US troops told 'tread softly' - Democratic Underground

NNN0LHI

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Fri Aug-08-03 07:48 AM
Original message

US troops told 'tread softly'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3133099.stm

American troops in Iraq have been ordered to act less aggressively following warnings by the Iraqi Governing Council that people are turning against them.

But hours after the new battle was due to be tested, US forces killed at least two Iraqis whom they said were selling weapons in Saddam Hussein's home town, Tikrit, 175 kilometres (110 miles) north of Baghdad.

The BBC's Matthew Price, in Baghdad, said the soldiers spotted the men unloading weapons and bomb making equipment from a car and shot them - no questions asked.

In a separate incident, a US soldier was killed in western Baghdad on Thursday.

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Dhalgren

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Fri Aug-08-03 07:57 AM
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1. We now simply see something we suspect

is wrong and shoot to kill? My gods! We don't even pretend to treat the Iraqis like human beings anymore! "Hey, look over there. That looks suspicious. Kill him." Those American snipers and the ones issuing them their orders are criminals.

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dArKeR

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Fri Aug-08-03 08:27 AM
Response to Reply #1

5. Did anyone see story about the evidence that lead the soldiers

to shoot the Iraqis? I honestly haven't seen anything. I'm concerned the media doesn't ask these questions.

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Spentastic

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Fri Aug-08-03 07:59 AM
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2. Selling weapons?

They'd better get to some gun shows then.

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Zero Gravitas

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Fri Aug-08-03 08:06 AM
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3. Too Little, Too Late

The more the troops get attacked, the more suspicous and agressive they act toward Iraqis (human nature) but the more they do that the more resentment there is towards the troops which fuels more violence. This is a no win sistuation.

Has there EVER been an occupation of any country that was welcomed by the occupied?

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Tracer

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Fri Aug-08-03 08:19 AM
Response to Reply #3

4. Did Anyone See ...

on the NewsHour last night, reporter Rob Nordlund (Newsweek) in Baghdad?

One of the most honest things that he said was that the Coalition Authority was "delusional" if they thought that the average Iraqi welcomed the U.S.

Ray Suarez, in a surprised tone of voice, replied "DELUSIONAL!!?"

Rob firmly repeated his opinion.

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Chico Man

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Fri Aug-08-03 09:03 AM
Response to Reply #3

7. Read Catch 22

There are some interesting views on that very subject.

In this book I think one of the generals was killed by a "flying rose" that someone threw at him as the US liberated the Italians from the Germans.

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raifield

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Fri Aug-08-03 09:09 AM
Response to Reply #7

8. He was blinded, not killed

Major ----- d'Corvey, blinded in one eye, or perhaps just injured, the book never makes that clear, by a rose thrown by the old man who lives at the flophouse. Then the Major requests a clear eyepatch so he can continue playing horseshoes. Great book. Up there with '1984' and 'Fahrenheit 451'.

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Chico Man

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Fri Aug-08-03 02:22 PM
Response to Reply #8

10. Thanks for clearing that up

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NNN0LHI

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Fri Aug-08-03 08:33 AM
Response to Original message

6. I don't know about anyone else?

But I am really concerned about when these guys start coming home after being trained to kill with such ease and with a "shoot now and ask questions afterwards" attitude. Know what I mean?

Don

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Judi Lynn

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Fri Aug-08-03 09:24 AM
Response to Original message

9. You would think that Iraqii men, planning to use guns against our guys

would go to some lengths to be a little more concealed about doing business, and wouldn't consider simply handling the guns right out in the street, where they were known to bring guns each Friday, as I also heard today.

They knew they would be there. They knew they always sell guns there on Fridays. Looks as if they should be more afraid of men who are more covert.

This sentence from the link above is strange, don't you think:

US military authorities have refused to say whether the soldier, who was on guard duty, died from a hostile attack.

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maggrwaggr

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Fri Aug-08-03 02:51 PM
Response to Original message

11. these men would be fine LAPD officers when they come home

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