THE US, THE UN AND THE IRAQIS THEMSELVES, V. 7.0

Gelisgesti wrote:

Brand X wrote:

georgeob1 wrote:

I believe the position of the U.S. government is that the italians paid a ransom to get the return of their reporter - something to which we would not have agreed - and arranged for the release without any coordination with the U.S. No surprise in these circumstances that a speeding vhecile travelling at night after the curfew was fired on as it approcached a U.S. checkpoint.

Exactly, they took a gamble based on emotion which had an unfortunate ending.

A gamble? Could you elaborate?

A secret Italian rescue operation being executed in a known war zone, suicide car bombs going off daily, the whole area saturated with armed US Military and these idiots are demanding an explanation for why our troops fired on a vehicle speeding towards them and failing to heed the numerous warnings?

Italy must have thought they were going to trump us, show how their "diplomacy" worked better than our "brute force and aggressive ways". Their minds were already leaping ahead to the parties and media celebration. God forbid they'd let any brutish American troops get in the limelight. The blood of that agent is on the terrorist's hands, not ours. The very same terrorists Italy's people want to run and hide from.

Brand X wrote:

Gelisgesti wrote:

Brand X wrote:

georgeob1 wrote:

I believe the position of the U.S. government is that the italians paid a ransom to get the return of their reporter - something to which we would not have agreed - and arranged for the release without any coordination with the U.S. No surprise in these circumstances that a speeding vhecile travelling at night after the curfew was fired on as it approcached a U.S. checkpoint.

Exactly, they took a gamble based on emotion which had an unfortunate ending.

A gamble? Could you elaborate?

A secret Italian rescue operation being executed in a known war zone, suicide car bombs going off daily, the whole area saturated with armed US Military and these idiots are demanding an explanation for why our troops fired on a vehicle speeding towards them and failing to heed the numerous warnings?

Italy must have thought they were going to trump us, show how their "diplomacy" worked better than our "brute force and aggressive ways". Their minds were already leaping ahead to the parties and media celebration. God forbid they'd let any brutish American troops get in the limelight. The blood of that agent is on the terrorist's hands, not ours. The very same terrorists Italy's people want to run and hide from.

Call me thick but .... who won?

...So I ask again, if it was not a tragic mistake or accident, then what was it?

Steve (as 41oo) wrote:

...So I ask again, if it was not a tragic mistake or accident, then what was it?

In other words, if it wasn't what it was, then what was it?

The blood of that agent is on the terrorist's hands, not ours.

The very same terrorists Italy's people want to run and hide from.

I do but I am not sure if by saying so I do you any favors.

The blood of that agent is on the terrorist's hands, not ours.

"failing to heed the numerous warnings"

What numerous warnings? There were none.

"Their minds were already leaping ahead to the parties and media celebration."

Was that before or after they were shot?

X:

Quote:

The blood of that agent is on the terrorist's hands, not ours.

Bull sh*t. My god, that someone could even say such a thing. Even if it was a mistake, at least we should take credit for making the mistake.

It's never our fault with you people, is it. Never.

Cycloptichorn

Revel:

Quote:

I do but I am not sure if by saying so I do you any favors.

? I agree with much of what you write, consistently; sharing of irony with you is a favor, I don't care what anyone else thinks

X:

Quote:

The blood of that agent is on the terrorist's hands, not ours.

Bull sh*t. My god, that someone could even say such a thing. Even if it was a mistake, at least we should take credit for making the mistake.

It's never our fault with you people, is it. Never.

Cycloptichorn

The U.S. military said "at approximately 8:55 p.m. tonight, coalition forces assigned to the multinational force Iraq fired on a vehicle that was approaching a coalition checkpoint in Baghdad at a high rate of speed."


A U.S. patrol "attempted to warn the driver to stop by hand and arm signals, flashing white lights, and firing warning shots in front of the car," the military said in a statement. "When the driver didn't stop, the soldiers shot into the engine block which stopped the vehicle, killing one and wounding two others."

Cyclops, have you ever blamed a terrorist in your life? Any time the insurgency blows up a car, killing innocent women and children, you demand we explore the mind of the insurgent.

Of course it's the goddamn terrorist's fault in the first instance! You will be quick to assign blame to the United States, but that is keeping in character for you. You have done that consistently ... so is nothing new for you. Never consider the part the terrorist/insurgents had to play in this scenario.

The U.S. military said "at approximately 8:55 p.m. tonight, coalition forces assigned to the multinational force Iraq fired on a vehicle that was approaching a coalition checkpoint in Baghdad at a high rate of speed."

A U.S. patrol "attempted to warn the driver to stop by hand and arm signals, flashing white lights, and firing warning shots in front of the car," the military said in a statement. "When the driver didn't stop, the soldiers shot into the engine block which stopped the vehicle, killing one and wounding two others."

Cyclops, have you ever blamed a terrorist in your life? Any time the insurgency blows up a car, killing innocent women and children, you demand we explore the mind of the insurgent.

Of course it's the goddamn terrorist's fault in the first instance!

Steve (as 41oo) wrote:

"failing to heed the numerous warnings"

What numerous warnings? There were none.

I didn't realize you were there.


Fair comment.

Forgot to add...."according to eyewitnesses"

Cyclo,

Do you have ANY factual basis for your rather broad and wide-ranging assertions?

The U.S. policy has consistently been to pay no bribes or ransom to terrorists.

Our government has asserted that it had no knowledge if the Italian rescue operation.

The soldiers at the checkpoing complied with the orders which they were assigned, orders which were well-known to the Italian authorities. The operational conditions they have been facing have amply demonstrated the wisdom of these orders.

The soldiers at the checkpoing complied with the orders which they were assigned, orders which were well-known to the Italian authorities. The operational conditions they have been facing have amply demonstrated the wisdom of these orders.

Our government has asserted that it had no knowledge if the Italian rescue operation.

The soldiers at the checkpoing complied with the orders which they were assigned, orders which were well-known to the Italian authorities. The operational conditions they have been facing have amply demonstrated the wisdom of these orders.