Nov. 28, 2006 (Pensito Review delivered by Newstex) --
Cries of desperation: As if we needed more examples of the chaos our
government has wrought in Iraq, here are some truly chilling Web postings from
inside the country. I have (possibly unwisely -- hello Washington goons!) been
monitoring several related Web sites: Electronic Intifada, Electronic Iraq and
Electronic Lebanon.
These sites provide rare insight (if they are real, and they certainly seem
so, but check them out for yourself) into the situation on the ground in Iraq,
Lebanon and other Middle Eastern hotspots, as well as news and analysis not
filtered through the Western press. From Healing Iraq, a weblog purportedly by
an Iraqi dentist named Zeyad, comes the following harrowing posts to Iraqi
message boards by people at today's Ground Zero. They constitute a sampling of
how average people are trying to survive an increasingly untenuous situation for
Iraqi citizens:
"To grasp how dire the situation in Baghdad has become over the last few
days, here is a sampling of posts on Iraqi message boards where people ask for
instructions on how to defend their neighborhoods from marauding militiamen:
Ali - Khadhraa district:
Please inform us about the areas that are expected to be targeted, so we can be
prepared. Also please inform us on the necessary steps we should take to protect
our families and ourselves.
Ibn Al-Iraq - Jihad district:
Salam Aleikum. I live in the Jihad district. A group from the Mahdi Army tagged
Sunni residences and collected their weapons today. God is witness to what I
say.
Mustafa - Ghazaliya district:
We have been under mortar fire for two days. It is 10:50 p.m. now and we can
hear heavy gunfire and an attack against mosques in the area. May God save us
all from the injustice of aggressors.
A Mujahid for Allah - Al-Rashid district:
In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful.
They want a war, so be it. We are up to it, God willing.
My brothers, heed these recommendations:
1- Prepare weapons and ammunition.
2- To avoid their mortar fire, do not gather in large numbers at one place in
your areas.
3- Spread out in small groups, and assign a commander to each.
4- Always take cover behind a barrier (anything that can protect you from enemy
fire).
5- If there is an attack against your area, try not to waste your fire (make
maximum benefit from the ammunition you have available).
6- Assign duties to your brothers.
7- Maintain communication with other groups in your area so you can respond to
any breach of the area by the attackers.
8- Have courage and patience when you face them. They are cowards and will be
defeated.
Remember that your brothers, the Mujahideen, will be with you in your fight
against the murderous criminals. May God save us and save Iraq.
The son of Anbar - Baghdad:
Dear brothers, the Khadhraa and Jami'a districts are in need of ammunition.
Please come to our aid.
Ali - Ghazaliya district:
Groups from the evil Mahdi Army are preparing to enter Ghazaliya from the
direction of the Centre Street and near the Muhajireen mosque, but residents are
in control of most of the streets, despite assistance from the National Guard
[for the Mahdi Army] and their cover for the mortar attacks from the Security
Street. A woman was injured there from their damn mortars.
Abu Al-Hassan Al-Samarra'I - Baghdad:
To the Mujahideen brothers in all areas, attack them and let the initiative be
yours so that you can relieve the pressure from other districts. Have no mercy
for them. Be careful of their spies in your areas.
Anonymous - Jihad district:
Urgent. Please intervene to save the Jihad district from another massacre.
Interior Ministry commandoes have been transporting fighters and mercenaries
from the militias with their buses to their headquarters in the district. They
are estimated to be around 500 mercenaries, fully armed with medium and light
weapons. And now some of them are taking attack positions in preparation for a
new massacre in the district. The buses have not stopped arriving, even though
terrified residents have called the police and governmental officials.
Abu Mohammed - Baghdad:
I recommend to my brothers the following:
1- Trust in God, and defend your family, your possessions and your honour.
Whoever is killed is a martyr for God.
2- Never surrender, because in that case they will kill us after maiming and
torturing us. We should fight to the last breath.
3- Ensure surveillance for every area, especially main streets and entry
points, and maintain communication to follow the movement of vehicles used by
militias. Attack them wisely without wasting ammunition.
4 - Prepare ambushes for these militias on the streets they are expected to
pass. Finish them off and take their weapons.
Remember that those militias are former looters, thieves and shoe shiners.
Do not make such a big deal of them because, by God, they are lowly animals.
Ahmed Al-Janabi - Baghdad:
Salam Aleikum. I'm a resident of Yarmouk and I can hear gunfire from the Four
Streets area as if in warning of an attack of sorts. God knows. Please come to
our aid if the situation worsens.
Abdul Rahman Abdul Qadir - Karkh district:
Salam Aleikum. Over 40 vehicles with Mahdi Army militiamen have gathered near
the Dora police station. They started arriving at 7 p.m., and at 7:45 p.m. we
could see about 40 vehicles preparing to attack Dora.
Abdul Rahman - Iraq:
Please keep these steps in mind:
1- Deploy snipers on the rooftops of buildings that lie close to the main entry
points for each area.
2- Prepare positions for medium weapons at a distance from the entry point, and
make pincers with sniper and PKC fire. When you choose a position, make sure you
can retreat to alternate positions from it, in case the enemy overruns the area
(do not choose a building that is not adjacent to another, or use ropes to
quickly slide down the building).
3- RPG carriers should maintain their positions on side streets and take cover
behind barriers. Do not fire just for the sake of it (attack the first and last
vehicle).
4- Create heavy fire density to force the enemy to take cover, and then
eliminate them by sniper fire.
5- Provide hand grenades and distribute them to the Mujahideen.
6- Fighters with light weapons should always change positions, fire from
different angles and not stay at one place.
7- Prepare and plant roadside bombs on the entrance to every area.
8- Bomb the gathering locations for the army of filthy Muqtada.
9- Prepare a special group to deal with any breach, and it should be armed with
RPGs, PKC machine guns and KIA vehicles.
10- Plan ambushes and lure the enemy by using bait vehicles that they chase to
be dragged into the killing zone.
Iraqiya - Dora district:
Urgent. Dora has been breached. There was an attack by the ragtag militias
against residences, and we can now hear women screaming. They are raiding the Tu'ma district, which is inhabited by the Jubour tribes. There is also an attack
against the Arqam mosque.
Ali - Dora district:
Elements of the Interior Ministry commandos are attacking Dora (the Mechanic,
Tu'ma, Sahha and Asia districts). But do not fear, for we are engaging them. Our
battle cry is "They came for death, no one brought them."
Ahmed - Jamila district:
Barbaric groups of the Antichrist [Mahdi] Army, and the Iranians that are with
them, have killed dozens of Sunni youth at the Jamila district in the exact spot
of the car bombing, in a mass execution orgy in front of people. This was
broadcast on Sharqiya TV by an anonymous security source. The honourable Shi
'ites from east of the [Army] Canal have told us that these groups are moving
freely, and that they are preparing for a wide-scale assault on Sunni districts.
Be prepared to confront the infidels.
Abdul Rahman - Iraq:
For the brothers who have not used weapons before, please take this advice:
1- Check your weapon if you have not used it before. You can ask your neighbour
to teach you how to attach the magazine and to load and fire. Do not be ashamed
that it would be said you don't know how to use a weapon, as many people have
not had a chance to.
2- Choose the appropriate spot on your roof that can provide you with cover and
make it hard for the enemy to target you.
3- It is best if every two families gather in one house when the alarm of an
attack is raised to keep spirits high.
4- When you shoot, try to make it intermittent so you do not waste your
ammunition. Be patient until more fighters arrive and your neighbours start
shooting too.
5- You may feel fear upon using a weapon for the first time or that something
bad would happen to you, but think of your family and what awaits them if you
are hesitant. Keep your honour and your children in front of your eye, and
remember that they have burnt children with kerosene.
6- Make sure that you have an extra magazine because in the midst of action you
may take away your weapon and forget your extra magazine. It is preferred that
you tape two magazines together. Ask your neighbours how to do that. Practice
with it several times.
7- Fear of using weapons will disappear with the first shot. Do not hesitate to
pull the trigger and concentrate on hitting the enemy.
Omar Al-Rawi - Baghdad:
Salam Aleikum. Mosques in the Adhamiya and Khadhraa areas have started chanting
"Allahu Akbar" and reciting Quran through their loudspeakers to encourage
residents to confront the Safavid militias.
Ibn Al-Mansour - Mansour district:
Residents of Mansour, large groups of armed militiamen have been seen heading
from the Washash and Iskan districts to attack Mansour. Prepare to defend
yourselves and your neighbours, Sunni and Shia, from the attack of the
treacherous Mahdi Army militias.
Al-Anbari - Baghdad:
Several mortar shells have hit the Jami'a and Khadhraa districts after the
evening prayers. And there is news that militias are now gathering to prepare
for the attack against these districts. Additionally, there are groups of the
Antichrist [Mahdi] Army in the Safarat district preparing to attack the Qudhat
district."