Hatred festers on streets

[nolabels]

http://www.antiwar.com/

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=432843
(snip)
British soldiers face wrath of Iraqis as hatred festers on streets of Basra
By Justin Huggler in Basra
12 August 2003


Burnt tyres and stones that were thrown at British soldiers trying to contain riots by Iraqis infuriated by constant power cuts and a fuel crisis still littered the streets of Basra yesterday.

Calm had been restored to the city after two days in which at least one Iraqi protester was killed - who fired the bullet is still unclear - and a Nepalese former Gurkha soldier was shot dead when his UN car was ambushed in the street. But you get the sense the British are sitting on a pressure cooker.

How serious the riots were depends on whom you speak to. Ask the British occupation authority which runs the south of Iraq, and it was all a storm in a teacup. Ask the Iraqis on the streets of Basra, and you hear a different story. There is anger seething on the streets.

"Only a thousand people were involved in the protests, out of a city of two million," says Steve Bird, a spokesman for the military. "If you ask the people here, they'll tell you they want us here, to help rebuild the infrastructure." But even as Mr Bird says reassuringly that the security situation in Basra is under control, the crackle of gunfire can be heard through his office window. Outside the fortified British compound, American soldiers arrive in a Humvee. Iraqi children shout abuse at the Americans. They want to throw stones, but some older Iraqis nervously restrain them.

(snip)

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. yup, open-arms welcome

firearms, that is...

[underpants]

2. Riot shields?

Oh brother. And that is the Brits ,who are much more experienced at peace keeping and supposedly were doing much better than the Americans. Oh brother.

[NYC]

3. Riot shields, and it looks like batons.

Maybe that means there will be less shooting?

[Gin]

4. Imagine their fear...my heart goes out to all of them...

just looking at the picture of them huddled together with shields generates fear and anguish in me for them. God help all of us.

[demnan]

5. I agree

Hey Bushler, see what have you and Poodle have done to these poor young people? :mad:

[nolabels]

6. I would feel safer being a British Bobby with my night Sthick

These guys are better off than the US GI's. * has them over there on the steets with M-16 mounted greanade launchers for their protections. The other big boys always try to match up thier toys against yours.

http://www.psychologyhelp.com/thnk86.htm
STICKS AND STONES
The following excerpt is from the self help
psychology book, Be Your Own Therapist.


On the playgrounds of our youth we all heard the old phrase, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." Unfortunately, many societal groups seem intent today upon claiming that words too always hurt. Whoever believes this gets to feel hurt a lot and is always at the whim of some person out there. Personal power is lacking.
(snip)