GIs Arrested In Iraq

New York Post ^ | April 22, 2003 | Jonathan Foreman

[AmericanAge]

GIs Arrested In 1M$ Swag Snag!

OUR sticky-fingered GIs have been arrested for trying to steal nearly $1 million of the $700 million in cold cash found hidden on the grounds of several estates in Baghdad, Army officials said yesterday.

[pdjplano]

didn't these guys watch 3 Kings and Kelly's Heroes?? You have to be smarter than that boys :)

[TomServo]

Already posted here.

[secret garden]

Of course this will get more press than the find.

[lsee]

That's a decision that will haunt them (and the rest of us) for a long time. Temptation is an ugly thing.

But I wonder, even if all the boxes were the same shape and size, shouldn't they all be examined on the chance any of them are booby-trapped? Or was Sadaam so sure he'd get to keep it, he didn't take time to sabotage it? Some boxes may contain something other than money.

[chicagolady]

I thought it was called the spoils of war?

[lsee]

You know, in previous wars, we've heard of soldiers collecting souvenirs and other valuables, but in this conflict, they were not permitted to take such things. I wondered about those flags, pictures, etc. of the old regime that soldiers were taking down and wished they could keep things like that. But money? No, they should not have taken the money. The temptation must have been terrific, though. Not that the Saddam memorabilia is probably more valuable than the cash anyway (on ebay).

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Our sticky fingered GI's were pikers compared to the news media who tried to steal Iraq's art works. The media are all crooks and some have been caught stealing to prove that they are all hoodlums and thugs. All news media types should be locked up and the key throwed away for their undeniable thieving ways.

Same standard is applied to conservatives, gun owners and et al.

[MizSterious]

"That's a decision that will haunt them (and the rest of us) for a long time."

That is, if this is true. One thing that bothers me is that the numbers go up with every reporting. First it was a few thousand, now it's a million. On GMA earlier this week, the CO of these men praised them for their honesty--so which story is true?

[chainsaw]

Aw Gee, you know boys will be boys.

[IronJack]

face court-martials

Just a quibble, but AP Style gives the plural of this phrase as "courts martial." Like "attorneys general" or "personae non grata." "Martial" is the modifier.

And while we're at it, it shouldn't be hyphenated either.

[knarf]

" ... nearly $1 million of the $700 million in cold cash ... "
"No, they should not have taken the money."

If it's good ol' American greenback, nothing has been stolen.

On the contrary ... those guys have liberated George and Ben and Andy and ....

I mean, commmme oooooonnnn ..... we set up elaborate operations to free our living, what's wrong with getting our dead back?

[American Soldier]

If I am prosecuted, then am I courted martial?

[TXBlair]

LOL! I'm glad I'm not the only one who's nitpicky when it comes to grammar.

[CyberAnt]

Yeah, I agree. I think all the boxes should be opened and checked. But I also agree they could be booby trapped.

[lsee]

I like your way of thinking! LOL!

[IronJack]

If I am prosecuted, then am I courted martial?

If you are prosecuted in a civilian court, are you "courted?" In the passage cited, "court martial" is used as a noun, not a verb.

According to my dictionary, "court martials" is a recent form, and is conditionally acceptable. But the recognized verb forms decline on the adjective. In other words, "He was court martialed" is correct.

Don't look at me. I don't make the rules. And the dictionary may disagree with the AP Stylebook.

[IronJack]

I have Miss Brady to thank. You?

[TXBlair]

I have my mother (an English teacher) to thank. My 12th grade English teacher was no slouch either. Her pronunciation was so precise that it put to shame Madonna's faux British accent! I have come to truly appreciate the influence that my mother and Mrs. Masters had on me, as I'm now a speech therapist!