"I don't like the way they fight, but I'd do the same thing if someone was occupying my country,"

[leftchick]

Well Said Cpl. Egger...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061223/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_skilled_snipers

<snip>

"We don't even have snipers that good," Iobst said.

Some of the snipers learned their basic craft when they served in Saddam's army. But there's also open concern among Americans that the training of the current Iraqi army — at U.S.-operated camps — is spreading skills that are turned against U.S. forces.

"I don't like the way they fight, but I'd do the same thing if someone was occupying my country," said Cpl. Sean J. Egger, also part of the 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment.

Egger was the gunner atop a Humvee near Ramadi's defunct train station in August. The bullet whizzed past him by inches but struck his machine gun, sending shrapnel into his face.

Safety glasses spared his vision, but Egger will need surgery after he leaves Iraq to remove a half dozen pieces of shrapnel still lodged in his face.

[bluemarkers]

1. don't you just love this?

"Egger will need surgery after he leaves Iraq to remove a half dozen pieces of shrapnel still lodged in his face."

So he gets to serve with metal still in his face. and the guy who Cheney shot immediate attention.

Thank you Cpl Egger for serving your country! a very sincere wish at this Holiday Season. I hope we can get you home soon.

[Omphaloskepsis]

3. I think they mean...

He will get fixed up once he lands in Germany.

[kenny blankenship]

6. Well you know what I didn't hear? The apology.

When Cpl. Egger apologizes to VP Cheney and Dear Leader for shamefully receiving shrapnel wounds to his face--thus allowing his face to be used for propaganda purposes by the enemy--MAYBE he'll get those 6 metal splinters taken out. Until the Corporal apologizes for making our leaders look bad, I don't see the case for them "using all their powers and their skills" to make him look good.

[Cha]

2. And thank you, Cpl Sean Eggers,

for being honest!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. How unsporting of them not to get mowed down.

Never fear, Preznut Bush is "very grateful" to you for getting wounded...and not killed...looks bad, you know.

[Robbien]

5. That article

shrug

I don't know. . .

War. The article made me feel awful that our soldiers were busting in doors of Iraqis who where sitting around candles in cold dark rooms. Our guys were pulling pictures off of walls and crushing cigarettes into Iraqi's carpets. The author said it was aimless retaliation for one of our guys being shot. Our guys were letting off steam. But letting off steam by destroying property and lives of Iraqis who don't have water, food or electrictiy?

I don't know . . .

Peace.

[leftchick]

8. I know what you mean

It is all so destructive and pointless. I look at photos like these daily on Yahoo and weep...



U.S. and Iraqi army raid on the neighborhood. The joint forces raid resulted in two suspects being detained and four people wounded, including two children, police said. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) Email

:cry:

[NNN0LHI]

7. By the time Cpl. Egger returns stateside those shrapnel wounds will be mere scratches

The Republicans will swiftboat him just like they did Kerry if he runs for elected office. Good luck Cpl. Egger.

Don

[gratuitous]

9. Yep, and what if the occupiers "surged"?

You'd hunker down until the surge was over, then come back tougher than ever. Even the dopey criminals in a film noir get the idea: "Yeah, I'm gonna lay low until the heat's off." The folks fighting off their occupiers will just wait until the surge recedes. Or, they will get a good idea of the outlines and limits of the newly "surged" adversary, then respond with an effort calculated to to the most damage with the least risk, just like always. Except now, they'll know that their enemy is putting forth a maximum effort, and that every one of their enemies rendered hors d'combat will not be replaced.

[Gwerlain]

10. My TiVO captured Red Dawn...

and I think you'll find some pretty interesting parallels in it if you have the opportunity to see it. I had forgotten some of what Swayze and Sheen portrayed.

I also remember a book by M. J. Engh called Arslan. Much the same but nastier than Red Dawn would have been able to get past the movie board of the day.

Personally, my position is that anyone invading my country is subject to whatever reprisals I can dream up and have the balls to do. I have no idea why anyone thinks they can take countries over without the good will of the population in this day and age, what with the advances in chemical and electronic technology, and the demonstrations of successful guerilla warfare, we have seen since the end of WWII. The two most powerful countries in the world have been humbled by the loss of such wars, and the first one to be so humbled has apparently been stupid enough to get into another one, or anyway the leaders of that country have been that stupid. Why anyone would look at a country full of 30 million people and think they could just walk in and do whatever they want is completely beyond me; it strikes me as beyond idiotic, to the point where I question the sanity of anyone as incapable of gauging the most probable consequences of their actions as the current US administration appears to be.

Still, pride goeth before a fall. The old lessons are the best.

[Rex]

11. 'half dozen pieces of shrapnel still lodged in his face.'

I say he gets em removed and sends em to George for his Christmas!

He could send a card too, "Merry Christmas, you warmongering cockface."