I couldn't believe this story when I read it this morning.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/24/iraq/main541815.shtml

50 Seized From Baghdad Bus Stations
Gunmen In Police Uniforms Grab Travelers Preparing To Leave Iraq

BAGHDAD, June 5, 2006

(CBS/AP) Gunmen in police uniforms raided bus stations Monday in central Baghdad, seizing at least 50 people, including drivers and passengers preparing to travel outside Iraq, an Interior Ministry official said.

The attackers also grabbed people working in the area, where several travel agencies are based and buses pick up passengers traveling mostly to Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, Lt. Colonel Falah al-Mohamedawi said.

The victims, including two Syrians, were herded into more than a dozen vehicles, according to witnesses. It was not known who was behind the attack.

"They took all workers from the companies and nearby shops," said Haidar Mohammed Eleibi, who works for the Swan Transportation Co. in the Salihiya business district.

He said his brother and a cousin were among those detained, along with merchants, passers-by and even a vendor selling tea and sandwiches.

"They did not give any reason for it," he said. "Police came afterward and did nothing."

Another transportation worker, Amjad Hameed, said 15 cars belonging to police rushed to the area and began randomly seizing people. "We asked them why but nobody replied," he said, adding that Iraqi forces and Americans came to the site afterward.

The dramatic attack on Baghdad travelers came a day after masked gunmen stopped two minivans carrying students north of Baghdad, ordered the passengers off, separated Shiites from Sunni Arabs, and killed the 21 Shiites "in the name of Islam," a witness said.

Haqi Ismail, a 48-year-old electrician, told The Associated Press that the attackers ordered the Shiites to lie down, and before they opened fire, one shouted, "On behalf of Islam, today we will dig a mass grave for you. You are traitors."

In predominantly Shiite southern Basra, police hunting for militants stormed a Sunni Arab mosque early Sunday, just hours after a car bombing. Nine people were killed in the ensuing firefight.

The surge in attacks has dealt a blow to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's pledge to curb sectarian violence. He also failed again to reach consensus Sunday among Iraq's ethnic and sectarian parties on candidates for interior and defense minister — posts he must fill to implement his ambitious plan to take control of security from U.S.-led forces within 18 months.

Violence linked to Shiite and Sunni Arab animosity has grown increasingly worse since Feb. 22, when bombs ravaged the golden dome of a revered Shiite mosque in predominantly Sunni Arab Samarra.

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports new statistics from U.S. intelligence measure how much violence has surged. Attacks of all kinds are up 64 percent in the five months from January to May.

Sectarian tensions have run particularly high in Baghdad, Basra and Diyala province, a mixed Sunni Arab-Shiite region. And Sunday's attacks came just days after terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi renewed his call for Sunni Arabs to take up arms against Shiites, whom he often vilifies as infidels.

On Monday, gunmen in a car killed two Sunni brothers as they were driving to college in the religiously mixed neighborhood of Sadiyah in southwestern Baghdad, police Lt. Maitham Abdul Razzaq said. The victims, Ahmed and Arkan Sarhan, were in their early 20s.

Police also found the blindfolded and bound body of a man who had been shot in the head and chest and another body that had been shot in the head in separate locations in Baghdad.

Elsewhere, U.S.-led forces fired artillery at the train station in the western city of Ramadi, in volatile Anbar province, "targeting four military-aged males unloading a weapons cache," according to the U.S.-Iraqi Joint Operations Center.

A hospital official, Dr. Omar al-Duleimi, said five civilians were killed and 15 wounded by American forces in Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad.

The Joint Operations Center said the mission had "positive effects on the target," but it denied the report that civilians were killed or injured.

The influential Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars, meanwhile, warned the U.S.-backed Iraqi government against participating in any assaults against Anbar, a vast province that stretches from western Baghdad to the borders with Syria and Jordan.

"Its consequences would be very dangerous for the Iraqi society and for the government," said Mohammed Bashar al-Faidi, a spokesman for the Sunni group believed to have links to insurgents.

Al-Maliki has said that his government was working on a plan to restore security to the provincial capital of Ramadi and that Iraqi forces would work with U.S. troops.

U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said last week that American forces are "very concerned" about the situation in Ramadi because al Qaeda in Iraq is taking advantage of sectarian differences to make inroads in the city west of Baghdad. About 1,500 U.S. combat troops have been moved from Kuwait to Anbar province to help establish order.


Slim

I know I'll regret asking slim, but where in your article does it mention that children were killed? I'm not saying it didn't happen, I just don't see it in your link, so I can but wonder why you make the claim and then don't back it up in your link.

Two of the students killed were in high school ...........17 and 18 years old.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060604/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

I do it so you out your self .....as a skeptic of terrorism and a supporter of Islamo Fascism (gimme a club ........and ........I'll beat you over the head with it every time .....*L*). Just joking ..........the link in this post is a better description of the crime.


Slim

I do it so you out your self .....as a skeptic of terrorism and a supporter of Islamo Fascism


Do what?!?!?

Start a thread that promotes a LIE?!?!?

A lie about there being "children" killed??

Surely you are not so divorced from reality that you can see that you've been caught in a lie........

.....and THEN, you have the audacity to claim you "did it"" to out Vilepagan.....?!?!?!?!

Wow.

Nice try 7th century freethinker ......*L*

17 is a child.

You go ahead and support your Islamo Fascist amigos.


Slim

It's a pity you feel you need to be misleadng in order to make a point.

17 is a child.If that's the case, one could post a thread titled "The US Sends Children To War."

If that's the case, one could post a thread titled "The US Sends Children To War."

Excellent point Jester. Like this thread, it would be technically correct, yet deliberately misleading and inflammatory.

Dictators and fascists do send children to war ......what's your point.


Slim

Dictators and fascists do send children to war ......what's your point.

The point is slim, that if you have to deliberately mislead people, perhaps the point you are trying to make is a spurious one.

My point is spot on ....except to you folks who look for excuses not to open your eyes to what is going on in the world.

So ....I use a technique to make you focus. It worked well.

And what is sad ......and makes my point obvious is .....that you lefties didn't even bother to comment on the crime of the news piece .....you could only come out and attack the news barer .......*L*.


Slim

So ....I use a technique to make you focus. It worked well.


Slim

From this angle it just makes you look desperate.

Once again ...an attack on the news barer.

Islamo Fascists like killing children too.


Slim

Yes 17 is a child. Targeting and killing any innocent person is almost as bad. (or even as bad)

Just wait, we are going to hear them cry........ Bush is killing innocent people.

(Chruchill also killed innocent people, but innocnt people were not the target)

Nice try 7th century freethinker ......*L*

17 is a child.

You go ahead and support your Islamo Fascist amigos.


Slim

You only see things from one angle.


From this angle it just makes you look desperate.

Dictators and fascists do send children to war ......what's your point.
My point is that if 17-year-olds can fight in wars, as many of them do in the US military, then they can hardly be considered children.

And what is sad ......and makes my point obvious is .....that you lefties didn't even bother to comment on the crime of the news pieceWhat point are you trying to make? That we don't care about what happened there? That we're sympathetic to Islamists?

If I understand Jester's point ....the clown is implying that the 17 year old chose to be butchered ......."in the name of Islam" ......... as a 17 year old (with parental consent).....would make the choice of entering military service .

Hogwash.

The point I am trying to make ..........is that the news is not the story for you .....and ..............the fact that two boys were murdered ......."in the name of Islam".

Not a technicality ..........as the clown and the pagan are concerned with .....but ......the blood and life flowing out of their bodies.

You lefties are so zealous in your hatred of those who speak the truth .......when it does not meet your reckoning ...........that you are easily played. Especially the 7th century freethinker ...............he ought to change his name to ...........rimshot.


Slim

If I understand Jester's point ....the clown is implying that the 17 year old chose to be butchered ......."in the name of Islam" ......... as a 17 year old (with parental consent).....would make the choice of entering military service .It's truly baffling how you inferred that from what I posted.
I made absolutely no reference to choices of any kind. I was talking only about the level of maturity of 17-year-olds, and implied that it's misleading to call a person mature enough to fight in a war a "child."

The point I am trying to make ..........is that the news is not the story for you .....and ..............the fact that two boys were murdered ......."in the name of Islam".So you want me to say that those murders were horrible, and that the murderers have a screwed up ideology? Well no shit. I don't see a need to state the blatantly obvious.

Not a technicality ..........as the clown and the pagan are concerned with .....but ......the blood and life flowing out of their bodies.To be perfectly honest, I'm more concerned about the blood and life that flows out of my comrades' bodies everyday in Iraq.

You lefties are so zealous in your hatred of those who speak the truth

Interesting point from someone who 1) is zealous, 2) full of hatred for the "other side" and 3) admitted to lying in this thread.

I hate nobody.

Where did I admit lieing in this thread ....?? In fact .....I pointed out that I did not lie. Show me where I lied. You are beginning to sound much like the 7th century freethinker .....accusing folks of lieing.

Clown .....you didn't mention the difference in being butchered by Islamo fascists ........and ..........choosing to join a military service. You equated the two ...implying that they are the same. When I point the difference out to you .......you act baffled and outraged ..........that someone could accuse you of this equation ....*L*.


Slim

I hate nobody.

Yet you accuse others of hatred.


Show me where I lied.

Right here.

I do it so you out your self .....as a skeptic of terrorism and a supporter of Islamo Fascism...

Three lies.

You lied about your reason for mentioning children in your post.

You lied about me being a "skeptic" of terrorism, since I do believe terrorism exists.

You lied about me being a supporter of Islamo Fascism.


You are beginning to sound much like the 7th century freethinker .....accusing folks of lieing.

BTW, it's "lying". Sorry sedan.


Clown .....you didn't mention the difference in being butchered by Islamo fascists ........and ..........choosing to join a military service. You equated the two ...implying that they are the same. When I point the difference out to you .......you act baffled and outraged ..........that someone could accuse you of this equation ....*L*.

The reason he was baffled was because you are the only one who interpreted his statement that way. It's plainly obvious to anyone who can read that he was "equating" 17 year-olds to 17 year-olds. If you insist that 17 year-olds are "children", mainly to arouse more anger in the readers of your posts, it's perfectly legitimate to point out that 17 year-olds are allowed to join our military, and by the same ridiculous usage of the language that you attempted to use, it could be said that our country sends "children" to war.

Lastly, I know I've mentioned this before to no avail, but the poster you referred to has a name, it's Jester, not "clown". You may not have known this slim, but Jester recently joined the Army and is now serving in Korea. I have a lot of respect for Jester, and I'd even go as far as to say he's one of our finer posters. I recommend you learn how to address people by the names they've chosen.

I think you are a skeptic Defiledpagan ....you and your buds in here .....and ..........I think you (and others) may support terrorism as to make a political point from time to time.....and to see your country put down ........to further your political agenda. I don't know that for sure ....but ....I am pretty sure about it ......soooooooo .....I don't believe I lied about that..

The baiting technique ....is not a lie ....it is to have a little fun watching you lefties trip all over yourself (and as far as you taking over the karnak spellchecker role in here ........have at it. I baited that guy so many times ......he was almost tripping over himself to correct spelling errors ...*L*).

Now I was called a liar by the 7th century freethinker ....and .....by the conductor ........both of them saying my information that I posted .....was not true. I still ask anyone to show me where I lied about children being killed ......"in the name of Islam" ......??

As far as the clown goes .........he compared being butchered by the very folks he may be fighting one day in Korea or the Middle East ........to a 17 year old American signing up for military service ...........with their parents consent ............to fight for freedom and liberty.

Defiledpagan ..............you and he can deny it all you want ........but that doesn't make it ...."not so". I suggest that while the clown does his service to our just and democratic country ......he think about that.

I also respect the Jester for his service .....but ...........his service to our country is to give me the right to say what I want to .....not to retain that right for him and his friends. Remain safe Jester.


Slim

Its okay slim... its obvious the POINT OF THE THREAD is being hidden from in this discussion... umm Islamo Facists? Killing innocents?? who cares if its CHILDREN... a life is a life...

You lefties are so zealous in your hatred of those who speak the truth .......when it does not meet your reckoning ......
Slim


I am "zealous" only toward speaking out against brain-dead fucks like you who use LIES ("children were killed in the Baghdad bus station attack") to promote their war-mongering, far-right worldview.

ESAD.

Ummmmm ......changed the source of the lie now ....did ya .......*L*

7th century freethinking ....me thinks.


Slim

Ummmmm ......changed the source of the lie now ....did ya .

Yes.....unintentionally.

I was wrong on pointing to the source of your lie.

But hey, don't let that stop you from attempting to weasel out of the fact that you told a bald-faced fucking LIE.......

Your lie had to do with the stopping of two minivans, where you falsely claimed that "children" were killed.

*L*


Slim

Looks like slim will now use the "I was baiting you" defense whenever he says something stupid or just plain wrong (so I guess we'll be hearing it quite a lot). This is about as inventive as a five-year-old saying "I wasn't taking these cookies, I just wanted you to look."

Pretty pathetic coming from a supposed adult.

I think you are a skeptic Defiledpagan ....you and your buds in here .....and ..........I think you (and others) may support terrorism as to make a political point from time to time.....and to see your country put down ........to further your political agenda. I don't know that for sure ....but ....I am pretty sure about it ......soooooooo .....I don't believe I lied about that..

Wow. Pretty wacky ideas you have there slim.


The baiting technique ....is not a lie ....it is to have a little fun watching you lefties trip all over yourself (and as far as you taking over the karnak spellchecker role in here ........have at it. I baited that guy so many times ......he was almost tripping over himself to correct spelling errors ...*L*).

It's called trolling, and it's not acceptable forum behavior. Knock it off. If you are making posts simply to get a rise out of people, they will be deleted. Let me know if you'd like to change your "baiting technique" claim.


As far as the clown goes .........he compared being butchered by the very folks he may be fighting one day in Korea or the Middle East ........to a 17 year old American signing up for military service ...........with their parents consent ............to fight for freedom and liberty.

Bullshit. That error has been pointed out already. Try again.


Defiledpagan ..............you and he can deny it all you want ........but that doesn't make it ...."not so".

Neither do your feeble assertions make it so.


I suggest that while the clown does his service to our just and democratic country ......he think about that.

I suggest you think before you post. It would be a nice change.


I also respect the Jester for his service .....but ...........his service to our country is to give me the right to say what I want to .....not to retain that right for him and his friends. Remain safe Jester.


Slim

Its a pity you put your right to free speech to such poor use.

Show me where I lied.

"" Religion Of Peace: Killing Of Students (Children) In The Name Of Islam"".

No 'children' were killed in the incident you're refering to.

A 17 year old is not a child, by any definition.

A 17 year old cannot legally enter into a contract. A 17 year old cannot serve in the military without parental permission. A 17 year old cannot legally purchase alcohol, or vote. These rules also apply to a 6 year old. A 17 year old is a child, by many definitions.

ah but if you want to get picky about it "A 17 year old" is not children, but a child...

This thread is LAME!

Another blamer of the messenger ...*L*.

You can't make this stuff up.


Slim

I see it as wrong to value children lives over teen lives... they are all people so what the hell does it matter?

I see it as wrong to value children lives over teen lives... they are all people so what the hell does it matter?

I agree Decka. We should be outraged by the death of any innocent person regardless of their age.

Another blamer of the messenger ...*L*.

Just keep repeating to yourself that you are being blamed for your message rather than the manipulative way in which you conveyed that message, and maybe you'll even convince yourself it's true slim.

You can't make this stuff up.

You can and you did.

Conductor ............what did I make up .........??


Slim

...........what did I make up .........??


That --in the incident you refered to-- there were "children killed in the 'name of Islam'.

Since you --when asked for an explanation-- gave the answer that there was a 17 year old AND an 18 year old killed, you are, ipso facto, also claiming that the 18 year old was a ""child"".

Let's see es347fan try to cover your ass on THAT claim.......

I see it as wrong to value children lives over teen lives...

?!?!?!?

No one here has made the slightest suggestion to that effect.

You REALLY could use some help on reading comprehension.

As far as the clown goes .........he compared being butchered by the very folks he may be fighting one day in Korea or the Middle East ........to a 17 year old American signing up for military service ...........with their parents consent ............to fight for freedom and liberty.slim, I know that you know that that's not what I was saying. However, for the sake of not beating a dead horse, screw it.

I also respect the Jester for his service .....but ...........his service to our country is to give me the right to say what I want to .....not to retain that right for him and his friends. Remain safe Jester.I hope you're not implying that I only want free speech for those who agree with me. Because I'd protect that right even for people whose ideas I absolutely abhor, eg. neo-Nazis, religious fundies, flag burners, and even Fred Phelps.

"....Let's see es347fan try to cover your ass on THAT claim......."

That was for your benefit ft, no one else's.

That was for your benefit ft, no one else's.

Gosh.....thanks.

Your posts are always soooooooo scintillating.

?!?!?!?

No one here has made the slightest suggestion to that effect.

You REALLY could use some help on reading comprehension.

huh???

that is the WHOLE reason why you are carrying on about this whole thing.. you say slim "lied" because he said "children" are being slaughtered. Technically, a 17 year old is a child. But it really doesn't matter... an innocent life is an innocent life.

The only reason you would continue to try to fight that this is a lie is because:

- You think a 17 year old ISNT a child.. and so saying the word CHILDREN somehow makes it more serious and worse than if it were an innocent adult.

- So from that, you can make the logical conclusion that you value innocent children's lives over any elses lives... because if you DIDN'T you wouldn't be making all of this fuss about the world "children" in the thread.. now would you?

DEAR FUCKING GOD!!!!!

MOD CLOSE THIS SHIT.

actually just leave it going. I can always not read it. Its just that damn curiosity thing that tends to get the better of you then BAM incessently stupid rambling and nit-picking invades your brain...

When they cut your head off with a blunt knife, they say "Allah is mercifull"

Those guys should be hunted down and killed like the slime they are.

Religion of peace my A@#

huh???

that is the WHOLE reason why you are carrying on about this whole thing..

Well.....no. It isn't at all. But please continue.

you say slim "lied" because he said "children" are being slaughtered.

Yes...he did lie. And I pointed it out.

Technically, a 17 year old is a child.

So.....by your reckoning, this country is sending "children" to die in Iraq.....!!

Interesting.

But it really doesn't matter... an innocent life is an innocent life.

I agree. It doesn't matter if they're 3 years old or 93 years old.

The only reason you would continue to try to fight that this is a lie is because: - You think a 17 year old ISNT a child.. and so saying the word CHILDREN somehow makes it more serious and worse than if it were an innocent adult.

You're reasoning just broke down.

I am SOOOOOOOOO goddamned shocked!!

So from that, you can make the logical conclusion that you value innocent children's lives over any elses lives...

Another breakdown. Maybe you could get an adult to explain logic and deductive reasoning to you.

because if you DIDN'T you wouldn't be making all of this fuss about the world "children" in the thread.. now would you?

I am critiquing slim's use of the word "children" soley because it is (a) false, and (b) meaninglessly inflammatory.

Hope that clears it up for you, Einstein.

A 17 year old human is a child.

FT implied that there are 17 year old humans un the US millitary.

I really don't think that is true. (I could be wrong)

I think we need to call for FT to be more truthfull.

A 17 year old human is a child.

FT implied that there are 17 year old humans un the US millitary.

I really don't think that is true. (I could be wrong)

I think we need to call for FT to be more truthfull.

You are allowed to join the military at age 17 with your parent's permission, although due to training time, it would be rather unusual for 17 year-olds to be in combat.

Thanks for the info!

Don't you have to be out of High School in order to join the millitary? I think there were peobably zero 17 year old children killed in our millitary. (In Iraq)

You are allowed to join the military at age 17 with your parent's permission, although due to training time, it would be rather unusual for 17 year-olds to be in combat.

When I was in the U.S. Army one had to be at least 18 to be assigned to a combat zone. I enlisted at 17 (after twisting parental arms) and was in Viet Nam within 90 days of turning 18.

I enlisted at 17 (after twisting parental arms) and was in Viet Nam within 90 days of turning 18.

Huh?!?!?!?!

Let me see if I understand you correctly;

....as a 17 year old male, you wanted to be sent to VietNam to fight and to risk your life........?!?!?!?!

If the answer is **yes**, that would explain volumes.

Best thing I ever did for me was joining the military & getting the hell out of western NY state.
Being young & invulnerable, going to Viet Nam didn't bother me in the least. Remaining in the military was the path I chose. By now, I've been out nearly as long as I was in.
Thanks for paying your taxes .... that pension check I've been collecting monthly since retiring with over 20 years of service sure is nice.

Are you Republicans?

Lies are endemic among them ...

White (no racism involved) lies, are lies anyway, even if to make a point ...
.

Best thing I ever did for me was joining the military & getting the hell out of western NY state.
Being young & invulnerable, going to Viet Nam didn't bother me in the least.

It is good that you COULD come back....alive.

What I was getting at was that I feel very sorry for the thousands of young men who were indoctrinated with the nationalistic mindset of--""My country is the BEST!!""-- to such a degree that they signed up to go to Vietnam thinking they were going to fight for some lofty goal, yet died over there.

Remaining in the military was the path I chose. By now, I've been out nearly as long as I was in.
Thanks for paying your taxes .... that pension check I've been collecting monthly since retiring with over 20 years of service sure is nice.

Thank YOU for your military service. And you deserve your pension check, and i wish it could be more.

What a pity that millions of people --many of them military oriented-- in this country are die-hard supporters of Bush, when he has CUT veteran's benefits.

So are you AGAINST youthful ambition now FT?

Why do you rip people who have more balls than you do? I respect the guy, i look up to him... but yet you rip him for serving the country. FT, do you realize that if the country were full of people like you, the united states would NO LONGER be on the map?

I think its just that FT values his life to the extreme, and hasn't the LEAST BIT of balls to go put his life on the line for ANYTHING.

So are you AGAINST youthful ambition now FT?
I don't think that's what he was saying, Decka. You have to admit, the Vietnam war was a total failure. Far too many people died for political reasons to justify it as anything other than a complete waste.

So are you AGAINST youthful ambition now FT?

Huh?!?!?

Youthful ""ambition""......?!?!?!?

How the fuck is volunteering to fight in a war to ever be regarded as "ambition"....?!?!?!?

Why do you rip people who have more balls than you do? I respect the guy, i look up to him... but yet you rip him for serving the country.

In the last post (look directly above) I thanked him for his military service.

What I was prepared to rip him for was buying in to the bullshit --"Our country is the very BESTEST, and also the godliest!...so we hafta kill all them evildoers who ain't like us!!!-- brand of mindless nationalism that this society tries (very successfully) to instill in the sheep, so that the sheep will eagerly march off to war while the fatcats who START the wars stay home and become ever more wealthy.

FT, do you realize that if the country were full of people like you, the united states would NO LONGER be on the map?

Yes.........and a FAR fairer, more humane, more peaceful, more progressive, more-caring-for-the-citizenry, far less militaristic, more content and more benevolent country would be in its place.


I think its just that FT values his life to the extreme, and hasn't the LEAST BIT of balls to go put his life on the line for ANYTHING.

I'll tell you one thing, pal.......I certainly would NOT put my life on the line for no other reason than to further enrich your ConservaFascist pals (IOW, what is taking place in Iraq at present) that run this country.