Local Heroes in Iraq, ch II

A carpenter named Dhia

Published on March 23, 2005 By pseudosoldier In Current Events

New York Times Link

As the gunmen emerged from their cars, Dhia and his young relatives shouldered their Kalashnikov rifles and opened fire, the police and witnesses said. In the fierce gun battle that followed, three of the insurgents were killed, and the rest fled just after the police arrived. Two of Dhia's nephews and a bystander were wounded, the police said.

Again, I saw it first on the Early Bird News, and it was so cool I had to share. While the article does point out the sectarian differences that may assist in fueling this sort of vigilanteism, it's still very refreshing to watch the tide turn even in small ways against the "bad guys".

In related news Link , although this isn't really new, the insurgents are wising up that the American "occupiers" are a little harder to take out than they'd like. Iraqi Security Forces and even civilians are much "softer" targets, but this seems to be creating some backlash amongst the populace. Could it be the Iraqis are actually blaming the people who detonate the bombs, and not the supposed targets (victims) of these attacks?

It seems that more and more lately, the attacks have become somewhat sparser but more intense. The insurgents may be saving up more and more for operations of greater impact. How soon before they run out of resources and manpower? How soon before they deplete whatever insanity inspired goodwill they might enjoy from the Iraqi people?

Comments

couchman

on Mar 23, 2005

Stories like this have been going on in Iraq for some time now....but knowing how the majority of the media likes to stay holed up in a Baghdad hotel instead of actually moving about the country...doesnt shock me this is the first we "heard" of it. The terrorists and former regime elements keep targeting Iraqis more and more and the coalition less and less....after their first initial targeting of Iraqis, the have lost any claim no matter how bizzare to freedom fighters or a war of liberation.

Another good sign was the recent Iraqi commando force assault on a terrorist training compound, I believe in the northern region....90 insurgents dead, numerous prisioners and sadly 7 Iraqi commando's dead.

Dr Guy

on Mar 24, 2005

From the NY Times? Damn, is it snowing in hell already?

pseudosoldier

on Mar 24, 2005

From the NY Times? Damn, is it snowing in hell already?

I was thinking similar thoughts myself, when I first read the article. I also considered couchman's statement, that this had been going on for awhile... and that it's finally prevalent enough that even the Times picked it up and ran with it.

Or maybe it's just a stereotype.

Who knows?

Dr Guy

on Mar 24, 2005

and that it's finally prevalent enough that even the Times picked it up and ran with it.

Hmmm, you mean so obvious that it would sneak out under other forms of media? I think you hit the nail on the head.

Reiki-House

on Mar 24, 2005

A lot of the times the US folk are holed up in their bases and they don't go out on constant S+D's in the surrounding neighborhoods. That's why the Iraqi troops are getting hit harder than the US are. Although the US men are more attractive targets when it comes to a nationalist Iraqi fighting to defend his family and loved ones from a violent occupying force. I think the GI's should stay on base more and get the hell out of there.

Hyperborean Wanderer

on Mar 24, 2005

Hey Reiki, how you doin'? Got a question for you. How many times have you been outside the wire in Iraq? What do you know about it? Once again it looks like you're holding forth on a topic you know nothing about. US soldiers are in the streets of Baghdad every day, meeting with the locals and bad guys alike. Every time the ING (Iraqi National Guard) or IP (Iraqi Police) conducts one of these raids against insurgents and terrorists, US forces are with them. The goal is for us to work together so that anybody can walk the streets, and nobody has to stay on base. Let's get it straight pal, liberating force, not occupying force, ok?

Pseudo! glad to see you blogging again. I'm back! give me a call!

Dr Guy

on Mar 24, 2005

Hyperborean,

Reiki is a troll. Knowing nothing, but always posting off topic anyway.

greywar

on Mar 27, 2005

And here I thought I wasn't going to be able to use my Trolling for today.Thanks Reiki.

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