US troops shoot dead at least four pro-Saddam protestors in Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20031216/pl_afp/iraq_saddam_demos&cid=1521&ncid=1607

BAGHDAD (AFP) - US forces shot dead at least four Iraqis in two towns west of the capital, where protestors angered by the capture of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) stormed regional government offices.


The shootings took place Monday night after rioters put up Saddam Hussein posters in the mainly Sunni Muslim towns of Ramadi and Fallujah.


The US military said Tuesday one soldier had been injured in Ramadi, 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of Baghdad, after pro-Saddam demonstrations.


"US forces were fired upon, wounding one US soldier," when a platoon moved to the governor's offices, a spokeswoman said.

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[Catherine Vincent]

1. My local news showed some protests in Iraq.

But they only showed the troops spraying water on them. Nothing about shooting any of them. But you know how our news is slow in the US.

[madrchsod]

2. democracy?

or the barrel of the gun?

[IndianaGreen]

3. US troops are very good at shooting at peaceful demonstrators

a proud tradition that even predates the Kent State Massacre.

US troops have been used to break strikes (and shoot strikers). Among one of the most infamous examples of US troops using excessive force at peaceful demonstrators was the 1932 veterans' bonus march on Washington, DC.

[bluestateguy]

4. That's not bringing democracy to Iraq

Even though it was considered treasonous for southerners to seceede from the US in 1861 and take up arms against the US government we continue to allow groups like the Council of Conservative Citizens and the KKK to hold pro-Confederate rallies. Even supporters of the old regime must be allowed to peacefully promote their point of view in a real democracy. Even if they are violent it is not grounds for banning all pro-Saddam rallies.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

5. I saw it on TV5

I have several satellites on my roof, including a couple of European stations. One of them is the French international station TV5. I saw film of the protestors fleeing by the dozens before U.S. troops, with automatic weapons fire all around them. The people were going crazy, running into each other and falling down on top of each other. It was one of the ugliest things I've seen in awhile.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

6. Freedom our way or we'll Kill you all !!

Dammit !
We'll kill anyone who speaks out 'cause we came half way 'round the globe to bring you FREEDOM !!!
You best just watch it while we're in town!
Better be good brown slaves, maybe a couple of you can get a janitor job in the Halliburton building now that you have Freedom.

We just checked yer leaders teeth on T.V. --now we're gonna torture him a bit and if you say anything you must hate freedom and we'll have to shoot you.

[thebigidea]

7. I love the smell of freedom in the morning...

keep this in mind the next time Rummy, Wolfowitz, or Bush crow on and on about how the people of Iraq are free to protest.

[SoCalDem]

8. Hey.. They ARE free to protest..

They might end up getting killed, but they are FREE to do it :(

[Nile]

9. Are they free to protest?

I have not heard yet that they have a constitution that guarantees anything.

[leftchick]

10. their colonial king baghdad boosh* has decreed

that they are free to protest......