# A 'terror' attack on U.S. troops by Iraq?! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 22, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449 "2003-03-22T23:52:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/1 "2003-03-22T23:52:45Z")
I just heard on the news that one of the U.S.'s military staging areas in Kuwait was hit by a “terror” attack, injuring at least 10 U.S. soldiers. A _terror_ attack?! Come **on!** We’re **dropping bombs on Iraq** , and when Iraq sneaks into one of our camps and plants a bomb of their own, suddenly Iraq is guilty of a **“terror”** attack?!?!? It’s called a **COMMANDO HIT-AND-RUN RAID** , you fear-mongering fuckheads! It’s a legitimate tactic during wartime! :mad: We launced commando hit-and-run raids ourselves during World War II!! What, is **every** attack perpetrated by somebody else considered a “terrorist” action nowadays? I suppose you chowderheads think that the Iraqi soldiers shooting at the invading U.S. troops are “terrorists” too! Wake **up** , you sleaze-faced jingo-spewing slimebuckets! The world does not revolve around the fucking U.S. of A.!! ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/2 "2003-03-23T00:03:15Z")
Thank you. It had to be said. ---
**Author:** ![jacksen9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jacksen9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacksen9)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/3 "2003-03-23T00:06:07Z")
CNN said it was an intruder. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/4 "2003-03-23T00:06:09Z")
They called it a terrorist attack because it happened in Kuwait. Get a grip. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/5 "2003-03-23T00:10:26Z")
Wouldn’t that be a counter-invasion, then? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/6 "2003-03-23T00:15:53Z")
It’s also not clear that this was done by the Iraqis. All that’s known is that a bunch of US soldiers in a nation with whom we are at peace were attacked. If it were done by Iraqi commandos, then it’s be part and parcel of being in a war. If it were instead done by, say, a Saudi Arabian, then it would, indeed, be a terrorist attack. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/7 "2003-03-23T00:17:31Z")
I assume I saw the same thing you did, **tracer**. Glad I’m not the only one who hoisted an eyebrow at that statement. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/8 "2003-03-23T00:22:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Reeder \* > **They called it a terrorist attack because it happened in Kuwait.** Oh, **yes,** how clumsy of me! I should have known that a nation under attack was completely forbidden to sneak behind enemy lines. (Assuming this was, indeed, perpetrated by Iraq. If it was perpetrated by somebody else, then I agree with **Miller,** it should be considered a terrorist attack. But at this stage, it’s too freakin’ early to call it a terrorist attack. An attack on U.S. troops behind the lines, sure. But not until we know that it **wasn’t** Iraq that did this should we start calling it a terrorist attack.) ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/9 "2003-03-23T00:31:35Z")
But we **SHOULD** call the Americans jingoistic sleaze faced slimebuckets before the facts are in? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/10 "2003-03-23T00:37:50Z")
Well, yeah! Of course! Well … okay … “panicky herd animals” might be a better epithet. And, to be honest, I don’t know if the “Americans” were the ones responsible for calling it a “terror” attack, or whether that was something a flag-waving CNN reporter dreamed up. Now that they’ve had a chance to assess the situation, though, they’ve switched to calling it a “grenade attack, with the possibility of terrorism.” That I’ll buy. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/11 "2003-03-23T00:38:27Z")
It’s not terrorism to sneak into a military base and throw grenades during wartime. It’s a commando raid, as the OP said. I disagree with “:mad:” or any excessive capitalization or bolding. During wartime we don’t want to escalate the rhetorical hostilities. If we did this might happen\*. [sub]\*For demonstration purposes only. Professional driver on closed course. Other restrictions may apply. See your doctor or ophthalmologist before starting any new font or typographical regime. Offer void in parts of Oceania and Eastasia. Void where prohibited. [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/12 "2003-03-23T00:40:30Z")
> [@](#): > > But we SHOULD call the Americans jingoistic sleaze faced slimebuckets before the facts are in? Nah! Only _some_ of them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/13 "2003-03-23T01:31:47Z")
Because, you treasonous fool, they’re not supposed to fight back! ---
**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/14 "2003-03-23T01:35:08Z")
NBC news is reporting that a U.S. soldier is being held in connection with the attack. Apparently we was reported missing shortly after the attack happened. According to sources a criminal investigation has been opened regarding the incident. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/15 "2003-03-23T01:38:55Z")
Well… THAT, I did NOT expect to hear. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/16 "2003-03-23T01:41:30Z")
\< **tracer** makes a low whistling sound\> Man, if it turns out that U.S. soldier was the one who did this … ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/17 "2003-03-23T01:46:41Z")
Hrm. That one would be an executable offense, no? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/18 "2003-03-23T01:54:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Raygun99 \* > \*\*Hrm. That one would be an executable offense, no? \*\* I think it would be. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/19 "2003-03-23T01:57:16Z")
Why would it be? Wouldn’t it just be attempted murder? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/20 "2003-03-23T02:06:17Z")
The ante gets upped quite a bit when you involve the military in things. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449.md?page=2)