Iraqi kid running for water

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holy shit dude, american soldiers are real bastards sometimes

To build off that idea, no grown-ups are running after it either.I personally think he is not just running after the water.

Even if the kid was not running for the water, but rather a "prize"....why would the soldier tease him with it? Why not just give him the water?

The soldier is a bully, and what easier target is there? (A chained prisoner, I suppose.)

why would the soldier tease him with it?Because he's an asshole?

ah, I would describe that as a valid assesment

And now for something completely different: Football Some of the Aid UK Armed Forces more British Armed Forces in Iraq Well, anyway, just a few of the Good things, obviously, there are terrible things happening, there are everywhere, it doesn't just have to be the Armed Forces in Iraq, but, it seems to me, the few spoil it for the many, I was there, I am in the Royal Air Force, while I was there, all I saw were people trying to help rebuild a nation... unfortunately, news about people being nice isn't good news, so, it's more difficult to find the actual good things that go on out there... it's the few that spoil it for the many, I can't even deny what's been shown of the British Forces, because, I simply wasn't there to see it, but, in the same token that means I cannot confirm such actions.I personally, joined the RAF as a way to help people throughout the world, it was how I thought I could best help people, and, for the majority of people in the Forces, I would say that is their sentiment... if I never have to handle a rifle and kill someone, it will still be to soon, I am prepared to, to save my life, and, that of my friends, and, an innocent person, but, I couldn't even imagine how I would feel afterwards, even knowing I've done the right thing, so, imagine how others feel having been put in that position, imagine how bad it makes people feel seeing such bad things happening, it's terrible, yes, it should be stopped, yes, but, not at the expense of supporting our troops who are out there.During my career, I have been there, I have seen what goes on, this is one subject in particular I am very passionate about, I don't believe in war, I believe in peace, but, I will fight (a contradiction I realise) to protect that peace if I need to. As Vegetius so aptly put it: "Let he who desires peace, prepare for war"Anyway, to my point... Yes, attrocities = bad, people involved should go to Jail and be thrown out of the forces (there is such a charge as: Bringing the forces into disrepute and people can be, and, have been kicked out for it) but, you should remember, this is NOT the vast majority of people involved, please, find it in yourselves to support our troops Dan

Unfortunately, the war in Iraq is a disaster from every perspective, and is now in a state of disorganized civil war, which is worse than a run-of-the-mill civil war. Colin Powell agrees with that, while Bush's people are splitting hairs on the definition of the phrase. Afghanistan is headed in the same direction.After all is said and done, many people who had a positive or neutral opinion of the U.S. and Britian now have a very negative opinion, and some of them are now terrorists.The post-Sept. 11 attacks in Madrid and London are not the end of the story. We will pay for the mistakes for a long time to come.

Steve, I doubt doubt what you're saying on many counts, I've been there, I've seen it, I've been involved, first hand, however, would you not say that what you have just stated is about the politics?As a soldier, airman, or mateleot, we follow orders, we go where we are told, we do what we have to... it may not be our choice to be there, but, it is our lot in life, so, can you at least find it in your heart to support the troops?On a personal note: I currently have friends in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and, I would very much like to know that they are supported whilst out there, you may not like it, but, it is our job, and, we're there now, if we withdrew now, things would be worse than they were even before we went there, so, I'm sure, even you Steve can find it within yourself to at least show some support for the troops.Dan.

I have no issue with the soldiers. I have big issues with what I can politely describe as the ininformed and unprepared people who sent them in. When the wheels started falling off the cart, they blamed "a few bad apples" (the Abu Gharib atrocities, for instance), when the people doing the terrible things were just doing what the sytem expected them to do. No one at the top was willing to take responsibility. The U.S. president, in fact, seems to be completely disconnected from reality. Even the "Red State" folks have come to realize that.Too few troops were sent in to stabilize Iraq after the "major fighting" was over, and the ones who were sent is were sent without proper body or vehicle armor. Now we're fucked, and the Iraqis (the ones who don't have the resources to flee the country) are completely fucked. The place falls apart if we leave, but the place appears to be sinking into a disorganized civil war even with our presence. There is no good answer. I hope we've learned something from this experience (although a lot of people who had a clue before the invasion predicited precisely what would happen).

In reply to:if we withdrew now, things would be worse than they were even before we went thereThat may be true, though the British are now doubting it - they are beginning to feel their presence incites more trouble than it prevents. But even if it's true, what do you do if things just continue as they are, or get gradually worse, as has been happening? US commanders have been reporting every few months that they are getting on top of things; the reports have been untrue. The Vietnam war produced the same reports - victory was always just around the corner.It's not clear what "supporting the troops" can mean here. If it means giving them the satisfaction that the job was completed well, I just don't think that's possible.

Well, Steve, it's good to see you can agree with me on some things it kinda feels a lot like Bush Jnr. wanted to finish his daddies work, and, unfortunately, Blair just got caught up for the ride, now, in my opinion (I was 10 at the time, so I don't know all the intricacies that I would understand now) we should have sorted the Hussein regime out the first time, and, it was definately getting to the point where something needed to be done, but, in my personal opinion, we should have waited and made sure that the UN was on board, rather than having Bush (metaphorically, but, possibly literally given Bush's seeming lack of anything even nearing intelligence) wave his stetson in the air, shouting "yeeeee haaaaa" as he shoots aimlessly into the air hoping that maybe just maybe, if he makes enough noise, he'd be remembered... well, he will be... but, not for the "president who freed iraq" which is probably what he was thinking... maybe: "worst president ever?" lolAs for post war Iraq: the UK quite frankly is thinly stretched (as is reported so very often on the news over here) with troop deployments as it is, but, there should have been more people sent... which is why Bush shouldn't have stuck his middle finger where it didn't belong and waited for UN backing.Anyway, there's not much we can do about that now, other than try to clean up the mess... if you watch the video's though, on a couple, you do see British Troops training the new Iraqi police force/defense people, which is a positive step to eventually pulling out.As to the success or failure... well, let me just say this: there are no winners in war, only survivors, and yes, the comparrisons to Vietnam are becoming increasingly familiar and, it was kinda obvious how this would deteriorate given the current global situation post September 11 :SJust hope all our troops are okay and, that people eventually manage to see sense (doubtful, but hey, stranger things could happen)Dan

By support, I simply mean: not blaming the troops for what is happening, people on the whole don't seem to realise that we follow orders, we don't give them, they come from Parliament, when I ask for support, all I ask is that you offer kindness where to us, there doesn't seem to be any sometimesAs for your comparrisons to Vietnam, it is very true what you're saying, and it's a terrible thing, but, so very true: in order for a regular army to win, it must passify it's opponent, for a guerilla army to win, it must simply survive, hence Vietnam, hence the continuing conflict in Iraq/Afghanistan (or wherever else earns the "Bush" treatment!! ) we can never win there, we can only hope to bring the people around to free thinking, then, eventually, they will win, hence the government, hence trying to hand back power, the defense/police forces etc etc that we're trying to rebuild out there.So, when I ask for support, I merely ask you to see that we are there to try and help (fine, the few spoil what we try and do, and, you see that on the news, a lot, and in my opinion, it should never happen), and that we are not the ones who choose to be there, we are simply told to go there, and do the job... if people want someone to blame, they should take a look up a little and see who told us to be there.Dan

In reply to:the Vietnam war produced the same reports - victory was always just around the corner. Are you refering to the "Domino Theory", with a little bit of the Truman Doctrine?

the soldiers are following orders...they are dually carrying out their orders (WHAT'S IN THAT VID ARE NOT ORDERS, BUT RATHER SICK), however, the moral and ethical implications that the whole war has caused... I can't say that I was totally against the war, but they don't need to be there now... get the troops home I think... anyone else?

> Are you refering to the "Domino Theory", with a little bit of the Truman Doctrine?

No, he's saying that the generals were either misinformed or lying about their progress.

Vietnam had a functioning government to run things after the war ended. They could tell the guerillas to stop, and the guerillas would stop. In Iraq, there is nothing close to a functioning government. It's anarchy, and it's getting steadily worse.

Anarchy breeds terrible actions by othewise good people.

In reply to:the generals were either misinformed or lying about their progressI think often it's wishful thinking. In a messy situation it's difficult to get any sort of clear picture, because the picture isn't clear, and it's therefore easy for the generals to see what they want to see.The domino theory, Converse, was the US's overall justification for being in Vietnam at all (it jumped in after the French gave up and negotiated a peace treaty) - that if it pulled out then all the south-east Asian nations would one by one become communist. It didn't prove to be so.

It may explain a lot. You could compare the two.

Why did America enter Vietnam? To stop the spread of communism, establish a sphere of influence, and they thought it was an easy win.

That's all I found after a while of research.