why doesn't the U.S. drop leaflets before bombing?

[Philosoraptor]

Or do they? I see the dropping of leaflets going on in the middle east conflict, I don't really see the need of it, especially if no escape is possible. Seems like just another terror tactic, and rubbing it in and heightening the terror.

Why don't we drop leaflets over Baghdad while we bomb it? Is it because they already know we are going to bomb?

[Generic Other]

1. Don't we drop coupons for Dominos pizza?

We are after all trying to win hearts and minds.

[sgxnk]

2. dominos sux

that would be a war crime: promoting mediocre pizza

woody allen aside

[Generic Other]

9. Didn't we drop pop tarts on helpless Afghanis?

I recall a few direct hits on poor Afghanis asleep in their hovels.

[sgxnk]

10. but pop tarts are tasty

clearly, an act of goodwill towards men (and women).

[Generic Other]

15. Pop tarts are deadly

I am sure I read about the US dropping them by the case. Didn't a case of them fell through an Afghani family's roof during a wedding killing the entire party? :sarcasm:

[sgxnk]

17. those are the "enriched" pop tarts nt

[deaniac21]

3. .

http://www.psywarrior.com/IraqNoFlyZone.html

[maxsolomon]

4. i think that's all we should have ever dropped

a relentless leafleting campaign, followed by lots of yummy food & medicine.

think they'd hate us after that?

[earthside]

5. Leaflets are Not Absolution

Dropping leaflets doesn't absolve the bomb-dropper from the responsibility not to target civilians.

Israel (or any other military) is guilty of war crimes if it kills civilians ... whether they drop warning leaflets or not.

Actually, the way Israel is doing this ... it amounts to terrorizing the civilian population of south Lebanon. The message is: "Cower in fear! Hide in terror! The bombs are going to be falling on your family! Get out of the 'buffer zone'! Lebanon doesn't belong to you anymore!"

Everyday when I hear about what the IDF is doing ... well, I just cannot believe that the whole world is not completely outraged and demanding that this stop.

I am a strong believer in non-violence, but if Olmert doesn't stop this killing and ethnic cleansing of southern Lebanon, perhaps some forceful action should be taken to end what the IDF is doing.

[karlrschneider]

6. They fired all the Arabic translators

:eyes:

[treestar]

7. A good point. Maybe they should at least get warning.

Though I agree it doesn't do much good.

I think this bombing just makes more enemies for the US, Israel, whoever is doing it. You'd have people who hated the US sure, but probably many who were indifferent to it. Now that the US has killed their mother/father/brother/sister/spouse/child, they hate the US just for that. It does not "teach them a lesson" not to mess with the US and not to "support terrorists" as the neocons and right wingnuts claim.

[Justice Is Comin]

8. Consider the asshole that has the suitcase

and you have your answer. They ought to put him in a straight jacket and throw him in a padded room.

[Ms. Clio]

11. They did drop leaflets in Fallujah

From a CNN transcript:

"But, as you mentioned, Lou, those leaflets that were dropped on Fallujah today warning the insurgents to surrender have an ominous tone. They say -- quote -- "If you are a terrorist, beware, because your last day was yesterday. We're coming to arrest you" -- Lou.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0404/27/ldt.00.html

Edited to add another source:

Leaflet Warning

US aircraft have dropped leaflets on the Iraqi city of Falluja, warning residents they will lose $102m in rebuilding funds if they do not halt attacks on US troops.

"If the security situation does not improve, you will lose $102m, which is already allocated and approved. This amount of money will be transferred to peaceful and open towns," the leaflets, which were dropped on Tuesday, said.

"We ask the citizens of Falluja ... to make way for multinational forces to start the rebuilding of Falluja, and to make way for American forces to move freely in the city and make real estimates for construction."

http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/middleeast/iraq/fallujah.htm

[Nimrod2005]

12. They forget....

[goodhue]

13. they do

Pretty common practice, although not sure it does much good.

See this story for example . . .

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/01/02/sproject.irq.leaflet.drop/index.html

U.S. drops leaflets for Iraqi people
Thursday, January 2, 2003 Posted: 8:35 PM EST (0135 GMT)


The leaflets encouraged Iraqi civilians to listen to radio broadcasts transmitted from U.S. aircraft.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Coalition aircraft dropped leaflets and bombs on southern Iraq in separate actions Thursday.

The leaflets encouraged locals to listen to radio broadcasts transmitted from U.S. aircraft in the area, according to military officials. The broadcasts describe Saddam Hussein's "lust for power."

It was the 12th leaflet drop in the past three months, the U.S. Central Command said in a press release.

Past leaflet drops have been aimed at Iraqi military forces to deter them from firing on coalition aircraft patrolling the region or rebuilding previously destroyed air defense systems.

* * *

[leesa]

14. Why do we bomb? Simply because we have industries that make and sell

bombs therefore we must bomb people to keep our economy rolling. What a fucked up country we have!

[ellie]

16. I know we did in Vietnam

because my uncle was a member of the psyops unit that did it. When he told me about it (years ago, I was young), I thought it was the funniest thing. Did it work, I asked. He said, No.