American media also should take note.
Defense Secretary John Reid urged the public Monday not to condemn British troops in Iraq, after video footage emerged showing soldiers beating Iraqi protesters.
While insisting he was not excusing abusive actions, Reid called for greater understanding of the severe pressures faced by troops serving in the country. In a speech at King's College, London, he attacked "armchair critics" who passed judgment based on the actions of a few while ignoring the good work of the many.
"We expect our people to uphold the highest standards of behavior and when they fail we will act, quite rightly," he said.
"But they also have the right to expect everyone else, whose safety is dependent upon them, to consider the environment in which they are operating before we pass judgment from the safety of a television studio, from the green benches of parliament or from the comfort of an armchair," he said.
1
Faith & begorrah, all the whining and wanking about some limey soldiers dishing out a little arse-whuppin' in Iraq makes me sick to me gullet with disgust.
Growing up in Northern Ireland you weren't considered a man until you had a British boot upside your head at least once. In fact we called it the Belfast Bar Mitzvah.
So you bleedin' heart should quit your whinin', the squaddies could have been shooting them li'l Iraqi bastards.
Pogue mahone and Free Ireland!
Posted by: Paddy O'Seamus the Northern Irish Stereotype at February 20, 2006 04:36 PM (69B7C)
2
Paddy makes a good point; why is it nobody ever shed any tears over the British brutalities in Ireland? Maybe because they're white people? Nah...
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at February 20, 2006 05:53 PM (0yYS2)
3
Paddy and IM: My Irish barber and I have had exactly that story and similar ones such as that over the years. Basically, we're both just sick and tired of whiney pukes of any flavor, especially the ones doin' it for the sake of the TV camera's. Don't show any cartoons or beheadings though. Panties on my head or no head for panties to be on....hmm. Survey says.........! Assume the worst, we'll not sort out the retractions at a later date.
Posted by: forest hunter at February 20, 2006 07:45 PM (Fq6zR)
4
What is really annoying is that this story will now dominate the media. We can expect hours of commentary criticizing the entire military coalition in Iraq. So while the mainstream media tries to condemn the rebuilding of Iraq, and veers away from daily progress being made in Iraq, I hope there will be some voices out there (thank you Progress For America!) reiterating the stories of new schools, roads and the foundation for a new Iraq.
Posted by: GoldenBear at February 20, 2006 08:43 PM (ymIn9)
5
Those British soldiers are not police officers any more than our troops are. They are trained to kill, not deal with an unruly public. Those Iraqis are lucky to be alive if you ask me.
Posted by: Jack's Smirking Revenge at February 21, 2006 04:16 AM (CtVG6)
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The only way to deal with muslims is to kill them and bury them covered in pigshit.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at February 21, 2006 05:26 AM (0yYS2)
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