The leader of US forces in Iraq is a bigot.

[DrWeird]

After the US blew up a wedding, killing many women and children, Brigadier General Kimmitt had this to say, "These are pictures that are somewhat inconsistent in my mind with a wedding party," Kimmitt said. "One could say, yes, it is true that out in the desert you need to have a rifle to protect yourself against Ali Baba but the necessity for rocket-propelled launchers, rocket launchers in the bottom, special machine guns may be a little much for Ali Baba out there."

For those of you who thought this war was about saving the Iraqi people, what do you have to say?

[Spazito]

1. Geez!!

"Ali Baba"! The man is responsible for the murder of 45 people, mostly women and children and this is his response, disgusting, no, beyond disgusting.

[CulturalNomad]

2. Ali Baba!!

and we wonder why the soldiers at Abu Ghraib took the lynching pics....

[soothsayer]

3. ok, but isn't he just trying to use the Iraqi slang for thieves?

don't flame me pleez

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Have you a link for that?

Since the story is 'Ali Baba and the 40 thieves', Ali Baba isn't really a thief himself (though I suppose he does steal from the thieves).

[soothsayer]

13. You don't remember this from the beginning of the war, from tv

reports? I remember thinking it was so cute that the Iraqis called thieves (and looters, and highway robbers) "Ali Babas"

A lot of reporters must have thought it was cute, too, cuz they used it alot.

ok, here's a link
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-04-14-usat-baghdad_x.htm

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. No, I didn't remember

but you're perfectly right.

[sangh0]

6. One problem

Kimmet isn't Iraqi. It's like Bush* saying "But, but, but black people use the N*-word!"

[soothsayer]

14. ok, he shoulda' said "protect themselves from Ali Babas, as Iraqis call

thieves and looters"

That would have been ok, wouldn't it?


That's assuming it is indeed an Iraqi slang term, and not a coalition invention.

[DrWeird]

15. So how about you answer the question.

nt

[rog]

8. As far as I know, it's an American term.

Didn't I read recently that American forces referred to Iraqis as "Ali Baba," similar to the term "gooks" in Viet Nam?

Dehumanizing terms, both.

.rog.

[Sinistrous]

5. Isn't it customary in Arabic society to shoot off guns at celebrations?

Especially at weddings? Especially in the middle of the desert?

Kimmit is an ignorant boor (among other things).

[BurtWorm]

7. It's customary throughout the rural Middle East.

The US has shot up at least two other wedding parties, maybe more, since starting its holy war in 2001. They ought to have learned to be more careful about this shit by now.

[NNN0LHI]

9. deleted by poster

[BurtWorm]

10. Um, that's what I meant.

Sorry if I didn't make it clear, but of course I meant the burden is on the US military to learn from its mistakes.

[NNN0LHI]

11. I know now. I fucked up. Sorry. Man you are fast. Take care n/t

[BurtWorm]

12. It's all right.

:hi: