freecounterpoint: outliers galore

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

outliers galore

9 comments:

Tecumseh said...: "A local national sedan entered a clearly marked prohibited area near coalition troops at an observation post," the military statement said. "As the vehicle neared the troop location and failed to stop despite repeated visual and auditory signals, disabling shots were fired into the vehicle. The vehicle stopped, changed direction, and quickly departed the area."

Rule #1: When approaching a checkpoint, and told to stop, stop. And freeze.

Any problems with this rule? Any better idea what the rule should be?; 5/31/2006 7:58 PM
The Darkroom said...: really. couldn't that woman have crossed her legs or pushed her delivery date ? damn iraqis - you try to help them but they just won't cooperate.

to answer your question (with another question) - what shold the rule be for those trigger-happy john waynes when an emergency vehicule is coming close ?; 5/31/2006 8:36 PM
The Darkroom said...: The news of the deaths came a day after Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq's prime minister, said his patience was wearing thin with "excuses" from US troops that they kill civilians by mistake.

full article; 5/31/2006 8:50 PM
Tecumseh said...: Emergency vehicle? Of course, I'd like to say let them on, without checking. But how do you know it's not one of Zarky's operatives in disguise? (Eg, remember the bombing at that Amman wedding?)

It's easy to put down those Marines as trigger-happy John Waynes (though, to me at least, being called John Wayne sounds like a badge of honor, only to Villepenian ears can that sound like a put-down). But suppose you were there at Checkpoint Charlie (or whatever they call them nowadays), and saw a taxi careening towards you, without stopping. What would you do? Shoot, or take your chances? Funny Russian roulette, heh?; 5/31/2006 9:32 PM
The Darkroom said...: sounds like you have to kill them in order to save them.
time to go.; 5/31/2006 10:18 PM
Tecumseh said...: Sometimes, they kill you, when you're trying to save them. War is hell. Is that news?; 5/31/2006 10:44 PM
The Darkroom said...: Even the puppets are protesting. Apparently they aren't buying your russian roulette argument either.; 6/01/2006 10:27 PM
The Darkroom said...: ''As military professionals, it is important that we take time to reflect on the values that separate us from our enemies,'' he [Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the commander of U.S.-led forces in Iraq] said in a statement. ''The challenge for us is to make sure the actions of a few do not tarnish the good work of the many.''

What good work ? in 3 years and who knows how many 100s of billions of $, has anything been achieved in iraq ? Is this the marine's "good work" ? How about calling this a complete disaster instead ?; 6/01/2006 10:36 PM
Tecumseh said...: An older story from the Time jourmalist who broke the Haditha story. Breaking bread with the Taliban, and a fellow-traveller from le Monde:

One fighter points up into the mauve twilight sky. I think he's showing me the crescent moon and I nod appreciatively: "Yes, very beautiful." Impatiently, he gestures over to a range of darkening hills, and then I see it: a B-52 bomber, its vapor trails catching the last rays of light. "American?" he asks me menacingly. "No, French," I lie.

This is rich!

The Le Monde correspondent asks what it would take to reach peace in Afghanistan. "We had peace," Haqqani insists. "The Taliban were on the verge of defeating these bandits, until America helped them out. Now, there are robberies and killings everywhere. The Taliban will have to start all over again."

Oh, how touching.; 6/02/2006 10:21 PM

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