were arrested for some other purpose.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Kamel al-Maliki appealed for peace and rushed to Samarra Wednesday to search the rubble for answers. The No. 2 American commander, Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, also came. Both wanted to know how the attack could have occurred under the watch of commandos who've guarded the mosque since it was first attacked last year.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=3277848&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

[shain from kane]

1. The bombs that imploded the buildings appear to have been planted inside the buildings, even as they

were supposed to be under guard.

[bemildred]

2. It would be most unfortunate if these "police officers" somehow became unable to testify. nt

[LeftHander]

3. And what about our troops who were also guarding the shrine?

Did they whistle and look the other way....?

Just who benefits from continued chaos in Iraq...?

Not the Iraqi people, not our troops.

Oh...I forgot...the Military suppliers, oil companies, and other's profiting from the "splurge".