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U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/23/2007 8:06:44 AM   
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U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts
By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press WriterSat Sep 22, 4:11 PM ET



Six Humvees rolled into one of the poor neighborhoods that share Baghdad's northern fringe with groves of date palms, and school teacher Mustafa Hassan climbed out to tears, hugs and kisses.

Hassan had been detained by the U.S. military for five months on suspicion of involvement in insurgent activity, but his innocence was championed by an American paratrooper lieutenant and now he was being delivered home with respect.

In this remote corner of Baghdad, soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade, many on their third Iraq tour, are trying to leave their mark in a war defined as much by perceptions of conduct as by battlefield exploits.
Hassan's case illustrates the competing needs of quelling violence and reaching out to Iraqis.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070922/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_outreach_paratroopers;_ylt=Al0a8oBQPLf2PbDIHGViTA0LewgF

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/23/2007 8:10:06 AM   
Owner59


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To little ,way to late.

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/23/2007 8:11:40 AM   
farglebargle


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Propaganda.

What about all the other prisoners held without trial?

While this is a nice story, of course, I'd say it diminishes the plight of people STILL HELD without counsel or charge.

If it was "Fair and Balanced", it would list the name of each and every prisoner denied due process.





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It's not every generation that gets to watch a civilization fall. Looks like we're in for a hell of a show.

ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוקינו, ריבון העולמים, מי יוצר צמחים ריחניים

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/23/2007 8:14:40 AM   
BruisedHick


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Ironically, Hassan's family was not there to greet him, as they were all still being detained for collaborating with him.

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Guess who?

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/23/2007 8:25:20 AM   
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quote:

ORIGINAL: BruisedHick

Ironically, Hassan's family was not there to greet him, as they were all still being detained for collaborating with him.


quote:

"The first thing I did today was to look at the sky and see what the weather was like," Hassan said, sitting next to his mother in a living room filled with family, close relatives and the paratroopers.


_____________________________

Fake the heat and scratch the itch
Skinned up knees and salty lips
Let go it's harder holding on
One more trip and I'll be gone

~~ Stone Temple Pilots

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/23/2007 8:29:38 AM   
Absolutemaster


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quote:



In this remote corner of Baghdad, soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade are trying to leave their mark in a war defined as much by perceptions of conduct as by battlefield exploits.




Would it not be better to leave no mark?

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/23/2007 8:36:48 AM   
MasterKalif


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Owner59

To little ,way to late.


I couldn't agree more.

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/23/2007 9:12:08 AM   
BruisedHick


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Level

quote:

ORIGINAL: BruisedHick

Ironically, Hassan's family was not there to greet him, as they were all still being detained for collaborating with him.


quote:

"The first thing I did today was to look at the sky and see what the weather was like," Hassan said, sitting next to his mother in a living room filled with family, close relatives and the paratroopers.



I was kinda joking, hinting at the fact that Hassan may have gotten off, but thousands are still in the same prison he was in, more likely than not people he got to be friends with.

I would say chances are very good that he is now on our payroll to make sure he says the right things about his time in.

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/23/2007 12:13:53 PM   
farglebargle


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What are the chances he gets lynched for working with the occupiers?



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It's not every generation that gets to watch a civilization fall. Looks like we're in for a hell of a show.

ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוקינו, ריבון העולמים, מי יוצר צמחים ריחניים

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/24/2007 7:11:42 AM   
xBullx


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You know some of you self important, all knowing , SOB's would bitch about being handed a chest of gold pieces. (Who’d you steal these from, I wanted more, this piece is tarnished) Blah, blah, blah......what the fuck have you done to further any cause that has not simply resorted to idle complaining and mindless banter?

Too little to late? Why weren't you over there (Iraq) or in Washington getting this right from the start?  Sure there is an element of propaganda in this. When you come home late and had stopped for a cold one and forgot to do something you told the old lady you would do, you go into your own propaganda mode. Some call it playing politics, others propaganda. And it's never too late to try and get things right. While I don't see the world from the half empty and leaking glass point of view as some do, I do have a sense of reality.

What a pathetic comment the lynched one is. So the fact that some power mad asshole would lynch someone to try and suppress their freedom is the 82nd Airborne Divisions fault? You have filled yourself with so much hate for your own; in fact those very own that man the shields you hide yourself behind. You refuse to even look past your eagerness to see their defeat just so you can be right about something. Just so you can have power. So what makes you any better than any damn one else.

On behalf of my fellow Airborne Warriors that you have scoffed at with your ridiculous and repetitive comments I offer you my right ass cheek. Kiss when ready Sphincterites. (a new word inspired by you kids)

Bull

Recon!!!


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I'm not an asshole; I'm simply resolute...

"A Republic, If You Can Keep It."

Caution: My humor is a bit skewed.

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/24/2007 10:07:05 AM   
farglebargle


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Maybe the BEST thing to do is just come home and stop fucking shit up more?

Remember, EVERY soldier killed TODAY is dead because YOU did not bring them home YESTERDAY.

How many more dead do YOU want? The choice is yours. You want NO MORE DEAD?, then BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW.



< Message edited by farglebargle -- 9/24/2007 10:09:45 AM >


_____________________________

It's not every generation that gets to watch a civilization fall. Looks like we're in for a hell of a show.

ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוקינו, ריבון העולמים, מי יוצר צמחים ריחניים

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/24/2007 10:12:28 AM   
xBullx


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But then again maybe that isn't a sound option either.

If dead Americans is your biggest vice in this; why do you neglect to comment on the 300 dead inner city youth that are at WAR with eachother.

Not much political excitement in caring about our kids at home I suppose.



< Message edited by xBullx -- 9/24/2007 10:23:07 AM >


_____________________________

Live well,

Bull



I'm not an asshole; I'm simply resolute...

"A Republic, If You Can Keep It."

Caution: My humor is a bit skewed.

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/24/2007 10:16:47 AM   
farglebargle


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Well, considering all we've done so far is fuck shit up, I would suggest that continuing to meddle is a poor choice.

Remember, when we gave the Iraqis a CHANCE by throwing away more lives of GI's in the "Surge", they scored 17%.

Again, the ones killed tomorrow die because YOU did not bring them home TODAY. How many more dead soldiers will you allow?

SHIT, the Iraqis don't even have the balls to toss the Mercenaries out of their country. They're no threat, there's no reason for us to be there.



< Message edited by farglebargle -- 9/24/2007 10:18:10 AM >


_____________________________

It's not every generation that gets to watch a civilization fall. Looks like we're in for a hell of a show.

ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוקינו, ריבון העולמים, מי יוצר צמחים ריחניים

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/24/2007 10:39:19 AM   
sachiaiko


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Bull,

While I understand whole heartedly your desire to stand up for your "peeps", i think you're misunderstanding the frustration that you are hearing in peoples posts. I dont think anyone is actually upset at the warriors who are out their doing their best, they're upset at the situation. This war has created more amputees then the civil war did, back when teh answer to a gun shot was:
"Um... his arm was shot, whatdo i do?"
:shrugs: "Maybe we should cut it off, at least that way we can control the wound" :
nods: "Yea, good idea, give him that bottle of JD and hand me that hacksaw!"

We have more amputees because of the way this war is faught, with so many explosions, despite the medical care we have available today that wasnt available during the civil war. We have more folks coming home with shell shock, PTSD and other very serious emotional pains but our governement isnt equiped to HELP them. They just don't put as much care into our men and women after they come home, if you catch my meaning.

One can argue all day long that we aren't in washington, and how dare we judge what we couldn't possibly know.  Well, we are talking about he group of people who said "Waterboarding" *wasn't* torture. Have you been waterboarded recently? Yes, its torture, sorry folks! The truth is this war isnt gonna be won the way we're fighting it. I personally have some one dear to me, a submissive, who is fighting in a war right now in Iraq who got in under the belief they would help him with school. Sadly, after some research, i found out that you have almost 80 percent BETTER odds of getting school paid for by grants and scholarships as a private cit than you do in the military, which doesnt actually give you enough to finish HALF of a degree *yes, really, and that's something they lie about regularly to young recruits to get them to join up. As happened to my fella.*

Its time to STOP blindly applauding a governement who is sending our young warriors off to die, without hope of help, support, care or financial gain when they get home. The guys over their fighting for private company make 5 times what our warriors make, *5* times or more! Hello!

okay, lets stop and think for a minute. Iraq is a tiny country - its about the size of an average state, right? Maybe as big as Washington state. Imagine how many of our troops are there in such a small place, and how this war is being faught? how can they beat these tactics? It doesnt work.

I personally a proud to say that i support our troops - I do NOT support this war. I couldn't support the war if i supported our troops. They need to come home, Bull.

As for the rest of you, while you may be right in the basis of what you're saying, you do it with such flippant ease that men like Bull who have personal experience feel slighted, despite the fact it was not a personal slight to him. Its always good to remember, the troopers and men and woman who are over there ARE heros cause they are fighting a war they cant win, put their by a governement that the majority of them dont even agree with even if they once did to begin with, they are simply doing the best with a shitty situation - like those troopers who helped that man.

Just remember, when you speak in a manner which may be percieved as negative towards our troops you will get a poor response, whether that was your intention or not. The war sucks, but the majority of the guys over their are doing their best. They need our support, and even if they never read this thread, the energy of what you say affects them, i believe that whole heartedly, so focus on possitive energy, like bringing them home to their families and loved ones.

Be well, folks.

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/24/2007 11:20:17 AM   
xBullx


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Fargle, I'm of the opinion that you need a hug...

Lifes greatest paradox lives in the fact that it is indeed filled with death...

While I am in no way a proponent of this war or any war for that matter, I am also a man of my word and simply because the road traveled has become rocky and a difficult trek I will not compromise my principles, values and integrity as a man and the guardian of my word.

I am a man of the United States, we set forth on a journey to make the world a bit safer after we were attacked by an enemy. I do have the sense to realize that W and his staff have committed errors, they also seem to be trying to make ammends. His opponents will work tirerlessly to discredit any positive and have nothing positive to add. Until W is dethroned I owe him not only my voice of discontent, but also my pledge of support to this nation, my nation, the nation of all Americans. Hense with this honor bares the responsibility of our actions or proposed inactions. Just bare in mind that it was the inaction and bungles of prior administrations that inspired the attacks of 9-11.

I have a son in Iraq as we speak, I have another son that will most likely be in Iraq or Afganistan in the spring, I sir understand all to well the facts and consequences of prior transgretions, but I assure you that your turning our backs on the lives we have exposed to violence in Iraq that our credibility will only suffer more as members of the world community and in fact the human race.

While this will most likely fall upon deaf ears on your behalf, I am sure that my words do not service a negative purpose.

Bull

To the OP, pardon the hijack.............

< Message edited by xBullx -- 9/24/2007 11:41:46 AM >


_____________________________

Live well,

Bull



I'm not an asshole; I'm simply resolute...

"A Republic, If You Can Keep It."

Caution: My humor is a bit skewed.

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/24/2007 1:24:35 PM   
xBullx


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quote:

ORIGINAL: sachiaiko

Bull,

While I understand whole heartedly your desire to stand up for your "peeps", i think you're misunderstanding the frustration that you are hearing in peoples posts. I dont think anyone is actually upset at the warriors who are out their doing their best, they're upset at the situation. This war has created more amputees then the civil war did, back when teh answer to a gun shot was:
"Um... his arm was shot, whatdo i do?"
:shrugs: "Maybe we should cut it off, at least that way we can control the wound" :
nods: "Yea, good idea, give him that bottle of JD and hand me that hacksaw!"

We have more amputees because of the way this war is faught, with so many explosions, despite the medical care we have available today that wasnt available during the civil war. We have more folks coming home with shell shock, PTSD and other very serious emotional pains but our governement isnt equiped to HELP them. They just don't put as much care into our men and women after they come home, if you catch my meaning.



Greetings Sachiaiko,

While I concur with you in great measure that our warriors should be tendered to in much greater degree. The VA and it's Hopitals are political agendas at best. The politicians and our nations well to do only care about them when they are trying to quell the tide of the natives when they are annoyed. I for one would love to see a push to better reward and care for the warriors of this nation.

While I can appriciate your comments about Civil War Health care, there is also a realized notion or perhaps fact, that many of our amputees of today would have been deaths in even WWII. So that would explain the larger number, but again that doesn't help a man deal with his newfound loss. Many may feel less the man as a result and with technoligy what it is, why do we not have a concerted effort for the developement of top notch robotic limbs and such. So as you you see I have also pondered on these topics. I also agree that our NATION, not just administration has fell short on facing the truths.

But again, the war is now a reality, we can't loose our stomach now because it got hard, we need to become inovative and more efficient, and not just as our Armies, but also our homeland. The world is no longer that place where we could hide behind great Oceans. To bury your head in the sand and hope it will go away won't fix it.

We must first find leaders that aren't lead and enfluenced by greed and power. (I know that will be close to impossible in itself, but that's what we have to do) We must hold ourselves accountable as men and a nation. We have responsibilities like it or not. Our word and honor has to matter to us. If not, this and future problems with those that think they can disrupt our nation enough to take advantage of it for their own gain will be on our doorstep time and again.

quote:


One can argue all day long that we aren't in washington, and how dare we judge what we couldn't possibly know.  Well, we are talking about he group of people who said "Waterboarding" *wasn't* torture. Have you been waterboarded recently? Yes, its torture, sorry folks! The truth is this war isnt gonna be won the way we're fighting it. I personally have some one dear to me, a submissive, who is fighting in a war right now in Iraq who got in under the belief they would help him with school. Sadly, after some research, i found out that you have almost 80 percent BETTER odds of getting school paid for by grants and scholarships as a private cit than you do in the military, which doesnt actually give you enough to finish HALF of a degree *yes, really, and that's something they lie about regularly to young recruits to get them to join up. As happened to my fella.*

Its time to STOP blindly applauding a governement who is sending our young warriors off to die, without hope of help, support, care or financial gain when they get home. The guys over their fighting for private company make 5 times what our warriors make, *5* times or more! Hello!



How about a novel approach for once. We're in this war. Children in a country that didn't ask us to invade are in MORTAL danger. We can cut and run and then turn off our nightly news when they show the horrible scenes of men, women and children being murdered, and worse. We can pretend they would have done that whether we were there or not. We can pretend that it is their history and we had no part in it, which perhaps we don't, but we have a future in it. And it moves well beyond some damn barrel of oil. We have a chance to get it right  this time or just tuck tail and run again.

Now here's my not so novel new approach. Let's protest the corruption within our own government. Let's vote the good ole boys out. Let's reclaim the country that Ben, George, John and a host of others left in OUR charge.

quote:



okay, lets stop and think for a minute. Iraq is a tiny country - its about the size of an average state, right? Maybe as big as Washington state. Imagine how many of our troops are there in such a small place, and how this war is being faught? how can they beat these tactics? It doesnt work.

I personally a proud to say that i support our troops - I do NOT support this war. I couldn't support the war if i supported our troops. They need to come home, Bull.

As for the rest of you, while you may be right in the basis of what you're saying, you do it with such flippant ease that men like Bull who have personal experience feel slighted, despite the fact it was not a personal slight to him. Its always good to remember, the troopers and men and woman who are over there ARE heros cause they are fighting a war they cant win, put their by a governement that the majority of them dont even agree with even if they once did to begin with, they are simply doing the best with a shitty situation - like those troopers who helped that man.

Just remember, when you speak in a manner which may be percieved as negative towards our troops you will get a poor response, whether that was your intention or not. The war sucks, but the majority of the guys over their are doing their best. They need our support, and even if they never read this thread, the energy of what you say affects them, i believe that whole heartedly, so focus on possitive energy, like bringing them home to their families and loved ones.

Be well, folks.


Thanks for your support for the warriors of our nation. I think its time we did a little more warrior like work here at home. The biggest enemies lives within each of us.....Appathy, ignorance, greed and vanity.

Live well,

Bull

_____________________________

Live well,

Bull



I'm not an asshole; I'm simply resolute...

"A Republic, If You Can Keep It."

Caution: My humor is a bit skewed.

(in reply to sachiaiko)
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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/24/2007 4:15:42 PM   
Sinergy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: xBullx

If dead Americans is your biggest vice in this; why do you neglect to comment on the 300 dead inner city youth that are at WAR with eachother.



Well, I have taught full-contact self defense and conflict deescalation skills to hundreds of inner city kids.  I have also worked at summer camps for kid's at risk.  Throw in my student teaching experience.  Installing computer systems in inner city schools.

Do those count?

Sinergy

p.s.  What farglebargle said about the US people dying in Iraq is true; their blood is on your hands for supporting them being over there.

p.p.s.  What exactly have you done for inner city kids?

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RE: U.S. paratroopers seek to win hearts - 9/25/2007 12:58:28 AM   
UtopianRanger


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quote:


SHIT, the Iraqis don't even have the balls to toss the Mercenaries out of their country. They're no threat, there's no reason for us to be there.


That's an excellent observation.



- R


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"If you are going to win any battle, you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do... the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."

-General George S. Patton


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