IRAQI CHILD SHOT WHILE POINTING AN AK-47 AT U.S. FORCES

CENTCOM ^ | Nov. 28, 2003

[Cannoneer No. 4]

In Coppola's classic film, Apocalypse Now, the character Colonel Kurtz described how his A-Team had at first gone the rounds of mountain villages, inoculating the children against disease and providing medical treatment for the sick in an effort to win hearts and minds, only to find, upon their return that the Communists had lopped off the arms of each and every child who had received a vaccination. Kurtz was struck 'like a silver diamond bullet' by the realization that the Communists weren't challenging his military capability to defeat them; they were challenging his will to win.

". . . they had come and hacked off every inoculated arm. There they were in a pile...A pile of little arms. And I remember...I...I...I cried... I wept like some grandmother. I wanted to tear my teeth out. I didn't know what I wanted to do. And I want to remember it. I never want to forget it. I never want to forget. And then I realized...like I was shot...Like I was shot with a diamond...a diamond bullet right through my forehead...And I thought: My God...the genius of that. The genius. The will to do that. Perfect, genuine, complete, crystalline, pure. And then I realized they were stronger than we. Because they that could stand that these were not monsters...These were men...trained cadres...these men who fought with their hearts, who had families, who had children, who were filled with love...but they had the strength...the strength...to do that. If I had ten divisions of those men our troubles here would be over very quickly. You have to have men who are moral...and at the same time who are able to utilize their primordial instincts to kill without feeling...without passion... without judgment...without judgment. Because it's judgment that defeats us. "

A psychological casualty is out of the fight same as if he'd been shot. Kurtz was driven insane and had to be killed.

This is off of wretchard's blog. You ought to look at it.

[wardaddy]

I'm a knuckle dragger and I'm delighted our troops didn't kill the child and likewise the child didn't bag one of them.

[wardaddy]

ROTFLMAO....I knew this was yer reply way before I scrolled down....

[Cannoneer No. 4]

You are hereby officially invited on to the Free Republic Treadhead Ping List

Free Republic Treadhead Ping

archy; Gringo1; Matthew James; Fred Mertz; Squantos; colorado tanker; The Shrew; SLB; Darksheare; BCR #226; Imacatfish; Tailback; DCBryan1

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

I agree- "warning shots" are not part of IA Drills (at least not when I was in ). If you shoot, you shoot to STOP- and that means center-mass X 2, follow-ups as needed.

[Arpege92]

You go girl!

[blackie]

1st Infantry Division Soldier shows amazing restraint ~ Bump!

[Tijeras_Slim]

That's what I like about ya'.... It "for the children!" :)

[Eaker]

Yer alive!!!!!

Check yer FReepmail!!!!!

I love the picture of her at 9!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

[SeeRushToldU_So]

What is the URL of wretchard's blog? I guess I could Google it.

[Arpege92]

Excellent! Were your kids afraid at first? I thought my son would be, but according to my hubby, he took to it quickly with no fear at all.

Now me? I shot a gun one time. That was about tweleve years ago and it scared me. I can't muster up the courage to try again and it would probably take an intruder to break into our home at night when hubby's not around for me to pick up another weapon and shoot the SOB.

[Eaker]

You have been invited to join an elite group indeed!!!

Congrats.....and no "shallow water" jokes from me!!!!!

I am so jealous!!!

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Belmont Club

Scroll down to Sunday, November 23, 2003 and Friday, November 21, 2003.

[TexasCajun]

What is a seven year old child doing holding an AK 47?

His caring Mommy & Daddy taught him and taught him to hate Americans.
Then they pushed him out the door saying allah told me to tell you to go fight the infidel Americans.
allah also told us not to go outside, just you, our darling son.

[wardaddy]

I was in Mississippi for a few days.

I'm going to Reloader's Bench to pick up some frontloader supplies to go hunting next week. I'm gonna pick up some of what you suggested.

Great Idea, thanks.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Our govt, military, and citizens express great concern over incidents like this. More than any other country at any time.

We should be proud of this fact.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

No need to be jealous. You want on? Done any tankin'?

[Eaker]

Were your kids afraid at first?

Not at all. They grew up around guns much as a carpenter's kids grew up around hammers and nails. They look at guns as tools, like a drill; but much more fun than a drill!!!

We had a friend in town last week, an uptight banker from Boston. I overheard him trying to explain what Texas was like to a non-travelling Bostonian friend. His best example was having to move a pistol grip 12ga shotgun out of the way so he could put his dinner of steak and baked potatos onto the dinner table. He also told them excitedly that he saved his target from the range and was going to frame it. His first shot was in the 10-ring at 100 yards with my AR-15. (He had a good teacher!!)

My world is a bit of a different world than most experience.

[Darksheare]

Okers.
*chuckle*
I was light towed artillery that used Humvees as prime movers.
"shallow water'?
Shallow sand was enough..
*chuckle*

By the way, do you want on the Field Artillery ping list as well?
It's an equal opportunity harrassment ping, in honor of the fact that my unit would stick anyone who was willing on the gunline regardless of rank, age, MOS, or branch of service.

I need some of our 11C types over here as well as some analysis.
There's something there bothering me, and I think I'm missing it:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1030298/posts

[Eaker]

Done any tankin'?

The closest I have been is researching and writing a paper concerning stress relieving materials, which I cannot describe, used in the upgrades of the Abrams. I cannot say more, not that it is so secret, but that it would bore you to tears!!!!

Nothing like y'all, but if you would so honor me I would be grateful!

Tom Eaker