I agree. But, it is really become Vietnam II. Our troops are having great difficulty separating Iraqi civilian from Iraqi insurgent, and in their minds the two must be melding into one. Many Iraqis complain that, when attacked, Americans will fire 360 degrees, indiscriminately.
Same day that the Italians were attacked, a Bulgarian coalition soldier was killed. Apparently, the Bulgarians had fired warning shots into the air to stop an Iraqi car at a checkpoint (apparently, they follow procedure). Shortly thereafter, intense American fire was directed at the Bulgarians, and one was killed. Apparently, the order is fire on anything that isn't flying the American flag.
I do not blame the troops. They've been put into a no-win situation by the blundering of the Bush administration. The only solution at this point is to get out. I believe that Iraq will have to have some period of time where they form whatever government/state they're going to, completely on their own. That might mean civil war, it might mean a religious-leaning government, it might mean Iraqis dying while fighting for democracy on their own. We need to kick this bird out of the nest, and let it fly on its own... |
