Our military is studying another Hollywood movie for how-to tips

[donsu]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=33&u=/ap/20030918/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_us_iraq_1

In an apparent search for pointers on how to police a hostile population, the U.S. military that's trying to bring security to Iraq (news - web sites) is showing interest in Israeli software instructing soldiers on how to behave in the West Bank and Gaza, an Israeli military official said Thursday.

Using animated graphics and clips from movies like "Apocalypse Now," the software outlines a "code of conduct" for avoiding abuse of civilians while manning roadblocks, searching homes and conducting other activities, said Lt. Col. Amos Guiora, head of the School of Military Law.

-snip-

Guiora told The Associated Press that U.S. military officials had recently seen the software, which was developed this year, and expressed interest. As a result, he said, the military is now working on an English version for them.

(more of our money down the drain)

-snip-

Guiora said the software was developed after military lawyers found themselves giving dry lectures to disinterested audiences of troops.

"There are complicated issues. The fact that this (software) is so user-friendly, that it has the movie clips, the sounds, the animation — we felt this was the best way," he said.

(you can throw up now)

-snip-

Guiora said the software, which is currently being distributed to junior commanders in military, also includes scenarios often encountered by troops.

In one, he said, two soldiers drive up to a pile of rocks blocking the road and are told it may be mined. What to do — call mine-clearing experts, remove the rocks themselves, or get some Palestinians to do it? Anyone choosing the last option is disabused by the program.
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where are the adults?

[villager]

1. thought maybe it was "Seven Days in May"

...they were studying at this point...

[neverforget]

2. I thought it was Dr Strangelove they were studying or maybe

Gallipoli? :shrug:

[U2Shark]

3. Who'd a guessed?

I could have sworn they were watching "Stripes".

[teryang]

4. Will they give lessons on proportionality?

Maybe there will be a scene where the local units are after one known resistance leader at home with his family at two in the morning. The lesson will be to use an F-16 or helo with rockets to blow up his home with women and children inside and then to bulldoze it away?

One problem with operational law training in the military is that the senior NCOs often undercut what the JAGs and legal specialists are trying to promulgate.

One combat veteran I know has a favorite "law of war" lecture from his CSM. This guy was a full bird and quoted this favorably, "Did you all hear about the Geneva Conventions? Well, forget about it, we aint in Geneva."

[DBoon]

5. Well Rove must have been viewing

"Triumph of the Will" for some pointers.