Now our soldiers are raping Iraqi women, too?

[chequita guevara]

It will piss off the people we are supposedly helping.

[Az]

besides any overblowing of such event to a mass media frenzy?

[VetLegion]

If this comes out to be true, critics of US war in Iraq will be able to write "...invaded Iraq, where they tortured, murdered and raped civillians...", and unfortunately, back all three claims with evidence.

[chequita guevara]

It's not the media frenzy that's the problem. It's the that many extra suicide bombers.

Besides, we hold ourselves to a higher standard.

[Pekka]

There's rapes in wars? No way..

Unless there's 'significant' amount, meaning more than few single incidents separated from each other, I wouldn't worry, because it's normal.

Normal as in.. blah. It's trivial.

However, if there's a pattern or say, attempts to throw a blanket over these cases, I would worry.

but sure, yeah.. the ones captured.. should suffer the consequences. It's not just raping a person which is bad enough. It's also bad image, that will lead into more fighting spirit for the enemy and undoubtelty more killings.

[VetLegion]

It's not the media frenzy that's the problem. It's the that many extra suicide bombers.

Sucide bombers can't change US politics, media frenzy on the other hand, with time...

[Pekka]

VetLegion, oh really? Suicide bombings have already changed US politics, or at least this can be claimed and backed up.

[VetLegion]

You're right, I retract that.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by VetLegion

It's not the media frenzy that's the problem. It's the that many extra suicide bombers.

Sucide bombers can't change US politics, media frenzy on the other hand, with time...

You know so little about us. As long as the bombings continue, it makes it seem like we aren't making any progress. My people only tolerate wars as long as it seems like we're making progress. If it seems like our boys are dying for no good reason, we want out.

It's pathetic and unprincipled, but that's the way we are.

[Az]

It's the that many extra suicide bombers.

A lack of suicide bombers never was the problem with carrying out suicide attacks.

[Dinner]

I note it was a fellow soldier who turned them in and that they were promptly arrested.

[VetLegion]

OK, but considering most Americans

1) still can't point Iraq on the map
2) thought Saddam and Osama were in bed together

I think I can conclude that most people don't really get deep into analysing the situation?

It's mostly information snippets that go around and that affect what people think. If "raping Iraqi women" is spun enough times it could affect attitudes even of people who don't know where Iraq is. That's my line of thought.

[Tattila the Hun]

Originally posted by NeOmega


The story is alluding that perhaps two of them were captured by insurgents, tortured and beheaded.

However, it wasn't clear, atleast to me, if that was cause or effect. Were they beheaded as reprisal for rape, or beheaded just for the sake of beheading, or was the rape and subsequent murders reprisal for the beheadings.

[Dinner]

BTW Beiji was a right nasty little town complete with an open sewer in the streets.

I still hope those a-holes hang.

[CrONoS]

"The official said the mutilation of the slain soldiers stirred feelings of guilt and led at least one of them to reveal the rape-slaying on June 22."

The slain came after.