Evolution of Iraqis into "The Enemy"

[Newsjock]

As I watch the unfolding carnage this morning from Iraq, I'm thinking about how this tragedy will play in the living rooms of Middle America -- and whether, as difficult as we here might find this to understand, this incident could actually increase Americans' support for the U.S. occupation.

Although I'm livid with anger over the loss of at least 13 lives all for Halliburton and Chimpy's oil buddies, I also found myself getting a bit angry at the people who just killed our soldiers. We don't know whether these soldiers supported or opposed the occupation, nor did their killers, and that didn't stop them.

I would never ascribe today's tragedy to ulterior motives, but will the administration spin machine use this incident to reinforce the notion that the Iraqis we went there to "liberate" have now become an "enemy" that somehow "deserves" the full force of the U.S. military directed against them? And will this message resonate in the dumbed-down, Fox-watching homes of middle America?

I put nothing past Rumsfeld and company anymore.

[ComerPerro]

1. Its funny, but

The same republicans that called me anti-American and soulless for not wanting to help liberate the Iraqis from Saddams cruel opression now tell me that we should kill all of them and just get it overwith.

Apparently these conservatives are so compassionate that they condone mass genocide and ethnic cleansing.

[izzie]

2. The hawks are willing to have more war just as in Vietnam but

are mother's and father's willing to see their sons die or just go into uniform. Are the mother's and father's ready to die them selfs. As they do not join to go to war we will need a draft and do you think one would come back where the rich could get out of it this time? Already the other "evil" countries have been put on back burner as the army is not big enough to fight another war.Also did you read that a number of neo-cons have left DOD. Bush is calming down to get votes I think.

[Capt_Nemo]

3. They are soldiers of an occupying force of an aggressor nation

They are by definition targets.

I don't accept this argument:
"We don't know whether these soldiers supported or opposed the occupation, nor did their killers, and that didn't stop them."

We could start wondering the same about soviet soldiers in
Afghanistan, or americans in Vietnam, or germans in Stalingrad.

If they are opposed to the occupation, for they think it's illegal,
then they have to choose between carrying out illegal orders
or have the courage to disobey them.
If they are not prepared to take on their superiors, they have to
be prepared to pay the price of becomming targets.

[Paschall]

4. Anger at the people who killed our soldiers

That would be ShrubCo, right?

Ten million ordinary people around the world took to the streets to stop this and the Cabal refused to listen. In fact, the Cabal was planning this war at least as early as 1996.

Like the political convictions of our soldiers, we don't know whether the Iraqi civilians we've killed--and continue to kill--supported Saddam or not. All that is perfectly irrelevant. I mean, even if our dead supported the invasion, did they deserve to die for ShrubCo?

One thing is plain: WE unleashed the dogs of war and they're coming back to bite.

[Minstrel Boy]

5. "mow it all down"

You can bet that transformation is underway, and has been for a long time.

Blood vengence is coming into its own as the rationale for perpetuating this disgrace.