The Iraq War: Another view (Operation Teddy Drop: "Para-bears" for kids)

[Barrett808]

Today’s column presents a July 18 story out of Camp Taji, Iraq, by U.S. Army Spc. Derek Del Rosario.

They can be seen parachuting into various areas around Baghdad bringing smiles to the faces of Iraqi children.

These airborne “soldiers” are actually “Teddy Troopers” or “Para-Bears,” stuffed animals with makeshift parachutes jumping into the arms and hearts of children during Operation Teddy Drop.

The commander for this unique operation is Chief Warrant Officer 04 Randy M. Kirgiss, pilot for C. Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment (Assault Helicopter).

(more)

http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/080105/iraq.html

[mike_c]

1. hope they don't look too much like cluster bomblets....

eom

[H5N1]

3. these are cluster bomb trainers

teaching children that anything arriving by parachute
dropped by the US is to be embraced

[mike_c]

4. this exchange would be funny if it wasn't so damned close to true....

eom

[H5N1]

18. Run! Run! toward the parachutes, children

this is a very empty gesture at best

[WhiteTara]

7. you took the words right off my keyboard

What a stupid idea. The whole place is a nightmare. Oh, I'm awake.

[DS1]

13. When I was in bootcamp, there was a 'final' run

for the entire graduation class, with the Base Commander and all his minions and all that - first official run as Marines etc etc.

I almost stopped running when some guy started a cadence chant that went something like

Raghead village on a Sunday morning
Sprinkle the town with candy
Watch the children come on out
mow the little fuckers down

[Rose Siding]

2. According to one officer, insurgents are stuffing toys with explosives

On Matthews yesterday, he had several officers on- NO "hardball" believe me (in the part I saw) It was like a recruiting film.

One officer said that an Iraqi policeman brought his little daughter to the US hospital- burns over 60% of her body. He said insurgents had filled a stuffed toy with explosives and tossed it over the fence into his yard where his children would find it.

[Barrett808]

5. This does seem to be an ill-advised policy, for this very reason

A lesson seemingly forgotten from Vietnam.

[daleo]

6. Insurgents, or a Negroponte type dirty trick

Either way, dropping teddy bears by parachute to young children is an incredibly stupid thing to do on the part of the U.S. military. At best, it amounts to trying to win the support of a civilian population by bribing their four year olds. At worst...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. It'd be better to get out of there

then send them teddy bears, food, and materials for rebuilding their homes and their lives.

[norml]

9. Teddy Troopers 'Jump' Into Arms of Iraqi Children

Teddy Troopers 'Jump' Into Arms of Iraqi Children
By Spc. Derek Del Rosario, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service


CAMP TAJI, Iraq, July 15, 2005 – They can be seen parachuting into various areas around Baghdad -- specially trained individuals recruited during Operation Iraqi Freedom 3, whose primary mission is to bring smiles to the faces of Iraqi children.


Army Spc. Benjamin L. Kepenke, a crew chief with Company C, 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment (Assault Helicopter), prepares a "Teddy Trooper" for its descent to children below. Operation Teddy Drop is a humanitarian mission geared to give teddy bears to Iraqi children. Photo by Spc. Del Rosario, USA (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

These airborne "soldiers" are actually "Teddy Troopers" or "Para-Bears," stuffed animals with makeshift parachutes jumping into the arms and hearts of children during Operation Teddy Drop.

The commander for this unique operation is Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Randy M. Kirgiss, a pilot with Company C, 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment (Assault Helicopter). He said he started the airborne mission as a way to impact the lives of Iraqi children.

Kirgiss began the operation in mid-April, inspired by previous humanitarian efforts he had witnessed, as well as by Col. Gail Halvorsen, the "Berlin candy bomber" who dropped candy to German children during the Berlin Airlift.


snip


http://www.dod.mil/news/Jul2005/20050715_2081.html

[Barrett808]

11. Thanks for the link -- great photo n/t

[moggie]

17. Assault helicopter pilot?

So, Randy, reckon you've killed any kids so far? Any innocent parents? Reckon dropping a few stuffed toys will help you sleep at night?

[deadparrot]

10. Well, though I'm glad to see *any* measure of happiness

emerge from this disaster of an occupation, I have to say, it's not really a fair trade.

"Hey, kids, your home, all your posessions, and your family were blown up at the command of George W. Bush for a lie. But here's a teddy bear."

[rocktivity]

16. DING DING DING! Deadparrot, you're our grand prize winner!

...I have to say, it's not really a fair trade.
I dare say they'd much rather have elecricity and clean drinking water all day.

And if they have to drop the teddy bears rather than bring them into neighborhoods they allegedly control, then they are clearly NOT in control.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Solly Mack]

12. Please tell me that we are not dropping those horrible bears

dressed in uniforms...please tell me that.


They can be purchased at any clothing sales on a military post - they come in all kinds of MOS's...and I wouldn't own one much less give one to a child.

pure propaganda...nothing but manipulation

[NNN0LHI]

14. Didn't we give the Native Americans trinkets too? n/t

[termo]

15. looks like Screamers movie

that is the second type.
:smoke: