Another day, another group of innocent Iraqis dead, killed by trigger-happy US soldiers who seem to regard any Iraqi near the site of a roadside bombing as a legitimate target. Even when they're wearing a police uniform. No-one will face charges or be discliplined in any way, of course; killing bystanders is perfectly within the rules of engagement.
And they wonder why people hate them...
2 comments:
I think Idiot was talking about how Iraquis hate Americans.
If an overseas power invaded your country, imposed martial law and then started torturing, shooting, or running over anyone who got in their way, you'd pretty soon hate them too, regardless of what they claimed their intent was.
Mundens
Posted by Anonymous : 1/10/2005 06:25:00 PM
I should also point out the enormous difference between British and American forces occupying Iraq. The British do not allow shooting innocent bystanders as "normal practice" under their rules of engagement. They insist on proper fire discipline and actually identifying a target as both "enemy" and "armed" (rather than simply "Iraqi") before they shoot - things which seem utterly beyond American soldiers. And they back this up with the force of the law; they prosecute when people are killed by stray bullets. The soldiers in question may eventually be found innocent (the case is still pending), but it sends a clear message to British troops that Iraqi lives are valuable. This has resulted in far fewer civilian deaths, and (strangely) far fewer attacks on British soldiers.
So, the American way of "kill 'em all and let Allah sort 'em out" isn't the only way, or even the most effective. It's simply an example of poor discpline and a contemptuous attitude towards the people whose country they are occupying.
Posted by Idiot/Savant : 1/10/2005 06:53:00 PM
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