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| Iraq |
| Stupid question of the day - and human shields |
| 2003-02-28 |
| From a Pentagon briefing on the topic of human shields...(Feb 26th, this is old, I know) Q: Your overall assessment sounds to me like Saddam Hussein is smart. He's putting things in places that cause you heartburn. And if I were trying to defend myself against a large military potential assault on my country, I would do exactly what he's doing. I would park everything at a mosque. I mean, you're — it just seems like this is a basic survival technique. Are you indicating that it's terrible to do this? This guy is obviously one of Saddam's guys, with a guilty conscience. Sr. Defense Official: ... They kind of requested specific types of locations — electric power plants, hospitals, schools. The Iraqis have been pushing to have them located near some facilities that they're not that anxious to go to, which they think are — some industrial facilities, which they think are military related... And also, in some locations they went to, they noticed there were Iraqi military units nearby. Even though they were being sent to what they considered a legitimate facility, such as an electric power plant, they noticed that there were large Iraqi military forces nearby and they objected to being placed there. Finicky bastards aren't they? My favourite line coming up next: Q: Follow-up. So human shields placed in locations that you've mentioned, those people are — Sr. Defense Official: They're at risk. Priceless. |
| Posted by:RW |
| #7 Ideally, these shields will survive the war.....and get lynched as collaborators after by angry mobs of Iraqis. Is that too much to hope for? Will Sean Penn and Bianca Jagger be welcomed back into the Post-Saddam Iraq? |
| Posted by: Tokyo Taro 2003-02-28 19:23:22 |
| #6 It's an experience I missed. I was a Faceless Functionary®. |
| Posted by: Fred 2003-02-28 17:03:42 |
| #5 Some people might find it ironic that in a briefing where you're talking about things that Iraq is allegedly doing that are violations of the Geneva Convention, that it's done by a briefer who is to remain unnamed. OK, class, who can explain the connection between a treaty covering the acceptable modes of combat, and whether a briefing source is identified? Anyone? Hey, Fred, did you ever get to play Senior Defense Official and Blonde Bubblehead Reporter? |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2003-02-28 15:52:43 |
| #4 I just read this again... "I would park everything at a mosque" Then you would be a war criminal wouldn't you. |
| Posted by: RW 2003-02-28 14:02:05 |
| #3 Re: human shields Watch the feet, not the mouth. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-02-28 10:43:57 |
| #2 Barring total surrender immediately upon U.S. invastion, I expect a few himan shields to get vaporised in the initial attack. This will cut down on the volume of human shield volunteers in the future. |
| Posted by: jonesy 2003-02-28 10:08:36 |
| #1 It's really pretty obvious that, with the possible exception of their mothers, no one gives a rat's behind about human shields. The whole concept has no traction at all. I suspect that no one will care if they live or die. Must be a real eye-opening experience for those involved. Be interesting to see if and why any back out. Assuming they can. |
| Posted by: Michael 2003-02-28 08:55:03 |