February 15, 2007
The Very Thin Blue Line
I'd heard about how Iraqi police were being trained in a camp in the Jordanian desert, and was fascinated by it. I thought it might provide a good opportunity to find out more about these guys ; they are so often just a statistical footnote to the daily news (" ... and in Falluja today, 23 Iraqi police recruits were killed in a suicide bomb attack ... ") Why would you sign up for what must be one of the most dangerous jobs in the world? Even getting to and from the training base is life-threatening for them. After a bus-load of newly-graduated recruits was ambushed and massacred on their way back to Baghdad, the policy is now to fly them in and out from a nearby military airstrip. (One of the U.S. trainers also pointed out to me that the straight stretch of highway in front of the camp meant that they could all be evacuated in C130s if things got ugly, something they had clearly thought about.) As it turned out, we were given pretty much free reign to talk to whoever we wanted to, with no restrictions, as is apparent from the story. This is very much a "warts and all" portrait of the Iraqi police, and the complicated allegiances that drive them. The cadets are surprisingly candid about how they feel about the U.S. occupation, with some from Anbar province explaining they understand the insurgent's position, and the right to resist. Perhaps the most striking thing was that many of these recruits were so young and naive, on their first trip away from home, and this was just a big adventure for them. They clearly had little idea what they heading into, but were happy to speculate about it. And in the back of my mind, while talking to them, was the thought that many would be dead within 90 days. Getting accurate figures is very hard and controversial, but some of the better estimates I have seen are that more than 12,000 police alone have been killed since 2003. - From reporter Thom Cookes. 24 Comments
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is so sad when people become statistics. Pure numbers do not tell the real story of the suffering mother, the children left without a father. Political interests are so selfish, not worth to even consider to risk ones life.
I read about the people in Darfur, the people in Ethiopia, the slaves in Brazil, those black Mauritanians in that ship close to Spain, it's all sad news about the life of a Joe, a George, one person who is loved and missed by someone else. Thanks for giving this insight about the "close to disappear" individuals on training.
12,000 killed. How sad.
You have to wonder how much this could have been reduced if there was more thought given to training before they were deployed.
Imagine training some police men for 8 weeks only!!!
that could be the worst thing ever... especially when u know that there is a civil and an internatinal was going on in Iraq... I think the most important feeling lies at the end of this film where policemen start crying.. notbecuase they are leaving each other, but becuase they might be afraid of what lies ahead of them...
its so sad, more than 12000 have died. the actual figures might be much more higher.i hope we all around the globe could do something to change this.
Archana Singh
It is cheer foolishness that Iraqis will kill Iraqis to drive away the Americans from their land.
Those who fear democracy have skeletons in their cupboards. America is a symbol of democracy. Iraqis should realise that the worst democracy is better than the best dictatorship
That number is just amazing and totally scary. It just shows how crazy the situation in Iraq really is.
Is there any comparative numbers for USA as a whole?
I am not sure how many death´s the military dictaror was responsable for, it seems as if president bush is responsible for many more death´s but it is okay because it is all for a good cause, democracy.
How about sourcing the 12,000 number? Also, how about using footage that is less than a year old? Of everyone interviewed in this story, two are still there. The numbers may be right and it is true that they are returning to a very dangerous place, but I guarantee you can´t back up the numbers with data.
If it´s so important, why is it shutting down in two weeks?
There are so many things to be told around this pittiful story. First of all it is obvious that the "invasion" is not other than an excuse for tribal hidden war within Iraq. If the War itself was or not a mistake, the whole world is responsible, not just George Bush as CNN alswas tries to stablish. Everybody was concerned about Saddam and not one was willing to do anything.
Now Iraq is a problem to Iraq. How to deal with Sunnies and Shiites rilvalry? They just are not able to figure it out, and form many "humanitary" behaviors (countries, gorvernments and many organizations) it is easier to show teir back and critizes but not to give any solutions. The worst: the Democrats now in power in DC... They are caving US's grave with their selfish position invoking all these discussions and de-morlalizing their troops abroad...
I find it sickeningly frustrating that people can spout off about the importance of democracy while simultaneously denouncing anyone who dare question the war.
The parallels between the civil violence in Iraq to the disagreements we ourselves have over the war is shocking. Do you really think that democracy has anything to do with the situation? We would be reduced to the same sectarian fighting if we didn't have so much personal wealth to lose.
What a mess in Iraq. The 12,000 police killed does not include all those who are injured for life. If the Iragi police who is from Iraq and know the way around is not safe, why are we sending more US troops as targets?
For all those US supporters who believe in the Iraq war, would they be willing to send their children to patrol the streets of Bagdad??
This is the "real news" - the news not being politically twisted into a misleading one-liner heading that is so shocking to get people to read it...it's in the story. What? We don't have time to read the whole story anymore and get the facts. These are them.
It is sad that so many are dying for what????
I don't believe in this war, I don't have faith in Bush's new strategies and think we will lose many more of our sons and daughters before this is all over with and I have a son fighting this never ending war in Iraq
see now i see that many already have commented as such....it is about bringing democracy....well really think about lets see is our democracy really worth the killing of thounsands of lives? i mean our democracy is barely democracy...as i see it they have the right to try and govern there own country...for our democracy as we call it is corrupted....we no longer have the freedoms to anything....and it has become a shamble lately...and yes bush has a huge fault in this and yes if we had not elected hm things might be different but...as it will it didnt happen that way so there for....we have no right to pass judgement i mean we have to get to the root of the truth and stop blaming other countries or others in general for our own countries faults....we need to stop using Iraq as a scapegoat for everything.....thats y they resort to some of the things they do.....i believe that bushes morales and values were in the wrong place that he was only being selfish and using national secruity to get the american pep=ople to back up a false war...he was only finishing his fathers dirty business....and he calls it nessasary wen the lives of many innocents have died for oil...and such....look up information be smart and dont let what he says fool you...for we know he doesnt even write his own speeches he is a pawn in this game of chess how many wrong moves will we allow him to make...??
first of all, im happy with the effort of american government to build these police training facility that cost millions of dollars, just for iraqi government.
second, im a bit suprise when i heard that these cadets only been trained for 8 weeks and put them on the streets. personally, i dont think 2 months is sufficient to train a policeman to serve in one of the most dangerous country of the world. most of all, they might be the target of terrorists ! im not trying to give any idea or suggestion, i just thought that they might have to establish a programme to build up their strength and coordination. i think its very vital and crucial for their own personal security. 12000 is alot. without US gov, it might be alot higher than this figure.
I do not see any difference between animals slaughtered for human consumption and humans killed for human weaknesses. Who is responsible? I think the capable guys are capable of everything. This is an era of killers and sinners. This killing spree will go on until all pigs, donkeys and monkeys are wiped out from the earth, i.e. it will never cease. Please try to find out if you belong to one of the animal species mentioned and wait till your turn comes.
i say we pull out and let them do their own thing. if they choose to massacre each other than so be it because i do not think the lives of my friends who are marines and all of the other marines and soldiers over there should be jeopardized for people who are not willing to change or live in a civil manner. the president has done a terrible job in advising and strategizing with his commanders and it has cost our nation many lives of young people. these words are the view of a 20 year old college student.
why more troops? Attack iran and secure Israel.It's as simple as it is.
Only Israliets have right to leave, everybody in the world needs to bow and kneel down. This is the hidden conspiracy.
I enlisted during the Vietnam War and did my time for our country. I'd be proud to have any of my children or grandchildren enlist now to do their time for our country. If I was still young enough I'd enlist again to do my part. You can bet that I'll be doing my part if / when the fight comes home to the U.S.A. homeland. Then, and unfortunately only then, will the full understanding of the importance of stopping Terrorism and dictators like Sadam be fully known by the average American. God bless our souls when the fighting comes to our home soil. I'd much rather fight away than at home.
It is very sad those guys have to die because another country decided their wealth was worth a war on them. It's so sad those guys aren't even informed of what they are entering in, defending another country's values instead of their owns...I don't agree with extremism in any way but well, I am not sure those guys would be so sorry to live in an islamic state instead of a state imposed from a foreign country...
find a different way to fight the war on terror this is another vietnam
solution select a leader of the insurgents give him coalition ful support let them set up their government and withdraw slowly. |
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