Article

2003-04-11 Iraq

Foreign nationals captured by U.S. in Iraq

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Posted by Steve 2003-04-11 08:25 am|| || Front Page|| [8 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 What the hell is "press-ganging" ??

Posted by Anonymous 2003-04-11 09:16:13|| 2003-04-11 09:16:13|| Front Page Top

#2 Anonymous, it's a old term applied originally (I think) to a naval 'conscription' practice whereby recruits were 'pressed' into service on board naval vessels against their will, by a gang of 'recruiting agents'. Nowadays the navy uses pension plans, reasonable wages and free access to lemons to tempt seamen, rather than coerce.

I probably had similar thought to you when I first heard the phrase "bum-rushing" from an American friend...

Posted by Bulldog 2003-04-11 09:33:15|| 2003-04-11 09:33:15|| Front Page Top

#3 I think gangs of men were ordered to press the shirts of Saddam; Torture I tell you!

Posted by George 2003-04-11 09:38:10|| 2003-04-11 09:38:10|| Front Page Top

#4 Don't the laws and customs of war allow the US to just shoot all these guys, whether they surrender or not?

Posted by Tresho 2003-04-11 10:27:55|| 2003-04-11 10:27:55|| Front Page Top

#5 Steve,

I think the reason that the muj's have been using so many RPGs is "Blackhawk Down." If you remember, Al Qaeda agents introduced the tactic of RPG swarm attacks in Somalia to effectively counter light American forces conducting heliborne hostage snatches. I think everyone here is familiar enough with Arab non-innovation in military matters to know that if something works once, they'll keep using it over and over until so many of them get killed that they stop. I interpret the continuation of RPG swarm attacks as a good sign. It means the Al Qaeda bright boys are too busy running (or are dead!) to gin up new tactics to counter ours. It's second order manifestation that our strategy in the WoT is working.

Posted by 11A5S 2003-04-11 10:53:13|| 2003-04-11 10:53:13|| Front Page Top

#6 Not a good time to have a Syrian or Yemeni accent in Baghdad, I think. Sign language only gets you so far.

Posted by mojo 2003-04-11 12:43:55|| 2003-04-11 12:43:55|| Front Page Top

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