Iraq War Logs: Iraqi Civilians Used As Minesweeper By U.S. Soldier

[Hissyspit]

http://www.iraqwarlogs.com/2010/10/22/human-bomb-detectors

Human bomb detectors
October 22nd, 2010 | by admin | Published in Tales of war

Iraqi civilians were used as minesweepers by a US soldier, according to an allegation recorded in the Iraq war logs.

In a written statement, an eyewitness described how the leader of a US mounted cavalry platoon ordered Iraqi civilians to
“clear the road of trash and debris” if he suspected a bomb might be hidden on their route.

“The witness claimed the incidents occurred during mounted patrols on several occasions in August and/or September 2005,” stated the 2006
report. It does not say whether any civilians lost their lives while clearing roads.

- snip -

Investigations were expected to be carried out on the suspect named by the eyewitness and a court martial was possible, the log added.

MORE

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. Here we go.

As much as I applaud Wikileaks (and have donated to assist their efforts), at the risk of sounding like Babs "beautiful mind" Bush, it is details like these that I can't wipe from my mind's eye.

If nothing else, one can hope that this will sear in the national collective conscience and put the pressure on to end these damn wars.

My ex was a Vietnam Vet. To this day, he still can't talk about the atrocities he witnessed. Partly because he knew I would never completely understand, but mostly because talking about it would mean reliving it.

[w8liftinglady]

2. my son has been to iraq 3 times.god only knows what he's seen

No wonder he and his peers are alcoholics,mind-fu#ked,mentally ill etc,ad nauseum.
While this needs to be told,the fault will be driven directly into the troops' hearts,not into the ones who assigned them there...multiple,multiple times.
Fuck them.,,pardon my french.

[derby378]

3. No pardon necessary

I think we're all in for a big steaming bowl of "oh fuckey-fuck-fuck" over the next few days as all of the information is disseminated.

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. No need to apologize.

Our veterans have been through hell and back - countless times.

To the son of w8liftinglady and his peers - THANK YOU for your service. :grouphug:

[spanone]

5. true. the fault lies with those who lied us into an unnecessary war

[w8liftinglady]

7. and this song is as important today..."Hard rain"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgpF5VjWO34&feature=related

[stray cat]

6. More informative than weakileaks to date

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[gratuitous]

9. I miss these scenarios in all the military ads

All they seem to show is hard work, teamwork, dedication, and whiz-bang state-of-the-art weaponry being used by star-spangled All-American fightin' men and women. None of them ever fires a weapon and says "Oops", or conscripts civilians into being human mine sweepers, or stacks naked prisoners on top of each other. As fucked-up as these actions are, being subjected to them is even worse. And then our own little psychic mines get planted in our returning "heroes" who aren't worth anything if they need help to overcome what they were sent out to do.

I'm so old, I remember a time when going to war was a sober (you should pardon the expression) undertaking (ditto). But I remember the "praise the Lord and let the bombs fly" attitude of an entire administration full of people who had never heard a shot fired in anger, and a popular media that couldn't see past the pretty pictures promising Pulitzer Prizes to raise any larger questions about what we were doing, what the mission was, how we might recognize victory or defeat, and just how much all this was going to cost us in time, treasure and talent. Instead, we were treated to after-the-fact rationalizations from the media about how nervous they all were to be hearing our Great and Powerful President announce the launching of hostilities, and how inappropriate it would be to aks any questions at such a solemn moment.

Well, what's appropriate now, O Wise Men of Washington?