Mark Phillips: The American Question

6/5/03: "Heathen".

An item from today's news offers a rare, blunt insight into the cultural causes which, in part, seem to be fueling the growing Iraqi uprising against American occupation.

Sgt. Major Dwight Brown told the troops before Bush's appearance, "I don't want any damn catcalls from the crowd. We have the president of the United States coming to tell us what a great job we did destroying those heathen up in northern Iraq." "Bush Pledges to 'Reveal the Truth' About Weapons of Mass Destruction", Washington Post, 6/5/03.

"Those heathen" are apparently the 20 unarmed demonstrators shot down by American paratroopers in the town of Fallujah in late April.

What was it a "great job" of? Fueling a guerilla war which might not have been so severe? Lending popular political support to the fallen Ba'athists?

Nevermind. They were heathen and they were destroyed. Great job.

How many Americans will die over this? How many Iraqis?

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