Iraqis welcome coalition forces

03-21-2003, 07:46 AM

I was watching the news this morning as I waited for Giles to pick me up and they were talking to one of their embedded reporters. (For those who don't know, embedded reporters are 'embedded' in a unit, meaning they travel into battle with them.) He said that as their convoy rolled through a village/town/whatever, all the houses had their white flags out and - I like this part - people came out of their houses and were giving the convoy the thumbs-up sign.

I hope it's like this throughout the rest of the country; it would go a long way into helping me believe that we're doing the right thing.

Cam · 03-21-2003, 09:22 AM

Yeah that's exactly how I was feeling yesterday. I rationalized this war by telling myself that were freeing a country from a tyrant and it nice to hear about the Iraqi people supporting us.

russotto · 03-21-2003, 11:02 AM

Uhh, anyone know what "thumbs up" means in Iraq? It's not necessarily the same.

Besides, what sensible civilians are going to express great displeasure at the enemy military coming through town?

Undertoad · 03-21-2003, 11:59 AM

Here comes the twister.

Items:

Iraqis, Marines cheering each other

Iranian students happy

Blix: Scuds into Kuwait are material breach (duh)

(Also in that article: Blix admits that months of inspection could not have located such things. "I could not guarantee that we would come to clear conclusions even after some months more," he said.)

And I say: why didn't you admit that last week, you pathetic little fuck.

elSicomoro · 03-21-2003, 12:31 PM

Shepps, what are you going to do now that CNN has been reportedly booted from Baghdad?

03-21-2003, 12:37 PM

I think it's pretty obvious from his links that CNN isn't his only news source.

The joke is getting old. Let's cut it out already.

elSicomoro · 03-21-2003, 12:40 PM

Hans Blix was on CBC this morning. A few notes from that:

--Though Iraq was cooperative on the surface, they were uncooperative on "substance."

--Blix noted that the buildup of COW forces (that's coalition of the willing) helped the inspectors.

Former UN S-C Boutros Boutros-Ghali was on CBC yesterday, and answered some questions from the press during a news conference. When asked about the legality of the war, he responded that we should wait and see how the forces are welcomed by the Iraqis, and that this war could be a positive thing if the troops are indeed welcomed.

And from the BBC: "Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov says he plans to approach the United Nations legal department and ask them to declare the war illegal."

Is that right? No problem...let's have them also investigate Chechnya.

elSicomoro · 03-21-2003, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dave
I think it's pretty obvious from his links that CNN isn't his only news source.

You don't say?

Undertoad · 03-21-2003, 01:05 PM

Right now in the fog of war, there isn't any difference between any of the news channels. All have images of a tiny, miniscule part of what's going on in a tiny section of Baghdad. All have embedded reporters trying vainly to give you a feel for what's going on -- and failing. All feature live coverage of the Pentagon and White House and a crawl of headlines that don't tell you anything, with a stock market indicator (Dow up 150, Nas up 10).

wolf · 03-21-2003, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sycamore
--Blix noted that the buildup of COW forces (that's coalition of the willing) helped the inspectors.

Because, as you know, my head works in strange ways ...

A bit of doggeral popped into my head with respect to the "Coalition of the Willing" ...

"we the unwilling, lead by the unknowing, will do the impossible for the ungrateful ..."

elSicomoro · 03-21-2003, 01:17 PM

I just liked using the acronym COW...not meant to be demeaning towards the troops...just me being silly.

UT, I agree with you except for the part about the embedded reporters. I personally thought the two I was watching last night (David Bloom and Kerry Sanders of MSNBC) gave some great insight. Even though they weren't showing any real combat, it gave me a concept of what it's really like out in the middle of East Jesus (the deserts of Southern Iraq). Not to mention, David Bloom's description of what they had to go through to get into Southern Iraq from Kuwait was surprising, for I personally didn't realize it would be that tough, other than an electrical fence.

The coolest thing I saw was what appeared to be a Bedouin waving to the troops as they drove by (though it could have been an open-hand curse).

wolf · 03-21-2003, 01:21 PM

I think it's the Vietmanese who think showing the palm of the hand is offensive ...

I'll be back at work next week. I'll be able to question our shrinks with respect to cross-cultural lewd hand gestures.

I think this is an important line of inquiry, and will assist us in better understanding our new friends. (hmmm ... we don't have an Iraqi docs. Maybe the Egyptian guy knows ...)

03-21-2003, 01:28 PM

From MSNBC:

<i>One little boy, who had chocolate melted all over his face after a soldier gave him some treats from his ration kit, kept pointing at the sky, saying “Ameriki, Ameriki.”</i>

elSicomoro · 03-21-2003, 01:29 PM

I know that in Greek culture, waving with an open hand is considered a curse. And IIRC, showing the bottom of your shoe/foot is a curse in Arabic culture.

Watch what you say Wolf...next thing you know, there will be immersion classes in Arabic.

elSicomoro · 03-21-2003, 01:42 PM

Dave's post and Boutros-Ghali's remarks got me thinking...

I personally think that most Iraqi people are grateful that we are invading the country. But I'm wondering...will some (particularly outside of Iraq) say that things such as what Dave posted are staged? I personally don't think they are (too terribly much at least), but IIRC, someone in the Iraqi government earlier today apparently said that pictures of Iraqi troops surrendering were staged...so I'm wondering if this war is going to go more psychological than it already has.

03-21-2003, 07:46 AM	#1
dave Guest Posts: n/a	Iraqis welcome coalition forces I was watching the news this morning as I waited for Giles to pick me up and they were talking to one of their embedded reporters. (For those who don't know, embedded reporters are 'embedded' in a unit, meaning they travel into battle with them.) He said that as their convoy rolled through a village/town/whatever, all the houses had their white flags out and - I like this part - people came out of their houses and were giving the convoy the thumbs-up sign. I hope it's like this throughout the rest of the country; it would go a long way into helping me believe that we're doing the right thing.

03-21-2003, 09:22 AM	#2
Cam dripping with ignorance Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Grand Forks ND Posts: 642	Yeah that's exactly how I was feeling yesterday. I rationalized this war by telling myself that were freeing a country from a tyrant and it nice to hear about the Iraqi people supporting us. __________________ After the seventh beer I generally try and stay away from the keyboard, I apologize for what happens when I fail.

03-21-2003, 01:21 PM	#12
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I think it's the Vietmanese who think showing the palm of the hand is offensive ... I'll be back at work next week. I'll be able to question our shrinks with respect to cross-cultural lewd hand gestures. I think this is an important line of inquiry, and will assist us in better understanding our new friends. (hmmm ... we don't have an Iraqi docs. Maybe the Egyptian guy knows ...) __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-21-2003, 11:02 AM	#3
russotto Professor Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,788	Uhh, anyone know what "thumbs up" means in Iraq? It's not necessarily the same. Besides, what sensible civilians are going to express great displeasure at the enemy military coming through town?

03-21-2003, 11:59 AM	#4
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Here comes the twister. Items: Iraqis, Marines cheering each other Iranian students happy Blix: Scuds into Kuwait are material breach (duh) (Also in that article: Blix admits that months of inspection could not have located such things. "I could not guarantee that we would come to clear conclusions even after some months more," he said.) And I say: why didn't you admit that last week, you pathetic little fuck.

03-21-2003, 12:31 PM	#5
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Shepps, what are you going to do now that CNN has been reportedly booted from Baghdad?

03-21-2003, 12:37 PM	#6
dave Guest Posts: n/a	I think it's pretty obvious from his links that CNN isn't his only news source. The joke is getting old. Let's cut it out already.

03-21-2003, 12:40 PM	#7
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Hans Blix was on CBC this morning. A few notes from that: --Though Iraq was cooperative on the surface, they were uncooperative on "substance." --Blix noted that the buildup of COW forces (that's coalition of the willing) helped the inspectors. Former UN S-C Boutros Boutros-Ghali was on CBC yesterday, and answered some questions from the press during a news conference. When asked about the legality of the war, he responded that we should wait and see how the forces are welcomed by the Iraqis, and that this war could be a positive thing if the troops are indeed welcomed. And from the BBC: "Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov says he plans to approach the United Nations legal department and ask them to declare the war illegal." Is that right? No problem...let's have them also investigate Chechnya.

03-21-2003, 01:05 PM	#9
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Right now in the fog of war, there isn't any difference between any of the news channels. All have images of a tiny, miniscule part of what's going on in a tiny section of Baghdad. All have embedded reporters trying vainly to give you a feel for what's going on -- and failing. All feature live coverage of the Pentagon and White House and a crawl of headlines that don't tell you anything, with a stock market indicator (Dow up 150, Nas up 10).

03-21-2003, 01:17 PM	#11
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	I just liked using the acronym COW...not meant to be demeaning towards the troops...just me being silly. UT, I agree with you except for the part about the embedded reporters. I personally thought the two I was watching last night (David Bloom and Kerry Sanders of MSNBC) gave some great insight. Even though they weren't showing any real combat, it gave me a concept of what it's really like out in the middle of East Jesus (the deserts of Southern Iraq). Not to mention, David Bloom's description of what they had to go through to get into Southern Iraq from Kuwait was surprising, for I personally didn't realize it would be that tough, other than an electrical fence. The coolest thing I saw was what appeared to be a Bedouin waving to the troops as they drove by (though it could have been an open-hand curse).

03-21-2003, 01:28 PM	#13
dave Guest Posts: n/a	From MSNBC: <i>One little boy, who had chocolate melted all over his face after a soldier gave him some treats from his ration kit, kept pointing at the sky, saying “Ameriki, Ameriki.”</i>

03-21-2003, 01:29 PM	#14
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	I know that in Greek culture, waving with an open hand is considered a curse. And IIRC, showing the bottom of your shoe/foot is a curse in Arabic culture. Watch what you say Wolf...next thing you know, there will be immersion classes in Arabic.

03-21-2003, 01:42 PM	#15
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Dave's post and Boutros-Ghali's remarks got me thinking... I personally think that most Iraqi people are grateful that we are invading the country. But I'm wondering...will some (particularly outside of Iraq) say that things such as what Dave posted are staged? I personally don't think they are (too terribly much at least), but IIRC, someone in the Iraqi government earlier today apparently said that pictures of Iraqi troops surrendering were staged...so I'm wondering if this war is going to go more psychological than it already has.

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