US Army Bans Display Of American Flags In Iraq - NY Times

Dow Jones News Wire | 4/10/03 | Steven C. Higgins

[BunnySlippers]

US Army Bans Display Of American Flags In Iraq - NY Times

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--The U.S. Army has barred any display of the American flag in Iraq on vehicles, buildings, statues and command posts, the New York Times reported Thursday.

The report said Gen. William S. Wallace, the commander of the Army's V Corps, sent a message Thursday to his commanders in Iraq and Kuwait.

The Times quoted the message as saying, "U.S./coalition forces continue operations to remove/disarm the Saddam regime and liberate Iraq. Displaying the American flag counters the perception that we are liberators and allows enemy and other bad actors to use the images of our flags prominently displayed to reinforce their message that the U.S. is here to oppress the Iraqis."

The report said the message added, "The pride and patriotism of V Corps soldiers is beyond question and the motivation to display our flag is understandable."

It added, however, that, "in this environment the display of our flag is not helpful."

The report said the order effectively halts the display of the flag anywhere in Iraq except the U.S. Embassy.

At the start of the war, the Times said, the Coalition Forces Land Component Command near Kuwait City ordered troops not to place the American flag on vehicles or buildings. The order, the report said, was loosely followed.

The order comes one day after a U.S. Marine briefly placed an American flag atop a statue of Saddam Hussein in central Baghdad shortly before the statue was toppled.

-By Steven C. Higgins
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
04-10-03 1213ET- - 12 13 PM EDT 04-10-03

[BunnySlippers]

I think this is a terrible decision. Our guys are risking their lives by liberating Iraq.

[Kenton]

Don't worry boys, you're coming home to flags as far as the eye can see...

[KC_Conspirator]

This is stupid.

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[Frank_Discussion]

What's the deal with Gen Wallace anyway? He needs to watch "BraveHeart" again, to get a little perspective. PC doesn't count for squat, he should know that.

[Dimensio]

Yes, but they raise a valid point. Arab television networks would love to show pictures of US flags raised around Baghdad as 'proof' that the US is trying to conquer and take over Iraq rather than liberate it.

[Pylot]

The Iraqi People know who set them free.

We are not there to conquer Iraq. We came to depose a tyrant and thwart a home of terrorist activity aimed at us.

Let the Iraqi people display their own flag knowing that it no longer represents Sadaam.

[ladtx]

What about the US flags the freed Iraqii's are flying? Dumb decision. PC strikes the war-fighters.

[BunnySlippers]

This keeps our guys from even flying the US flags on our tanks!!! Pretty soon they'll make them take off their US flag patches. This is an outrage!

[American Soldier]

People get too enthusiastic with their displays of the flag sometimes anyway. I understand; I probably would too after going through the heat of battle. But, for example, draping the thing over Saddam's head... I don't think it shows proper reverence for the flag. You wouldn't let it touch the ground; why would you let it touch a Ba'athist?

If you've got one on your uniform, on your vehicle, or stored in the passenger compartment, that ought to be enough. The Iraqis have never been liberated before; in a certain sense the burden of proof is on us to show that we will stay as long as it takes regardless of cost, but that we have no desire to dominate their lives. If not shoving our flag in their face all the time helps, then so be it.

Besides, it more moving to see IRAQI PEOPLE carrying and waving the American flag. [As we saw today and yesterday]. Then it appears to be a matter of choice for them. That's the impression I'd like to convey. That's our only hope for shaming the rest of the Arab world into evolving.

[Paradox]

They should have had some "old" Iraqi flags to be flown along side the Stars-n-Stripes. To show the bond between the two countries as it exists right now. To show that we are teaming up with the Iraqi people to help liberate them.

I bet that would have looked pretty sweet.

[Cachelot]

The report said the order effectively halts the display of the flag anywhere in Iraq

I really hope there's no flag on the uniforms. Or this maggot will just have to row over there and rip them off.

[CedarDave]

Maybe General Wallace wants them to show the UN flag.

< /disgust>

[Illbay]

Big deal. "Hearts and minds." We're not there to pump ourselves up, we're there to liberate those people so that the regime that has ruled them for decades will no longer be a threat to us.

We aren't conquerors.

We can fly the flag all we like here at home.

[Illbay]

Interestingly I've noticed that most of the flags the Iraqis are choosing to wave do NOT include the "Allahu Akbar!" words on them, that were added by Saddam during the Gulf War to make it look like it was a jihad.

[sneakers]

Re post #5: Man, do you have to display THAT picture?!!! What are you trying to do - SCARE the cash out of us?! Next paycheck I'll hand over what I can. LOL! (It's definitely worth it!)

[Baseballguy]

What is sad is that this seems to quiet down the reaction to the other Arab countries out there. I say we are here to stay for a while. They can take it anyway they want. We are in charge!

[OXENinFLA]

So does this mean the IRAQI people can't wave the Red White & Blue?

That's what we need to send over to Al-Jazaera.

I saw on FNC a girl 13-14 sitting out of a car window w/ a peice of pape that was hand written " THANK YOU U*S*A"

[trebb]

What kind of absolute ASS would even think of banning the greatest symbol of freedom that the world has ever seen? Even the Iraqi "peasants" seem to understand what these fools do not...