Battalion gets a hostile reception at Sadr City

[ECH1969]

Residents of the city’s most virulent Shiite stronghold gave soldiers a heated and hostile reception Sunday as the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team rolled into the eastern Baghdad slum of Sadr City for the first time.

Overall, Sunday’s mission, which was part of a larger operation to clear Baghdad of sectarian violence, was free of major incidents. One company was shot at during an afternoon patrol, though the bullet widely missed its mark.

Many soldiers, though, were barraged with angry rhetoric and crude gestures while rocks pinged off their heavily armored vehicles.

At the end of his tour, Sharp shook his head in consternation in the police chief’s office. “I didn’t really appreciate the way people were treating me,” he said. “I’ve never been treated this way by Iraqis before.”

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=39036&archive=true

[mom cat]

1. Did they expect chocolates? This is their home damnit, and we are there

illegally!
Why do they hate us? Go figure.

[ninkasi]

2. Maybe the Iraqis

don't appreciate the way our troops treat them. Not all of the troops, of course, but when people know that their friends and relatives have been killed, imprisoned, and tortured, but that's just my own opinion. The U.S. under Bush has given other countries scant reason to love us. Having their homes and places of worship destroyed, and being treated with contempt by some of our troops is not the way to win their "hearts and minds".

[laura888]

3. Agreed. That they don't love us is no surprise. n/t

[hvn_nbr_2]

4. They didn't really appreciate the way we invaded them and turned off..

the electricity, water, and public safety.

“I didn’t really appreciate the way people were treating me,” he said. Sheesh. Clues for sale! Get your red hot clues right here!

[ECH1969]

5. These are the first US troops in Sadr City in 2 years

Finding the locals even more hateful of US troops then the Sunnis is no suprise.

[me b zola]

6. We just keep sending our soldiers in there where they are not wanted

This entire debacle is too tragic for words.