The civilian population does know how to handle check points. While things are extremely dangerous out amoung the population, the locals go their way and we go ours.

Check points are set up randomly to cut the insurgancy activity. They are set by both coalition forces and Iraqi Army/Iraqi Police.

The check points are dangerous places for the soldiers, not the normal civilians. The become dangerous to civilians when ambushes are set against the check points, as the insurgency does not care about the local civilian populas.

To charactorize the American or other Coalition forces as untrained to deal with this conflict is a myth being spread by the media. Actually, suprisingly enough, the NY Times has been publishing good press about the forces on the ground lately.

All of you Armchair Generals out there are having you antiwar/antiAmerican preconceptions reenforced by mostly negative (and misconstued) press. There are far more numerous positive actions taking place over here.

Davros ..... thanks for recognizing one of the delicate intracies.

<font color=skyblue>Let's leave posts like this out of the conversation, please.</font>

Since "ignorance" is merely a state of being uninformed, and neither an attack nor insult, I make no apologies.

Pritcke, due to the nature of my situation there is only so much detail I may give. Concerning checkpoints, I've said pretty much it. The locals do know the deal.

As for pointed remarks. I am in a position that leaves me with little time nor patience for extended hyperbole. Despite all the sniping that goes on in the world press, US troops are not the "Bad Guys".

For those wondering "what war is" ... it's simple. When you have opposing groups of people ready to kill each other, those groups are at war. Any other definition is just literary fluffery.

The actual von Klaussian definition would be "warfare is the extension of politics through other means."

So people aren't being killed/maimed/wounded by the hundreds each month, the cost of the war is not in the 100s of billions and growing, and the coalition has a clear exit strategy? Next will you be telling that WOMDs, as portayed before the war, have finally been found!

It's a manner of opinion, not knowledge or know-how, what sort of factual based "positive actions" balances out the factual based "negatives".

Your attempt to paint the antiwar folks with a broad brush of ignorance and anti-Americanism is flawed and failed.

edit-typos (thanks Sir D. [img]smile.gif[/img] )

[ 03-12-2005, 11:07 PM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

Of course there's an exit strategy! It's right here.

As for ignorance, it is the truth. Through no fault of anyone here for your information is only as good as your source, as only a small handfull of people on this board has any actuall experience.

Will you accept that schools are now available to people that had no access to it before? Or that water and power is being extended to places that were denied those resources under Saddam's Reign? These are only some examples. Soldiers risking their lives to protect Iraqi locals?

And for clarifiation the war against Iraq ended. The Global War on Terrorism continues, with Iraq being one battlfield. ;)

Night Stalker I understand that while you are on duty in Iraq that posting detailed information can be hard or even undesirable but if you can please let us know what the procedures are for locals to approach checkpoints and how the information is advertised to the people of Iraq.

Shine some light on this poor boys ignorance [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Keep safe mate :D

Yeah, hope you have a nice quiet period until you leave Night Stalker!

And that link was great by the way!

<font color=plum>Forgive me for playing Armchair General myself - but just HOW HARD is it for the average person to figure out how to approach a checkpoint???

The Iraqi citizens know that the American troops are under daily attacks and that they will be suspicious of ANY unusual activity. So you slow your car to a CRAWL if you have to and keep your hands in sight at all times. You approach under extreme caution and allow the TROOPS to make the first move.

Despite what the media is trying to present, I find it VERY hard to believe the troops will simply open fire on you for no reason if you do everything you can to show you're not a threat.

As somebody already said, this ISN'T rocket science - it is common sense.</font>

The rules are simple. Driving toward the checkpoint heralds a threat, and will get you fired upon. Driving away from a check point means you have something to hide, and will get you fired upon.

When you see a check point, please simply sit still and piss yourself. If you see the US soldiers gesturing for you to move forward or go back, see the rules posted above.

And piss yourself some more, you terrorist jerk. You deserve what you get, anyway.

<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#00FF00">No offense taken, no apologies necessary. I suspected the use of the word but wasn't sure of the tone it was being used in so just took it as meaning lack of knowledge on the subject and not as an intended insult.</font>

[ 03-14-2005, 01:32 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]