Iraq - General discussion

[haku]

Various Iraqi news…

Billions of dollars that were supposed to go to Iraq's reconstruction have 'disappeared'.

The civil war is intensifying, both sides are now using mortars, a serious escalation.

[spyretto]

Originally Posted by haku

Various Iraqi news…

Billions of dollars that were supposed to go to Iraq's reconstruction have 'disappeared'.

I'm not surprised, these things happen in wars, especially in such an unjustified war like this one. Some people make a lot of money off the misery of others.

[Khartoun2004]

Originally Posted by haku

Various Iraqi news…

Billions of dollars that were supposed to go to Iraq's reconstruction have 'disappeared'.

Which is why the new Democratic Senate in January 2007 is going to be doing inquiries along with the house. The inquiries are the start of the impeachment process.

Everyone in the US knows about this, it was one of the Democrats' arguements in the election. I saw President Bill Clinton give a speech the night before the elections at my school and that was one his main points. Get the Republicans out so we can find out where our fucking money is really going... My guess is dick Cheney's pocket along with Rumsfeld.

[spyretto]

If it's Dick, then the reconstruction of Iraq is in safe hands

[haku]

An interesting and detailed article on the insurgency and civil war in Iraq:
Iraq violence: Facts and figures

[haku]

US soldiers spreading democracy in Iraq like Bush said

[haku]

The Sun has published today a video showing US planes firing at British soldiers, article and video here.
The widow of a killed British soldier was even told by US officials that this video didn't exist, but The Sun has managed to obtained this non-existent tape.

On the tape, one pilot — call sign POPOV36 - appears to gloat sickeningly during the attack.

He is egged on by the second — call sign POPOV35 — who encourages: “Get him, get him!”

Looking down at the chaos as a soldier drags burning comrades from the vehicles, he adds: “It looks like he is hauling ass. Ha Ha.”

The comments in the video reveal that for those US pilots, war is just a video game, and killing is just fun really.

[PowerPuff Grrl]

I don't think this case shows the callousness of the American pilots. It was determined already that the incident was a horrible case of "friendly fire" (I hate that term) and this new revelation with the exact conversation between the pilots changes nothing. Tape also shows the two pilots' realization of what had transpired, they certainly weren't joyed over it.

If anything it just reveals the ineptitude of the US Department of Defense. They should've just exposed the tape in the first place and they should have exerted some effort in applying some punitive action to the pilots. Letting them off the hook is downright disrespectful.

In other news:
Iran blames US for kidnap of embassy official in Baghdad
Oh what's that Iran?
You didn't think the Sunni's would your ass too?

[haku]

Still, laughing at people burning alive on the ground is pretty disturbing, whether they are Iraqis or Brits (after all, Iraqi soldiers were only defending their country against a foreign invasion, even invading soldiers should respect that).
Also, it's pretty easy to gloat when you're sitting safely in your A10 Tankbuster and firing your big guns at basically defenseless ground soldiers, i wonder what the bullets fired by an A10 do to a human body considering they're designed to pierce tank armor.

I wish more of those tapes were released, tapes showing Iraqis being killed. I think public opinions would be interested to see how the hi-tech army of the American Empire wiped out tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and civilians.

[Rachel]

All this and there is supposed to be a "special relationship" between America and the UK. How can that be the case when they treat us with such contempt? It's really sad that a tabloid had to get hold of the video in order to get it shown.

[haku]

We have to appreciate the British sense of humour in all situations, this British satirical show mentions the American "friendly-fire" on Brits (around 4:55), it makes fun of all sides anyway, the muslim extremists, the American shoot-first-ask-questions-later attitude, the British clueless involvement in the war.
"Bustin', real yanks, like on TV!" lol

[PowerPuff Grrl]

U.S. Accidentally Attacks Kurdish Outpost, Killing Several

Good God what the hell is wrong with these people!
They aren't exactly providing a good reference for any future allies.

[Rachel]

OH

MY

GOD.

I think monkeys could do a better job right now.

[freddie]

Very, very sloppy. They won't be making any new friends with shit like that. Very unfortunate at this stage of the game. Maybe it shows some kind of innate flaw within the US army which makes them do these stupidities. Just adds fuel to the fire for populists. Standards too low when accepting new recruits, maybe? Who knows.

[Argos]

Originally Posted by freddie

Standards too low when accepting new recruits, maybe? Who knows.

Even more! Low qualification throughout the whole army, there are huge mistakes in all parts of the command-chain, from the government/ministery to the recruits. They have the best hightech-weapons, which you can have, but they are like children playing with fire. Makes one really worried, considering, they have the biggest potential of arms of mass-destruction. The last words of mankind: "Oops, mistake - sorry!"

[PowerPuff Grrl]

I think they are just overburdened with this, though the UK is helping out a lot, the brunt of the work/casualties is American. Each soldier's tour of duty is being greatly extended and it looks like there is no end in sight to all of this, aside from death.
They are burnt out. Not to excuse any of this, just to provide some insight.

In other news, Australian PM John Howard says this one day after Sen. Barack Obama's announcement to join the race:

“If I were running Al Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory not only for Obama but also for the Democrats.”

STFU!
140,000 American troops versus 1,400 Australian troops; if PM Howard doesn't like it then maybe he should step up and increase the number of his troops in Iraq.

[haku]

More 'oops-sorry' from the US army.

A second US soldier's plea of guilty to the gang rape of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the killing of her and her family has been accepted by a judge.

Sgt Paul Cortez admitted four murders, rape and conspiracy to rape. His plea means he will avoid the death penalty.

In November, Spc James Barker, 24, admitted rape and murder over the same killings and was jailed for 90 years.

Cortez broke down as he confessed to raping the girl as her parents and sister were shot dead in another room.

The case is one of several in which US troops are accused of killing Iraqis.

According to the plea agreement, Cortez admitted conspiring with three other soldiers, Pfc Jesse Spielman, Spc Barker and Steven Green, a now discharged soldier, to rape Abeer Qassim al-Janabi.

Card game

Pfc Spielman and another man, Bryan Howard, are awaiting court martial on charges related to the attack.

Mr Green is being tried as a civilian because he was discharged from the Army before his superiors knew of his suspected involvement. He denies the charges against him.

All five belonged to the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, which is also where the hearing took place.

In court, Cortez admitted the plan was hatched as they played cards and that the girl had been targeted because there was only one male in her house, making it an easy target.

Family murdered

He said: "During the time me and Barker were raping Abeer, I heard five or six gunshots that came from the bedroom.

"After Barker was done, Green came out of the bedroom and said that he had killed them all, that all of them were dead."

Cortez added: "Green then placed himself between Abeer's legs to rape her. When Green was finished, he stood up and shot Abeer in the head two or three times."

The entire crime took about five minutes and the girl knew her parents and sister had been shot while she was being raped, the hearing heard.

BBC

Spreading democracy they say…

Originally Posted by freddie

Standards too low when accepting new recruits, maybe?

Those stories, which are only the tip of the iceberg, show that there are no standards at all, they recruit pretty much any trigger-happy thugs who want to join, give them guns, and put them in situations where they can freely abuse civilians. Those guys who are nobodies at home become kings of the 'hood, little tyrants intoxicated with power.

[haku]

The regiment in which Prince Harry (British royal) is serving will soon be sent to Iraq… but Prince Harry will stay home, everybody is equal but obviously some are more equal than others. We wouldn't want a Royal to get hurt when there are so many anonymous commoners available to be sent to the butchery.
The best is that he'll apparently get a promotion for *not* going into combat.

BBC

[dradeel]

Originally Posted by haku

but Prince Harry will stay home, everybody is equal but obviously some are more equal than others We wouldn't want a Royal to get hurt when there are so many anonymous commoners available to be sent to the butchery.

Well, I personally can understand the decision, and also seems like Prince Harry wanted to go to Iraq - which is good. He's not the pussy/thinking he's more valuable than others.

Either way; Down there he would be the ultimate target. If he - a royal, a symbol of England and UK - was taken hostage then the UK would be pretty fucked politically and emotionally.

If he came with them down there, he would not only risk himself, but also bring extra risk and attention to his company, as they would be a much more valuable target for their enemies. You would think that the army could keep his identity and position secret from their enemies, but these days that isn't very likely. They'd find out which area he was most likely to be found pretty quick. You don't want to give your enemies any specific targets. That could make a situation much harder.

[Станко394]

Yeah, I've heard that. I just think they're fu**ing scared.
And how could they lie so much: "Prince Harry is really dissapointed..." - they exepct us to belive?!
However, I wouldn't go there either if I were that prince. Al kaida is very dangerous xD