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| Iraq-Jordan |
| On Baghdad Beat, Policeman Dodges Bombs, Turncoats |
| 2005-08-26 |
| Imagine a Mafia that is tens of thousands strong, has heavy weapons and an intelligence service and is not afraid of killing government workers with their entire families. This is what Iraqi cops (and soldiers) face on a daily basis. Every morning before he goes to work, Iraqi police officer Ahmad Ibrahim puts on an elaborate hoax. Mr. Ibrahim folds his dark-blue uniform inside out and places it in a canvas gym bag along with his gun and badge, taking care to cover the items with loose clothing and towels. He puts a yellow "Taxi" sign on his car and pretends to look for fares as he drives circuitously to the police station. He parks in a spot that isn't visible from the street and changes into his uniform in his office. At the end of each day, he reverses the process. Mr. Ibrahim has gone through the charade since receiving a death threat from Iraq's most notorious terrorist late last year. He took it seriously. He has known more than 20 police officers who have been killed in insurgent attacks, including two young recruits who died next to him when their car was wrecked by a remotely detonated roadside bomb. Last month, Mr. Ibrahim got into a shootout with a turncoat police officer stealing weapons for the insurgents. The Bush administration's hopes for reducing American troop levels next year increasingly depend on the abilities of Iraqi security personnel such as Mr. Ibrahim. The U.S. has made building a capable new police force a top priority, shifting $1.8 billion originally allocated for reconstruction to the effort. American and Iraqi officials have developed an intensive new program that teams Iraqi police commanders with U.S. officers. American military-police units oversee many Iraqi police stations, helping train officers and plan missions. |
| Posted by:Zhang Fei |
| #6 If courage is being afraid, and going forward, then if one is tuley fearless, they can not, by definition, be courageous. If drugs, or the hope of 72 raisins make you fearless, then you are not courageous. Q.E.D. or, if you prefer: I.O.T.T.M.C.O. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-08-26 22:37 |
| #5 Ok, that was me. Hopefully I won't lose my cookie again. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-08-26 15:51 |
| #4 In fact, the gentleman in this tale exemplifies courage and bravery, as compared to fearlessness. Courage and bravery mean choosing to do what is morally right in the face of physical danger and, in this case, threats to his family by members of his society. Fearlessness is being unafraid to do something physically dangerous. It is certainly much more comfortable to go through life without feeling fear, there is nothing particularly admirable about it. |
| Posted by: Hupavising Slomosing7791 2005-08-26 15:50 |
| #3 Insha'Allan goes pretty deep I guess. |
| Posted by: SCPatriot 2005-08-26 14:43 |
| #2 Some Iraqis are evidently willing to fight in one way or another for their country, others it seems will not. Just like the vietnamese, eh? What kind of life have the insurgents promised them? What kind of life has the Iraqi govt. promised them? Is islam clouding their judgement in this matter? I don't understand who on earth would want to live a life like Zarq would provide if he were to win. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2005-08-26 09:47 |
| #1 At the risk of setting off the two-day long discussion, I believe this is an outstanding example of "courage" - the man is scared - and rightfully so - yet soldiers on, for his family and his country. The men who threaten him and his family are cowards. There. Go to it! |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-08-26 08:59 |