Bodies left in city's streets intimidate police, populace

[Tab]

Almost every morning for the past several days, American soldiers have made the gruesome discovery. Sometimes the bodies are partly burned; sometimes they are dismembered; sometimes they are shot in the head.

When two more victims were found this week slumped on a busy street corner, Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla finally lost it. The Army commander, a bear of a man who usually is the first to crack a joke even in the most dire of circumstances, stormed across the street and began chastising the Iraqis gathered there.

"Why do you not have the common decency to clean them up?" shouted Kurilla, who is in charge of securing much of historic Mosul, as he angrily motioned to the bodies.

"Your fellow Iraqis are lying dead in the streets, and you sit there doing nothing. To say nothing is to support the insurgents. These were Iraqi soldiers who were trying to help your country, to serve you. How can you do nothing?"
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&ncid=2027&e=1&u=/chitribts/20041124/ts_chicagotrib/bodiesleftincitysstreetsintimidatepolicepopulace

[el_gato]

1. They don't want the help of puppet soldiers

Why would they bury the bodies of people they hate?

Kurilla needs to lay off the kool-aid.

[phantom power]

2. Has anybody floated the idea with Lt. Kurilla...

that maybe they *do* support the "insurgents"?

When things don't add up, always check your assumptions...

[saigon68]

12. Lt. Kurilla is an idiot

None of the locals want him there. He will probably end up with a medal for yelling at them.

If the bodies are so offensive--??? why doesn't he get his buddies at HALLIBURTON to come in and clean them up.

[wtmusic]

3. And you know the idiot was shouting in English

"The insurgents know they can't take us on and win militarily," Kurilla said.

Actually, they know nothing of the sort. While you're ejaculating "Mission Accomplished" prematurely they're planning their next attack.

[DulceDecorum]

5. and complaing that nobody is shooting at HIM.

On Monday, in the Old City neighborhood of Mosul, Kurilla launched one of these joint patrols. The goal was simple: to draw out the elusive insurgents.
For nearly four hours, Kurilla's battalion and an Iraqi National Guard battalion--more than 700 soldiers in all--wandered through narrow, twisted streets and alleys, where many insurgents are thought to be seeking refuge. The fight never came.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&ncid=2027&e=1&u=/chitribts/20041124/ts_chicagotrib/bodiesleftincitysstreetsintimidatepolicepopulace

[wtmusic]

6. The Iraqis are fighting on their terms, on their soil

That's why we don't have a chance.

[Javaman]

16. I heard on NPR this morning...

Interviewing a commander that has been in Iraq since the start. He stated, "they insurgents now are probably more intelligent and better trained then ever. They now have cars loaded with ammo and water to pass out to the rebels, that run daily routes."
To me it sounds as if things are about to get alot worse.
Screaming at the locals about bodies being left in the street, falls upon deaf ears.
On that note: what about the bodies the US left in the streets of Falusha?
He doesn't seem to be pissed about that, concidering that the piece said, up untill today, he was always quick with a joke. Hmm, the joke is on him now.
More stupidity reported from the front.

[DulceDecorum]

4. Meet Bloated Bob

"The U.S. troops view things in very simplistic terms. It seems hard for them to reconcile subtleties between who supports what and who doesn't in Iraq. It's easier for their soldiers to group all Iraqis as the bad guys. As far as they are concerned, Iraq is bandit country and everybody is out to kill them."

After being thrust into the role of peacekeepers in a dangerous country halfway around the world, with a whopping one day of training under their belts, who can blame them?

The Iraqis can, unfortunately. Who could forget the Reuters story from March 2003 where we met Bubbling Bob? "Nearby, the corpse of an airport worker rolled around in the current of a pool ... 'That's "bubbling Bob,''' said one soldier. "Been there a while. I ain't gonna fish him out. Let the Iraqis do it.'"
http://www.dailytrojan.com/news/2004/04/15/Opinions/When-Men.Of.War.Need.To.Keep.The.Peace-660768.shtml?page=2

[Rose Siding]

7. Iraqi troops are "jumpy"

GEEZE, ya think?

snip>
The joint missions do not always go flawlessly. Many Iraqi soldiers insist on wearing masks while conducting missions and patrols. Sometimes they are reluctant to talk with residents on the street for fear that someone will recognize their voices. That frustrates U.S. military officers, who struggle to overcome the language barrier and have hoped that Mosul's residents would trust local troops more than the Americans who routinely kick in their doors during searches and patrols.

Because the Iraqi troops often ride in unarmored vehicles that are vulnerable to suicide attacks and roadside bombs, they can be jumpy. Sometimes they open fire on passing cars or start shooting without warning during foot patrols.
.........
"They don't want to fight us," Kurilla said. "They want to take on some Iraqi soldier alone in the city on leave. They aren't even bothering to take potshots at us anymore."

[peacebird]

11. you think they don't want to fight YOU?

:wow: this boy needs a little reality check. Hey Kurilla - the CLUE PHONE is ringing just for you! i would say the Iraqi's are fighting you, and very effectively from the sound of it.

[leftofthedial]

8. I'd say that Murkan light colonel

is laughably slow on the uptake.

[Dr Strangelove]

9. The Vietnamese

had no chance of beating us militarily as well

[leftofthedial]

10. Is it not eery how the language, style and strategy

of our military trying to occupy Iraq echo the failures in Veit Nam

Falluja is pacified

We're in a perpetual game of killer whack a mole AGAIN!

Of course, that's exactly what the neocon bushgang want.

[saigon68]

13. Hey someone point out to the Dip Shit that it's --- IRAQ-NAM

ITS IRAQ-NAM-- DEATH SHOWS NO FAVORITES


A place where Death rides a Pale Horse

Sometimes Death travels beyond the boundaries of the combat zone and wreaks havoc on mere
bystanders.

Death inflicts the ultimate penalty in no particular order.


The Innocent, The Guilty, The Careless and The Unlucky-- are all targets.

[maddezmom]

14. and the same could be said for the bodies still in the streets in Fallujah

:eyes:

[daleo]

15. Iraqis know the Americans will leave eventually

They have to think about the long run. This Kurilla doesn't. Too bad he wasn't on the side of the resistance - he would be Kurilla Guerrilla.

[TahitiNut]

17. It's not like the firing range or video game, is it?

Those dastardly insurgents just don't give 'em much to shoot at. All dressed up and no place to aim. He's got this great gun and no target. Frustrating.

Meanwhile, he's rambling around with a "Shoot Me!" sign on his back, front, side, and bottom - angry they ain't "playing fair" like Sega.

:eyes:

[leftchick]

18. Perhaps it is intentional Lt. Col. Asshat???

To intimidate the imperialist occupiers like yourself to get the fuck out of their country? I believe most Iraqis do indeed support the 'resistance fighters'. Hell, has this guy ever read a history book?

[Voltaire99]

19. Lectures from invaders on "common decency"? (n/t)