The idiots have our soldiers patrolling Iraq on foot, as a gesture . . .

[bigtree]

US troops patrol Baghdad on foot



By Ross Colvin

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. troops are patrolling the streets in some Baghdad neighborhoods on foot in a new bid to win the trust of Iraqis, an unusual sight for many residents more used to seeing them travel in armored vehicle convoys.

Taking a more personal approach to Iraqis long critical of heavy handed tactics is part of the strategy aimed at reclaiming Baghdad's most dangerous neighborhoods from insurgents and easing communal strife.

Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Peterson, commander of the First Squadron, 14th U.S. Cavalry, whose unit usually travels in Stryker armored vehicles, had dismounted to talk to residents while his men and Iraqi police swept the neighborhood for illegal weapons.

"Certainly there is a renewed emphasis on troops interacting with the people," he said when asked whether the U.S. military was adopting a new tactic with the foot patrols.

Since arriving two weeks ago, two Strykers have been hit by roadside bombs, causing no major damage, and several others have been shot at, soldiers said. The unit's base has also been rocketed and mortared. Foot patrols are far more risky.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-08-17T140920Z_01_GEO662226_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-BAGHDAD.xml&archived=False

[mmonk]

1. Hhhhhmmm. I think the propaganda part of the war

may have run its course and all we are doing is combining angry inhabitants with on edge soldiers. In other words, we are making our service people into walking targets.

[bigtree]

7. Way too late for this

and, we're making the same mistake over and over, expecting our soldiers to do the work of diplomacy. Ass backwards and counterproductive. The anger at their prescence will far outmatch any 'goodwill' that might come from their friendly talk.

[wtmusic]

2. Good

in the long run.

[bigtree]

4. of course, we're desperately hoping there won't be a 'long run'

involving our troops in Iraq

[lectrobyte]

3. A kindler, gentler occupying force... I'm sure if the situation were

reversed, what would the Wolverines do when they spot foot patrols in their neighborhoods? They must be getting desperate if they are catapulting this propaganda now...

[peace13]

5. It is more likely that our machinery has failed

or has been destroyed. Peace, Kim

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. It's easier to collect the bouquets of flowers from the grateful citizens.

I'm sure the Iraqis just love having heavily armed foreigners shooting up their neighborhoods and arresting the survivors.

[ugarte]

8. Ulterior motive: too damn hot inside the Humvees...

If it's 120 outside, what must it be inside a hunk of steel? I think I'd rather walk, too.

[bigtree]

9. This isn't what the reports says, of course.

This is a backward attempt to repair what they are actively breaking, with our soldiers at the point of their Iraq politics.

[Jacobin]

10. "Hi, I'm an invading infidel and I'm here to help you."

:rofl:

:rofl:

I'm sure this will go over really really well.

[KansDem]

11. "Cop on the beat" mentallity...

Rattle those doorknobs!

[bigtree]

13. much more

[KansDem]

17. Of course, our troops don't deserve this...

Perhaps I should have used the "sarcasm" label in post no. 11. It's just that we are now bogged down in a "police action." Using our troops for this will only result in more casualties. I remember Vietnam as a "police action." I watched on TV every night (when TV used to report this kind of thing) as more and more Americans were slaughtered so we could have "peace with honor." We lost that war; we lost this war, and patrolling the streets like "cops on the beat" isn't going to turn it into a victory. In WWII, we defeated German, Italy, and Japan in less time than we've been in Iraq.

Our troops don't deserve this.

[harlinchi]

12. So how's that resupply of armored Hummers and Strykers goin'? n/t

[Rex_Goodheart]

14. Hey...

What's the big deal... they're all fungible.

[paparush]

15. Makes it harder to blow up the HMV's and trucks when the grunts

are walkin....

[bigtree]

16. trucks and HMV's are expendable . . .