liberation? (U.S.soldiers arrest and hood suspects for selling alchohol)

yahoo ^ | 7.11.03 | ap

[freepatriot32]

Thu Jul 10, 1:45 PM ET

A US soldier flashes the V-sign as he escorts hooded illegal vendors to a police station after being apprehended Thursday July 10, 2003 along the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq (news - web sites). The vendors were allegedly caught selling alcohol, still prohibited to be sold outside in Muslim Iraq. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

[freepatriot32]

so when did the us army become the enforcers of muslim law? can christian iraqis still sell sacromental wine or is that now a no no in FREE iraq

[Support Free Republic]

A horse walks into a bar. The bartender comes up and says "Hey pal, what will it be?"

The horse orders a beer.

A few minutes later, John Kerry walks in and sits at the bar. The bartender walks up and says "Hey pal, cheer up. Why the long face?"

I'll stop if you guys will donate and get us over our fundraising goal

[Allegra]

There's got to be more to this than just selling alcohol?

[chance33_98]

I dunno, what does the iraq constitution say about it?

[Dog]

I thought Iraq was a secular state.

[Norse]

This idea of arresting people for selling alcohol is just as bone as the idea to round up automatic rifles from civilians.

These people are supposed to be free now. They are supposed to be able to do whatever the hell they want to do.

Behind these scams I see some pencil-neck westpoint dork Army Officers who have never heard a bullet fired since basic training.

[Straight Vermonter]

If that is the law of the land we should be enforcing it. When the Iraqis have a government of their own they can change the law if they like.

[Joe Hadenuf]

The vendors were allegedly caught selling alcohol, still prohibited to be sold outside in Muslim Iraq

Well, I feel a little better, now that I know what my tax dollars are going for........

[vbmoneyspender]

the law of the land?

[Allegra]

I thought Iraq was a secular state.

I thought so too. And I thought the U.S. was supposed to be helping them KEEP it that way.

[spetznaz]

If such acts continue to occur there will be larger numbers of common Iraqis changing their views of American soldiers on their soil. Although most (outside the Baath party) are happy the US freed them from Saddam's hard hand few would be willing to have a foreign nation, any foreign nation, curtail and restrict sovereign citizens. A few weeks ago there was a big back-lash at the British led gun-confiscation (where the Brits would barge into peoples' homes and take any guns they found), and the aftermath was quite bad once Iraqis started to actively resist the actions (the Brits had to stop since the bad blood was getting out of hand).

I do not think US troops should be enforcing Islamic Shariah! The negative ramifications are not worth it.

[spetznaz]

If that is the law of the land we should be enforcing it. When the Iraqis have a government of their own they can change the law if they like.

All that will do is make the common Iraqi hate the US. It is very easy for a Liberator to be viewed as an Occupier ......all it takes is something foolish to alter the perspective.

[Norse]

Law of the Land???? The Law of the Land has been thrown out the window after the U.S. military destroyed the government. I guess we should also enforce those laws aimed at preventing criticism of the government as well.

[Senator Pardek]

Well, I feel a little better, now that I know what my tax dollars are going for........

Well, the Feds are wasting time and $$$ going after folks who use medicinal MJ when we have terrorists in the country right now who want to destroy this country, so they're just being consistent.

[livius]

I think they were sort of free-lancing; alcohol can be sold, but not by wandering street vendors. I also recall reading something about some kind of "moonshine" manufactured there and in other Muslim countries.

Imagine the headlines if a bunch of Iraqis die or go blind from illegal alcohol vendors: "U.S. Fails to Protect Iraq Population from Unscrupulous Illegal Alcohol Sellers."

So you see, in the eyes of the press, we can't win, no matter what we do.

[Senator Pardek]

If that is the law of the land we should be enforcing it.

Does that standard apply to Afghanistan, too?

[Husker24]

I dont think it was illegal under Saddam Hussein to sell or drink Beer.

[Allegra]

That's why I'd like to see the whole story here. I have a feeling there may be more to it than these guys being arrested for selling illegal alcohol.

Those Muslim countries where alcohol is illegal have been in the moonshine-making business for decades and have it down to a science. In most of those countries, the government even tends to "look the other way."

[McGavin999]

Uh huh, and I'll bet that with every bottle purchased you got a free rocket launcher or AK-47.

[Ken H]

My guess is there is more to it than just an alcohol violation.

If not, then I think it's unwise for US forces to perform duties that should be done by local authorities, such as enforcing a liquor ordinance.