Iraqi troops used "ruses" to kill U.S. troops -U.S.

Reuters | 3/23/03

[kattracks]

Iraqi troops used "ruses" to kill U.S. troops -U.S.

AS SAYLIYA CAMP, Qatar, March 23 (Reuters) - The United States said on Sunday that Iraqi troops were using "ruses" to kill U.S. troops invading their country, on one occasion dressing as civilians to ambush them.

"There were several incidents reported today in which there were types of behaviour that I can only describe as ruses that were perpetrated by the enemy," Lt.Gen. John Abizaid told a news briefing at Central Command headquarters outside Qatar.

He said that in one incident an apparent surrender was followed by artillery fire.

"In another incident there were troops dressed in civilian clothes that appeared to welcome the forces and then ambush them," he said. "So there are a number of incidents occurring to the rear of the main combat forces."

[Odyssey-x]

They did this in all the same stuff in the Korean war, Classic commie text-book stuff.

[angkor]

He said that in one incident an apparent surrender was followed by artillery fire.

This is prohibited under Article 28 of the Geneva Convention.

[over3Owithabrain]

There's no doubt the PR and PC aspects of this war is costing the lives of American soldiers. I have no doubt we will prevail with our vastly superior might, but it will be far messier because we chose the "nice guy" route.
And this is going to scare N. Korea, Iran, etc.? We've lost the initial shock and awe of the other night.

[Wphile]

Well, we are fools if we think the Iraqis are going to follow any rules, let alone the Geneva Convention. We are playing with some very dirty actors here. No room for trust of any kind.

[johnfl61]

When we catch the bums- KILL THEM!!

[weegee]

More Geneva Convention violations.

War Crimes BUMP

[angkor]

No room for trust of any kind.

Of course you're correct.

They're Arabs, they're Islamists.

Everything they say, do, or think is a lie.

[Hugin]

We are foolish at this late date to allow any more surrenders.

What you are advocating is both foolish and a war crime. Foolish because the bulk of the Iraqi military is still out there, and the last thing we want to do is encourage them to fight to the death in Baghdad.

It would be a war crime because the Geneva Convention states that surrenders must be accepted. War crimes on the part of the Iraqis don't justify them on our part. We won't sink to their level.

What I would favor doing is bombing the next press conference that Iraqi Information Minister holds. He wears a uniform, and is therefore a legitimate target. If it kills a few Al Jazeera propagandists, that's OK by me. It would send a message that it isn't healthy to be near anyone in in Iraqi uniform.

[decimon]

They are trying to provoke us into doing something stupid, like shooting surrendering Iraqis. That would stop others from surrendering, and possibly create a backlash among the civilian population against the coalition forces.

Shades of Algeria?

[Cboldt]

Iraqi troops used "ruses" to kill U.S. troops

The word "try" is conspicuously absent

[Dimensio]

What you are advocating is both foolish and a war crime. Foolish because the bulk of the Iraqi military is still out there, and the last thing we want to do is encourage them to fight to the death in Baghdad.

Apparently a number of people are getting so riled up about Iraqi soldiers violating articles of the Geneva Convention and committing war crimes that they want us to respond by violating acts of the Geneva Convention and committing war crimes.

What I would favor doing is bombing the next press conference that Iraqi Information Minister holds.

I certainly cannot find fault with that suggestion.

[Cboldt]

We've lost the initial shock and awe of the other night.

You aren't on the receiving end. We haven't lost anything. If you want to "go technical" and call any loss of coalition life as losing, be my guest. But you seem to have an impatient point of view.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yep. Once you shed your uniform and commit perfidy, the Geneva convention no longer applies.

[daddypatriot]

I was in the military more than 40 years ago and while going through OCS was instructed on the handling of POWs. I had the Geneva convention rules drummed into my head and have never forgotten my lessons in humane treatment of enemy combatants. But let us not forget that the people we are fighting are fanatics and barbarians, the very scum of the earth. If they want to surrender, rather than pull some dirty tricks, our troops should order them to strip naked. Those who refuse should be shot on the spot. That will put a halt to the dirty tricks. Let us hope that our troops are given that order. This is a fight to the death and our commanders should take every step possible to protect those in their charge. Any commander not willing to do that should be pulled out of the field. My recommendation is that we kill all the bastards.We can sort it all out later.

[EvilOverlord]

What you are advocating is both foolish and a war crime.

I agree that we cannot shoot people who try to surrender, but we can be tougher about forcing them to disarm and move away from their vehicles before they get close enough to cause problems.

In addition, we can be more aggressive in bombing Iraqi troops from the air before our ground forces encounter them. First, they can't surrender to a B-52, so there is nothing to stop us from killing more of them. Second, more aggressive bombing should increase the number of true surrenders.

[jonascord]

A wrecker towing a water buff. REMFs. They made a wrong turn and died. It happens. You say, at the top of your voice, "F**K!" and swallow, and vow that you will be more careful. Every bit of knowledge that keeps the other troops alive comes at the cost of some mother's son not going home.

It took 6 weeks for an FNG to be trusted not to kill himself or everyone else in the squad. These poor souls have been at it for 72 hours. It's called war.

Imagine a cop in a dark alley, in downtown D.C. He walks into the middle of a drug deal, and the shooting starts. Sometimes he wins, sometimes he doesn't. Multiply it by 250,000...

[Centurion2000]

The soldiers who were dressed as civilians have committed a war crime.

Definately summary exectuion time.

[Beck_isright]

The reality is that those low level troops (by grade, not quality, loyalty or patriotism) made a mistake. It will be repeated. However there will be fewer US prisoners. Many will fight now, and, as they should. We are fighting the SS, not some Bedouin tribe. But the armchair generals don't see that. Fortunately, the deception will backfire. There will be fewer US casualties as a result. And a lot more Iraqi. I doubt more than 15% of the entire Republican Guard will be captured now. I left the service as a Captain. I know that I would use every round to insure the safety of my boys. And I'm sure after today, every field commander will do the same 250 fold now.

[Beck_isright]

V

Bump to you sir.

[Widows Son]

Just a question;
Aren't spies supposed to be executed? If they were dressed in civilian clothes then they could, at least in theory, be classed as spies and shot. Unfortunately, this country has come to expect some kind of sterile war where the only side getting their noses bloodied is the other one. I guess the proclivity of ignoring reality is a holdover from the past presidents reign. We need to understand that war is a dirty, brutal, and nasty business. And we are going to suffer losses. As Robert E. Lee said, "It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow to like it too much".
All my support and Gods Speed to our troops. And may heaven welcome all who fall in the cause.
As far as those #&@%$^*@'s that we are fighting, may you reside in the darkest place in hell inhabited by only pigs, camels, and sheep.