Winning Hearts and Minds

This is so not ok. What were these soldiers thinking?

As the other soldiers laughed at the children who obviously didn't know what they were being prodded to say, one of the soldiers said towards the end, "God this is so wrong". You got that right.

This comes at the heels of another shameful video with soldiers making children run through the streets after their vehicle as they dangle bottled water:



It's easy to forget that most soldiers are practically kids themselves, and may have done these "pranks" to let off steam from the dangerous situations they face in Iraq, but there is no excuse for insensitive acts of humiliation and degradation, especially on unsuspecting little children.

How would you feel if your kids were tricked by an occupying force to say "fuck U.S.A."? How would you feel if your kids were enticed to run through hot, dirty streets for a drink of water?

These might look inconsequential amidst all the carnage and violence Iraqis face everyday, but it's acts like these accumulated through years of occupation that can spark hatred in the very hearts and minds we're supposed to win over.

So guys, quit this crap. And come to think of it, your superior officers should do a better job of curbing this kind of offensive nonsense. After Abu Ghraib, Haditha and Mahmoudiyah, this drip drip drip of indignities is the last thing we need.



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