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| Iraq |
| Troops bear ’Moor Killer’ badges |
| 2003-07-25 |
| A row broke out in Spain yesterday after the country sent its first troops to patrol Iraq wearing on their shoulders the Cross of St James of Compostela - popularly known in Spain as "the Moor Killer". Patches bearing the cross, the symbol of a saint who allegedly guided the medieval Christian re conquista of Spain from the Muslims, are to be worn by a 2,000-strong Spanish brigade in central Iraq, who will patrol the sacred Shia city of Najaf. The story doesn’t say if this is the normal unit patch, or if it was picked for the mission. While newspapers and radio stations reacted with astonishment at the choice of symbol, politicians avoided the argument. "If we start debating this subject the risks surrounding the mission will only be increased," said a spokesman from the opposition Socialist party, Jesus Caldera. Spaniards, unaccustomed to seeing their soldiers take part in what many see as an army of occupation, already view the Iraq mission with concern. The deaths of more than 40 US and British soldiers since the Iraq war was officially declared over has increased worries about the prime minister Jose Maria Aznar’s willingness to help the countries whose troops ousted Saddam Hussein. "To put the Cross of St James of Compostela on the uniforms of Spanish soldiers supposes an absolute ignorance of the society in which they will have to carry out their mission," fumed El Mundo newspaper in an editorial. "It would be difficult to come up with any symbol more offensive to the Shia population than this cross." Maybe it’s a reminder of what happens when you mess with Spanish troops. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #21 Raptor wrote: EL ID,kiss my red,pimply ass you socialist whinebag I think El Id was simply pointing out that the El Mundo (the Spanish paper) sees both the patches and the expulsion of the Moors as bad things - i.e. it was wrong for the Spanish to fight their Muslim rulers and wrong for the patch to exist. He's basically complaining about El Mundo's pro-Muslim, anti-Christian bias. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-7-25 8:51:02 PM |
| #20 I agree,Muslims don't care who they insult, hurt, maim and kill(even they're own).Why should we care about they're overly sensitive physicie. I say start drop a JDAM on a Mosgue in the same city in wich a church is bombed/burned. EL ID,kiss my red,pimply ass you socialist whinebag. |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-7-25 8:20:55 PM |
| #19 The unit being sent is the Brigada de InfanterÃÂa Ligera Aerotransportable (BRILAT)(Air-portable Light Infantry Brigade) Galicia VII, composed of the Regiments Princesa n. 3 and Isabel la Catolica n. 29 (single battalion regiments), plus a headquarters battalion and and air-portable artillery group. This brigade has had three tours in Bosnia and one in Kosovo. |
| Posted by: buwaya 2003-7-25 7:56:25 PM |
| #18 Galician I believe. |
| Posted by: buwaya 2003-7-25 7:50:53 PM |
| #17 Here in San Diego, next to the Mexican border, we've been under the misimpression(?) that San Diego = St. James in Spanish. Is the "Santiago" portugese? They sound phonetically similar... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-7-25 7:13:31 PM |
| #16 The sword on the patch is the insignia of the Order of Santiago, a medieval chivalric order dedicated to crusading against the Moors, similar to the Knights Templar. |
| Posted by: buwaya 2003-7-25 7:09:14 PM |
| #15 Thank youu DANEgerus! Very cool patch. |
| Posted by: SPQR 2755 2003-7-25 7:00:41 PM |
| #14 Unit patch |
| Posted by: DANEgerus 2003-7-25 6:19:57 PM |
| #13 Although I highly doubt it's anything other than a unit patch, I wouldn't mind if it wasn't. I'm so tired of watching the whole world bow down and kiss these assholes' feet. They burn churches and kill priests, but that's A-OK because "they're non-believers". No outrage from the world community or the press OR the Catholic church. But, have a non-muslim even look at a mosque and all hell breaks loose. Muslims were offended in Africa during that beauty contest. "Hmmmm...what to do, what to do...Hey Ali, I know! We'll riot, kill some people, and then burn a few churches down on the way home!" I say "Chuck them and the camel that gave birth to them!" (Thank you Spain!) |
| Posted by: Paul 2003-7-25 5:54:26 PM |
| #12 I want one too! Looked and looked but couldn't find a picture of this anywhere. |
| Posted by: SPQR 2755 2003-7-25 4:18:38 PM |
| #11 Hot Doggies, I think the Spanish just went to the top of my "A" list of people to shake hands with and drink wine with. "St. James, The Moor Killer".....I think the whiney butts should read a little history about why the Spanish were out there killing Moors....seems there was this "invasion and conquest" thing that was going on and the Spanish didn't like it. After reading about some of the things the Spanish did to EACH OTHER during the Spanish Civil War, I don't think it would be a good idea for any of those fundementalist loonies to screw with these guys...no telling what they might do to someone they DON'T LIKE. "St. James, the Moor Killer"....where can I get one of those patches.......my middle name is James by the way. |
| Posted by: SOG475 2003-7-25 3:13:13 PM |
| #10 Let's compromise. The Spanish troops (thanks guys) lose the patch but put the morgue shot of Uday on their left shoulder and Qusay on the right. |
| Posted by: Matt 2003-7-25 1:30:29 PM |
| #9 seconding mojo here. Sort of makes me wonder what would have happened if Gen. Shinseki's favorite wet dream, the Crusader, had been completed... |
| Posted by: snellenr 2003-7-25 12:29:36 PM |
| #8 This is indeed THE Spanish national myth. Spain and the Spanish ( most of them anyway) as a people trace their national consciousness (as opposed to being Roman, Visigoth, or local tribes) to the first sucessful act of resistance to the Moors, the victory of King Pelayo at the field of stars (Campus Stellae, later Compostela) named for the miracle ascribed to St James (San Tiago, later Santiago). The Spanish battle cry has ever since been Santiago, and Compostela a major pilgrim destination. |
| Posted by: buwaya 2003-7-25 12:01:15 PM |
| #7 But Najaf is a SACRED city. I'm sure it has a sacred mosque. From what I understand you get extra points from allah when you pray at the more sacred places. Makes sence to me! |
| Posted by: Lucky 2003-7-25 11:58:27 AM |
| #6 Sounds like the Socialists are being offended on the Moslem's behalf on this one. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-7-25 10:48:13 AM |
| #5 So resistance to occupation is wrong if it's the Muslims doing the occupating?Damn you to hell,El Mundo! |
| Posted by: El Id 2003-7-25 10:47:33 AM |
| #4 So I guess our Muslim friends are pissed off? Good. Keep the patch. Show these assholes who cares about offending them anymore. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-7-25 10:33:05 AM |
| #3 I agree, Mojo. Democracy means all people are able to express their views, not just Shias and Sunnis. Welcome to the new world. |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-7-25 10:21:36 AM |
| #2 That's exactly the point. The shias and sunnis (not to even mention the wahabbis!) need to learn that they can't start shooting anytime something offends them. I find the rants and incitement coming out of the mosques pretty damn offensive, when it comes right down to it. So: Tough shit, deal with it. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-7-25 10:16:52 AM |
| #1 The story doesn’t say if this is the normal unit patch, or if it was picked for the mission. Santiago (St. James) de Compostela is a major Spanish historical figure, probably on par with Washington or Lincoln here. It would not surprise me if this was the standard unit patch. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-7-25 10:11:20 AM |