When We're Wrong
The Washington Post reported last week that Iraqi Concerned Local Citizens groups in Diyala province were abandoning their posts, citing lack of support from U.S. forces. Leave it to the post to sniff out the cloud in the silver lining. The article asserts:
"Since Feb. 8, thousands of fighters in restive Diyala province have left their posts in order to pressure the government and its American backers to replace the province's Shiite police chief."
But according to this press release, the story was overblown. Of the 11,000 Sons of Iraq and 18,000 Iraqi police in Diyala province, today's press release states:
"Media reports of thousands of Diyala security volunteers refusing to stand their duties were inaccurate. A small number of SoI in East Baquba did temporarily refuse to work, while their disputes were being worked out. At no time did this result in a decreased level of security in the city."
By digging a little deeper, it appears to me that this is actually a positive development. A group of Iraqi concerned citizens had a problem with their municipal leaders, and sat down with those leaders, arriving at an equitable solution for both parties. This is how representative government is supposed to work, isn't it? So the whole issue had very little, if anything, to do with the Americans.
One place where America did screw up - and big time - was in killing an Iraqi youth in an airstrike today in Samarra. You'll probably see that on the Evening news for the next day or two.
Here's what happened: An aerial reconnaissance showed several individuals digging next to a road where things tend to blow up every time American forces drive by. The men were later said to be teenagers digging roots for firewood. But in Iraq, digging by a road is a big, BIG no-no. That's kind of twisted and sad, but remember, the U.S. military didn't make digging dangerous - the insurgents did, by making copious use of buried IED's. EVERYONE in Iraq, after five years of war, ought to know better than do dig anyplace near a road. Apparently, these young men didn't. So when U.S. forces dropped a missile on what was reported to be a unit of roadside bomb emplacers, one of the boys was killed. And that's really, really sad.
War is ugly, and there's no getting around that. But our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines regularly put themselves at increased risk specifically to keep from hurting civilians. Remember that when you see this unfortunate tragedy reported on the news. And let me point out the response of the American Military. Our forces didn't sweep this tragedy under the rug. They owned up to it, took responsibility for the mistake, and expressed their deepest sorrow. Because that's what honorable people do
One can only hope the Washington post will take a lesson from these heroes and admit when one of their reports is wrong as well.
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