Thursday, October 19, 2006

What Not To Do

This picture show soldiers detaining an Iraqi male, but it also shows a problem. Micheal Shaw comments on the photo, and wonders if we need fresh commanders.


Note that the male is blindfolded and the family is looking on. We were taught that it shames and dishonors an Iraqi to humiliate the male in front of others, especially in front of the family. Making the male powerless would be humiliating. Once dishonored, to regain the honor the Iraqi must take some action against the Americans. This usually takes the form of an attack.

It is a reason that so many Iraqis are willing to attack US forces. We keep making enemies. This results in a pool of young men that are willing to emplace an IED, or fire off a clip from an AK-47. The insurgents hire somone to go dig a hole, and someone else to emplace the explosive, and someone else to wire it, etc. A way to make a few bucks and to strike a blow to regain honor.

So, perhaps the training didn't filter down to these troops, or perhaps they're tired and don't care. Both things happened in my unit, and we had to continue to reinforce the training.

On in interesting side note, you might recall from early in the insurgency when a young Iraqi would pop up, unload a clip, firing wildly, mostly in the air, and then duck down. Many of us assumed this was just silly and undisciplined, and chalked it up to the idea that Iraqis are so fatalistic that if Allah wants the bullets to hit, he will make it happen and all they have to do is pull the trigger. I learned recently that sometimes this wild shooting was the Iraqi wanting to do something to regain honor, but not really wanting to hury anyone. So he might shoot some rounds in the general direction of Americans, but trying not to hit them.

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