Black Flags Are Deadly Signals as Cornered Rebels Fight Back (New York Times Alert)

New York Times ^ | 11/11/04 | DEXTER FILKINS

[freakboy]

Imagine that. He previously worked for the L.A. Times.

[Ichneumon]

Yeah, I didn't get the sense that these Marines were wetting themselves at the sight of (gasp!) a black flag. They're too busy calling in coordinates.

Exactly. As soon as I read about the black flags, I thought, "oh, how nice of the goblins to signal their location." Unlike a radio signal, a flag says, "look, I'm over here!"

These tunnels may be problematic. It'd be nice if we could flood the rats out.

There's apparently a lot of fuel in Iraq... Dump in a few thousand gallons and toss a match.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

I read this carefully and had the same disappointment. I thought the comment about the failure of GPS in the tank was a particularly conspicuous example of the NYT bias, Yes - we are using loads of technology as we substitute capital for labor in war fighting, and yes sometimes that technology fails. From the available information to this point it looks like our kill ratio is somewhere north of 34:1, and my suspicion is it will get much higher as we annihilate the insurgents who will make a run for it from their increasingly constrained piece of of the city. Shame on the NYT for this pessimistic slant on Veterans Day. FY!

[Ichneumon]

Fantastic, thanks for posting that. It just warms my heart...

I wonder if the "Marines terrified of black flags" bit is PSYOPS to encourage the terrorists to reveal themselves even more often. "Abdul, wave our flag more, it scares the infidels!"

[cpdiii]

And at night, they are setting up deadly ambushes in the moonless pitch blackness of Falluja's labyrinthine streets.

This article is pure crap. During the day the bad guys can see us. At night due to our technology we have a huge advantage and kill the bad guys with extreme efficiency.

So far as running around with black flags that is very considerate of the bad guys to make themselves even better targets. In short if we can see them for 10 or 15 seconds they will die. If we can not see them but know where they are, they will die.

[UltraKonservativen]

They slant it to read like a defeat. Their agenda suffocates everything....UNFRICKINGBELIEVABLE!

As I was reading this garbage, I was indeed suffocating. It reminded me of the numerous "60 minutes and NYT articles" on how all of our military is inept, the equipment doesn't work and the ennemy is so much braver and tougher.
The MSM is disgusting.

[Levante]

I was thinking the same thing. This slimes reporter was covered in his own wastes, for sure...

It's more than likely the f*king terrorists are terrified of the US Military!

[datura]

"I hope none of our guys have to risk their lives for this loser."

If those troops read any of this loser's crap, they'll probably cap him - and rightfully so. (If he's actually out there with them, and these troops and accounts aren't all fictional.)

[Choose Ye This Day]

Dump in a few thousand gallons and toss a match.

Great idea. Reminds me of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Oops! Did I just say "Crusade"? Sorry.

[Soliton]

Info on the america hating author Dexter Filkins:

http://www.timeswatch.org/topicindex/F/filkins_dexter/welcome.asp

[Choose Ye This Day]

I think Jayson Blair wrote this from a Ramada Inn in Kansas City.

[SlowBoat407]

Death Angel, Death Angel, target all black flags around my coordinates. Oh, and can you take out our embed while you're at it?

[26lemoncharlie]

This DUDE must be sitting in a resturaunt reading a COMIC BOOK!!, sipping on a cool beverage!! Raising your head up will get it blowed off, Raising a flag is a Range marker for the spotters and the 155's.

What an idiot, Well it doesn't take much to be a bureau chif for the Socialist NYT! You must be foreign born, anti american, godless, support same sex marriage, abortion and have DAN Rather's Picture in your wallet. You must understand BLACK FLAGS too!!

[Tannerone]

Do not believe this times "crap". This sounds exactly like paperback war novels. Hello this Times reporter must write paperbacks to sustain his living.

Embedded with the Marines. Maybe the Marines should toss the guy into a street when things get dicey.

This Times reporter "sucks" big time!

[Tannerone]

I am sure propane is handy for tunnel use. Since it is heavier than air is will fill the tunnels. Just be sure to be a couple 100 meters away when you flip the switch.

You will definitely find out where the tunnels go!

[Seaplaner]

To all the Marines in Falluja-

Standing at tall attention, and saluting smartly, this veteran thanks you for your truly heroic service.

That you can also look after such anti-American, New York Times fungi as Dexter Filkins is a further credit to your character.

[Ruth A.]

Set against radio waves, the flags have one distinct advantage: they are terrifying.

Give me a break. If the flag signified cholera, then it would be terrifying.

[Lonely Bull]

The Times shouldn't be embedded.

I'm surprised it's not embedded--on the other side.

[Southack]

"So the insurgents are turning and fighting. And at night, they are setting up deadly ambushes in the moonless pitch blackness of Falluja's labyrinthine streets."

So tell me again how the insurgents see their "terrifying" black flags in the moonless pitch darkness of Fallujah's night...

[Frank_2001]

Good post!