He wasn't taken to the Principal's office.

[Theophylact]

From the Toronto, Ontario Globe and Mail (link not permanent; may vanish):

Photo: Ramzi Haidar/AFP
U.S. soldiers arrested 17-year-old Khaled Salim in the southern suburbs of Baghdad Tuesday. Salim, who insulted occupying troops on his way to school, was bound and taken away as a warning to others.

These must be the same yellow peeps that murdered the women and children. No wonder the Iraqis spit on them.

[Epidemic]

controll is a balancing act. Little insults can turn ugly but so can taking away people for little crimes.

Shahani given the stated situation as seen by the troops and recounts of the victims in the van incident. I would have fired some 20 mm rounds at em as well.

[Mike]

I wonder whos orders these were under?
Shhh!! He was secretly plotting something against the U.S.!!

Your sense of fairplay is pathetic, duke. That's all I can say.

Pathetic.

[Epidemic]

Fair play???

In a situation where lives are on the line on both sides order must be maintained. anything which undermines authority must be dealt with. Now I did not see what happened to the young adult but I will assume he was released shortly after. Much like most rioters in the US.

If you son was there carrying the M-16, I do not think you would be praying for fair play.

[ShawnD1]

Epidemic, nowhere did it say that the kid was a threat of any kind, he simply spoke out. Is speaking out really a crime? Isn't arresting him what Saddam would have done??

[Creatures]

Originally posted by Mike
Shhh!! He was secretly plotting something against the U.S.!!

damn call the FBI (hello there)!!!

well that's how they use their power no saddam no osama so someone else!

can everyone join the army? also some psychos?

Creatures

[Epidemic]

The story is light on facts and heavy with motive.

I would be much more apt to agree with the stories intent if it were complete with facts. did the kid respond to some action by the troops with "who do you think you are" or was it more akin to "you will get yours" I don't know. Was he inciting a crowd of youths to action or merely voicing a calm opinion on the unfairness of a situation?

Then was the kid treated badly, slammed to the ground and butted with an M16 or was he told that he was coming downtown for a cooling off period?

The information is not complete enough to make a judgment call.

So I merely point out that in that absence of fact the soldiers need to treat incitement and inflametory remarks with more than "I know you are but what am I".

I know little about Iraqi culture and can't say what the soldiers standing orders are in situations like this either. but perhaps walking away from an insult such as was wielded might undermine your authority. All in all this appears to be the typical inflametory propaganda aimed at undermining US authority and security.

Epidemic, a school kid hurled insults at the Marines. He was probably angry that they keep murdering civilians.

So these heavily armed marines "bound and gagged" a 17 year old. Didn't you see the pictures?

But then I have always maintained that these Marines are bullies and basically cowards or terrified 19-20 year old kids. They do this to women, children, 17 year old boys.

What if they face a real soldier? Probably run like hell with their tails between their legs.

Pathetic conduct of these marines. And sad too because they demean an otherwise fine organization.