Merchant Killed by Troops While Defending his Property

[TheBluesMan]

This is something that I've been wondering about since the looting in Iraq began.

Our media is reporting how looters are mainly hitting government buildings and those related to the old government (palaces, yachts, hospitals, media outlets, etc.). I have heard very little about people looting privately owned businesses. If I were to believe what I heard on CNN, I would think that the looting is confined to these specific targets related to the old regieme.

Most of what I hear in the media has the typical Baghdadi either liberating goods which symbolized the oppression of Saddam, or cowering in their homes hoping the looters will pass by.

I know that just can't be the case, and I've been speculating as to what would happen if someone tried to defend their home or business from looters.

I guess I just found out: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...t_afp/iraq_war_baghdad_loot_shop_030411155239

US troops kill merchant defending shop against looters
Fri Apr 11,11:52 AM ET

BAGHDAD (AFP) - US soldiers shot and killed a Baghdad shopkeeper who was defending his shop with a Kalashnikov assault rifle against looters, neighbours told an AFP photographer.

The merchant pulled his rifle on the thieves when they began sacking the shop, neighbours said.

When US soldiers approached the area, the looters told them that the shopkeeper was a member of Saddam Hussein's Fedayeen paramilitary force.

The American troops opened fire with heavy machine guns, killing the man, the neighbors said.

The photographer saw the covered body of Mohammad al-Barheini, 25, lying on a shelf of his shop, his head in a bag, on the Al-Rashid commercial street in the capital.

I know that I can't give this story any more credence than I do any other, but if it is true, I can't blame the man for defending his shop. I have to give the troops the benefit of the doubt as well, that they felt threatened and responded appropriately.

This is a problem police face. One that soldiers usually don't. As the role of our troops changes, I fear we'll see more unfortunate incidents like this.

 

[Navy joe]

I know it will be hard on our troops as to ROE, but I did see a pic in the paper today of a couple of guys beating the crap out of a looter in Baghdad while one of them had an AK. The sooner we get their police out and recognize their right to form civilian militias to handle the own business the better.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Marines did the right thing.

I would recommend that most people in Iraq try to avoid looking like a threat to the Marines... it is just not healty.

 

[OF]

The looting is disgraceful. Sacking the museum is beyond criminal. I don't agree with the take that it is just an oppressed people letting off steam. It is a crying shame. That these particular looters used our Marines to kill this shopkeeper for them is so disgusting it makes me ill. Why do it? Out of sheer meanness? So they could go back and loot the shop after he was dead?

I hope these people prove themselves worthy of the freedom they are having brought to them. So far, there's not alot of evidence to the positive.

- Gabe

 

[Al in Md]

There were cases in Nazi Germany in which Jews were turned in to the SS just so their homes could be looted after they were hauled away. There was another thread recently on this board asking whether U.S. troops would fire on its own citizens. My answer is there were plenty of German soldiers loading the Box cars headed for the extermination camps! Al in Md

 

[CZ-75]

Time to implement Sharia, then there would be lotsa one-handed folks to warn their neighbors about the dangers of looting.

 

[OF]

There was another thread recently on this board asking whether U.S. troops would fire on its own citizens. My answer is there were plenty of German soldiers loading the Box cars headed for the extermination camps! Al in Md

just to be clear, are you comparing US volunteer soldiers to the Germans in WWII exterminating Jews?

- Gabe

 

[Al in Md]

GRD It is obvious that if the U.S. Army were to receive orders to confiscate firearms and execute those who don't comply on the spot monday morning that it would be an unlawfull order. First laws prohibiting firearm ownership by citizens would be passed. Given enough time (years) to demonize firearm owners who do not comply as terrorists, criminals, and the source of all evil then is such an order unlawfull? What goes thru your head when the BATF raids a basement of a home and finds grenades and shoulder fired rockets? If guns can be demonized to be thought of in the same light as destructive devices are today I can see the military "following orders" to save the country. I have never been in the military but it does not strike me as a democracy. If only 5 to 10 percent of the military would follow such orders it could be carried out. In no way do I want to construe that the brave members of our military that are or were in harms way in the middle east are of the Ilk of the Nazi soldiers. The sight of American G.I.s in almost any country during WWII was comforting to the local population as in Iraq and Afganistan today. However if the Gov. were to become focused on disarming gunowners and the law enforcement agencies couldn't pull it off (due to armed resistance by gunowners) then yes I can see the Army stepping in. Al in Md.

 

[OF]

Thanks for the clarification Al. Hard to read between the lines on the net sometimes.

I follow your theory. I'm glad there would appear to be a looong road between now and then and alot of generational-type changes in basic mindset that would have to be implemented in order for something like that to ever be possible. Is it possible? Anything is possible, especially given enough time.

- Gabe

 

[moa]

One thing to remember from last year is that after Saddam was "re-elected" President of Iraq by a 100% vote, he then released all prisoners except most political prisoners. This was Saddam's reward to his people. Turn loose the bandits, rapists and murderers.

Also, it would appear Saddam put arms caches all over Iraq. So, you have a horde of hardcore criminals on the loose and tons of weapons available.

So, is anybody is wondering why there is so much looting? Some of the looting is by armed gangs. I think the museum in Bagdad was looted by armed thieves. There is no excuse for our government to allow the museum be looted. Experts warned our government many times starting months ago that looting of the museum was very likely. And there are 23 other major museums in Iraq along with thousands of historical sites.

I wonder if the news story is it happens? I wonder if our troops would automatically open fire just because someone said that someone is Fedayeen?

Apparently there are many armed citizens and militias all over Iraq, and for good reason.