U.s. Kia

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Hristo
But I don't buy any of this glorious hero crap. The dead ones knew what could happen to them when they joined the army. They put themselves in hands of a leader who, I am certain, cares little for human life. This whole thing could have gotten very wrong, regarding casualties. Maybe then you'd learn more about GWB. So far only civilians who died of "collateral damage" can attest to it.

Any person that volunteers for service duty,then puts their lives on the line for people other than their own, that they've never met (Iraqi people) with the goal to liberate them, and do it as efficiently as possible as to NOT harm the civilian population (a record for any war of least number of civilian casualties for a war of this scale) are HERO'S in my book.  Bear in mind the ones up front, the point men, the Marines, were kids that enlisted after 9/11.

Awaken a sleeping Giant? Indeed, and bad news if you're a border-line terrorist(Ba'ath party) or a terrorist.

[eddiek]

Seems to me if the Iraqi army had wanted to "protect" the citizens, they would have put themselves between the coalition forces and the civilians.
Instead, they put the civilians in harm's way by hiding amongst them.
The coalition way would have been to either evacuate the civilians (kinda hard to do in this case, where are you gonna go?), or positioned their own forces between the attackers and the noncombatants.
I see the civilian casualties as being as much the fault of the Iraqi military strategy, and Hussein's desire to stay in power no matter what it cost in lives of his countrymen, as the coalition's fault.
I don't like the civilian casualties, but they could have been easily avoided and prevented with the simple act of soldiers doing what they are supposed to do, protect their land.  Hiding behind your populace and using them as human shields is not the act of a warrior, it is the act of a coward.
I sincerely hope that child recovers, both mentally and physically.  
I also hope that the Iraqi people choose wisely when they form their government.
Sadly, what I honestly think will happen is more of the same, just a different ruler this time.  That part of the world is too caught up in what tribe or sect they belong to to ever experience true freedom and peace.  They will end up killing themselves, some living like subhumans again, but it will all be the US's fault.  Like always.
Everything I have ever read about Islamic religion stresses peace and compassion for their fellow man.
When will we see them practicing that peaceful, caring religion?  All I have ever seen is a bunch of people shouting and brandishing weapons, shouting hateful slogans, and blaming someone else for their troubles.