09-12-2003, 06:29 PM
Where is the injustice?
And the black head gear issue is unfortunately not sufficient when pressed hard enough unless a clear association with that head gear, as opposed to all other black colored head gear in theatre is both declared and made. A black rag head is not sufficient protection from being assumed a spy or saboteur. The unit marking bit really is important.
For example, the Rangers used to be the only force in the US Army who wore a black beret, but it was more than a black hat: it had clearly identifying insignia on it.
As to the "public curiosity" in re Iraqi prisoners, I can only tell you to blame the media. In each case that I saw, but I probably did not see them all, the embedded media was taking initiative and, IMO, violating their RoE with the units on the ground. It stopped pretty quickly, and to claim that the long range shots of the PoW's in pens is "exposing the prisoners to public curiosity," is bizarre: You live in the 21st century, and the media the world over have about no ethics. How about you take a reality check?
Let's see, Al Jazera guys do live interviews on PoW's and film a few getting shot.
And the US showed captured folks, and then captured folks in pens from range, and you cry foul? Yeah, there is a really fair and balanced point of view, you ought to go work for Sean Hannady at Fox News, he'd love ya! :)
All that blather aside, the point you raise is not insignificant: what changes first, the rules, or the precedent that forces a rule change?
Me, I never for a moment thought there was any value added to showing Iraqi prisoners, but for the world to see a well constructed pen that is IAW Geneva rules, (both US and NATO doctrine are IAW with that.) It's wrong to show folks that you are abiding by the rules?
Humorous: that's what the information war is all about, and that piece has been in turbulence since about 1945 or so.
And the black head gear issue is unfortunately not sufficient when pressed hard enough unless a clear association with that head gear, as opposed to all other black colored head gear in theatre is both declared and made. A black rag head is not sufficient protection from being assumed a spy or saboteur. The unit marking bit really is important.
For example, the Rangers used to be the only force in the US Army who wore a black beret, but it was more than a black hat: it had clearly identifying insignia on it.
As to the "public curiosity" in re Iraqi prisoners, I can only tell you to blame the media. In each case that I saw, but I probably did not see them all, the embedded media was taking initiative and, IMO, violating their RoE with the units on the ground. It stopped pretty quickly, and to claim that the long range shots of the PoW's in pens is "exposing the prisoners to public curiosity," is bizarre: You live in the 21st century, and the media the world over have about no ethics. How about you take a reality check?
Let's see, Al Jazera guys do live interviews on PoW's and film a few getting shot.
And the US showed captured folks, and then captured folks in pens from range, and you cry foul? Yeah, there is a really fair and balanced point of view, you ought to go work for Sean Hannady at Fox News, he'd love ya! :)
All that blather aside, the point you raise is not insignificant: what changes first, the rules, or the precedent that forces a rule change?
Me, I never for a moment thought there was any value added to showing Iraqi prisoners, but for the world to see a well constructed pen that is IAW Geneva rules, (both US and NATO doctrine are IAW with that.) It's wrong to show folks that you are abiding by the rules?
Humorous: that's what the information war is all about, and that piece has been in turbulence since about 1945 or so.
Cry 'Havoc' and let slip the Men 'O War!
In War, the outcome is never final. --Carl von Clausewitz--
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
John 11:35 - consider why.
In Memory of Pete
In War, the outcome is never final. --Carl von Clausewitz--
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
John 11:35 - consider why.
In Memory of Pete