Washington Post glorifies US military “ruthlessness” in Iraq

[RBHam]

By James Cogan, wsws.org

excerpt:
According to the Post, “Ruiz said the decision to pick up the skull fragment and take it back to the base was a ‘sarcastic’ gesture to confirm the kill to the battalion”. His company commander endorsed this justification of a depraved act, denying that it amounted to taking a body part as a “trophy”, which is illegal under both US military law and international law.

Ruiz, his 23-year-old platoon commander Lieutenant Colin Keating declared, “plays by the rules of Iraq, not by the rules that are written by some staff guy who’s never been on the ground”. Post readers were reassured that the sergeant had “never crossed the line,” presumably a reference to committing outright war crimes, “but he’ll go right up to it time and time again”.

Ruiz told the Post: “It’s important for my soldiers to know that we’re not going to hesitate to annihilate the enemy. A bullet coming toward you means that they want to kill you. What are you supposed to do, come back with flowers? But believe or not, you have people here that want to give them, you know, a little bag of candy.”

The actions of Ruiz that are highlighted by the article, however, do not involve fighting an enemy that is firing bullets toward either him or his unit. They involve the brutal intimidation of Iraqi civilians in order to suppress popular opposition to the US occupation.

more, if you can stomach it...
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/apr2005/ruiz-a20.shtml

[cornermouse]

1. I'd like to think that we have lost sight of the real goal,

but I'm not sure we ever knew what the real goal was. Certainly, we've lost all of our moral authority and a lot of lives in Iraq. I keep wondering when the American people as a whole, will stand up and say "Enough. Its time to leave."

[sweetheart]

3. The parallels to viet nam, AND the rhetoric are so so similar

That a colonial power that itself was formed in the flames of a
revolution against colonialism, does not understand the basis for
a guerilla revolution against its own colonialism... just is so
ignorant, i'm gobsmacked.

[mopaul]

6. the age of aquarius never quite arrived

and vietnam taught us NOTHING

[GetTheRightVote]

2. When will the immoral actions of this country stop ???

:kick:

[cornermouse]

4. Another thing that bothers me.

Ruiz, a former gang member now taking human body parts as trophies in Iraq, and others like him will be returning to the U.S. eventually if they aren't killed in Iraq. What will they do here after they get back?

[Lab2112]

7. RE: Another thing that bothers me.

They might feel betrayed once they learn how much their Veteran's benefits have been cut and subsequently expend their anger on the general population.

Oklahoma City, anyone?

LAB

[mopaul]

8. my uncle brought home a korean skull

and made it into an ashtray on returning from the war. i never saw the awful thing, but i heard about it.

[SweetLeftFoot]

11. I hate to sound too conspiracy minded

but boys like Ruiz will make mighty fine enforcers if (touch wood) martial law ever need be declared in response to another "terrorist outrage" or similar.

[Lab2112]

5. I can see the next WP headline

"U.S. Military Running Low on Bullets - Iraqi Pacification Endangered"

The main body of the news article would highlight pledges by American arms manufacturers to ramp up production of ammunition, and the Bush administration suggesting the renewal of scrap metal drives, reminiscent of WWII, to support the patriotic effort to keep our troops well-supplied.

LAB

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

9. A link to the original article...

...since WSWS couldn't be bothered:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48017-2005Apr12_3.html

[countryjake]

10. It's all so shocking & too awesome!

I think the Post knows just what it's doing when it highlights this kind of crap. Everybody over there has known all along that this is purely about power, starting with that first mad thrust into Baghdad, & every intimidation tactic that has trickled back here, is slowly inuring us all to what must surely be going on. Look at how long it took people to react to those pictures of torture with comments like, "What's so bad about that?". Hear anyone raising a ruckus about all the base closures soon to happen here, while a dozen or so are "installed" on Iraqi soil? It's like that Stockholm Syndrome & we are the hostages, being groomed to "love" our captors, no matter what their intentions or actions. Once our shock disappears, we should be good little swaggering soldiers, ready for the next offense, no matter how outrageous. And cowing the entire Middle East will be accomplished, at any cost; gotta have that "successful mission" notch in our belts, so "they" know who's in control & we're convinced it's the right path (and good for the world)!

Signs of a rising superpower or a dying one, whichever you prefer.

We're gonna have to snap out of it, sooner or later!