Iraq minus ‘another town’ (Hasiba destroyed, now a 'ghost city')

[Barrett808]

Iraq minus ‘another town’
By Ali Khaleel

In the aftermath of a joint U.S. and Iraqi attack, Hasiba is now a ghost town.

It is the latest in a series of Iraqi villages, towns and cities bearing the brunt of the destructive machine of the mighty U.S. military power.

Hasiba, like many other Iraqi towns, has been a victim of the ongoing, ruinous war pitching U.S. troops against rebels determined to beat America.

In the middle are the inhabitants of these towns whose dislike of the U.S. is only matched by their hatred of these rebels.

Hasiba was until recently in rebel hands many of whom of foreign origin.

These rebels had spread full control on Hasiba, turning the inhabitants into something like hostages.

But most of them fled the town before the U.S. military advance.

“Nonetheless, we were subjected to heavy bombardment. There is large-scale destruction. The military operations have turned Hasiba into a ghost city,” said Abdula al-Dulaimi, a Hasiba inhabitant.

(more)

http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news\2005-12-6\116.htm

[fooj]

1. Hearts and minds, baby!!!

:cry:

[acmavm]

2. If they destroy them all, kill everybody in 'em, they'll have a clear

unopposed shot at that oil.

[catmother]

3. i agree. n/t

[iamahaingttta]

6. I have come to believe...

...that what you just said was the agenda from the beginning.

[DBoon]

4. Lidice

Another town that was wiped off the map...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lidice

[Clara T]

9. Thank you for the reference and rememberance

Lidice today
Although the village of Lidice was destroyed completely, it was rebuilt after the war, in 1949. Soon after the razing of the village, several towns in various countries (such as San Jerónimo-Lídice in Mexico City as well as towns in Brazil) took the name of Lidice, so that the name would live on in spite of Hitler's intentions. A neighbourhood in Crest Hill, Illinois, was also renamed from Stern Park to Lidice. Lidice also became a woman's name in several countries.
Today the village resembles its neighbours, with only a large memorial distinguishing it from the other villages in the area.

[High Plains]

5. We had to destroy it in order to save it...

[IndianaGreen]

7. Why are we trying Saddam for crimes against humanity...

when we are guilty of the same crimes?

[ninkasi]

11. That is my question also...

Bush is a war criminal, who should stand trial for his crimes against humanity. He has caused intense pain and suffering for the innocent civilians of Iraq, in addition to sending American citizens to be slaughtered, all to add to the wealth of his cronies. He has bankrupt our country, gutted the Constitution, and caused immense suffering here. He has abandoned our own Gulf Coast, leaving them to rebuild their lives as best they can, while he calls for more tax breaks for his buddies. He is a disaster, who causes shame to us all.

[madmark]

8. This is the sad reality of the Iraq Theatre; we push back against

small groups of jihadis, collaterally kill and damage heretofore neutral iraqis, and radicalize them against us.

[regnaD kciN]

10. All you veterans of the '60s, repeat after me...

..."we had to destroy the town in order to save it." :argh:

[KamaAina]

12. That much destruction truly boggles the mind

?

oh, wait a minute, that's right here in the good ol' USA: Waveland, MS to be precise. Bush** may not have caused it, but he sure hasn't lifted a finger to fix it (that's about 30 miles from Trent Lott's porch) :grr:

[Barrett808]

13. This is almost certainly an instance of the new 'air power' policy

Described by Sy Hersh in this month's New Yorker:

Up in the Air
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/051205fa_fact