To Avenge Their Trees, Iraqi Farmers Threaten Resistance

[DuctapeFatwa]

Khudeir Khalil was a simple quiet Iraqi farmer before U.S. forces drove tanks onto his property. Claiming his lush date and orange groves provide camouflage for resistance fighters, the U.S. occupation forces leveled Khalil's plantations. But he feels skeptical, wondering "what kind of civilized people are those who are destroying my plants".

U.S. authorities in occupied Iraq are tight-lipped about the plantation clearing, as U.S. overseer Paul Bremer said he had "no idea" when asked why the plantations were cleared, adding: "It's the first I've heard about it." And Master Sergeant Robert Cargie, of the 4th Infantry Division controlling the area, said "we cannot get specific on these operations. "But if an area is determined to be useful as an ambush point, we will seek to eliminate that as a threat."

But the plantation fields are barren resembling the aftermath of a hurricane after U.S. troops last week razed the paddocks of fruit trees. Now a handful of residents are scavenging the trunks and debris to make charcoal. "We cannot benefit from the fruits anymore, so we will try to earn some money from charcoal," explained Mohammad Saleh amid the stone houses which were once shaded by the plantation.

"Some women and children tried going into the fields to pick and salvage some of the fruit from destruction, but the American troops fired into the air to scare them off," he said. "We tried to make them stop destroying our fields or at least ask for compensation," he said. "But all they said was: 'When the resistance will stop, we will stop destroying the fields,'" said Saleh. A tall man standing behind the crowd suddenly raises a warning finger and says: "Some people who lost their fields are begging, others are stealing cars, but now that we have nothing to do, maybe we will join the resistance.



http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2003-10/10/article11.shtml

[patdem]

1. WOW...would you call that unintended consequeces?? Join the resistance

since they have no more grove to tend??? America needs to get a clue!!

[benfranklin1776]

10. HMMM where have we seen this before......

......Mass defoliation, destruction of rice paddies, bombings and napalming all to "deny cover" and "prevent ambushes"
I think it was that last quaqmire episode we were bogged down as I recall. Hmm corruption in the highest levels of government particularly in the Vice President's office, buggings of political adversaries, guerrilla war going badly senselessly killing young men and women...If you were writing a TV show I guess you'd call it "That Nixon Show"

[izzie]

12. And around the world it will go. Makes one hate the gov. even more.

n/t

[Mokito]

14. West Wing Xtreme

[xxqqqzme]

2. winning the hearts & minds.

but I saw on the news the Iraqis have pretty new money sans evil saddam.

[ElementaryPenguin]

3. Positively Revolting!!

As an American, I am beyond being ashamed at this point! How long will it take us to live down the actions of ChimpCo??

:puke:

[omshanti]

4. Hey why are they complaining? They have zip codes now

They should be happy to be 'liberated' and 'free'.
:evilfrown:

[Tempest]

6. Just read a story on this

Congress cut money for the zip codes.

But they also put no stipulation that Iraq had to pay back $20 billion in reconstruction costs.

[Magleetis]

5. Reminds me of Israel

bulldozing the olive groves of the Palestinians.

edited for spelling

[burrowowl]

7. It sure does.

Maybe we picked up some bad lessons.

[FlemingsGhost]

8. "The Trees" by Rush (no, not THAT Rush!)

"The Trees"

There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas

The trouble with the maples
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade

There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
'The oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light'
Now there's no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe and saw

[Bozola]

9. Bush is stopping forest fires!

[atlien]

11. ...IN IRAQ!

n/t

[htuttle]

15. Does Haliburton have a Thneed contract?

[pfitz59]

13. Read the story of the destruction of Navajo peach trees......

in Canyon de Chelly during the Civil War! Seems we've come full circle. At least the General in that incident was relieved of command.