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Soldiers Beating up teenagers in Iraq...

231 replies

MrsBigD · 12/02/2006 08:23

News of the World

Sky News

Just saw this on Sky News and am once again slightly amazed at the general population...

I can possibly understand the attitudes that the News of the World shouldn't have published the video footage due to maybe putting other soldiers in Iraq under thread of attack - though I don't agree.

However when they showed the result of the opinion poll whether soldiers accused of abuse should be prosecuted I just was amazed... a high percentage said 'NO'... I was just flabbergasted ... so if one is a soldier and happily goes along abusing the people of the country who they are supposed to protect it's ok to abuse them???? surely not.

OP posts:
mumfor1standfinaltime · 13/02/2006 14:50

I do not think it is disgraceful behaviour from the british troops. The Iraqis in question are not 'innocent'.

Blandmum · 13/02/2006 14:52

But regardless of the fact that the boys were fighting the UK troups, that does not allow the UK troups to beat the shit out of them if captured. geneva Convention and all that. And my dh is in the armed forces and is of the same oppion ( That migh surprise MT btw)

Rhubarb · 13/02/2006 14:55

They have not been tried. You cannot just go around beating up prisoners! We are supposed to be in Iraq (tries not to fill voice with too much sarcasm) as peacekeepers!

peacedove · 13/02/2006 14:55

mumfor1: "I do not think it is disgraceful behaviour from the british troops."

Why only British troops? Why not revise the Geneva Convention like GWBush has done?

Would make life easy for everyone with guns!

mumfor1standfinaltime · 13/02/2006 14:56

I can understand that point, but they arent 'innocent, fluffy bunny, stars, chocolate cake....ah bless em for throwing grenades and f%ck off stones at British soldiers'
There are two sides to a story.

Rhubarb · 13/02/2006 14:59

We have heard neither side though. We have no idea why they are being detained there. And even if they were shooting at British soldiers, you still can't kick the shit out of unarmed teenagers like that, 6 onto 1 or whatever it was with the whole thing being videod and whooped at. That's hooliganism, not professional soldierism.

kittyfish · 13/02/2006 14:59

I feel very sorry for all of our troops serving in horrendously dificult conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan. We read this from a comic like the News of the World (who here really take anything else this rag says seriously btw?) and immediately scream for blood. How vile and what about the benefit of the doubt for these people?

I cannot get over the lack of pride in our Armed Forces that is constantly shown in this country. We have the most professional, effective peace keeping force in the world and all we do is bitch about them. Makes me mad and sad.

Blandmum · 13/02/2006 14:59

mumfor 1

I think you will find that most members of the armed forces are very much in favour of the Geneva convention and sticking to it....they need its protection, you see, if they are ever captured themselves. Just because despots break it, it doesn't mean that we should, ever. If captured these people should have been held and tried. Not beaten.

CoolTurkey · 13/02/2006 14:59

If it is genuine it is disgraceful - whatever they were doing and whatever punishment they deserve, this is not the place or manner to mete out justice. It will only make divisions deeper and tensions higher. In any case, they were wasting valuable time when they should have been out there dealing with the situation which was probably continuing. They were just satisfying their blood lust imo.

Rhubarb · 13/02/2006 15:01

And as for public relations..... well done boys!

Blandmum · 13/02/2006 15:02

I am very interested to know why the tapes were held for this long without being released, and what, if anything, prompted their release now.

kittyfish · 13/02/2006 15:02

Do any of you realise how easy it is to fake a video? I could do it here at home. Why can't you all just give it a rest until we find out if the footage is genuine or not?

mumfor1standfinaltime · 13/02/2006 15:05

yes sir

Rhubarb · 13/02/2006 15:06

Bloody good acting if it is! Great set they've got there too!

mumfor1standfinaltime · 13/02/2006 15:06

Kittyfish - obviously an expert in 'fake' videos, say no more...

kittyfish · 13/02/2006 15:07

Sorry, didn't mean to rant, but there is a scary lynch mob feel to this thread atm. [scared emoticon]

CoolTurkey · 13/02/2006 15:09

I agree the whole thing sounds dodgy, but I still condemn it if it is genuine. No harm in discussing all the angles before the truth comes out (if it ever does).
If it is a fake then then whoever is reponsible is even more reprehensible. It undermines the whole delicate, dangerous situation not just a few individuals.

mumfor1standfinaltime · 13/02/2006 15:09

I dont feel scared by this thread, we are all voicing our opinions and sharing our thoughts on this subject..thought that's what a forum was. Im off now...

kittyfish · 13/02/2006 15:09

Rhubarb, that is the whole point. I guess you were calling for blood over the faked pics a while ago? Did you feel bad when they were proved to be fake or did you just think 'f**k 'em, bound to be happening somewhere'?

Rhubarb · 13/02/2006 15:09

I was? What pics?

madmarchhare · 13/02/2006 15:10

Loving the use of the word 'alleged' over and over again. What exactly do they think is happening there?

kittyfish · 13/02/2006 15:11

of Brit troops in Iraq 'torturing' prisoners? Proved fake, Peirs Morgan fired etc?

Rhubarb · 13/02/2006 15:12

Oh I see, you are presuming!

I think CoolTurkey spoke for me just then. I wouldn't be surprised if this were happening, no. Would you? Or do you think that all our soldiers are perfect gents to the detainees? I used to live near a barracks and if their behaviour at the weekend was anything to go by, I really don't give them much respect!

They have a tough job to do. Most of them probably do that job well, but if there are some who give the West a bad name, they should pay for that crime.

Blandmum · 13/02/2006 15:12

There were faked pictures of abuse in Iraq not that long ago

this is a link here

So it is not inpossible that this is another fake. I'm not saying that it is/
.....just that it needs full investigation pdq and arrests if warented. But there has to be in investigation first, before trial and conviction.

Blandmum · 13/02/2006 15:14

Rhubarb, while I don't disagee with what you said , my dh is in the armed forces, and he is, I shit you not, a total gentleman, utterly trustworthy and upholds te law.

Just as we shouldn't damn all muslims because of the actions of a crazy minority, we shouldn't do the same with the armed forces

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