How do we gain the support of the Iraqi people? Well the following is a good
way NOT to gain any support:

BAQUBA, Iraq (Reuters) – U.S. troops opened fire on a crowded minivan
north of Baghdad on Monday, fearing a car bomb attack, and killed at least
three members of the same family, including a child, the U.S. military and
survivors said.

The U.S. army’s 3rd Infantry Division confirmed the incident, saying its
troops had opened fire after first trying to wave the minivan to a stop and
then firing warning shots.

“This is a tragedy,” said Major Steve Warren, a spokesman for U.S. forces
in Baquba, near where the shooting occurred.

“But these tragedies only happen because Zarqawi and his thugs are out
there driving around with car bombs,” he added, referring to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi,
a militant leader in Iraq.

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This is a sad tragedy. I am not saying these soldiers are to blame for what
happened, after all this is an extremely tense place. However, when true
accidents like this happen it adds to the aftermath of other problems which we
could of controlled – like Abu Gharib.

When over 80% of the Iraqi people want us out now and 46% of them feel the
attacks against coalition forces if justified then the last thing we need is
more bad press circulating in Iraq. While three civilians may have been killed,
it is a safe assumption that at least 10 Iraqi’s will now join the insurgency.
That is a problem that has been highlighted by the top generals in Iraq for
several months now.

Perhaps incidents like this also occur because of battle fatigue. These
soldiers keep getting their tours extended and are now looking at another
holiday season away from home. Many are working in positions they are not
trained for and with inadequate equipment.

The Pentagon and White House seem to always push blame off onto the soldiers.
“These are isolated incidents” is the common phrase. I am sorry but it does not
work that way. The ramifications of these incidents does not take place upon the
soldiers involved, they take place on all the military. You do not hear “private
so and so screwed up”, you hear “the Army screwed up”. That is the reason why
the military has a golden rule – you are responsible for those below you. The
actions of one soldier reflects upon an entire military and country. Our leaders
just need to recognize that simple fact.