Danish soldiers come under attack in Iraq

[ECH1969]

Iraqis shot at the patrol on Sunday as the Danish soldiers gave first aid to a group of children injured in a traffic accident south of Al-Qurnah, it said.

"They were shot at as they tried to help the children," Colonel Henrik Sommer said.

The soldiers shot back, withdrew from the area and took several of the children to hospital, he said.

Around 530 Danish soldiers are stationed in Iraq as part of a multinational force there, operating under British command in Basra, 550 kilometres south of Baghdad.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1563622.htm

[Harper_is_Bush]

1. "took several of the children to hospital"

Why? Were they struck by bullets?

Smacks of self-serving propaganda.

[ECH1969]

2. re-read the article

Danish soldiers gave first aid to a group of children injured in a traffic accident south of Al-Qurnah, it said.

[Harper_is_Bush]

3. self delete

[rodeodance]

4. i had thought the Danes already withdrew their troops. guess not.

[ECH1969]

5. They are going to catch hell in both Iraq and Afghanistan

over the next couple months.

[rodeodance]

7. i read the article but does mention Danes getting troops but--strange, as

at one point i really thought they were getting their troops out.

[rodeodance]

8. now it makes sence--Jr had called the PM personally about the cartoons

earlier today (there was an article in LBN but i did not read it all).

[rodeodance]

10. (Reuters) Bush calls Danish PM with support in cartoon row

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

Bush calls Danish PM with support in cartoon row

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush called Denmark's prime minister on Tuesday to voice support for the Nordic country, whose embassies are the target of violent protests over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.

"I am happy to inform you that just a few minutes ago, President Bush called me to express support and solidarity with Denmark in the light of the violence against Danish and other diplomatic missions," said Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

"We agreed that the way ahead is through dialogue and tolerance, not violence," Rasmussen told a news conference

[rodeodance]

6. now they have to increase security around the Danish troops. geesh!

....Danish Defence Minister Soeren Gade told Danish television DR1 that Denmark had increased security around its troops in Iraq.

[ECH1969]

9. Isn't the entire idea of having troops for security?

Doesn't do much good I guess when your in a country where your country is totally hated and crowds are throwing rocks at you.

[daleo]

12. But, won't the security need troops to protect them

while they guard the other troops?

And then won't those troops require further security, requiring even more troops, requiring yet more security...

[Judi Lynn]

11. They've been lucky there haven't been repercussions earlier, since

they've also been involved in prisoner abuse in Iraq:

First Published 2006-01-12, Last Updated 2006-01-12 15:04:55
Danish officers found guilty of Iraqi prisoner abuse
Five officers will not be sentenced despite being found guilty of abusing Iraqi prisoners in 2004.

COPENHAGEN - A female Danish reserve captain was found guilty Thursday of abusing Iraqi prisoners in 2004, but will not be sentenced, a court in Copenhagen ruled.

The six-month trial, which ended in November in the Copenhagen district court, marked the first time in Denmark that soldiers were accused of violating the Geneva convention on the protection of civilians in times of war.

The court recognized mitigating circumstances on the basis that reserve captain Annemette Hommel had sought guidance from her superior officers, but in vain.

Four male military police sergeants were also found guilty of the charges, but will likewise not be sentenced.
(snip/...)

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=15466