November 6, 2005
NO GREATER HATE THAN SELF-HATE:
Iraq battle stress worse than WWII (Times of London, Sunday Nov 6, 2005; via Drudge)
SENIOR army doctors have warned that troops in Iraq are suffering levels of battle stress not experienced since the second world war because of fears that if they shoot an insurgent, they will end up in court.The two senior Royal Army Medical Corps officers, one of whom is a psychologist, have recently returned from Basra, where they said they counselled young soldiers who feared a military police investigation as much as they did the insurgents....
One corporal said that troops arriving in Basra were confronted by warnings from the Royal Military Police. “They make it clear that any and every incident will be investigated. It is also made clear that if you shoot someone, you will face an inquiry that could take up to a year.
“The faces of the young lads straight out of training drop as the fear of being investigated strikes home and many ask whose side the RMP are on.”...
The doctors described morale in some units as very low with soldiers cynically suggesting they needed a solicitor with them before they shot back at any Iraqi who attacked them....
Corporal Scott Evans, 32, ... said that they felt betrayed by the army: “We’ve been badly hung out to dry.
“The army is your family, isn’t it? You expect your family to look after you through thick and thin, but they betrayed us. It seems that in the army’s eyes you are guilty until proven innocent.”
The Left will turn every foreign war into a civil war. They hate their countrymen, not those who make war on their country. Posted by pjaminet at November 6, 2005 5:37 PM
2 items for your consideration (and/or amusement):
tinyurl.com/9n2ta
http://nerra.com/broadsword/archives/2005/11/05/723/really-fucking-stupid-people/
http://tinyurl.com/8jg7n
http://www.cominganarchy.com/archives/2005/11/05/protests-break-out/
They hate their country and those who would seek to preserve it. Disdain and embarrasment seem to be what they feel for their countrymen.
P.S. Is there a way to reach you guys by e-mail? I tried the zzn address and it was returned.
Thanks
Posted by: Pepys at November 6, 2005 8:15 PMI know we think the French will soon start using real force to dampen their riots, but the possibility of this sort of legal future may hinder them as well. The EU is going to have a lot of law to nullify before it can do what needs to be done if the rioting spreads.
And, as Instapundit noted tonight, perhaps the other EU members should offer to send help (troops) to France. They are allies, aren't they?
Posted by: jim hamlen at November 6, 2005 8:54 PMPepys - To reach Orrin, try orrin a t brothersjudd d o t com. To reach me, pj a t transcriptbio d o t com will work.
Posted by: pj at November 6, 2005 9:00 PMGiven the French sense of pride and unwarranted egotism, probably the best way to get them to act would be if President Bush made a public offer to sent troops to help, because France seemed to be overwhelmed by the crisis. They'd have the troops sent in about two hours after the icy "mind your own business" reply was sent back to Washington.
Posted by: John at November 6, 2005 9:58 PMMr. hamlen;
If there's one thing that's not going to restrain France it's legal considerations.
Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at November 6, 2005 10:51 PMJohn, Don't be so sure our troops would be refused and rather than offer them, Bush should just sent a note saying he's praying for a peaceful outcome.
Posted by: erp at November 7, 2005 8:21 AMToo bad the Brits are taking that tack.
I think we should act under the rules of the Geneva conventions and to solve the abuse problem with combatants, (Terrorists) not in uniform, shoot first and ask no questions, as did the Marine in Fallujah on TV. A fine training film.
Posted by: Genecis at November 7, 2005 9:53 AM