So, question for you: Let's pretend you're a law abiding citizen that lives in a place that's in the middle of an insurgency, where sectarian militias are roaming the streets, and ethnic cleansing and assassinations are widespread. Now, let's pretend, one day, you find an AK-47 sitting in the street, unattended. What are you going to do?
Well, if it were me, I'd probably pick it up, check it's condition, and thank the relevant deity for the good fortune. Of course, this could very likely get me shot by US troops as proof that I'm an insurgent.
Given the President's recent insistence that Iraq is just like Vietnam, it reminds me of this classic snippet from Good Morning Vietnam:
Adrian Cronauer: [impersonating an Intelligence Officer] We've realized that we're having a very difficult time finding the enemy. It isn't easy to find a Vietnamese man named "Charlie." They're all named Nguyen, or Tran, or...
Adrian Cronauer: [as himself] Well, how are you going about it?
Adrian Cronauer: [as Intel Officer] Well, we walk up to someone and say, 'Are you the enemy? And, if they say yes, then we shoot them."
(Quotes from IMDB, natch.)
Perhaps they should try leaving $100 bills around, and shoot as thieves anyone who picks them up. :(
Posted by: Joe | September 25, 2007 at 11:39 PM