Feature: Burying the enemy dead (More compassion and heroism of US troops)

It is fairly meticulous, how the U.S. military deals with enemy dead. First, no matter how bad they are, someone will go over them looking for identification. If any can be found, that will be logged. Then the grid coordinates where they are found are recorded as well as any unit intelligence that might be had. Then they bring them to the cemetery for interment where they are wrapped in a heavy ply plastic and placed in the grave, head towards Mecca. This is very important, because they are Muslims.

Staff Sgt. Michael Bamba of Guam unrolled a large piece of white plastic sheeting for the bodies. He grimaced as his squad rolled them in it. The stench is something that defies description, but it has to be done. With that complete, the squad members picked up the corners and carried/dragged the first fellow to his hole. As gently as they could, they lowered him down, but lacking rope, he just sort of fell in. The bottom of the holes was muddy from the shallow water table and brackish with some sort of yellowish green growth. The mud made a splorking sound as the first corpse hit it. The men paused, gazing down. I threw in a handful of dirt and muttered, "Rest easy, mate."

They dragged the second fellow over and prepared to put him in. This time, however, things went wrong. As they approached the hole and prepared to lower the body in, one end of the plastic gave way and the corpse tumbled into the mud, twisting grotesquely, facing the wrong way. An unspoken "Oh no." Silence. The boys gazed down, fixated on the spectacle. "OK, who's going in?" asked Lt. Kurt Hoch, the officer in charge of the detail. More silence. If there was ever a time to heed the old Army saying about never volunteering for something, this was it. "Who's going in?" the lieutenant asked again. The issue was that the corpse needed to be facing Mecca.

After a long pause, one of the troops sighed heavily. "I'll go," he said softly. It was Spc. Johan Wissenger from Denver, a lean young man, the type who looked as if he had an easy way with horses. Alarmed, I told the lieutenant that if he was sending someone into that mess because a reporter was there, please don't. Some things can be overlooked and this was one of them. "No, this is what we do," he said as Wissenger made ready to go in. I made it abundantly clear that we could shovel this guy under, facing Mecca or not, and no one would have to be the wiser. Their squad leader, Bamba, reiterated that this was the way they did things. Enemy or not, they were going to do right by him, according to his culture. "We'd want the same treatment if that was us laying out there," he said. "It's really the least we can do for them." I don't know what emotion was overcoming me more, horror or pride.

As I walked back to the Charlie Company CP, I knew that whatever transpired, each of them would be laid away properly, facing Mecca. It's what Americans do. It's the kind of people we are. Even for our enemies. And so that's where they lay, those soldiers of Saddam, with a iron picket for a headstone, blown away for a guy who didn't see fit to even buy them steel helmets. No glory whatsoever.

Meanwhile...

ISLAM ONLINE.net - Fatwa Applications - Ask The Scholar - Question from a person from Canada - Topic: "JIHAD AGAINST THE U.S. LED FORCES: MASS SUICIDE?" (April 24, 2003)
http://www.islamonline.net/fatwaapplication/english/display.asp?hFatwaID=97200

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Dear questioner, we commend your pursuit of knowledge and we earnestly implore Allah to bless your efforts in this honorable way.

First of all, we would like to state that perhaps the US and its allies have attained some benefits by invading Iraq. However, this does not mean that they managed to defeat Islam. Hence, Muslims have to resist the invading forces by all possible means. They must not ever yield to pessimism and desperation and submit to the authority of those invaders as some authors in their works encourage Muslims to do nowadays. Sticking to the Islamic teachings, Muslims will defeat all evil forces and Allah will give them victory over their enemies. But let Muslims exert their best efforts.

Responding to your question, Sheikh Faysal Mawlawi, Deputy Chairman of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, states the following:

“It is improper for a Muslim to say that fighting against the invading enemy is mass suicide, for this accordingly means to submit to the enemies of Islam who are stronger than Muslims.

In fact, fighting against the enemies who are invading Muslim countries is a legal obligation, and whoever gets killed in the course of such fighting is a martyr or shahid in the Cause of Allah. Muslims are enjoined to prepare whatever they can to resist invading forces, not to refrain from jihad until they prepare an army comparable to the enemy forces. Referring to this, Allah Almighty says: “Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force.” (Al-Anfal: 60)

In this Qur’anic verse, Allah Almighty directs Muslims to the fact that by preparing all possible means of resistance, they will dismay the enemy. The rest of the foregoing verse says: “Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy.” (Al-Anfal: 60)"

They are like little brats... armed little brats. Until they get a whippin'... and even then... they just do not learn.

The sad part is how a-stray these islamic leaders lead their "flock" .. er.. "herd". We do everything possible to be careful about their religion, country, shrines, etc and they still want to take up arms against us.

Pathetic beyond understanding. I can still remember the 20 minutes of the incursion down the highway in Baghdad. Iraqi's driving 15 year old Datsuns at M1 tanks and Bradley FV's. What a waste of life and effort.

Oh, and just plain stupid too. This years Darwin awards will have a record number of entries for 1st place.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.