Stripes: Iraqi forces stand by while youths harass U.S. patrol

[lebkuchen]

U.S. operations around Sadr City met with increased resistance this weekend, as soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team continued clearing operations in the poor, restive neighborhoods around the Shiite mega-slum.

But rather than resist with bullets and bombs, residents took a decidedly grass-roots approach, hurling rocks and shouting obscenities.

The movement’s unlikely foot soldiers, a rowdy band of little boys and adolescents, slung insults and rocks with impunity as adult Iraqi soldiers and policemen stood by and watched.

Early Friday afternoon, one group of Strykers was “ambushed” by a group of about 30 rock-throwing boys and teens, who set up an impromptu roadblock to stop the vehicles. No one was seriously hurt in the incident, which occurred at the edge of Sadr City, but soldiers were visibly taken aback by the degree of sophistication. Children in other areas were sighted with slingshots and oil-filled bottles.

...

Across the street, battalion commander Lt. Col. Al Kelly admonished local policemen for not intervening.

“You’ve got to stop these kids throwing rocks over here,” he said. “Someone’s going to die.”

“It’s not my responsibility,” retorted a police officer.



http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=40100

[Erika]

1. Our occupation is breeding hatred

W doesn't care as long as his corporate buds profit.

[lebkuchen]

2. How many years have our troops spent training the Iraqi security?

That mission is a black hole.

[Drum]

3. Damn...

Is that first sentence chilling..."clearing operations." I guess it just sounds odd at first.

[lebkuchen]

4. "Clearing operations" sounds like "interrogation methods"

real benign, nothing for the locals to be upset about, right?

[Drum]

5. Hmmm...just more dead-enders, murmers Vice....n/t