American Soldiers Destroying Iraqi Orchards - Take 2

I expressed a bit of skepticism when the Independent ran a story which claimed that American soldiers leveled Iraqi orchards as collective punishment for attacks by militants. Supposedly, the bulldozers had loudspeakers playing jazz as the soldiers cut down the trees. Besides the unbelievably lurid nature of the report, the fact that it appeared in only one publication made me suspicious. This was such an emotional story, if it were true, everyone would have a reporter on the scene in a heartbeat.

Now, someone found this story - which actually predates the Independent's - in Islamonline.net. The details are somewhat different. No collective punishment. No jazz music. But still, lots of anger:

"They say resistance fighters could hide in the fields, but I tell you these are my fields and nobody goes into them. There are no attacks around here," [one farmer] told Agence France-Presse (AFP), as a mob of angry men in traditional Arab white robes nod in support. ...

U.S. authorities in occupied Iraq are tight-lipped about the plantation clearing, as U.S. overseer Paul Bremer said he had "no idea" when asked why the plantations were cleared, adding: "It's the first I've heard about it."

And Master Sergeant Robert Cargie, of the 4th Infantry Division controlling the area, said "we cannot get specific on these operations.

"But if an area is determined to be useful as an ambush point, we will seek to eliminate that as a threat."

Such operations may not be widespread across the country, but trees have been felled around Baghdad International Airport, which has been attacked by mortar fire since the U.S. took control with the fall of the regime on April 9. ...

A tall man standing behind the crowd suddenly raises a warning finger and says: "Some people who lost their fields are begging, others are stealing cars, but now that we have nothing to do, maybe we will join the resistance.

"Is this what the Americans want?"

Let's review: American troops cut down trees around Baghdad Airport and other locations around Iraq that they think are or could be used for militants to launch attacks from. In other words, they had a sound military reason. Very understandably, the Iraqis are pissed off at having their trees destroyed. Angering the Iraqi people is not a good thing, but it's better than letting the bad guys launch missiles at U.S. planes.

As those of us who opposed the war have now said umpteen times, this is exactly the kind of shit that we warned you all about. In the process of trying to defeat one bogus enemy, you're making ten more real ones. On the other hand, one must be skeptical about claims about U.S. troops behaving in ways that make no sense. If a story is just too bad to be true, it probably isn't.

(Via The Yellow Doggerel Democrat and Edgewise.)

Comments

[xian]

Good points. I always try to ask myself "who wants me to know this?" and "who benefits from this story circulating?" in addition to "is this true?" It's especially important when a story confirms your prejudices or tends to reinforce your ideological leanings.

[Alan]

I blogged this as well, although I had my doubts about the music. As far as the music goes, it was a feature of the US intervention in Panama. If the Pentagon asks Halliburton to provide multiple copies of The ride of the Valkyries at inflated prices we'll know what's going on.

I think the importance of the story is that squeaky-clean occupations accompanied by ecstatic welcoming crowds are a neocon fantasy.

[Mithras]

As far as the music goes, it was a feature of the US intervention in Panama.

My recollection is they used loud rock music as a psyops technique to force Noriega out of the Papal Nuncio's residence. I can't see using jazz as a weapon - okay, maybe acid jazz.

If the Pentagon asks Halliburton to provide multiple copies of The ride of the Valkyries at inflated prices we'll know what's going on.

I love the smell of kickbacks in the morning. It smells like ... victory.