A different name but the same old game

[Thess]

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/ ... click=true

Allawi shot prisoners in cold blood: witnesses
By Paul McGeough in Baghdad
July 17, 2004

Iyad Allawi, the new Prime Minister of Iraq, pulled a pistol and executed as many as six suspected insurgents at a Baghdad police station, just days before Washington handed control of the country to his interim government, according to two people who allege they witnessed the killings.

They say the prisoners - handcuffed and blindfolded - were lined up against a wall in a courtyard adjacent to the maximum-security cell block in which they were held at the Al-Amariyah security centre, in the city's south-western suburbs.

They say Dr Allawi told onlookers the victims had each killed as many as 50 Iraqis and they "deserved worse than death".

The Prime Minister's office has denied the entirety of the witness accounts in a written statement to the Herald, saying Dr Allawi had never visited the centre and he did not carry a gun.

But the informants told the Herald that Dr Allawi shot each young man in the head as about a dozen Iraqi policemen and four Americans from the Prime Minister's personal security team watched in stunned silence.

Iraq's Interior Minister, Falah al-Naqib, is said to have looked on and congratulated him when the job was done. Mr al-Naqib's office has issued a verbal denial.

The names of three of the alleged victims have been obtained by the Herald.

One of the witnesses claimed that before killing the prisoners Dr Allawi had told those around him that he wanted to send a clear message to the police on how to deal with insurgents.

"The prisoners were against the wall and we were standing in the courtyard when the Interior Minister said that he would like to kill them all on the spot. Allawi said that they deserved worse than death - but then he pulled the pistol from his belt and started shooting them."

Re-enacting the killings, one witness stood three to four metres in front of a wall and swung his outstretched arm in an even arc, left to right, jerking his wrist to mimic the recoil as each bullet was fired. Then he raised a hand to his brow, saying: "He was very close. Each was shot in the head."

The witnesses said seven prisoners had been brought out to the courtyard, but the last man in the line was only wounded - in the neck, said one witness; in the chest, said the other.

Given Dr Allawi's role as the leader of the US experiment in planting a model democracy in the Middle East, allegations of a return to the cold-blooded tactics of his predecessor are likely to stir a simmering debate on how well Washington knows its man in Baghdad, and precisely what he envisages for the new Iraq.

There is much debate and rumour in Baghdad about the Prime Minister's capacity for brutality, but this is the first time eyewitness accounts have been obtained.

A former CIA officer, Vincent Cannisatraro, recently told The New Yorker: "If you're asking me if Allawi has blood on his hands from his days in London, the answer is yes, he does. He was a paid Mukhabarat [intelligence] agent for the Iraqis, and he was involved in dirty stuff."

In Baghdad, varying accounts of the shootings are interpreted by observers as useful to a little-known politician who, after 33 years in exile, needs to prove his leadership credentials as a "strongman" in a war-ravaged country that has no experience of democracy.

Dr Allawi's statement dismissed the allegations as rumours instigated by enemies of his interim government.

But in a sharp reminder of the Iraqi hunger for security above all else, the witnesses did not perceive themselves as whistle-blowers. In interviews with the Herald they were enthusiastic about such killings, with one of them arguing: "These criminals were terrorists. They are the ones who plant the bombs."

Before the shootings, the 58-year-old Prime Minister is said to have told the policemen they must have courage in their work and that he would shield them from any repercussions if they killed insurgents in the course of their duty.

The witnesses said the Iraqi police observers were "shocked and surprised". But asked what message they might take from such an act, one said: "Any terrorists in Iraq should have the same destiny. This is the new Iraq.

"Allawi wanted to send a message to his policemen and soldiers not to be scared if they kill anyone - especially, they are not to worry about tribal revenge. He said there would be an order from him and the Interior Ministry that all would be fully protected.

"He told them: 'We must destroy anyone who wants to destroy Iraq and kill our people.'

"At first they were surprised. I was scared - but now the police seem to be very happy about this. There was no anger at all, because so many policemen have been killed by these criminals."

Dr Allawi had made a surprise visit to the complex, they said.

Neither witness could give a specific date for the killings. But their accounts narrowed the time frame to on or around the third weekend in June - about a week before the rushed handover of power in Iraq and more than three weeks after Dr Allawi was named as the interim Prime Minister.

They said that as many as five of the dead prisoners were Iraqis, two of whom came from Samarra, a volatile town to the north of the capital, where an attack by insurgents on the home of Mr Al-Naqib killed four of the Interior Minister's bodyguards on June 19.

The Herald has established the names of three of the prisoners alleged to have been killed. Two names connote ties to Syrian-based Arab tribes, suggesting they were foreign fighters: Ahmed Abdulah Ahsamey and Amer Lutfi Mohammed Ahmed al-Kutsia.

The third was Walid Mehdi Ahmed al-Samarrai. The last word of his name indicates that he was one of the two said to come from Samarra, which is in the Sunni Triangle.

The three names were provided to the Interior Ministry, where senior adviser Sabah Khadum undertook to provide a status report on each. He was asked if they were prisoners, were they alive or had they died in custody.

But the next day he cut short an interview by hanging up the phone, saying only: "I have no information - I don't want to comment on that specific matter."

All seven were described as young men. One of the witnesses spoke of the distinctive appearance of four as "Wahabbi", the colloquial Iraqi term for the foreign fundamentalist insurgency fighters and their Iraqi followers.

He said: "The Wahabbis had long beards, very short hair and they were wearing dishdashas [the caftan-like garment worn by Iraqi men]."

Raising the hem of his own dishdasha to reveal the cotton pantaloons usually worn beneath, he said: "The other three were just wearing these - they looked normal."

One witness justified the shootings as an unintended act of mercy: "They were happy to die because they had already been beaten by the police for two to eight hours a day to make them talk."

After the removal of the bodies, the officer in charge of the complex, General Raad Abdullah, is said to have called a meeting of the policemen and told them not to talk outside the station about what had happened. "He said it was a security issue," a witness said.

One of the Al-Amariyah witnesses said he watched as Iraqis among the Prime Minister's bodyguards piled the prisoners' bodies into the back of a Nissan utility and drove off. He did not know what became of them. But the other witness said the bodies were buried west of Baghdad, in open desert country near Abu Ghraib.

That would place their burial near the notorious prison, which was used by Saddam Hussein's security forces to torture and kill thousands of Iraqis. Subsequently it was revealed as the setting for the still-unfolding prisoner abuse scandal involving US troops in the aftermath of the fall of Baghdad.

The Herald has established that as many as 30 people, including the victims, may have been in the courtyard. One of the witnesses said there were five or six civilian-clad American security men in a convoy of five or six late model four-wheel-drive vehicles that was shepherding Dr Allawi's entourage on the day. The US military and Dr Allawi's office refused to respond to questions about the composition of his security team. It is understood that the core of his protection unit is drawn from the US Special Forces units.

The security establishment where the killings are said to have happened is on open ground on the border of the Al-Amariyah and Al-Kudra neighbourhoods in Baghdad.

About 90 policemen are stationed at the complex, which processes insurgents and more hardened offenders among those captured in the struggle against a wave of murder, robbery and kidnapping in post-invasion Iraq.

The Interior Ministry denied permission for the Herald to enter the heavily fortified police complex.

The two witnesses were independently and separately found by the Herald. Neither approached the newspaper. They were interviewed on different days in a private home in Baghdad, without being told the other had spoken. A condition of the co-operation of each man was that no personal information would be published.

Both interviews lasted more than 90 minutes and were conducted through an interpreter, with another journalist present for one of the meetings. The witnesses were not paid for the interviews.

Dr Allawi's office has dismissed the allegations as rumours instigated by enemies of his interim government.

A statement in the name of spokesman Taha Hussein read: "We face these sorts of allegations on a regular basis. Numerous groups are attempting to hinder what the interim Iraqi government is on the verge of achieving, and occasionally they spread outrageous accusations hoping they will be believed and thus harm the honourable reputation of those who sacrifice so much to protect this glorious country and its now free and respectable people.

"Dr Allawi is turning this country into a free and democratic nation run by the rule of law; so if your sources are as credible as they say they are, then they are more than welcome to file a complaint in a court of law against the Prime Minister."

In response to a question asking if Dr Allawi carried a gun, the statement said: "[He] does not carry a pistol. He is the Prime Minister of Iraq, not a combatant in need of any weaponry."

Sabah Khadum, a senior adviser to Interior Minister Mr Naqib, whose portfolio covers police matters, also dismissed the accounts. Rejecting them as "ludicrous", Mr Khadum said of Dr Allawi: "He is a doctor and I know him. He was my neighbour in London. He just doesn't have it in him. Baghdad is a city of rumours. This is not worth discussing."

Mr Khadum added: "Do you think a man who is Prime Minister is going to disqualify himself for life like this? This is not a government of gangsters."

Asked if Dr Allawi had visited the Al-Amariyah complex - one of the most important counter-insurgency centres in Baghdad - Mr Khadum said he could not reveal the Prime Minister's movements. But he added: "Dr Allawi has made many visits to police stations ... he is heading the offensive."

US officials in Iraq have not made an outright denial of the allegations. An emailed response to questions from the Herald to the US ambassador, John Negroponte, said: "If we attempted to refute each [rumour], we would have no time for other business. As far as this embassy's press office is concerned, this case is closed."

Maybe we should have found someone better than Saddam to replace him?

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Yes, it has been like two weeks. Let's get all up in arms how it just isn't working.

[Winnow]

Maybe we should have found someone better than Saddam to replace him?

There were no uncorrupted candidates. Lets just hope we were smart enough to plant a tracking device under Allawi's skin so we can easily hunt him down and terminate him if required.

[Lalanae]

So why were we there again? Sorry its hard to keep up with the weekly change in excuses.

[Bakara]

http://www.ericblumrich.com/liberation.html

we're obviously there to liberate iraq! oh that guy who just shot 6 dudes execution style? that's no big deal, nothing you can't see at a Brittney Spears concert. What are you so upset about?

[Thess]

Yes, it has been like two weeks. Let's get all up in arms how it just isn't working.

Did you read the article? I will assume even you are not stupid enough to make that comment if you had atleast read the first line of the article.

[Vetiria]

You give him way too much credit.

[Karae]

Well, I guess the "we invaded Iraq to get rid of their evil dictator who executed people without trial" excuse is now defunct as well.

[Zaelath]

No see.. he's a democratic leader that executes people without trial, whole different thing. Taken w/ a grain of salt though, if this allegation made it to trial you'd never prove the case on this evidence.

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Yes, it has been like two weeks. Let's get all up in arms how it just isn't working.

Did you read the article? I will assume even you are not stupid enough to make that comment if you had atleast read the first line of the article.

They aren't going to be America, Thess. It's going to take a long time for their society to progress. We have given them the foundation for a brighter tomorrow. Let's see if they use it. If we throw our arms up in disgust outrage and negativity every two weeks, it will never work or be perceived to have worked.

[Animalor]

I really think that not killing people should've been a job requirement...

No way in hell the Iraqi people are gonna feel safe if the PM is already killing people without trial.

[Lynks]

Those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it. Right now, it looks like the US is caught in a viscious cycle and people like Mid choose to ignore it aswell.

[Mak]

Very disturbing, if true.

[Thess]

They aren't going to be America, Thess. It's going to take a long time for their society to progress. We have given them the foundation for a brighter tomorrow. Let's see if they use it. If we throw our arms up in disgust outrage and negativity every two weeks, it will never work or be perceived to have worked.

A society progressing is much different then the person we put in charge knowing not to shoot 6 people that we have detained in the head.

[masteen]

He popped a couple of insurgents to demonstrate to the police forces that the blood they are going to spill quelling the resistance is on his hands as much as theirs. Brutal, but effective, and possibly necessary in a place where tribal and ethnic grudges are still alive.

Until he gasses a couple thousand Kurds, he cannot be compared to Saddam and sons.

[Winnow]

He popped a couple of insurgents to demonstrate to the police forces that the blood they are going to spill quelling the resistance is on his hands as much as theirs. Brutal, but effective, and possibly necessary in a place where tribal and ethnic grudges are still alive.

Until he gasses a couple thousand Kurds, he cannot be compared to Saddam and sons.

I'm putting masteen in charge of my military. kyoukan can be my spin doctor to confuse the masses so I can go about my business. Thess can be my token female cabinent member as I'm not sure kyoukan counts. Voronwe will be my science advisor. Developing story...

[Fairweather Pure]

If we throw our arms up in disgust outrage and negativity every two weeks, it will never work or be perceived to have worked.

You're right. Let's just not say or do anything for the next 10 years, then we can invade them again.

[Karae]

No see.. he's a democratic leader that executes people without trial, whole different thing. Taken w/ a grain of salt though, if this allegation made it to trial you'd never prove the case on this evidence.

Eh, Saddam was "democratically" elected - in the same manner as Bush was at least.

[Sionistic]

Sad to say, but the region probably needs a leader like that right now

[kyoukan]

They already had a leader like that and you blew up the country and arrested him.

[Thess]

btw if I wanted to bash the state of Iraq right now - I'd link an article like this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858, ... 77,00.html

I was *OBVIOUSLY* upset with the US appointed Prime Minister of Iraq and his failure to act in a democratic way.

[Cartalas]

btw if I wanted to bash the state of Iraq right now - I'd link an article like this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858, ... 77,00.html

I was *OBVIOUSLY* upset with the US appointed Prime Minister of Iraq and his failure to act in a democratic way.

The Guardian ahhahhahah That Rag holds the truth about as well as a cheese grater holds water

[miir]

The link is to an op/ed piece.... I generally refrain from reading op/ed so I can't really comment on it's accuracy... nevertheless, the Guaradian is neither less nor more biased than most American media.

[Thess]

I just found one of the many articles that say Iraq isn't doing so well - the last few weeks have been the bloodiest in Iraq, but our media is barely covering it.

[Winnow]

I just found one of the many articles that say Iraq isn't doing so well - the last few weeks have been the bloodiest in Iraq, but our media is barely covering it.

They are covering it. This article mentions a surge in attacks:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... gn_bush_dc

[Siji]

Nothing to see here. Move along.

[Chmee]

L.A. Times says that several similar rumors have been floating around.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... ines-world

BAGHDAD — There are many versions of the story on the Iraqi street. In one, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is driving through downtown Baghdad and sees a frail old man being confronted by three armed men attempting to steal his vehicle. The prime minister leaps out of his car and shoots dead the would-be carjackers.

In another, Allawi is in a Baghdad jail where he interviews suspects, hears their confessions, declares that "they deserve to die" and shoots them on the spot.

A third version sets the scene of his armed retribution in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf, which has been racked by violence in recent months.

Fairly skeptical myself, barring further evidence being presented or the evidence already presented getting further corroboration.

[Winnow]

L.A. Times says that several similar rumors have been floating around.

BAGHDAD — There are many versions of the story on the Iraqi street. In one, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is driving through downtown Baghdad and sees a frail old man being confronted by three armed men attempting to steal his vehicle. The prime minister leaps out of his car and shoots dead the would-be carjackers.

That's nothing! You should see what North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Il can do! Allawi is like Robin compared to the Batman-like heroics of Kim jong-Il!

[masteen]

I heard that great leader Kim shot back to back hole in 1s, and has a sex drive greater than 100 other men.