News From Iraq: You Loot, We Shoot

[MSD]

Report: U.S. to Approve Shooting of Iraqi Looters
Wed May 14, 2003 06:43 AM ET




NEW YORK (Reuters) - The new U.S. administrator for Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, is preparing a series of security-related measures that include permitting soldiers to shoot looters on sight, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
Bremer, outlining his approach at a meeting with senior staff members on Tuesday, also said he was eager to hire more police officers and ban Baath Party members from serving above a certain rank in future governments, the Times reported, citing officials present at the meeting.

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraq's cities have faced widespread looting, and a failure to ensure safety and security are among the chief complaints of Iraqis with U.S. forces.

"They are going to start shooting a few looters so that word gets around," The Times quoted an official who attended the meeting with Bremer as saying. "I think you are going to see a change in the rules of engagement within a few days to get the situation under control."

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...toryID=2738966

I think that Reuters is reliable enough to not get duped into printing fake stuff, so I'll assume for now that it's true. While I think that it gets teh message across to loters, I don't think that it's the best way to treat citizens of a country who are already starting to tell us to leave. I could understand beanbags, rubber bullets and possibly teaer gas to control people, but I don't think it's acceptable to shoot people who are celebrating their new freedom, even if they are out of control. Some Iraqis have already started shooting at looters, a few have been killed, and it's still happening.

[Dragonlich]

On the Dutch news, they said that Bush himself had ordered it.

And I do agree with it: if the Iraqis are already doing it, why not the US? Most Iraqis want security, and don't like looters anymore. After all this time, it has nothing to do with celebrating freedom, but everything with being common criminals. The first few days were different, but now one needs stability and security. If the US army goes through with it, it'll send a powerful message to would-be looters, and their potential victims.

[Phaenx]

Originally posted by MrSelfDestruct
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...toryID=2738966

I think that Reuters is reliable enough to not get duped into printing fake stuff, so I'll assume for now that it's true. While I think that it gets teh message across to loters, I don't think that it's the best way to treat citizens of a country who are already starting to tell us to leave. I could understand beanbags, rubber bullets and possibly teaer gas to control people, but I don't think it's acceptable to shoot people who are celebrating their new freedom, even if they are out of control. Some Iraqis have already started shooting at looters, a few have been killed, and it's still happening.

We could try the whole cutting off of hands thing that seems to work so well in that area.

[warrrreagl]

Everyone else in the world thinks we're cowboys, anyway, and it's an image with which I'm comfortable, for one.

Butch, Sundance, Josey Wales, and Bill Munny could show them a thing or two.

[rfk]

The problem with those types of people, is there is no other way to get the message across short of killing a few of them. They are probobly looting stuff to sell to feed their famliies. I believe they have proven just how "dedicated" they can be so far as the lootings haven't really died down at all with current methods.

Cap a few, see how that works.