Tension forms when Soldiers take down posters of Al-Sadr

[Robbien]

<snip>

Moving along, 1st Platoon removed one more poster before a sizeable crowd formed and started throwing rocks.

“We’ve got a riot down here, sir,” one Soldier yelled to Schonfeld, who promptly moved his platoon from the area to avoid an escalation of force.

The discovery of anti-coalition propaganda is a negative development for coalition efforts in this neighborhood. The coalition has several such as a playing field, a refuse disposal plan, and a communal textile shop in the works, hoping to make Washash a better place to live.

“It was a significant event for us because there is not a very heavy presence of supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr in Washash. The people that we know in Washash have been supporters of ,” said Capt. Ronald Hayward, commander of Company C, who gave the order to remove the posters.

“I think it was important because al-Sadr currently stands for all things that are anti-coalition,” he said. “It’s important to show that we can deal with the propaganda in a non-threatening way, rather than coming in hard and forcefully.”

http://www4.army.mil/news/article.php?story=5869

comment: It is amazing that the army is not being told about the al-Sadr movement. They seem clueless. Go read the whole article, very interesting.

[Jacobin]

1. Hey!! That Freedom of Expression thingy is going quite well

in IraqNam!!!

Glad we are there to enable it!!!


:eyes:

[alcuno]

2. Poster Patrol

We used to be the most feared and respected military in the world. Now we can't even take down posters without being challenged.

[Mari333]

3. Its their country

they can put up any posters they want.
so much for democracy. what utter horseshit.

[MaineDem]

4. This is how we force them into a democracy?

I agree with you; it's their country.

Hang in there, Mari.