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| Iraq | |
| Marines find apparent training camp for PLF | |
| 2003-04-08 | |
| United States Marines may have uncovered "smoking-gun" evidence supporting one of the coalition's justification for war in Iraq. The Los Angeles Times reports soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Regiment found what appears to be a large-scale terrorist training camp for the Palestinian Liberation Front, as well as documents indicating Iraq recently sold weapons to the terror group for its fight against Israel. "This proves the link between Iraq and terror groups," the Times quotes Capt. Aaron Robertson, the battalion's intelligence officer, as saying. According to the paper, the 25-year-old hidden compound could have accommodated 600 recruits at one time. Its 20-plus cement buildings contain an obstacle course, parade deck, lecture halls, dining halls, barracks, administrative offices and small jail cells likely used to teach students how to survive as a prisoner of war. The obstacle course is described as being better than some used to train American forces. Uniforms, books and bomb-making materials were found inside the largely abandoned facility, along with a clay table-top model of a city, which the Times likens to those used by military officers in planning an attack. Intelligence officers were studying what city the model's design was meant to replicate, according to the paper. Marines also recovered documents from the PLF and its political arm, the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Documents are good Large murals of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein cover the walls on the outside, while side-by-side pictures of Hussein and PLF leader Abu Abbas fill the walls inside. Other photographs showed Abbas posing with senior officers of the Iraqi Republican Guard. Slogans on walls linked the PLF and Iraqi causes, including one that, in Arabic said, "Live the Dream of Both Causes Against the Invading Enemy: the Jew." Another read "Beginning In This Prison Is The Flower of Our Manhood." I'm going to stay away from that last slogan, gentle readers. Feel free. The camp is due east of the Diallo River on the southwest edge of Baghdad, set away from main roads and surrounded by berms and large trees. Outfitted with electricity, running water, air-conditioning and a sewer system, the facility is described as having better conditions than nearby residences. You don't expect terrorist's to suffer like the common folk, do you? I mean, they're holy warriors! They're better than you. The U.S. has long insisted regime change is needed in Iraq because it allegedly has weapons of mass destruction and harbors terrorists. Which the looney left denied.
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| Posted by:Steve |
| #7 They're on foot patrol in downtown Baghdad right now. Rick Leventhal (FoxNews, natch) is with them. |
| Posted by: Fred 2003-04-08 22:27:28 |
| #6 Just FYI - The 2/23 Marines are a reserve unit from the San Francisco Bay Area, the depot is in San Bruno, on the penninsula just south of SF. The 2/23 was earlier involved in fighting at Nasiriya. |
| Posted by: buwaya 2003-04-08 16:53:12 |
| #5 Squeal Shaeed! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-04-08 16:32:42 |
| #4 That is so wrong! |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-04-08 16:13:18 |
| #3 "Beginning In This Prison Is The Flower of Our Manhood," ... what the article failed to state was that the above sign was posted in the shower room, underneath which was another sign that said. " Umm, would you please pick up that bar of soap I dropped? |
| Posted by: Ken 2003-04-08 16:10:46 |
| #2 Under the slogan "Beginning In This Prison Is The Flower of Our Manhood," was another which stated: "New recruits will be flowered by prison strongman "Tiny" and considered martyrs for the jihad" |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-04-08 15:55:27 |
| #1 "Beginning In This Prison Is The Flower of Our Manhood," EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!! |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-04-08 15:21:36 |