Caution: Some of the comments on this page (under the video) may be offensive to some readers. You can watch the video without seeing them, though.
Okay, I know not ALL the troops are like this. Hopefully, not even a significant number of them are. But still. This is just horrid.
(for those who don't want to watch, it's a video taken from the back of a military vehicle - some USA troops offer Iraqi children bottled water and then drive off, making them chase after them for what must be nearly a mile. And of course they're laughing, too).
Posts: 1006 | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
What bothers me about this video is the video itself. Why would the troops be stupid enough to not only tape it, but to share it?
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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Come to think of it, I think this is a pretty innocent video over all. These troops were obviously not there for distribution of food and water. I'm sure kids chasing army trucks to try and see if the soldiers will give them anything is a pretty common occurance..
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Stephan: Come to think of it, I think this is a pretty innocent video over all. These troops were obviously not there for distribution of food and water. I'm sure kids chasing army trucks to try and see if the soldiers will give them anything is a pretty common occurance..
Still, don't be surprised if this video pops up on CNN and just embarrasses us further.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Stephan: Come to think of it, I think this is a pretty innocent video over all. These troops were obviously not there for distribution of food and water. I'm sure kids chasing army trucks to try and see if the soldiers will give them anything is a pretty common occurance..
Yeah, that's probably true, but that kid ran TWO MILES (if you listen to the commentary in the video) for a BOTTLE OF WATER. No kid will book like that for a bottle of water. A candy bar or a t-shirt, maybe, but water? He obviously really wanted it badly.
I think the worst part is at the end, where he throws the bottle of water, and the kid who ran two miles for it doesn't get it because some bigger kids run out and grab it from him.
Posts: 1006 | Registered: Jun 2006
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That kid at the end didn't start running until about 25 seconds into the video. Being only 1 minute 5 seconds in length, the kid ran for 40 seconds. The soldier commenting was clearly exagerating on the length of the run. 2 miles in 40 seconds? I think not.
I see it more as a game for the kids. Sort of like kids clamering over each other at parades to get candy thrown out.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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People think odd things are funny or worth saving. This is no Abu Ghraib -- I emphasize that! I am not comparing the two incidents, just using the one as an example -- but if you recall, some of those photos were hard to explain as well. I don't mean the abuse (even more hard to comprehend), but -- why take and keep pictures of it?
I hope there is an innocent explanation for this one. [It was quite hard to watch.]
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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I think what the soldier said is "this kid is gonna run, like, two miles." They were commenting that that one kept going, where the others dropped off. And Stephan, I think the kid in the end was running all along, he just wasn't in front initially.
And jeez, that kid had some legs. I couldn't have run that hard for that long without collapsing into an asthmatic fit.
The fact that they'd run so hard for a bottle of water, and that the kids swarmed over the damned thing when it hit the ground speaks volumes about the situation amongst the civilians there.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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"Hey, kids! Let's see if you're willing to dance for our amusement in exchange for the necessities of life! Isn't this fun? You're so lucky; we didn't get to play exciting games like this where I grew up."
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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