Losing faith in the war in Iraq-----Haditha will add to the sense of despair and gloom

[rodeodance]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6202139.stm
Losing faith in the war in Iraq
By Jonathan Beale
BBC News, Washington

Caption on pic:
Wrapped bodies of Haditha victims, 21 November 2005
Women and children died in the attack in Haditha


Haditha will add to the sense of despair and gloom coming out of Iraq that now surrounds the White House.

Even President George W Bush has recently conceded that America is "not winning" the war.

Haditha will make it all the harder to "win" - not just the real battles against insurgents and preventing a civil war.

Haditha makes it harder to win the hearts and minds of ordinary Iraqis and an increasingly sceptical American public.

The US military had been bracing itself for bad news. In the wake of the Haditha allegations it announced that troops would undergo a "Core Warrior Values" course - essentially ethics training.

At the time Lt Gen Peter Chiarelli - commander of US led forces in Iraq - said: "It is important that we take time to reflect on the values that separate us from our enemies".

Pattern of abuse .........

[acmavm]

1. Code Warrior Values? Why in the name of anything sensible

do they keep giving these trite and cliche' names to every damn thing that goes on over there? Does anyone think it makes it better? More legitimate? Less lethal? Less criminal?

:sarcasm:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

2. "Core Warrior Values" course? An ethics class for those whose job it is to ultimately kill others.

As an Army veteran, I'd like to offer these suggestions for preventing another Haditha.

To all branches of the military....carefully screen those who join and quickly address those troops who demonstrate mental or emotional instability. And, once a troop is diagnosed with PTSD, classify him/her as non combat deployable, ever.

To our government....
1. Don't send troops to combat. Make it the absolute LAST choice of international engagement.

2.If you MUST deploy troops, Send double the numbers of predicted needed troops and double the number of predicted needed supplies, insure that there are many influential, long standing international allies involved, secure the civil infrastructure immediately and Do Not send troops for multiple deployments and LISTEN and ACT on the advice of commanders on the ground.

3. Begin and aggressively continue diplomatic negotiations with ALL vested parties.

4. Operate at all times from the expectation that the goal is to get our troops home as quickly as possible. The other geopolitical considerations should be prioritized further down in importance.


All the "Warrior Ethics" classes in the world will not stop yet more bloodshed of innocents in Iraq. :cry: MKJ

[PassingFair]

3. Only for us, the watchers. The consumers will not know...

nor will they care, about Haditha.

Old news.

Nothing to do with them.

:puke:

Why am I depressed?