[Peace-discuss] rumors (3)

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

and these idiotic and illegal actions will only strengthen the resolve of all 
Iraqi's and other Moslems and even Christians who live in the Mideast to 
force U.S. coalition troops and the U.N. out of Iraq!   You do not win hearts and 
minds by senseless and demeaning combat actions in the name of "peace".  Any 
competent military officer should know better but today the mindless follow the 
idiots mode is predominating of military.   The recent confirmation of U.S. 
troops tying up and searching children as young as 4 years of age is simply a 
war crime. 

***

Monday 10 November 2003, 0:46 Makka Time, 21:46 GMT  

Fearful women and children are bound by US soldiers



A series of shocking pictures revealing US soldiers tying up Iraqi women and 
children in their own home has provoked international outrage.
The occupying forces have now come under renewed fire for their treatment of 
ordinary Iraqis as shown in the pictures published today by Aljazeera.net.
CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, is conducting an 
investigation and seeking advice before taking further action.
"This kind of image increases resentment of American troops in Iraq and can 
also play a major part in demoralising troops who are having to tie up small 
children.
"We are seeking to raise this issue further in the appropriate arena," said 
Washington CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper.
A spokesman for the London-based Islamic Observation Centre said the pictures 
showed a "complete disregard for the human rights of the Iraqi people".
He added: "A normal human being should be repulsed by the very idea of tying 
up children. 
Carrying explosives
"You have to question the mental state of soldiers who are being forced to do 
this."

A child, aged around six, watches 
nervously as a US soldier ties her
The IOC recently supplied pictures to Aljazeera.net showing US soldiers 
frisking a four-year-old boy in an Afghan village in Paktika as part of a military 
operation.
A senior officer justified the action at the time saying the child could have 
been carrying explosives. He added the security of US soldiers came first 
before any hearts and minds operation.
Those particular pictures provoked a huge, mixed response from Aljazeera 
users who inundated the website with feedback expressing concern.
This latest series of pictures was sent to US military headquarters Centcom 
in Florida for a comment. Major David Farlow warned Aljazeera.net not to 
publish the pictures on this site.
"It would be irresponsible. I can't second guess what has happened here 
without knowing all the facts but US forces operating in Iraq have to use the 
appropriate level of restraint to the mission.
"US soldiers will use minimum forces wherever possible," he added.
However John Rees, head of the British Stop The War Coalition, condemned the 
behaviour of the occupying forces.
Colonial occupiers
"This kind of behaviour produced a response which forced the British out of 
India and will undoubtedly force the British and Americans out of Iraq.

This picture shows a US soldier
frisking a four-year-old Afghan
"The American and British forces in Iraq are showing all the worst traits of 
colonial occupying forces throughout history."
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence in London said: "There are a range 
of options available to the commander on the ground based on the information 
received. Restraint depends on the situation."
However a senior military source said: "This sort of action would be highly 
unusual for British troops and would have to be authorised at the highest level.
"We just don't do things like that. We are working very closely with Iraqi 
people on the ground in Basra and prioritise in winning hearts and minds.
"We made a dreadful error earlier on in the campaign and lost some military 
police as a result. It was a tragedy which we have learned from and do not want 
to repeat."
Aljazeera