Hate to Iraqi police runs deep in Falluja

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LAD537332.htm

FALLUJA, Iraq, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Tribal elder Sheikh Hussam Qahtan believes death for Iraqi police helping Americans to crush insurgents is God's justice for those who betray their country.

Few residents shed tears as guerrillas on pickup trucks stormed the main police station in a bustling centre of the restive town in broad daylight on Saturday, spraying bullets at every policeman in sight.

The Americans, who had turned over control of the city to police months ago, failed to show up to help the beleaguered police though two tanks took positions just outside the highway into the city, a reminder that even if they were not in the unruly city, they are still in control across Iraq.

"It's legitimate to kill the police who extend their hands to the Americans and help them arrest the Mujahideen (Muslim holy warriors)," said Qahtan, whose sentiment finds wide appeal in a town that has become the stronghold of resistance to the U.S. presence.

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[hadrons]

1. Americans, who had turned over control of the city to police months ago,

failed to show up to help the beleaguered police ...

Nice ... I guess this is the George W. Bush plan of action

[loudnclear]

2. Who is responsible for security in Iraq? I asked this in another post:

Where were our soldiers today in Iraq? As occupiers, aren't we responsible for the lives of those we occupy? That slaughter today of Iraqi policemen close by US military installation...how did that happen and why aren't we being held responsible for law and order as occupiers?
I guess for the US and Israel there are not standards or morality...just brute force and superior weapons. Therefore no one should hold us accountable?

I received no answers, only an attack, I guess because I mentioned Israel. But I subsequently found this info on the Internet:

"Under international humanitarian law, military commanders must prevent and where necessary suppress serious violations involving the local population under their control or subject to their authority. Furthermore, occupying forces have an immediate duty to take all feasible steps to prevent acts of violent reprisal.

The responsibility for protecting civilians extends to the conduct of any local Iraqi armed groups acting under authority of or in conjunction with U.S. forces. That duty exists for the benefit of individuals allied with the Iraqi government who have laid down their arms as well as opponents of the government. Human Rights Watch has outlined these duties previously in a policy paper (http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/arms/iraq0202003.htm ) and a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and other U.S. allies (http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/03/us031903ltr.htm ). "

[loudnclear]

3. I guess noone wants to really address this issue.

Especially since Iraq is better off with Saddam gone.

[chenGOD]

4. Here's what I want to know.

Since when did Falluja become the stronghold of resistance? What about Samarra and Tikrit? Or are they throwing flowers there now?

[pfitz59]

5. Saw the video on CNN.....

Iraqi PARTISANS attacking Quislings in broad daylight! Amazing sight.... Geuss US troops were off serving as human shields to Abizaid and other dignitaries.

[dArKeR]

6. Overseas people please back me up on this: There's no difference between

police and military soldiers in the Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia. It's just men with guns imposing the will of the controlling rulers.

I say this because in the back of my mind I feel their is a Repuke/Media Whore effort to minimalize these events as happening to police and NOT a higher stronger authority as military soldiers. Or 'this is just happening to police, when we get the military in there it won't happen.'
(or something like that)