Two U.S. soldiers killed near Mosul; 10,000 Shiites stage anti-American demonstration in Najaf

Associated Press ^ | 07-20-03

[Brian S]

Two soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division were killed and one was injured in an ambush Sunday when their convoy came under rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire in northern Iraq, the U.S. military said.

The deaths brought to 151 the number of American soldiers killed in action since the March 20 start of the war, four more than the total killed in the 1991 Gulf war.

[boris]

"An angry confrontation developed to the south of Baghdad, meanwhile. In the holy city of Najaf, 10,000 Shiite Muslim demonstrators were blocked by U.S. troops from entering the American headquarters. Some clerics urged demonstrators to turn back. Soldiers used Humvees to barricade the building. There were no reports of shooting or other violence."

Where are those big "suck your lungs out" bombs when you need one? I suppose a daisy-cutter would have done fine too.

--Boris

[boris]

"No get out! The world policers are caught on the horns of dilemma. If they follow a 'level' a city (i.e. kill hundreds of thousands of babies), they will push more Iraqis into the ranks of the guerrillas. The current hearts and minds policy, on the other hand, puts soldiers in harm's way. The most logical solution is to declare victory, turn over authority the interim 'government' and get out!"

I concur with both you and "DCPatriot". We should leave--soon, but give them some strong medicine beforehand to remember us by.

Did the 9/11 terrorists worry about "babies"? Each Iraqi "baby" killed today is one fewer terrorist we face tomorrow.

Either we are at war or we are not. If not, pull out and go after Iran or Saudi Arabia. If we are at war, let us by all means act like it.

In no case should we attempt "nation building" in a place which is incapable of being 'built'.

--Boris

[arete]

Did the 9/11 terrorists worry about "babies"? Each Iraqi "baby" killed today is one fewer terrorist we face tomorrow

Killing babies? Have you lost your mind? What is wrong with some of you people? This is outrageous.

Richard W.

[DCPatriot]

What I'm thinking?

First of all, if Hitler had sterilized 6 million instead of gassing and burning them, he wouldn't be judged the way he is (and deserves to be) judged today.

To my way of thinking, it's the best way to defeat your enemy, and the cheapest and most sanitary way to wage war.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Hard news? Hard left spin. Compare the facts from daily CENTCOM briefings and what we now know to be true vs. the mainstream press. Pick a month - April, May, any. Our military leaders are not only careful, deliberate, and trustworthy - they KNOW their words can kill.

The press has been undermining our war efforts from day one by spinning negative and ignoring the progress our troops have been making across Iraq - as well as the number of bad guys they're taking out.

Handing out candy? If you've been listening to the mainstream news and that's what you think our troops have been up to the last three months in Iraq? Case closed.

Our troops are wondering why the folks back home are hearing only the negative. If posting factual info from Iraq based on CENTCOM, DoD, e-mail from the troops and miltiary blogs is being a Pollyanna, then so be it. The troops deserve every bit of credit and support they can get - for REAL work they are doing, unnoticed and unsung.

Those in the press who pounce on every attack, play pro-Saddam propaganda videos, hype every casualty and headline every hateful remark from regime loyalists are what? Good reporters? Anyone can criticize. We need Ernie Pyle.

Our troops deserve a chance to finish their mission without added dissent being sown by the AMERICAN press daily. 4 short months ago they went to war. The critics should be ashamed.

More unfashionable, factual good news:

*The Future of Iraq, in Outline
The Weekly Standard ^ | 07/28/03 | Stephen F. Hayes
*Nobody wants Saddam back
Townhall.com ^ | July 18, 2003 | Amir Taheri

*ONE DAY IN IRAQ 
*Our troops took out FAR more bad guys this week.

“Pessimism never won any battles.”--Dwight Eisenhower

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”--Winston Churchill

[TheDon]

Funny how liberals believe that too. However, we didn't invade Iraq and overthrow Saddam to give the people their freedom. It is just a wonderful byproduct.

[A. Pole]

Earlier, al-Sadr said in a statement read inside the shrine that he wanted coalition forces to leave the town and allow Iraqis to handle security for themselves. In his Friday sermon, the cleric said he was recruiting for a private army but fell short of calling for armed struggle against the U.S. occupation.

Polish TV news reported today that Najaf Shiites gave Americans three days to leave the city or face upprising. Najaf and Karbala are two main cities to be occupied by Polish troops in the near future.

[A. Pole]

Level an entire god-damned city, and then let's see how many show up for demonstrations against the liberators.

Remember that for Shiites, Najaf and Kerbala are like Rome for Catholics. See the holiest sites of Shiite Islam

[Satadru]

I am only echoing the sentiments of the President.

[oldironsides]

The clergy should be called in and told that the coalition troops will be leaving in 1 month. The Saddam loyalists will come back and all of you SOB's will be back to square one and taking a dirt nap. Give us your decision in 24 hours

[DCPatriot]

Believe me, I'm not happy that I feel this way.

To lose our own young soldiers doing liberating policework doesn't sit well with me.

And, I refuse to compare the Iraqis that are killing our boys to the American Colonials picking off British troops in the Revolutionary War.

We went over there to GIVE them their f#!@ing independence.

IF they are not civilized enough to appreciate it, then screw them.

[Doc On The Bay]

Give these Shiites the "Autonomy" they want; bring back Saddam & let them protest His "Leadership!"

These immature, Ignorant Fools seem to be Unable to Learn from their own past!

The US-et.al.-have removed the "HobNailed Boot" from Their Necks, but they are too ignorant to understand the GIFT they have been given!

How Sad.

Doc

[arete]

Well, if everything is just so great and wonderful over there and the troops are so happy to be there and doing such a great job, then I say leave them there. Why are people getting all upset about a few of them getting popped or that they are a bit uncomfortable. Everything is great and wonderful wonderful wonderful. I heard it on FOX so it must be so. Everything is wonderful and we all need to be happy happy happy. You are getting tired. All you will hear is the sound of my voice. Everything is wonderful and everyone is happy.

Richard W.

[PISANO]

but Bush could have a better media strategy...

I absolutely agree! They have been terrible, but when do you EVER remember the GOP having a GOOD MEDIA strategy? It seems they lack that inate circular thinking necessary to RE-SPIN that which has been spun. However disseminating the POSITIVE achivements and accomplishments, (tempered with the bad) on a regular basis would be MOST welcome.