Weary Troops Just Want To Go Home

[OneBlueSky]

As Iraqi resentment grows, U.S. soldiers in Iraq are showing the strain of being treated as unwanted guests

By SCOTT TAYLOR, Ottawa Sun
Sunday, September 28, 2003

http://www.canoe.ca/OttawaNews/os.os-09-28-0066.html

"BAGHDAD -- A little Iraqi girl -- no more than eight years old -- squatted beside the road with tears of humiliation streaming down her cheeks.

"Twenty feet away, three American soldiers had their rifles aimed at her as she was forced to relieve herself in full view of a long line of parked cars. From inside their vehicles, the Iraqi onlookers screamed their rage at the U.S. troops.

"Whenever one of the Iraqis ventured to step out of his vehicle, an American officer bellowed, "Get back in the car, a--hole!" and the .50-calibre machinegun mounted on the U.S. Hummer would swing menacingly toward the protester.

"The terrified little girl was weeping uncontrollably by the time she dropped her skirt and ran back to her mother."

- much more . . .

http://www.canoe.ca/OttawaNews/os.os-09-28-0066.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Ah the significant section was this one

"Our guys are not about to start taking any chances. We are planning to survive the tour, get home safe and get the hell out of the army," Kostens concluded.

"And God help any Iraqis who get in the way of that plan."

This is explosives since this is exactly what we know.

[bluestateguy]

2. This is really getting embarassing

The occupation is getting to be like the mini-series "V" back in the 80's with all the stormtroopers patrolling absolutley everywhere and controlling all aspects of life, though I blame the politicians, not the soldiers.

[starroute]

3. Can you say "recipe for disaster"?

Morale is gone. Discipline is breaking down. Our troops scarcely resemble a fighting force any more. They're scared and desperate and just want out. And we have no replacements for them.

How many different kinds of impossible does that add up to?

[BeHereNow]

4. Article has been wiped...

It is GONE...
Wouldn't want the truth getting out, now would we, Mr. Rove?

[JohnyCanuck]

5. They only keep the stories on line for one day.

I wrote the Ottawa Sun about another story that had disappeared recently and could have been politically sensitive. It was the story of Israeli citizens caught working in Canada illegally supposedly supporting themselves by selling works of "art." The story appeared to have similarities with the stories that were circulating in the us around 9/11 about mysterious Israeli art students who were alleged to be tied into an Israeli spy ring. In the Ottawa Sun story they also indicated that Canadian Intelligence Officials had concerns that these Israelis arrested in Canada might also be connected to Israeli intelligence.

They emailed me back and said that for copyright related reasons their policy was just to leave the articles or stories online on the day it was published.

[BeHereNow]

6. Thanks for telling me-

Too bad though, I REALLY wanted to send that
article to my hubands RW "x-tian" relatives...
They blasted me at the beginning of the Iraq fiasco
for telling them off about the price of war on children.
They are insane, my relatives. Frothing fundies that make
me want to PUKE.
I relish every opportunity to throw it back in their faces.
Christians my ASS.
I AM a Christian and the fake ones really give the
rest of us bad name...

BHN

[JohnyCanuck]

8. Found another link to the story.

Link is working as of 11:00 Eastern time this morning.

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/News/2003/09/28/211300.html

[realFedUp]

7. good Jonathan Turley commentary today in LA Times

about parents having to buy Kevlar flak jackets
for their military sons and daughters....
I posted it in GD.