When "oops" just doesn't cut it.

Jazzman · 03-08-2005, 04:48 PM

My point being in all of this that too many people are turning this situation into a matter regarding the administration and Bush and so on and so on, which is completely inappropriate. George Bush was not there at the checkpoint giving orders, nor was anyone else from the Pentagon. This incident probably took all of three minutes to play out, and in that amount of time decisions came down to on-the-spot acts of judgment on the part of soldiers who are everyday people like any of us here. To turn this incident into a debate about the Bush administration is completely missing the point because in this instance the Bush administration had no impact on what happened there.

As far as firing into the engine block, I'm not sure if you've ever fired a gun yourself, but they don't magically aim themselves. And trying to hit a certain spot on a speeding car, driving (I would bet erratically) quickly toward you, would be extremely difficult. I am sure that several bullets would have overshot and entered into the passenger compartment, striking the occupants. There is also a very plausible chance that bullets striking the engine block would have ricocheted into the passenger compartment as well. To say that they weren't intending to hit the block simply because someone inside was hit is a gross assumption and completely ignores physics, and physics don't lie and are always bipartisan.

This whole business about calling it an assassination is simply ludicrous. To imply that these soldiers, who are simply trying to do their job and get home, would commit such an evil act is shameful. Maybe there are people in the Pentagon or the White House who would, but to be putting that accusation on the common men and women on the ground is just sad.

And sorry Sac, but nothing you said really compels me to reply. If you want to start a “Bush is evil” debate, start that thread. This isn’t about Bush. It’s about a handful of American GIs in Iraq and an Italian reporter. If you would like to discuss them, please do. Otherwise... sorry.
Oh, but I will say that the Lobster joke was intended to be just that. I’m sorry I didn’t plaster “Joke! Not intended to be taken literally!” before it. If you would like me to, I can go back and edit that in there for you.

03-08-2005, 04:48 PM	#17
Jazzman Sax God Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Portland's Tijuana Posts: 510	My point being in all of this that too many people are turning this situation into a matter regarding the administration and Bush and so on and so on, which is completely inappropriate. George Bush was not there at the checkpoint giving orders, nor was anyone else from the Pentagon. This incident probably took all of three minutes to play out, and in that amount of time decisions came down to on-the-spot acts of judgment on the part of soldiers who are everyday people like any of us here. To turn this incident into a debate about the Bush administration is completely missing the point because in this instance the Bush administration had no impact on what happened there. As far as firing into the engine block, I'm not sure if you've ever fired a gun yourself, but they don't magically aim themselves. And trying to hit a certain spot on a speeding car, driving (I would bet erratically) quickly toward you, would be extremely difficult. I am sure that several bullets would have overshot and entered into the passenger compartment, striking the occupants. There is also a very plausible chance that bullets striking the engine block would have ricocheted into the passenger compartment as well. To say that they weren't intending to hit the block simply because someone inside was hit is a gross assumption and completely ignores physics, and physics don't lie and are always bipartisan. This whole business about calling it an assassination is simply ludicrous. To imply that these soldiers, who are simply trying to do their job and get home, would commit such an evil act is shameful. Maybe there are people in the Pentagon or the White House who would, but to be putting that accusation on the common men and women on the ground is just sad. And sorry Sac, but nothing you said really compels me to reply. If you want to start a “Bush is evil” debate, start that thread. This isn’t about Bush. It’s about a handful of American GIs in Iraq and an Italian reporter. If you would like to discuss them, please do. Otherwise... sorry. Oh, but I will say that the Lobster joke was intended to be just that. I’m sorry I didn’t plaster “Joke! Not intended to be taken literally!” before it. If you would like me to, I can go back and edit that in there for you.
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