Australia ends operations in Iraq
[i]Australia, one of the first countries to commit troops to the war in Iraq five years ago, has ended its combat operations there.
Australian troops are due to begin returning home in a few days in line with a promise by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who swept to power in November.
He said the Iraq deployment was making Australia more of a terrorist target. [/i]
Or, in the words of one Bob Marley: “Ow, ow-ow-ow-ow! Ow, ow-ow-ow-ow! Yeah, yeah, yeah!”
[quote]lixy wrote:
Australia ends operations in Iraq
[i]Australia, one of the first countries to commit troops to the war in Iraq five years ago, has ended its combat operations there.
Australian troops are due to begin returning home in a few days in line with a promise by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who swept to power in November.
He said the Iraq deployment was making Australia more of a terrorist target. [/i]
Or, in the words of one Bob Marley: “Ow, ow-ow-ow-ow! Ow, ow-ow-ow-ow! Yeah, yeah, yeah!”[/quote]
we don’t need their help anymore, the surge is over. political support is much different than militaristic support.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/hl1068.cfm
[quote]lixy wrote:
Australia ends operations in Iraq
[i]Australia, one of the first countries to commit troops to the war in Iraq five years ago, has ended its combat operations there.
Australian troops are due to begin returning home in a few days in line with a promise by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who swept to power in November.
He said the Iraq deployment was making Australia more of a terrorist target. [/i]
Or, in the words of one Bob Marley: “Ow, ow-ow-ow-ow! Ow, ow-ow-ow-ow! Yeah, yeah, yeah!”[/quote]
I just got this email from Michael Yon.
Greetings,
The trend lines are clear. Iraq war seems to be winding-down. At this rate it is entirely conceivable that at the end of 2008 we will be able to say, in good conscience, that the Iraq war has ended.
Of course this is speculation.
Grabbing headlines today is the news that Australia is drawing down it�??s forces from Iraq. The Australian military is comprised of some of the finest soldiers in the world. Yet the Australian government�??s commitment to the war in Iraq has been militarily insignificant. The loss of the Australian military contingent is strategically irrelevant.
I�??m in constant communications with forces on the ground in Iraq. al-Qaeda continues to be hammered into the dirt. The Iraq Army has demonstrated great competence in Sadr City. They are at the fore front of destroying al-Qaeda in Nineveh province.
Washington Post reports growing success in Basra by the Iraq security forces. Violence in Iraq is reaching an all time low, perhaps lower than at anytime in several decades. But make no mistake Iraq and it�??s people have been ravaged by decades of war. Finally they are getting their chance at freedom thanks to the sacrifice of the men and women who have set them free from tyrants. With any luck, on my next trip to Iraq I will see little to no combat.
There are several new dispatches on the website. Free copies of Moment of Truth in Iraq are available with a one year subscription to Town Hall Magazine.
V/R
Michael
“Finally they are getting their chance at freedom thanks to the sacrifice of the men and women who have set them free from tyrants.”
Great quote right there.
Those who wish us to be unsuccessful in Iraq want it to remain in ruins and do not give a shit about the Iraqi people, only how the war promotes their anti-US, Israel, Western propaganda. For those people, the more deaths, the better.
Now, THAT is a shame.
[quote]Chushin wrote:
TeufelHundren,
Just in case you don’t know, Lixy is a brave Arab who has very courageously avoided returning to his own country because it’s a total mess.
He prefers to stay in Sweden and act like the US is responsible for all the world’s ills.
Thanks for your service.
[/quote]
late getting back, but, cheers good sir. I truly do appreciate that.
Teuf, what do you make of these practices?
[quote]Chushin wrote:
lixy wrote:
Teuf, what do you make of these practices?
Isn’t it obvious?
The morally-bankrupt and imperialistic Americans are simply covering up the tracks of their insatiable bloodlust.
Last I heard, they were giving trophies to whomever could kill the most Iraq civilians. (Extra points for babies, no doubt!)
Isn’t that why they are there? To kill as many innocents as possible? [/quote]
Your name ain’t Teuf. And reductio ad absurdums have no place in this discussion.
I can understand that soldiers do whatever they can to go back to their loved ones in one piece. They must deal with some twisted decisions on a regular basis, and at the end of the day, I’m certain that most are running on survival instincts. I can’t say what I would do in their situation, because I would categorically refuse to be put in it in the first place. Hence, my question.
It’s not like this was unpredictable or anything either…
[quote]lixy wrote:
Chushin wrote:
lixy wrote:
Teuf, what do you make of these practices?
Isn’t it obvious?
The morally-bankrupt and imperialistic Americans are simply covering up the tracks of their insatiable bloodlust.
Last I heard, they were giving trophies to whomever could kill the most Iraq civilians. (Extra points for babies, no doubt!)
Isn’t that why they are there? To kill as many innocents as possible?
Your name ain’t Teuf. And reductio ad absurdums have no place in this discussion.
I can understand that soldiers do whatever they can to go back to their loved ones in one piece. They must deal with some twisted decisions on a regular basis, and at the end of the day, I’m certain that most are running on survival instincts. I can’t say what I would do in their situation, because I would categorically refuse to be put in it in the first place. Hence, my question.
It’s not like this was unpredictable or anything either…[/quote]
Well, cushin does have a good point, commanders DONT like to see bodies in after action reports, it doesnt look good for anyone, we like to have people captured, detained, and questioned about the “bigger fish”.
NOW, where could they get the story? Well, many guys (myself included) would carry an AK that had been confiscated from terrorist weapons cache’s simply because those weapons work in the desert, and it is always nice to have that contingency.
the only thing that i can think of is that someone in the press saw a picture of soldiers with AK’s strapped to their backs and assumed that they were “drop weapons”, Also, the “stories” that they received from soldiers may be from folks who were just pissed that they had to spend 15 months in the desert.
But, I cannot speak for every single person in the U.S Army, I would like to believe that soldiers uphold the moral values that our Army is founded on, but there are crazies everywhere, just look at any government.
PERSONALLY I have never seen or heard of anything like that, and I know that in my unit you would be receive a court martial in a heart beat.
One thing I noticed about those people in the videos is that none of them are STILL in the military, possible grudges, maybe?
like I said. Ive never known a commander that has ever wanted body bags and some of their statements seem absurd and just the words and lingo they use is not military at all.
Also, mid video, they talk about “one weapon per house is U.S. Policy”
That is clearly outlined in the Iraqi constitution, the only “U.S. policy” that we still enforce is that in some areas there is a curfew, but most towns don’t need one. I’m sure that this will fire some people up, but you try patrolling at night when there are regular RPG attacks in the area I think that tucking the locals in a little early to protect both ourselves and the iraqis isnt so bad
Interesting video none the less, I would like to see testimony from more than three people.
Also, why did that guy admit to carrying them, and using them but then double back and say “o we never admit to using them, because that is when you get burned” I dont know, some of it seemed a little sketchy.
[quote]TeufelHundren wrote:
…
[/quote]
So you would never do something of the sort? That’s commendable, but I think you’re mistaken when you speak of morality in this context. A willing participant in a war of aggression cannot pretend to morality. I personally can’t think of anything more reprehensible than bombing and invading a country on the other side of the planet, but that’s just me…
I understand that the distinction may now seem less clear-cut seeing how the American military is now doing police work, and I’m sure there are plenty of soldiers doing their best given the situation. I also understand that some of them would be uneasy when presented with testimonies of the horrors others are doing. Myself, it doesn’t surprise me one bit. Putting a 100,000 trained-killers in a desert and tell them to behave like a police force, you’re bound to have slippage. A lot of soldiers treat the army like any other job. They enrolled because of promises of fat checks. Because of that, they are in survival mode. And don’t tell me that the army screens much either. It’s having trouble recruiting as it is.
I agree that three testimonials do not constitute evidence, but it’s not like you can afford it either. When you have Iraqis shooting at you because you invaded their land, three soldiers coming out and speaking of this “weapon planting” business is three too many. The idea that any army put in that situation would not have elements resort to it is ridiculous. So most everybody knows that it is happening. But to have veterans speak of it is particularly disturbing and I just wanted to hear if you ever came across something similar. Anyway, thanks for the input.
That’s what happens when you face an enemy which hides behind civilians, dresses like civilians, does not care how many civilians get killed in a cross fire or how many get killed in a car bombing aimed at killing mainly civilians,
yet turn around and bitches every time an American hits civilians.
Teuf, I would also like to hear your opinion on this affair.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hNUaTPsL6OBHarjCDUGxJ0EYsm9AD913LKJG3
Do you honestly believe the Iraqis whose loved ones were involved in this will just forgive and forget? That they’ll somehow accept the ruling? Do you think they’ll take the word of a judge wearing the colors of the military force that invaded them in 2003 over that of their fellow countrymen? Can you understand that they might get mad and seek retaliation?
Maybe they should blame the insurgents who fired upon the soldiers, then fled (it’s on chopper video somewhere on the web) and did it from these people’s homes.
Again, I wasnt in haditha, i didnt know what those marines saw, felt, or believed.
At the end of the day, no matter what death may occur (aside from cold blooded murders) civilian deaths in iraq are the result of insurgents and terrorists.
People who are right in the head do not wish to butcher people, and I know that people would loooove to believe that everyone in the military is brainwashed like some kid of modern day storm trooper, but we are not. We all have families, most of us have kids and we are not a nation of murderers
Ive decided to take this forum in a new direction
If you ever make it anywhere over there, make sure that you try goats milk ice cream. It will give you the runs but it is DEFINITELY worth it.
Iraqi kids love soccer
there is nothing better than seeing a little Sunni kid who gets to go to school for the first time in their life. http://www.asa-usa.org/images/content/pagebuilder/12427.jpg
it is hotter than hell…
people are completely dedicated to their religion, so much so that the country pauses 5 times a day just so they can pray. Maybe the rest of the world should get some of that.
Working at a MEDCAP is one of the most fulfilling things anyone can ever do, whether you are in the army, peace corps, or you are some civilian
[quote]TeufelHundren wrote:
Again, I wasnt in haditha, i didnt know what those marines saw, felt, or believed. [/quote]
You didn’t even read my questions, now did you?
I asked for your opinion, not a statement of fact which may require you to have been there. Go back a page and read my questions.
That sure is a convenient attitude to take.
Well, I don’t know much about stormtroopers, but they seem to obey teh commandments of their superiors without much room for critical thinking (i.e: when asked to attack Iraq, very very few challenged the order). Besides, how could it not be a good analogy with Cheney still around and kicking? 
Seriously though, I don’t think the rate of murderers and SOBs in the US military is any different than that of other countries. But don’t try to sell me the idea that you’re all saints. A substantial portion of kids in their teens and twenties will behave like jackasses when put in a similar situation, and you won’t be able to convince anyone otherwise. Now, you may think of yourself as a principled person, and you may also keep your cool under duress, and I commend you for that. But there will be people who rape, plunder and kill indiscriminately. Few will be premeditated though and most can be attributed to the Fog of War, in my opinion. But that’s conjectural anyway…
What I’m trying to say here, is that a military should only be used as LAST RESORT. And I don’t mean Bush’s definition of last resort. I mean common sense last resort. You see, the argument that soldiers are held responsible for the crimes they commit in Iraq falls short on two counts: 1) putting the accused soldier in lockdown for 20 years after he slaughters a 14 years old’s family, rape her and sets her on fire will not undo the crime, 2) the courts judging these affairs are heavily biased. I do not doubt for a second that the US military would not hesitate to cover up these stories if it was at all feasible.
TC? Is that you?
Don’t be this arrogant, Teuf.
