Report from Occupied Iraq- "We Don't Want the Army USA"

[Tinoire]

Report from Occupied Iraq
"We Don't Want the Army USA"

February 5, 2004

By KHURY PETERSEN-SMITH

<snip>

WE MET with people from the Occupation Watch center, who designed our itinerary and accompanied us during the week. Our first arranged meeting was with an Iraqi family who lost a loved one to U.S. forces. The family invited us into their home, and the brother of the man who was murdered told us the story.

The U.S. troops came at 3 a.m. They used two tanks to block off the street where the home that they planned to raid was. The soldiers moved in, one of them kicking down the outside door of the house.

The man who lived there, Ahmed Khalif Salman, opened the front door, and a soldier shot him in the chest immediately. The soldiers brought him--still alive--outside to lie bleeding in the front yard. Then, the soldiers ordered everyone out of the house and ransacked it, stealing money and jewelry, and breaking furniture.

<snip>

I saw no evidence of reconstruction whatsoever, and it appears that all U.S. forces are doing in Baghdad is conducting patrols and house raids, killing and detaining people. The only aircraft in the sky are U.S. helicopters or airplanes, flying overhead with guns aimed at the people below.

<snip>

Most of the Iraqis I met told me that the occupation has gotten much worse since the invasion, and they believe that there is still worse to come. This is why we in the United States must demand an end to the occupation. There can be no compromise: U.S. out now!

http://www.counterpunch.org/smith02052004.html

[Tinoire]

1. Meanwhile, over at Free Republic

Bush praises U.S. troops for illustrating tolerance
Washington Times ^

President Bush heaped praise on U.S. military forces during the National Prayer Breakfast yesterday, saying American troops are illustrating "the great American tradition of religious tolerance" by some of their deeds in Iraq.

<snip>

"Our troops have helped to refurbish mosques, have treated Muslim clerics with deference and are mindful of Islam's holy days. Some of our troops are Muslims themselves, because America welcomes people of every faith," he said.

<snip>

"America's armed forces have shown great skill in battle, perseverance under extremely difficult conditions," he said. "They've also shown the best of our country in other ways as well. The world has seen the kind of people America sends forth from our towns and neighborhoods, who serve in freedom's cause.

"They are the sort of people who when the fighting is done, are kind and compassionate toward innocent citizens. And their compassion, as much as their courage, has made this country proud," he added.

<snip>

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040205-115108-7394r.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1072492/posts

[Columbia]

2. Hmm...

A guy spends just a week in Baghdad as a writer for Socialist Worker, is a member of Campus Antiwar Network, and is given a guided tour by Occupation Watch and you expect the report to be comprehensive and unbiased?

I think not.

[Legate]

3. ...

Propaganda, almost as bad the crap coming from bushco.

[tkmorris]

4. Perhaps not

But it is an interesting contrast to the reports we normally get. I would point out that our usual media has as much or more incentive to lie as this guy does, though in an opposite direction.

[G_j]

6. there are soldiers

who tell almost the exact same story. So yes I believe it. Every day they are there they are hated more.
It's a crime and a complete disgrace!

[truthspeaker]

5. It's nice to see this report, but what does this mean?

"The occupation has gotten much worse since the invasion."

The occupations STARTED after the invasion. You can't really occupy a country unless you invade it first.