sulawesigirl4
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
This is just one report of many that I have been seeing and it disturbs me. I understand the pressing desire of the US to find Saddam and capture him (although I imagine that when he's found he will be killed so as to save everyone the "trouble" of a trial...this is just my cynical opinion). But going about this search and destroy mission in such a way that innocent civilians keep getting caught in the crossfire seems to me to be a very bad way to conduct the "hearts and minds" campaign.
This report is from Robert Fisk of the Independent. I'm sure his reputation as a liberal will make some tune him out automatically, but the man has a very extensive background in journalism and the Middle East.
I'm not an expert, but it seems to me that if US troops are trained for military operations and not peacekeeping operations, it might be wise for all involved to get the UN involved as soon as possible. I guess that's not going to happen, but I certainly wish it would.
This report is from Robert Fisk of the Independent. I'm sure his reputation as a liberal will make some tune him out automatically, but the man has a very extensive background in journalism and the Middle East.
28 July 2003: (The Independent) Obsessed with capturing Saddam Hussein, American soldiers turned a botched raid on a house in the Mansur district of Baghdad yesterday into a bloodbath, opening fire on scores of Iraqi civilians in a crowded street and killing up to 11, including two children, their mother and crippled father. At least one civilian car caught fire, cremating its occupants.
The vehicle carrying the two children and their mother and father was riddled by bullets as it approached a razor-wired checkpoint outside the house.
rest of report here
I'm not an expert, but it seems to me that if US troops are trained for military operations and not peacekeeping operations, it might be wise for all involved to get the UN involved as soon as possible. I guess that's not going to happen, but I certainly wish it would.