U.S. Troops Fire on Iraq Protesters Again

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by War of Art
Who needs a motive if you're a nineteen year old cowboy with an automatic weapon surrounded by people you refer to as "rag-heads"

Who needs facts or an actual argument if you're a whiny poster who hides behind kneejerk stereotypes. (arab meaning)

How about this car full of women and children that got shot up because the ruddy Yanks thought it might be a suicide bomber? Who goes car bombing with the wife and kids? I know I don't.
-Jam

Gee, because you don't, that means they're all just like you. Let's see, you don't stop at a checkpoint, and try to run your way through for no particular reason, despite people pointing weapons and gesturing at you to stop? Not too bright, the day after another car splattered pieces of four US troops all over the ground.

******

Kman - there's no evidence of what went on, but that doesn't help the conclusion that whatever started it, this is a bad sign of a deteriorating situation, which may continue to get worse.

[MRT144]

The real problem with shooting into a crowd of people is the US gains NOTHING in doing so. They are just confirming what many iraqis are being told; america is here to rule them.

You cant convince people otherwise when you fire upon them.

[The Mad Monk]

They're trained to shoot when shot at, and they're under order to return fire. The criminals here are the ones shooting from the crowd.

The Israelis have had to deal with this crap for years; now it's our turn.

[MRT144]

Exactly mad monk, but do iraqis see it that way?

[Lancer]

Who cares? The Iraqis fire on our troops. We shhot back killing some protesting Iraqis, from where the bullets came from.

Shooting back is fair game. The Iraqis don't like it, oh well.

[The Mad Monk]

I think that most will, if you figure in the politics of the region; this happened in a northern village, within Saddam's tribal territory, and has been noted as a stronghold of the Ba'ath Party.

Which is probably why we have airborne troops based there (and getting shot at) in the first place.

[Lancer]

MM, that's right. We should pull our boys out and let the Kurds patrol.

[MRT144]

Lancer, for someone who wanted to "liberate" the iraqi people, i think youd like to understand what happens to the psyche of the iraqis when you shoot at them. When you shoot at the people of iraq, not saddams henchmen.

does that make iraqis more receptive to the american presence there? America is just the lesser of two evils to them, so lets wrap this burrito up and get the **** out of the kitchen. before things get unpleasent.

Im not saying americans shouldnt defend themselves cause thats just stupid, but they should try to avoid incidents like this in the future.

[gunkulator]

Originally posted by MRT144
Im not saying americans shouldnt defend themselves cause thats just stupid, but they should try to avoid incidents like this in the future.

"New orders boys. From now on, try NOT to get shot at, OK?"

[MRT144]

gunkulator, you know what i mean

[Sava]

Originally posted by gunkulator


"New orders boys. From now on, try NOT to get shot at, OK?"

"New orders boys. Don't mow down innocent civilians. Look before you shoot."

[gunkulator]

Since not all areas of the country have adequate police, I'm not sure how US troops can "avoid situations" where there might be trouble. I would fully expect you to heap criticism upon them if they did decide to abandon law and order missions. Also note that in one of the protests, the mob came to the Americans, not the other way around.

"New orders boys. Don't mow down innocent civilians. Look before you shoot"

"It will be easy to distiguish terrorist from civilian by ..."

Sava, feel free to complete the sentance.

[Sava]

"... looking to see if they are carrying weapons."
"... looking to see if they are children."

[gunkulator]

"but if you hear gunfire from a crowd, best to just stand there and get shot at."

[Tolls]

Some of the Paras involved in Bloody Sunday in '72 claimed that they were shot at by gunmen during the riot, which is when they shot back...look what happened there. You do not go firing into crowds on the off chance that you might get the people who are apparently shooting at you.

The end result of this was 25 years of terrorism...

It took the British Army (and government) a long time to learn this lesson...hopefully the US will be quicker, but I somehow doubt it.