excerpted from today's news... Jun 20, 9:17 AM (ET) BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - An Iraqi military official said Tuesday that the bodies of two missing U.S. soldiers showed signs of torture, and that men appeared to have been killed "in a barbaric way." At a news briefing, U.S. Maj. Gen. William Caldwell declined to identify the two men until their families could be notified. Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston, and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore., disappeared after an insurgent attack Friday at a checkpoint by a Euphrates River canal south of Baghdad. Spc. David J. Babineau, 25, of Springfield, Mass., was killed. The few on here that agonize over allegations that our troops may have killed civilians in Iraq should read these words over and over and then try to purge their angst over the war once and for all. It's my contention that the insurgency in Iraq could not succeed without the willing cooperation of a significant part of the local population. If we are indeed intent on beating these bastards down once and for all I don't think any target or tactic should be out of bounds. The only way to beat fanatics is to rob them of all hope.
I am in total agreement with every word, George. The problem is that we think of civilians the way we see civilians here in America. We are not fighting against a military force. We are fighting against forces that appear to be like all other surrounding "civilians" hoping to blend in until the time to strike. As for me, if anyone over there picked their nose in the wrong way, they would be fly food. Rules of engagement should be fire if you have the any question of their intentions. Take the hand cuffs off of our troops and let them handle this the way they know how. When the media continues to twist the actions of our troops, test the first amendment by bringing them before a tribunal on charges of treason. I’m tired of these panty wastes trying to make a name for themselves at the expense of the people that fight for their right to do so.
:x I see that the new head of Al Qaida in Iraq is bragging that he personally tortured and killed these soldiers. Those who want to get out of Iraq should remember that he's an Egyptian. He will take the war to us wherever we are...
How do you tell the insurgents from the local population? You can't, they don't wear uniforms they aren't afraid to use children as shields or as bomb carrying devices. So when I read any angst over some Iraqi civilian getting killed and calls for murder trials of American Troops, it makes me ill. I'm not advocating that the troops forget their discipline or that they be allowed to have open season on Iraqis. But when you are fighting an enemey who looks like the population, some of the population is in harms way and bad stuff is going to happen. Terry
Where are the "Stop the torture" pickets like I saw in downtown Chicago on Sat.? And when we capture some of these barbaric animals and put them safely away in some place like Gitmo, we get other activists and the ACLU crying for these bloodsuckers. We are in a no holds, down in the mud war with folks who want to terrorize thier enemies. Someone should show pictures of those tortured soldier's bodies next to pictures of Abu Ghraib. Which "prisoner" would you want to be?
I'm not sure what "angst" on this board you are referring to George as far as our troops abusing the enemy slimeballs. I haven't read much angst amongst our board members on that issue. I think if you are in a killed or be killed scenario then all is fair and heaven (or Allah if you will) help those who would get in the way. I do cringe however anytime women and children are killed because I think most of the time even in safehouses for terrorists they are victims and are threatened and dominated. For the Iraqi "men" to tolerate this is hard to understand and inexcusable if they have a choice otherwise.
If you want angst try this article... http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/06/19/koinange.africa/index.html
What is always interesting about the African plight is that most African- Americans, especially the prominent ones, hardly even acknowledge their homeland. Now, back on topic. We now know that our two young men, the same age as my sons by the way, were horribly tortured and mutilated to death. The new Al Qaeda top dog is taking responsibility for the killings personally, celebrating the "slaughter" in the name of Allah and Islam. This is the watershed moment for the U.S. These filthy animals need to be exterminated in my view. My name is George, let me be President for the moment.... We start in the dreaded Sunni triangle where these atrocities were committed. We go from town to town , surrounding each of them one at a time. We announce that all women and children have two days to evacuate. At that point we give the "men" who are left one opportunity to surrender any known insurgents. If there is no repsonse in 24 hours, call in the heavy bombers. Several hours of carpet bombing should do the trick. Maybe a little napalm to burn the city down to fine ashes. Release teh women and children and move on to the next town. Repeat the procedure until completed. Then go to other known hot spots throughout Iraq and do the same thing. After we are satisfied that the insurgents back has been broken, turn the keys over to the new regime and pull out. Oh yes, mosques are no longer off limits. If they can blow them up, so can we. Failing to do this we should just admit we can't deal with this and come home. Our government, politicians and generals have ham-strung our soldiers long enough. Where is that girly-man, Jack Murtha. With no evidence he was quick to condemn his fellow Marines for the deaths at Haditha. Now he is silent.He is a disgrace, with all due respect to the Marine Corps.
And now with new arrests of our GIs for murders of Iraqi citizens and new reports also of IEDs blowing up our young men as they ride along what a real mess it is. Damed if you do and damned if you don't. I would say this has to be a terrible assigment for any soldier.