Iraqi police: "they assumed it was American-on-American violence and wanted to stay out of it."

[sabra]

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/01/22/iraq.karbala/

<snip>

According to police spokesman Abdul Rahman al-Mishawi, about 30 gunmen traveling in a convoy of at least seven SUVs with tinted windows -- similar to the vehicles used by top U.S. military officials -- drove up to the Karbala Provincial Joint Coordination Center wearing uniforms similar to those worn by the U.S. military.

About a dozen U.S. troops were inside the compound at the time, al-Mishawi said.

...

The assailants targeted only U.S. soldiers, al-Mishawi said, adding that not a single Iraqi soldier or police officer was killed.

...

When asked why Iraqi police did not intervene to stop the gunmen from fleeing, al-Mishawi said "they assumed it was American-on-American violence and wanted to stay out of it."

Al-Mishawi said Monday that "the Americans have shut down the provincial government compound and everyone is being interrogated from the police chief, officers, down to the average policemen."

[Buzz Clik]

1. Flawless logic.

I guess there's good violence and bad violence. From this Iraqi's point of view, Americans killing Americans is good violence.

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. Hey, it makes sense -

when they see Americans standing by while Iraqis kill Iraqis, why would they assume we are any different?

[Buzz Clik]

4. ouch!

:blush:

[Dhalgren]

2. "American-on-American violence "

Beautiful...just beautiful... :eyes:
:sarcasm:

[shadowknows69]

6. This is not beyond the realm of possiblility

if you saw like I do how some of them truly loathe each other when back in the states. There is very much a gang mentality between different units. Boys with guns.

[Dhalgren]

7. You make a good point.

With all the recruiting of gang members and skinheads, this is not beyond the realm of possibilities. This makes one pause and consider the KIAs in a new light. If there were internecine killings between what amounted to "sects" within the US military, would it be reported? I am sure that the chain of command would deal with this sort of thing harshly, but would they report it? Hmmm....

[shadowknows69]

8. In the chaos of war

atrocity happens. Officers get fragged, "accidents" happen, rules of engagement are broken and I've even heard stories of troops getting caught selling ordiance to the enemy but that one doesn't get any press either.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. So, can we leave now?

Why are we bothering to interrogate anyone? Just get out.