Iraqi archbishop: Media misinforming

[lucky wilbury]

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41566

Iraqi archbishop: Media misinforming
'There is no organized resistance,' much in country 'positive'

Posted: November 20, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

Contending there is no substantial organized resistance among the people, an Iraqi archbishop charged the Western media with issuing "misinformation" about his country by focusing only on terrorism carried out largely by foreigners.

Chaldean Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk said in an interview with AsiaNews that it's "not all death and destruction" in Iraq, with many anticipating elections as an opportunity for a new beginning.

"Much is positive in Iraq today," he said. "Universities are operating, schools are open, people go out onto the streets normally."


When there is a kidnapping or homicide, the news gets out quickly and "causes fear among the people," Sako told AsiaNews.

But the archbishop insisted "there is no organized resistance" among Iraqis.

"Those who commit such violence are resisting against Iraqis who want to build their country," he said. "Iraqis instead are resisting against terrorism and are not carrying out attacks, which instead are the work of foreign infiltrators."

Saudis, Jordanians, Syrians and Sudanese have entered Iraq to fight against coalition forces, he said.

"Prime Minister Allawi has said this as well," Sako pointed out. "And clearly, there are also Iraqi collaborators who, for money, help the terrorist hide."

The elections in January are an opportunity for a new start, a "new Iraq," he told AsiaNews, but the "Western newspapers and broadcasters are simply peddling propaganda and misinformation."

"Why is there so much noise and debate coming out from the West when before, under Saddam, there were no free elections, but no one said a thing?" Sako asked.

Absent Europe

The archbishop said Europe has been conspicuously missing from Iraq.

"Europe is absent, it's not out there; the United States is on its own," he told AsiaNews.

Europe "must help the Iraqi government to control its borders to prevent the entry of foreign terrorists," he said, but "also provide economic help to encourage a new form of culture which is open to coexistence, the acceptance of others, respect for the human person and for other cultures."

Sako warned Europe "must understand that there is no time to waste on marginal or selfish interests: The entire world needs peace."

Europe must act "because Europeans know the Middle East better than the Americans, they are culturally closer to Arabs, they are very familiar with the Palestinian problem and the situation in the Middle East."

"The Middle East needs help to rediscover peace and usher the Muslim countries into contemporary society, with its foundation of democracy and freedom," he told AsiaNews.

Sako warned that if "the Iraqi model fails, it will be a disaster for everyone. These terrorist groups will gain strength around the world."

He urged Western Christians to pray "not only for their fellow Christians, but for all Iraqis."

Even "a hardened heart can be touched by God," he said.

Asked about attacks on Christian churches, Sako said true Muslims have condemned them and emphasized that "Christians can be a tool for balance in Iraqi society and want to build a new and open Iraq which respects everyone's rights."

[DEMON CUNT]

Praise Be!

Good luck with democracy!

[ELVIS]

"Much is positive in Iraq today," he said. "Universities are operating, schools are open, people go out onto the streets normally."


Amen!

[Nickdfresh]

And much is not:

latimes.com

November 20, 2004

THE CONFLICT IN IRAQ
Chaos in Iraq Imperils Voting
Security in some areas has deteriorated, U.S. officials say, stalling efforts to rebuild and threatening the elections planned for January.


By Esther Schrader and Mark Mazzetti, Times Staff Writers


WASHINGTON — Despite the recent U.S. offensive to wrest Fallouja from militants, security in many Sunni Muslim-dominated areas of Iraq has worsened, thwarting reconstruction efforts and threatening planned January elections, U.S. officials said Friday.

Security in the so-called Sunni Triangle, as well as the northern city of Mosul, is poorer than it was six weeks ago, said William Taylor, director of the reconstruction office at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

"We're worried that in some areas — again, not all, in some areas — it would now be difficult to have elections," Taylor said, adding that it was critical to speed reconstruction so that elections could take place. Launching more recovery projects is considered vital to winning Iraqi support for the elections as well as the U.S. presence in Iraq.

On Friday, a top U.S. commander in Iraq said insurgents continued to operate in many areas and their attacks could imperil the legitimacy of the elections, scheduled for Jan. 27.

"I will tell you that the intimidation campaign that is ongoing is very effective," said Air Force Lt. Gen. Lance Smith, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command. "And we see it permeates many levels of the Iraqi government and the Iraqi security forces."

Smith refused to endorse comments made a day earlier by the Marine commander in Iraq, who said the U.S. offensive in Fallouja had "broken the back" of the insurgency. As long as guerrillas retained the power to intimidate, Smith said, they remained an effective force.

"It's that part that we have got to be able to handle and take that away from [insurgents], so that people can freely get out … to vote and not go back and expect their families to be killed just because they go out and vote," said Smith, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon.

On Thursday, Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler, commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, offered a more upbeat assessment. "We feel right now that we have, as I mentioned, broken the back of the insurgency," he said at an American base outside Fallouja. "We've taken away this safe haven."

But the remarks by Smith and Taylor were an acknowledgment that U.S. and Iraqi officials have major obstacles to overcome before meaningful reconstruction and elections can be achieved.

In cities such as Baghdad, Fallouja, Ramadi, Samarra and Mosul, security "is worse today than it was, and we are having greater difficulties" than six weeks ago, said Taylor, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon from Baghdad.

Taylor added that reconstruction was proceeding "without much difficulty" in northeastern and southern Iraq. But rebuilding Fallouja is also considered crucial to U.S. and Iraqi plans to hold elections.

Fallouja was left in ruins in the all-out attack by U.S. and Iraqi forces that began Nov. 8. The U.S. is planning to spend $100 million to rebuild the town, which had been considered a key trouble spot since a March 31 mob attack on four U.S. contractors, whose bodies were mutilated and hung from a bridge.

Fallouja was believed to be the base for Jordanian militant Abu Musab Zarqawi, suspected of carrying out beheadings of hostages and attacks on Iraqi and U.S. targets.

Taylor said rebuilding teams were still waiting for the military offensive in Fallouja to end. "Within a week or two — again, depending on when the city is cleared of people opposing what we're trying to do — we ought to be able to get the first of these small projects going," he said.

He said $8 million in U.S. and Iraqi funds was earmarked for water supply improvements in Fallouja and $4 million for the construction of four schools.

Charles Hess, director of reconstruction contracting in Iraq, appeared with Taylor and said that although "security is still a serious concern" in Fallouja and elsewhere, U.S. officials believe they can overcome it.

"One of our mechanisms to deal with that, frankly, is to start as many projects as we can, given the fact that we know the insurgents can't be everywhere," Hess said. "Consequently, the more projects we start, we are moving Iraqis out, we're getting them employed, they are doing meaningful labor, they're restoring their country. And, in and of itself, that is a very positive and powerful thing we want to accomplish."

Hess and Taylor said that particularly troubling was the sabotage of the oil industry, which is essential to the Iraqi economy.

"The minister of oil is very concerned about … the security of people repairing oil lines and intimidating truck drivers," Taylor said.

Since President Bush declared an end to major combat on May 1, 2003, American officials have been frustrated with their inability to launch and finish reconstruction projects. Of $18.4 billion in reconstruction funds allocated by Congress last year, only $1.7 billion had been spent, Hess said, an increase of about $400 million from six weeks ago. He said 873 construction projects have been started, up from 703 at that time. The goal is to have 1,000 started by year's end.

However, military officials expect the surge of violence through central Iraq to continue at least through the January elections. To counter the violence, commanders are planning to delay the return of some U.S. troops, increasing the number who will provide security when Iraqis go to the polls.

"We are intent on trying to provide a secure and stable enough situation to be able to conduct nationwide elections in January," Smith said. "I will not pretend that that's not a challenge at this stage, but we will continue along those lines."

There are 138,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, and Smith said the number could rise by about 5,000 before the elections. The bulk of the increase would come from extending to a year the tours of U.S. troops who had been scheduled to leave Iraq after 10 months.

[DEMON CUNT]

Praise the Lord!