So our troops got stoned today

[ShaneGR]

An officer from the U.S. Army 1st Armored Calvary Division orders his men to pull back to their base from the site of several explosions in front of a shrine in Baghdad Tuesday, March 2, 2004. Scores of people were killed in the explosions and many others wounded as the Shiites marked the final day of Ashoura, the ten day morning of important Shiite saint Imam Hussein. The army soldiers were attacked by a stone-throwing mob while trying to aid civilians injured in the blasts.(AP Photo/John Moore)

Literally, they tried to escort an ambulance to the scene of a bombing. The crowd turned on them and began hurling stones. There is video of a gunner in a humvee getting pegged with several BIG rocks.

Man I feel for those guys. Sent off on a mission by a commander who most of them trusted. Lied to about the reasons. And now, just stuck. It isn't as dangerous as, say, Vietnam. But it definitely isn't safe. The odds are there that you'll live, but the odds are good that you'll know someone, somewhere, who doesn't make it out before the end. And when exactly is the end anyways? If there aren't WMD, why are we there again?

Seriously, I'm not anti-war. I supported Gulf War 1. Why? Because we were repelling an agressor. I supported Kosovo. Why? Mostly because I was concerned the conflict would continue to spread outside of the former Yugoslavian borders. I supported Afghanistan (I wish we would have stayed focused on it).

My main problem with Bush has always been that he lied about a war when he didn't need to. At its heart, deposing Hussein was actually a very liberal idea. Replace a tyrant in the middle of the middle east, securing a foothold for democracy in perhaps the least expected country. Forcing Iran and Saudi Arabia to reform their systems. VERY LIBERAL. Liberal Institutionalism at its finest. If Bush had said that was the reason from the start, I might have backed it. If he had just been honest. Unfortunately, he lied and now he gets to live with the consequences.

[tom_paine]

1. Got a link?

If the stoning happened as it did, that's terrible.

I feel terrible when I think of the soldiers of Bush's Amermacht and I think most signed up to defend the Old Republic of America, not the Bush Family Evil Empire.

Got a link to the story?

[seemslikeadream]

3. I saw it on CNN

It was very sad. I'm sure they will show it again.

[ShaneGR]

4. Yeah, pretty brutal

It looked like a few Iraqis were trying to motion for them to get the heck out of there, while a big crowd was tossing rocks at them from behind. You could see the abulance backing up with them.

[seemslikeadream]

6. Another tank had to come to rescue them

It was awful.

[Bandit]

16. I think it must have been flowers they were throwing

Everybody who watches the news knows that the Iraqis are way better off now and really love America for "Liberating" them. It had to be flowers they were throwing. Cheney would never lie to us.

[Thor_MN]

18. Yup, 10-20 Lb Blossoms

.

[Aidoneus]

2. and yesterday as well

like the Polish mercenaries in Karbala, they fired on a vehicle carrying Shia en route to Ashura festivals. I believe it was in Khazamiyah, the same suburb that one of the massacres earlier today took palce. There was an immediate impromptu demonstration, angry crowds hurling abusive words and rocks at the occupation forces and their mercenaries. Much of this went unnoticed except through subtle reference.

[Disturbed]

5. Civil War?

It started but the US Media isn't reporting it.
Iraq will end up in three territories. The Multi-corps, such as Haliburton and Bechtel will be there and so will a few hundred other US Corps when the dust settles. Bushco doesn't care if there is Democracy in Iraq as long as the Oil and other businesses flourish.

[ShaneGR]

9. Actually, I think it will end up in "Zones"

A Kurdish zone, largely unpoliced and fairly independent. A Sunni zone making up parts of Baghad and the west. And a Shi'ite zone making up parts of Baghad and the south-southeast. Each zone will be assigned to a particular group of countries (Assuming we eventually bring in the UN, which I think is inevitable with Bush on the way out).

[mike1963]

22. So will there be a "Baghdad Wall", like in Berlin, or something like down

in Israel? Walls seem to be coming back into vogue lately...they're some communities around here that appear to come under that rubric, only they're called "gated."

The question is of course, on which side of the wall resides freedom?

:eyes:

[mistertrickster]

7. I was with you up until "replacing a tyrant is a liberal idea." Replacing

him with WHAT? That's the question.

It's easy to knock one guy off the top of the heap, but then how do you turn it into a western style democracy when all the country has known is feudal monarchy and coup after coup (some of which were aided and abetted by our own CIA).

The South Vietnamese leaders told the US that "you're more interested in winning this war than we are." I.e., you want democracy and we just want to line our pockets as long as we can.

That pretty much sums it up.

[KG]

8. invading other soveriegn nations to force regime change is a liberal idea?

what a ridiculous notion.

[ShaneGR]

10. Actually

You're parsing my words. I meant getting rid of ruthless dictators is a liberal notion.

[bpilgrim]

13. it's a UNIVERSAL human notion

imho

peace

[ShaneGR]

15. But peace doesn't always get rid of tyrants

Hey look, I'm not backing the war. I'm just saying getting rid of tyrants is a liberal notion. That's all.

[Aidoneus]

Right

You're not backing the war, you just endorse the reasons given for it. Bushism with a friendlier face, that's what is needed.. :eyes:

[dudeness]

11. the US forces are NOT seen as liberators

Iraqis see them as an occupying force..they know the west supported saddam during his most repressive years..they know the quislings appointed to the governing council represent the US and not them..they know this invasion was about securing oil and providing corporations unfettered access for privatising state services..the list could go on..

[Mari333]

12. Our KIDS over there will live with the consequences or die

or be maimed or be attacked daily....Bu$h doesnt have a goddamn thing to lose nor do the blackhearted thugs who created this fraudulent war
OUR children will DIE daily and be wounded because of this FRAUD of a war
and no one gives a shit , comfortable COWARDS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND SENATE AND CONGRESS I SPIT ON THEM ALL, ALL TRAITORS

http://www.bringthemhomenow.com

[xchrom]

14. amen

[Ilsa]

17. CNN will fix it later...

Paula Zahn will come on and say that the people were throwing flowers, not rocks, and everyone will go back to their desserts and Cosmos.

[hatrack]

19. But Paula will only return after the requisite Kobe/Martha/Jacko footage

First things first, of course - this IS the news business, you know!

[eissa]

20. That's what makes me sick

and the retarded general public that swallows all this. Amazing. With all the access we have in this country to a multitude of mass information, yet we rely on our government for such information. Most other countries AVOID their government and seek out alternative means of getting informed (like BOOKS!) It's already started here with my stupid repuke co-workers...."those people" "no respect for human life"........:grr:

[Djinn]

28. Glad I don't work were you do!

We just killed thousands of them for having the temerity to live in a country ruled by a dictator we armed and supported?????

If you didn't punch that co-worker in the gob you did better than I would have.

[Plaid Adder]

21. OK, *that's* not a good sign.

Let's see, where else is it common for the soldiers and police to be pelted with rocks? Hmmm...

* Northern Ireland
* the Occupied Territories

Yeah, we'll be out of there by July 1. Noooooo worries.

Sigh,

The Plaid Adder

[tobius]

23. that's like saying you won't vote for kerry because his supporters

are rude. Either you like candidate X or not, basing your vote on some jerks flamewar is just goofy. If you believe that ridding saddam was a good idea you would support it no matter who was in charge when it happened. wmd's was one of many raionales for invasion.

[Djinn]

29. wrong

they stated several times REGIME CHANGE IS NOT WHY WE'RE DOING THIS. they were doing it because Saddam presented "an imminent" "a grave" & "a serious threat" to Americans and Iraq's neighbours.

They went to war for an Imperialist land grab nothing more, the fact that the highly UNDEMOCRATIC state of Saudi was part of the COW should be proof enough that their present "removing a dictator" line is a load of Bush-shit

[Mari333]

24. I just called Orrin Hatchs office and Bill Bennetts office

and I yelled my head off
I told them both that they had better send THEIR OWN KIDS OVER THERE TO THE FRONT LINES IF THEY ARE SO WILLING TO BACK UP THIS QUAGMIRE IN IRAQ
some asshole guy on the other end told me "but resolution 1441.." and I screamed 'WHO GIVES A SHIT ABOUT RESOLUTION 1441 THERE ARE PLENTY OF COUNTRIES WHO HAVE BROKEN THOSE TREATIES '
then he brought up that saddamn gassed his own people and I mentioned to him
'I HAVE PICTURES OF RUMSFIELD AND SADDAM FROM THE 80S SHALL I SEND THEM TO YOU? WAS THERE A 45 MIN IMMINENT THREAT? DID COLIN POWELL LIE IN FRONT OF THE UN WITH FAKE PHOTOS? WHO LEAKED VALERIE PLAMES NAME? WHY IS MY SON STANDING IN FRONT OF A BAGHDAD PRISON CAMP WITH AN M 16 IN HIS HAND AND YOURS ISNT? WHY ARE TEENAGERS BEING SENT WHO ARE WEEKEND WARRIORS ON THE WHIMS AND LIES OF A TRAITOROUS WHITE HOUSE THAT HAS BEEN PLANNING THIS FOR OVER A DECADE, SPECIFICALLY CHENEY AND PNAC?'
he kept saying a lot of Dems signed the authorization to go to war and I agreed THEY WERE LIED TO AND THIS WAR IS A FRAUD
he was very upset I would not vote GOP ...what a maroon
In the meantime, he dragged out the old "well he did sign up"
NO SIR HE DID NOT SIGN UP BACK IN 2000 FOR A FRAUDULENT BARBARIC CIVIL WAR BASED ON IMPEACHABLE LIES FROM A BLACKHEARTED ADMINISTRATION"
and then I told him Bush would lose the election and cannot steal it this time around
I guess I needed to vent.
then I hung up/

[dudeness]

25. fantastic....

you have my unadulterated respect..

[hatrack]

26. Wow - Rock ON Mari - Outstanding!!

You've got a lot of people here at DU thinking about you. Even more important, you've got a lot of people here thinking about your son - and praying, and crossing their fingers.

God bless!!

[eissa]

27. Bowing in admiration

"we're not worthy! we're not worthy"

God bless you mari333 -- my heart aches for you and your family. You did good.

[PsychoDad]

33. Right on Mari!

props to you! Excellent :)

[Beetwasher]

30. When They All (The Rock Throwers) Get Their Hands On Guns

They won't be throwing rocks anymore...And they WILL get their hands on guns...Sadly, I have a feeling today was A, if not, THE turning point...

[dudeness]

31. I concur fully with that analysis..

n/t

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

32. It's only going to get worse.

[Aidoneus]

34. every family in Iraq has guns

the rocks are just a street thing.

It is strange that Saddam was so universally despised, but trusted the people enough to arm them all to the teeth for just such an occasion as this.