They shoot looters, don't they?

[khaosworks]

New Policy in Iraq to Authorize G.I.'s to Shoot Looters
by PATRICK E. TYLER The New York Times

BAGHDAD, Iraq, May 13 - United States military forces in Iraq will have the authority to shoot looters on sight under a tough new security setup that will include hiring more police officers and banning ranking members of the Baath Party from public service, American officials said today.

The far more muscular approach to bringing order to postwar Iraq was described by the new American administrator, L. Paul Bremer, at a meeting of senior staff members today, the officials said. On Wednesday, Mr. Bremer is expected to meet with the leaders of Iraqi political groups that are seeking to form an interim government by the end of the month. "He made it very clear that he is now in charge," said an official who attended the meeting today. "I think you are going to see a change in the rules of engagement within a few days to get the situation under control."

Asked what this meant, the official replied, "They are going to start shooting a few looters so that the word gets around" that assaults on property, the hijacking of automobiles and violent crimes will be dealt with using deadly force.

How Iraqis will be informed of the new rules is not clear. American officials in Iraq have access to United States-financed radio stations, which could broadcast the changes.

That kind of says it all, really. Of course, it doesn't occur to the new fuckwit in charge that this could actually make the anti-US sentiment worse. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that actually trying to arrest looters has done no good in deterring looting. But hey, you brought it on yourselves when you got rid of Landru. Now the Festival's gonna happen all year round (Trek geeks take note). And of course, Dubya's instant solution is to go back to the old repressive ways. Way to go, baby.

Maybe they should just start chopping their hands off. At least that'd be popular with the Shi'ites.

Comments

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Part of the problem is that before they weren't bothering to do ANYTHING about looting, as the fates of the museums in Baghdad and Mosul show.
I'm torn between agreeing with you, and thinking that at least now something will be done about looting, even if too late to save a great deal of importance.

[jerusha.livejournal.com]

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that actually trying to arrest looters has done no good in deterring looting

As I understand it, they haven't been able to arrest looters. Ok, yeah, they can arrest them, but the entire judicial system is broken down, so they can't jail them, can't try them, and can't punish them in accordance with the law, because there are no functioning laws. And the US, to date, hasn't shown much interest or ability to resolve this situation. Despite the demands of the Geneva Conventions.

[demiankatz.livejournal.com]

This got a passing mention on NPR this morning. "Increased security measures will include shooting looters on sight," the newsreader calmly stated. I wasn't sure if I'd heard right, though I'm not sure why it surprised me at this point.