OT: Why are Some Folks A.holes?

[Guest guest]

That's what I was wondering about, thanks Butch. I saw the plight of the

Baghdad zoo animals last night. I saw that the troops were trying to help the

animals. Reminded me of the abandoned animals at Sarajevo.

 

Then I started thinking are we going to be criticized for helping the zoo

animals more than the humans?

 

Talk about a lot of second 'guessing'/thinking that's going to be happening

right now and now for a long time. I was immediately gasping for breath when I

saw our soldier put the American flag on the statue.

 

Dale

-

Butch Owen

Thursday, April 17, 2003 12:18 PM

 

OT: Why are Some Folks A.holes?

 

 

I'm not gonna

play Monday Morning Quarterback and I reckon there will be some valid

justification for some of the apparent failures .. but for now, and till

I hear that justification, I believe that we failed in that regard.

 

I also believe there will be some reckoning on this .. some feet will be

held to the fire .. and I think that will be justified. Planning must

take into account all variables .. gotta have a backup plan for each of

the backup plans. We have Civil Affair Teams whose sole responsibility

is to deal with issues like Monuments, Archieves, National Treasures;

Fire Protection, Law Enforcement, Prison Operations; Health Services and

Hospitals; Banking and Commerce Operations. It appears that NONE of the

teams were on the ground and appears that there was either no planning

or no execution of the planning for these MANDATORY missions.

 

Y'all keep smiling, Butch

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Jackie,

 

I hate to give the impression that I have all the answers .. and that

might be the impression as I am again replying .. but lemme give you my

personal opinion of this.

 

> Why I keep asking myself, after being liberated, would people loot

> and steal. They should be grateful.

 

They are probably grateful .. though they might not have yet figured out

to whom they should be grateful. As for why folks loot .. its a fact

that some folks are just naturally assholes who will take advantage of

any opportunity to get ahead without having to pay a penalty. But I'm

thinking that most of those in Iraq are caught up in a riot mentality.

Follow the crowd and relieve yourself of the frustration that has built

up for 25 plus years .. perhaps all your life.

 

A wounded heart hardens as it heals .. I've seen this in many Emerging

and Third World countries. Look at the Greeks yesterday .. throwing gas

bombs at the police because they were protesting the EU .. lost in the

middle of a crowd one can lose their identity and forget that they are

responsible for their own actions.

 

Here in Turkey .. where protest is not yet refined to a point where the

individuals feel comfortable marching .. folks take out frustrations

when driving .. they drive like friggin maniacs .. those who would be

the most hospitable folks you've ever met if you visit their homes ..

and would give you a carpet as a gift if you greatly admired it .. will

not give you the courtesy of taking a breath when the light turns yellow

and will not allow you to enter traffic if it impedes their progress.

Its screams and hand movements and horn blowing .. they use their cars

as weapons.

 

And following football games .. they take to the streets and celebrate

like maniacs. Thousands of folks in crowds the police don't even try to

interfere with. They stop traffic .. might bounce your car a bit on the

springs .. all in fun .. no anger .. just civil disobedience. Its an

acceptable way to relieve pent-up frustrations.

 

> What do they really think of the Americans? Is that gratitude?

 

I doubt that they have the sophistication to understand what really

drives their train right now. I also understand that those who are

looting are a minority and the more civilized population is angry at

what their fellow citizens are doing. Iraqis are not your typical

ignorant Arab who follows the rules of the local Imam .. nor are the

Iranians .. the Iranians (though not really Arabs) have a sophisticated

and well-educated society though its overshadowed now by a bunch of

ignorant, narrow-minded fanatics who call themselves Holy Men.

 

> Everything I see them steal is not food. Are they selling this stuff

> and to whom? Jackie

 

I'm sure a Black Market quickly developed there .. it'll happen any time

there are needs that haven't been met. I remember the early days here

in Turkey where anything American had a high price on the Black Market

but today there is no such market as they produce everything we do.

 

I will take time to criticize what I see as some shortcomings in the

military operation and I'm sure that will shock some folks. ;-p This

operation will go down in history as one of the most brillently planned

and executed tactical operations of our time .. but they stepped on it,

methinks, from a stand-point of Civil Affairs Operations. I'm not gonna

play Monday Morning Quarterback and I reckon there will be some valid

justification for some of the apparent failures .. but for now, and till

I hear that justification, I believe that we failed in that regard.

 

I also believe there will be some reckoning on this .. some feet will be

held to the fire .. and I think that will be justified. Planning must

take into account all variables .. gotta have a backup plan for each of

the backup plans. We have Civil Affair Teams whose sole responsibility

is to deal with issues like Monuments, Archieves, National Treasures;

Fire Protection, Law Enforcement, Prison Operations; Health Services and

Hospitals; Banking and Commerce Operations. It appears that NONE of the

teams were on the ground and appears that there was either no planning

or no execution of the planning for these MANDATORY missions.

 

Y'all keep smiling, Butch