Wow, I've got multiple thoughts on this one. Initially, and without seeing the video, I was getting pretty incensed at those of you passing judgement, especially those of you not even IN America telling us what is going on HERE and whether we support the war or whatever. How the topic strayed from whatever was on that video, to comparisons to Viet Nam, more America bashing, how to culturalize us into the country, Bush sucks, etc, etc, etc.
Then I actually watched the video.
That's just stupid. I would love to meet the officer in charge of that fiasco, his company commander, battalion commander, brigade commander, division commander, and so on and so on. (Although I wasn't a tanker, so I don't know the correct phrases) Just plain ignorant. I'm not going to go off on some crazy tangent, BUT: Emptying their sidearms into the windshield and tires did.....what exactly? Driving over the vehicle with a tank, not once, but twice.......proved what? Then, LEAVING THE LOOTED PROPERTY on top of the car as it was crushed, explained to the Iraqis the importance of law and order in what way? That was just plain ignorant. I'm not so naive as to believe that our soldiers don't improvise, or believe that things go on that many would not necessarily want to see. But that is not an appropriate example of policing under martial law. That was more "Judge Dredd" than anything else, and it was especially stupid to do it for the camera, and play it TO the camera.
Having said that, and more on topic of media media media. That was CLEARLY, and I mean CLEARLY, a liberal, antiwar media event, no doubt aired on PBS. So let's not get too wrapped up in believing that what you see is EVERYTHING. Take the PBS show, then watch FOX news and make an educated guess somewhere in the middle.
As far as antiwar protesting, etc., remember that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, ergo the small number of anti-war protesters are ALWAYS going to be heavily covered by the media, because they make it an EVENT. I would say that is not NECESSARILY the position of the rest of America.
And Freon, I love ya brother, and believe it or not, I think you have some good points sometimes. But that, in my opinion, was the stoopidest post I've ever seen. To believe that an occupying force of any nationality, anywhere in the world, should be required to immerse itself in the culture of the occupied country is ludicrous. Civil affairs teams, support teams, transitional military units, yes, moreso than other soldiers. The US Military HAS been sensitive to Islamic customs (not without mistakes or oversights, yes) and they have provided their soldiers with some rudimentary Arabic phrases, but to expect a tanker from the 3d Infantry, or a Marine Corps Rifleman, or any old grunt to immerse themselves in a culture to pacify the opposing force is ridiculous. I want those men to have a fighting spirit. I don't want them to concern themselves with making pals. I want them to be motivated, and to fight to win.
Comparing a cook, shopping the local markets for veggies, hardly compares to a group of tankers, suddenly given the task of preventing looting. They do what they know. What would a cook do if he came upon some looters, throw tomatoes?
Seriously, I remember watching footage of a Battalion Commander with an infantry unit advising his soldiers to NOT pursue attackers when they fled into a mosque, and showing the leaders of the crowd that they would back off and not fight. They RETREATED because of respect for the Iraqis religion.
Here's a good, very short book to read:
Boots on the Ground: A Month With the 82d Airborne in the Battle for Iraq by Karl Zinsmeister. Excellent, short read, he is a journalist, the Editor in Chief for "The American Enterprise". It's basically a diary of 30 days with the 325.
