Insurgents? No, Murderers

Woodmonkey · 01-26-2005, 19:45

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Insurgents? No, Murderers

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By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 26, 2005 -- Editor's Note: AFPS reporter Jim Garamone has traveled in Iraq since early January, covering the many news aspects about multinational and Iraqi security forces' efforts in preparation for upcoming Jan. 30 elections. During his travels, he's come upon interesting aspects of life in Iraq.

Servicemembers based here object to people using the term "insurgents" to describe the enemy. "Call them what they really are: murderers and scum," said one Air Force technical sergeant based in the International Zone.

She said the murderers are so afraid of the Iraqi people getting a chance to live as they want to, that they resort to killing men, women and children to intimidate the people. "Calling them insurgents sounds like they are fighting for the people," she said.

She had another term for the enemy, but no newspaper is likely to print it.

Mad Max Arrives

All the furor over the armoring issue overlooks some creative ways servicemembers have customized their vehicles.

Some Humvees look like they came out of the Mel Gibson movie "Mad Max."

In addition to armor kits added to the vehicles, some soldiers have welded on huge steel bumpers to the front and back of Humvees. "It looks scary, doesn't it?" asked one driver.

The threat from vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices is on every servicemembers' mind. The soldiers feel the big bumpers stop innocent Iraqi drivers from cutting into the middle of convoys -- a tactic of suicide bombers. "It's kind of tough to overlook a vehicle that looks like that," said the driver.

The brass isn't wild about the Mad Max vehicles, said the soldier, but they are still on the road.

Breeding Success

For every time success, such as capturing terrorist Abu Musab Zarqawi's bomb maker, Abu Omar al-Kurdi, regular people come forward with tips on other dangers.

"They see the coalition is making progress," said a coalition intelligence official. "They want their neighborhoods to be safe, but are scared of retribution. When we capture someone big, we get a flood of intelligence from the people."

Officials said Iraqis tipped coalition forces to many dangers following the capture of Saddam Hussein and the killing of his sons. At the local level, capturing a Baath Party murderer can give people the confidence to turn in other enemies.

Iraqi security forces -- the police and army mostly -- are playing a greater role as the organization grows and becomes more capable. "The Iraqis do feel more comfortable dealing with their countrymen," said the official.

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Snowden · 01-26-2005, 23:55

I make it a point never to refer to these people as "insurgents." I always call them terrorists, and murderers will do just as well. If they were insurgents, they would all be Shi'ites, and perhaps a few are. I believe firmly that they are mostly Ba'ath and Fadayeen, Sunni Muslims other than Kurds, who intend to do their level best to keep the elections from happening.

I pray every day for the success of the Iraqi people in finding freedom. But I do believe it will take a generation of us being there backing them to the fullest extent possible. We should be at their beck and call for 20 or more years. It's a worse scene than in Japan or Germany; it is a more difficult culture for western minds to comprehend. So we should be willing to help the new Iraqi government to the fullest extent for as long as they want and need us.

This is just my outlook on it. It isn't going to be a quick success - no matter who wins in the elections, these terrorists will continue to harass the people and try to steal back the nation.

cato2 · 01-27-2005, 00:34

I consider those people to be Murderers. They come into areas and intimidate and murder as was mentioned. They take over Holy Places to store weapons and fight from. The take over none traditional targets such as schools and use them, forcing us to be viewed in a harsh light. They go after the police force that are not only fighting the terrorist murderers but tasked with normal police work as well. They are wrecking havoc in that society and point to us as the blame.

The true insurgents need to be the freedom loving people of Iraq who attempt to help root out these murderers. They are the insurgents that need our support.

Snowden · 01-27-2005, 00:43

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Originally Posted by cato2

I consider those people to be Murderers. They come into areas and intimidate and murder as was mentioned. They take over Holy Places to store weapons and fight from. The take over none traditional targets such as schools and use them, forcing us to be viewed in a harsh light. They go after the police force that are not only fighting the terrorist murderers but tasked with normal police work as well. They are wrecking havoc in that society and point to us as the blame.

The true insurgents need to be the freedom loving people of Iraq who attempt to help root out these murderers. They are the insurgents that need our support.

I agree, Cato. The only word I would change would be where you say "insurgents" in the second paragraph, I think I would say "citizens." That's who we need to have help us. The word "insurgent" is used by the media for a purpose - to hide the truth about the terrorists in order to downplay the role they are filling. They are murderers; terrorists. They don't want to help the citizens of Iraq; they want to return to power; to have the oil and money and all that goes with that.

They are the enemy; followers of Saddam and people coming in from other Arab nations simply to terrorize the Iraqi people.

cato2 · 01-27-2005, 00:57

Yes, Snowden you are correct. And citizens are what they are. A true insurgency would have of course risen up against Saddam.

Let hope that the citizens in those areas that are infested rise up to help in the eradiction of these people.

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