Question about the US Flag issue in Iraq

[mAdMaLuDaWg]

I was watching the news last week, and when the US forces entered Iraq they raised a flag on one of the first posts they over ran. Over the weekend, contrevorsy surrounded this issue and the US Flag was taken down on the basis that this sent a message that the US was in Iraq to occupy it.
So I was wondering why the flag was raised in the first place, since Gen. Tommy Franks said that the raising of the flag was understandable, I would assume that this was a tradition in the US Military. If so, any idea if the same was done in Afghanistan and in previous wars... and why didn't anyone say anything about it then?

[J-Excel]

They want to dispell the idea that we want to occupy Iraq. Most Iraqis seem to support being liberated but don't want to be under US control after the liberation. They are more likely to support us if we don't start waving the flag around.

One commander that ordered the flags removed from their vehicles before the war started said something like "we are an army of liberation, not an army of occupation"

Yes, J-Excel has correctly stated the facts. The tradition is not to have the US Flag fly below or lower than any other flag so they decided not to fly it at all.

This was a good move.

[mAdMaLuDaWg]

So is it a military tradition to raise a flag in any country it wages war against after it enters the country?

No, only when you capture that territory and win the battle. It is traditional to raise your flag to signify that the territory/town is now under your control.

If you lose, then obviously you don't put up the flag.

In this case, even though the US won and put up the flag, the Politicians in DC felt it looks bad since the President has been saying its a liberation war not an occupation. So they removed the flag.

[J-Excel]

I think it is, but aren't at war with Iraq. We are at war for Iraq. We are at war with the Ba'ath Party which has been controlling Iraq for the last 30 years.

[mAdMaLuDaWg]

Any idea if it was done in Afghanistan after they intially took over the provinces under Talibaan control?

[Chuckiechan]

It is pretty hard to thank a soldier. You can only give him medals and ribbons for fighting and bleeding, sometimes dying. And you should let him raise his country's flag, even if it comes down in a few minutes! It's a sign of victory since the beginning of war!

Edit: At least we don't have any heads on fence posts! (yet)