Canuck hunting season opens in Iraq
From AFP via Common Dreams:
The US military shot at the Canadian ambassador's car in Baghdad but no-one was hurt in the "unfortunate incident," a US State department official said.
"There was an incident involving the (US) military and the Canadian ambassador's car today," a State Department official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. "They shot on it."
...
Four passengers were riding in the vehicle, including Stewart Henderson, Canada's charge d'affaires in Iraq, when US soldiers fired on it "after it reportedly wouldn't stop," Canada's CTV News reported.
The vehicle was apparently travelling alone in the heavily fortified Green Zone when it came across an American military convoy and tried to pass it, the report said.
Members of the US Army's 4th Infantry Divisions gave the driver hand signals to stop. When the car did not, they shot over it, then at it.
"Finally they plugged the car with three rounds. Two went through the hood into the engine block. One shot went through the lower part of the windshield," CTV said.
posted by Unknown at 8:59 am
13 Comments:
There are rules for shooting at vehicles. Notice the article talked abou waving the vehicle off, then firing warning shots before firing at the vehicle? That is standard practice over here in order to keep the threat of vehicle borne IEDs from detonating on a military convoy. That Soldier most likely had no idea that the truck had Canadians in it. Soldiers aren't too trigger happy, they just protect themselves.
As a canadian, I am outraged! No, not really. I don't blame the soldiers from shooting at the car. The driver and passangers should have known better. Looks like they gave the vehicle ample warning before they shot. from their perspective, it could have been an enemy vehicle, possibly even a suicide attempt, one filled with explosives. At least no one was hurt.
I dont know about you, but if a guy with a gun signals me to stop - I stop! It's all about personal responsibility.
Gary
Interesting. I guess it's almost a we said - they said situation at this point.
The U.S. gets itself into a lot of such situations, don't they lorring.
At any rate, I find it hard to believe that any of my countrymen would be so foolish as to get near Americans openly carrying guns.
It is really interesting that given 1 vehicle accident viewd by 5-10 eye witnesses the police will invaribly get 5-10 versions of the event when interviewing said witnesses.
We are here in our chairs, typing away in relative safety. How dare we judge those who know that at any moment their life could be snuffed out by any passing vehicle or person?
Under more ideal conditions one would expect no such incidents. I have to imagine that conditions are far from ideal over there!
Gary
By the Geneva Conventions, that's how we dare, Gary.
Ya dont seem to be able to hear me. The soldier over there trying to stay alive IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT.
I feel for them and support them - the guys like you and me.
The govn. is another issue. Our politicians are not over there dodging bullets and IEDs like maybe they should be.
I think about the soldier who has to make those instant decisions in an effort to stay alive, while people over here on their keyboards group them into the machine of the bad government, and judge them as such.
That is no more right than the war itself!!!!!!!!!!!!
So - on that point I say - You get a Clue!
Gary
I was not going to say this - yet have changed my mind.
My Dad went into the Navy during WWII. He was radioman on the general's flagship. It was NOT his war - he went. HE saw the Kamakazi planes trying to kill him. He was on the ship where Admiral Moon took a 45 to his own head over the Normandy Invasion. He came home from that war and a few years later I was born.
He came home from the war, and yet, in truth, he lost the battle with cancer just and hour and a half ago.
So, yes is support the troops - if not the politicians.
I will now take a 5 hour drive to go be with my Mother, and may be back at this keboard next week.
Gary
Gary, you are not under attack here, I think (or hope at least). Yes, the line "get a clue" is disrespectful (would the person who wrote it please read our comment policy), but let's try not to get at each others throats here.
To all, please try to be as respectful as you would be were you talking face to face.
Very True Djeb.
Sorry I Missed this one. I agree that 'get a clue !' is disrespectful and worthy of being pointed out as such.
As Djeb says . Argue all you like people but lets keep it respectful please.
I agree that being respectful and civil is only right. I would not have returned the line, had I not thought it to be benign enough.
I wonder though, did my point score, or was it missed in the politeness?
Gary
If we can leave behind the mildly insulting comment against you, Gary, I did hear your point. No, soldiers are not their governments. But they are human beings with their own responsibility to behave as such. They can get out if they want to. The worst that's going to happen to them is court martial.
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