I love it when people turn a blind eye to the negative aspects of this war, like postwar trauma syndrome.
It doesn't take a genius to make the correlation between leveling the shrine and US soldier casualties. The President has a responsibility to protect our troops and keep them out of harm's way. Meanwhile, the soldiers who are lucky enough to walk or roll a wheelchair home are the ones who are likely to suffer from PTSD.
Just shoot some tear gas into the shrine. When the bad guys come running out, shoot the ones that are armed, and arrest everybody else. What is the big problem?
That would be the logical solution. There are some warmongering rednecks on this board however, that are unable of advanced thinking past bombing the mosque.
If you want to discuss PTSD thats fine. This is a discussion about the Shrine and the people who are inside. This thread has nothing to do with PTSD and the post about soldiers who have PTSD is not relevant to this discussion in the least.
What do reports say about the surrounding area? Can coalition forces get close enough to do as you ask?
PTSD is relevant because a fair number of our troops know that they are killing patriotic Iraqis for no good cause. The troops are not so dumb as to not know that blowing up the Shrine is a big deal. Sadly when they come home some will realize even more how counterproductive their orders were. It is harder to be a true believer when you've actually been there doing the dirty work for the neocon dreams. BTW did you see how we had the Iraqis ban Al Jazeera for a month while they do their dirty deeds in the sacred cemetery of the Shiites? Don't think that the Arab world won't still find out about it.
From what I understand, they just closed the Baghdad office. Not the whole operation. There was also a recent article talking about the troops guilt about fighting in the cemetery. I'll see if I can find it.
Cemetery Fight Haunts Some U.S. Soldiers By Karl Vick, Washington Post Foreign Service NAJAF, Iraq (news - web sites), Aug. 10 -- Bats flapped out of crypts, startling soldiers creeping through the cemetery with guns up. Graves opened beneath their combat boots. And an old enemy displayed a new professionalism, darting in clearly practiced moves between tombstone and mausoleum to stalk the Americans from above ground and below. In the battle to control one of the world's largest graveyards, U.S. Marines and soldiers say they are coping with a lot, including lingering regret. The vast cemetery in Najaf is sacred to Shiite Muslims, perhaps 2 million of whom lie buried in miles of desert adjoining the shrine of Imam Ali, son-in-law of the prophet Muhammad. Soldiers involved in the fighting described how many of the most recent graves are marked by photos, which crumble when U.S. forces shell the cemetery walls to reach the militiamen hiding within. "Wives, daughters, husbands," said Sgt. Hector Guzman, 28, of the 1st Cavalry Division's 5th Regiment. "You just know you're destroying that tomb." The Houston native shook his head. "It doesn't feel right sometimes." http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/washpost/20040811/ts_washpost/a53557_2004aug10
Are we using Tear gas over there at all? Seems that a surround and tear gas bombardment would be the optimal solution. DD
What if, before running out, the bad guys blow the place up then blame the evil Americans? Who would believe us?
You do realize this is as likely as Osama personally tearing down the Ka'ba while eating a pork sandwich and dancing with playboy bunnies, right?
That is the stupidest thing I have read on this BBS. Everyone cares, just some people think that we should give a far greater weight to what is good for our country. Sheesh !! DD
I have three questions after reading this. In terms of months, how long do you think it would take for the Shiites to take al-Sadr to task? Secondly, after what period of time would you say "Man, I cannot believe the shiites have yet to hold al Sadr accountable?" and then if the shiites never decide to rise up against al-Sadr's using of the mosque , what would you feel is the best way to capture this thug?
Also the ludicrous assumption that if we destroyed the mosque that all 120 million ****es around the world would become enemies is ridiculous. That is like saying if they destroyed the Vatican that all the catholics would revolt, they wouldn't. This place is so polarized these days that there is no middle ground. DD
