WP: Insurgency Leaves U.S. Forces Baffled

[kskiska]

Soldiers Share Tales of Hostility and Kindness on a Shifting Battlefield

KARBALA, Iraq -- During more than a year in Iraq, Sgt. David Taylor saw perhaps as many Iraqis through the primary sight of his M1 Abrams tank as he did face to face. But who exactly he saw still baffles him.

The salty tank commander from the 1st Armored Division worked on the edge of Baghdad's desperately poor Sadr City for much of the past year. Then, in late April, he was rushed to this city 60 miles southwest of Baghdad to help put down an armed uprising in what developed into the most difficult fighting of his time here.

One day a few months ago, his men hauled tons of topsoil into the Baghdad slum to refurbish a rundown soccer field, a children's project in the midst of a grown-up war, and something well outside a tank commander's job description. When they returned the next morning to finish the task, the soil had disappeared.

"They stole dirt, their own dirt," said Taylor, 37, a Persian Gulf War veteran from Copperas Cove, Tex. Shaking his head and staring into his lunch at a post cafeteria here, he added, "I still haven't figured them out."

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8796-2004Jun26.html

[NMDemDist2]

1. ahhh maybe they took the dirt for a pot garden on the roof to grow

ahhh I dunno maybe some FOOD??!!?!

[htuttle]

2. He can't figure it out?

Do they teach Insurgency 101 in Sgt school?

Didn't he see Apocalypse Now? Remember the scene where Kurtz relates how the VC came in and chopped off the arms of all the children who were vacinated by the Green Berets? The point was to punish collaboration of any kind with the occupier.

Stealing the dirt for the soccer field was a far less drastic action, but was following to the same strategy.

Either that, or somebody wanted to put in some more date trees this year, and needed some decent potting soil... :shrug:

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. They stole dirt, their own dirt

That is why "Taylor, 37, a Persian Gulf War veteran from Copperas Cove Tex," will ultimately lose this war to the "insurgents".

[wellst0nev0ter]

4. I Guess If I Was Imposing My Own Form Of Occupational Government

under the illusion of goodwill, I guess I would be confused too :eyes:

[Democat]

5. Forget the dirt, who's stealing the oil?

We know the answer to that.

[Dover]

6. How symbolic! Stealing back their own soil. You can't steal what you

already own.

[keopeli]

7. They took the soil because they don't need a playground of the kids. Easy

What the DO need is the follow-up question.

Trying to build an American sub-urban playground in a war zone...the Iraqis must think we are absolutely nuts.

Imagine...

Kids, befriended by the America-only soldiers, goes home and tells mom and dad that the Americans have put fresh soil on the old football field. Dad tells some friends...etc.

You don't tell someone you're there in their interest while you stand in front of your tank with guns a-blazing. That's what we've been doing for over a year.

Most Iraqis don't want war, I'm sure. Give them control of their oil, at least. Then they can make some money, instead of Haliburton. I'm sure they have the know how to build a soccer filed when they need it.

Maybe bringing in other nations would help them believe that the whole world is on their side. It's just an idea.

Keo

[Disturbed]

8. Bringing in more nations...

might also give them the idea that those nations want their soil and oil, as well.

They have been liberated. Stop the Occupation and Colonization...NOW!!!