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2007-09-24 Iraq
US snipers 'bait' Iraqis: report
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Posted by tu3031 2007-09-24 10:15|| || Front Page|| [2 views ]  Top

#1 Okay, fine, but what if it's a scavenger?

Think of it as evolution in action, tu3031.
Posted by gromgoru 2007-09-24 11:14||   2007-09-24 11:14|| Front Page Top

#2 Just think of it as fishing.
Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader  2007-09-24 11:27||   2007-09-24 11:27|| Front Page Top

#3 If nothing else, this will drive home the lesson that trying to recover military material is best left to the experts.
Posted by Rob Crawford">Rob Crawford  2007-09-24 12:44|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/]  2007-09-24 12:44|| Front Page Top

#4 "In a country that is awash in armaments and magazines and implements of war, if every time somebody picked up something that was potentially useful as a weapon, you might as well ask every Iraqi to walk around with a target on his back,"

No comment.
Posted by Excalibur 2007-09-24 12:56||   2007-09-24 12:56|| Front Page Top

#5 This is a toughie, seeing as how—in the face of such grinding poverty—any discarded item can represent something of value. Small children picking up such things should be given a pass, although the object should be retrieved and the kid reprimanded. Adults who scavenge such material—particularly those who rapidly conceal their finds—should be snuffed faster than the devil can get his shoes on.

As gg so aptly notes, this is Darwin at work. Perhaps we simply need to train those populations that we liberate not to screw around with war materiel. Especially so with the Muslim ones, seeing as how they demonstrate an overly curious nature concerning goodies that go "boom" kill.
Posted by Zenster">Zenster  2007-09-24 13:32||   2007-09-24 13:32|| Front Page Top

#6 The CYA for this is to broadcast to the public for a long time that they should *not* pick up military items found lying about, that they should notify the police or IA. And be very up front that if they *do* pick up such things they will be considered enemy.

And since the first thing the scum would do would be to have children collect the items for them, the caution parents to tell their children to NEVER touch such things.
Posted by Anonymoose 2007-09-24 14:12||   2007-09-24 14:12|| Front Page Top

#7 It's a measure of how far we've come in the last few months that the best is the MSM can do now is to take issue with specific small-unit tactics.
Posted by Matt 2007-09-24 14:14||   2007-09-24 14:14|| Front Page Top

#8 I'm not sure if this program of "baiting" is even true. Seems to me, iraqis screwing w/the bait material would get picked up by coalition forces or ISF vice just getting a round through the skull. Remember, the brass is denying such a baiting operation exists. A couple snipers on charges of murder (based off charges of planting evidence after illegal hits) claim there is such a program -- possibly to cover culpability or obfuscate the issue. I've never heard of such a program in two tours of the place and I know quite a few in the scout/sniper community -- the word on something like this would've gotten out. Nor do I see any commander trying this type of tactic as the local jag would have a hissy fit/heart attack for the very reasons presented. I personally think such a program would be awesome but then again, I try to be totally pragmatic & see no problems in killing idiots dumb enough to pick up det cord, or 155mm shells, etc. I.E. -- it makes perfect sense to me so I doubt our ROEs allow for it.
Posted by Broadhead6 2007-09-24 14:52||   2007-09-24 14:52|| Front Page Top

#9 And since the first thing the scum would do would be to have children collect the items for them, the caution parents to tell their children to NEVER touch such things.

Good point, 'moose.

I personally think such a program would be awesome but then again, I try to be totally pragmatic & see no problems in killing idiots dumb enough to pick up det cord, or 155mm shells, etc. I.E. -- it makes perfect sense to me so I doubt our ROEs allow for it.

Scary, B6. Just plain scary.
Posted by Zenster">Zenster  2007-09-24 15:02||   2007-09-24 15:02|| Front Page Top

#10 I prefer to just follow them and pick them up for questioning. People tend to pick up things that don't seem to be in place, like finding something is a gift from God or a stroke of luck.
Posted by wxjames 2007-09-24 15:37||   2007-09-24 15:37|| Front Page Top

#11 Distance-kill data is recorded by snipers, but it is either classified or not released. Rumors have it that the 2000 feet measure has been long passed.
Posted by Albemarle Elmuque2506 2007-09-24 16:03||   2007-09-24 16:03|| Front Page Top

#12 Count me in as a 'doubting Thomas' on this one. I just can't see this being policy but I can see it being individual initiative. Especially, if you are certain there is some gullible IED master-blaster out there who is dying (no pun intended) for some supplies. America was built on initiative and innovation. Give the sniper a medal and move on to important things like Syria and Iran, for Christ's sake!
Posted by Jack is Back!">Jack is Back!  2007-09-24 16:47||   2007-09-24 16:47|| Front Page Top

#13 "..as the local jag would have a hissy fit/heart attack for the very reasons presented..."

Sounds like a two fer to me.
Posted by Whiskey Mike 2007-09-24 19:17||   2007-09-24 19:17|| Front Page Top

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