"Cleansing" One Town Of Al Qaeda

(CBS)  The Iraqi tribal leaders and American soldiers in the town of Zambraniyah, Iraq, gathered for what was billed as quote "a celebratory cleansing." CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey reported on the scene - and what it meant to the Iraqis.

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The mud buildings were an al Qaeda in Iraq torture chamber and operational headquarters.

Abu Mohammed says he was chained up here for two weeks and saw 13-year-old children killed. When al Qaeda fled, they left little behind.

As inconsequential as the little farming complex may look, in the grand scheme of convincing the local population that security really has returned, it is a potent symbol.

To make that point local sheikhs and tribal leaders were given, if not exactly box seats, certainly prime spots for a show arranged just for them.

Three thousand pounds of bombs costing more than $100,000 dropped from a B-1 bomber obliterated the building. But the military hopes the payoff will be long term.

The dignitaries seemed impressed.

Even before today they were co-operating with the Americans. For nearly two years al Qaeda in Iraq held sway here.

"People getting killed every day," said Yassin al-Hamdan, a school principal, describing it.

Roadside bombs, the dreaded IEDs, were everywhere. No road was safe.

The battle to regain control was a hard and bloody slog.

It was one of the few places where al Qaeda fought back.

"We came here six weeks ago, we took the ground from al Qaeda," said Lt. Col. Mark Solomon. "And now as you saw earlier today the children are back in school, the businesses are open, the Sons of Iraq and the Iraqi Army are guarding the roads and are guarding the area, keeping it secure for the population."

And in case al Qaeda wants to come back - it's a not so subtle reminder of the welcome that awaits them.

[slpdisk]

Three thousand pounds of bombs costing more than $100,000 dropped from a B-1 bomber....Wow I wonder how many schools or houses we could have built once we "Liberated these people and brought them freedom." Oh I forgot that was yesterdays agenda.

[waynabq]

We''ve got to wipe out "Al Quaeda''s" torture centers so we can install newer and more modern American version, that''s according to Bush/Cheney.

[feelfree1]

paredesm,

Re: "As far as the hut being of "zero military significance", you can ask the locals again what it signified."

If you need to spend 6 months in Iraq, and need to interview local collaborators, in order to figure out that spending 100,000 borrowed U.S. tax dollars to destroy an empty mud hut has zero military significance, then I must question your ability to compile a reasoned analysis of the situation.

Those who have collaborated with the criminal invasion of Iraq will be dealt with as the legitimate Iraqi resistance sees fit.

Re: "As for Bush, dont worry, I wont vote for him."

Again, you reasoning is faulty and nonsensical. Bush is not running, and is legally barred from running, and it does not take 6 months of research on the streets of Washington D.C. to figure this out.

Are you Allen Pizzey?

[feelfree1]

paredesm,

Murdering, torturing, and maiming hundreds of thousands of people, and destroying their country based only on lies, hype, ignorance, and fear, is, by definition, a devastating failure.

Nothing honorable can ever be gained by such an ill conceived misadventure. There is about as much chance of us "winning" anything in Iraq, as we do of "winning" a gang-rape. The Iraq misadventure has resulted in the squandering of U.S. blood, treasure, security, and dignity. This is what we have "won", and all that we have any hope of ever "winning" there.

I noticed that you failed to present anything new in support of your assertion that, "al-qaeda was and is a real threat to the iraqis." I am not surprised that you could not back up this claim, as it appears to be based only on a contrived hoax, and a lot of hype.

[paredesm]

For one who has not visited these areas, I would suggest a minimum a 6 month visit to do "research" among the locals. The Son''s of Iraq and the locals, would gladly answer all your "research" questions and address your comments regarding their "endless unsubstantiated claims, and unverifiable hearsay". I am also sure your allegations of them being "members of the Bush regime and their supporters and accomplices" as insulting. As far as the hut being of "zero military significance", you can ask the locals again what it signified. As for Bush, dont worry, I wont vote for him.

[paredesm]

at the least, in this small area of iraq called zambraniyah, the residents genuinely feel free and secure enough to go about their everyday life and to see the smiles of children at a school in zambraniyah, well, to me, that is not losing, that is a great victory in itself.

[feelfree1]

paredesm,

Re: "al-qaeda was and is a real threat to the iraqis."

So far, all that has been presented in support of this allegation are endless unsubstantiated claims, and unverifiable hearsay.

Can you offer us anything new to support your assertion, based on your research?

There is every reason to believe that the Iraqi resistance is composed overwhelmingly of nationalists who, rightly, want the brutal and criminal fraud-based invasion of their country to end. The "foreign fighters" in Iraq have never been present in any significant numbers, by any serious account, and not one single compelling item has been presented thus far to demonstrate that they are organized with "al-Qaeda".

In fact, the only ones who seem to benefit by claiming the alleged presence of "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq", are the members of the Bush regime and their supporters and accomplices.

If the much fabled "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" were a real threat to anyone, then why would we waste $100,000 worth of bombs, and tie up a billion dollar bomber, in order to destroy an empty mud hut of zero military significance?

The Bush regime has actively and intentionally deceived the public on virtually every other issue. What makes you think that the apparent "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" ruse is any different?

[paredesm]

i have been to the followig areas: zambraniyah, adwaniyah and hawr rajab. al-qaeda was and is a real threat to the iraqis. locals are fearful of al-qaeda because relatives, friends or neighbors were kidnapped for ransom or have been killed. if a family can afford it, some of them would just as well pay because they are intimidated enough. as for a 13 year old boy, well, go to nearby adwaniyah and i am sure you will find a family of a missing 13 year old, whose family could not pay the randsome. he has not been seen in 3 months. many citizens in these areas have either friends, neighbors or relatives lost or victimized. al-qaeda was the culprit and brought upon them nightmares. they saw through those thugs and fought back, not for the money, but for peace and happiness for their families and communities. ask any citizen of zambraniyah, adwaniyah and hawr rajab and the local iraqis genuinely believe that coalition forces have done alot to bring back stability and peace. i have seen a couple of towns abandoned because of al-qaeda. i have seen the population return after their towns were secured by the Sons of Iraq, iraqi army and coalition forces cooperating with each other. if you truly believe "we" are losing, you should come and see for yourself. good chance you will change your mind.

[prelgovisk]

Remember the scenes of invasion from Vietnam, as the North swept down and killed all suspected loyalists? America was ashamed.

If we abandon those who did the right thing and fought along side us, their fate will be the same and America will suffer guilt and shame once again. But this time, it will be on a more dangerous level. We were never in danger from the North Vietnamese. We are in danger from radical Islam.

[feelfree1]

From the article-

Re: "The mud buildings were an al Qaeda in Iraq torture chamber and operational headquarters."

And we are supposed to take Allen Pizzey''s word on this, despite his truly miserable past performance and reliability?

I am still waiting for Mr. Pizzey to present a single piece of conclusive evidence that "al-Qaeda" is, or ever was, in Iraq.

Re: "Abu Mohammed says he was chained up here for two weeks and saw 13-year-old children killed."

If this was true, then why did they ever "release" Mr. Mohammed? What would be the point of "al-Qaeda" torturing Iraqis for an extended period?

Re: "When al Qaeda fled, they left little behind."

Then how could they possibly know that it was occupied by "al-Qaeda"?

Re: "Three thousand pounds of bombs costing more than $100,000 dropped from a B-1 bomber obliterated the building."

They used a 1+ billion dollar bomber and $100,000 worth of bombs to destroy an empty mud hut???

Is it any wonder why we are losing?

This looks like more of the same silliness and official propaganda that we have become used to receiving from Mr. Pizzy.