# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/41 "2003-03-23T03:42:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by moc.liamtoh@rorrim \* > \*\*Fucking hell. > > God damned muslim fuck. > > You know people say that its only the radical muslims that are “like that” and that praise osama etc… But Osama is now the MOST POPULAR name for new born babies among muslims. \*\* Well _this_ was the smartest thing I’ve read all day. :rolleyes: ---
**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, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/42 "2003-03-23T03:45:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AZCowboy \* > **Only because I would hate to think of the incompetence to let a “commando raid” get to within grendate-tossing distance of the commanders tent in Camp Pennsylvania.** True – when they showed the Camps from the air, they were a small square cluster of tents surrounded by mile after mile of flat, open desert. Even at night, there’d be no **way** one could miss seeing someone walking toward the perimiter from **any** direction. ---
**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, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/43 "2003-03-23T03:46:08Z")
Just for the record. Fragging is nothing new in the military. There were several cases in Viet Nam. ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/44 "2003-03-23T03:49:23Z")
Funny to assume he did what he did because he was “going nuts”. Maybe it’s just what normal radical muslims do. I sure see a lot of “I’m ashamed to be an American.” these days, but have yet to see “I’m ashamed to be a muslim.” ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/45 "2003-03-23T03:52:01Z")
Or normal radical christians, or normal radical jews for that matter… ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/46 "2003-03-23T03:53:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Funny to assume he did what he did because he was “going nuts”. Maybe it’s just what normal radical muslims do. Attacking superior officers (in a compound where one is liable to be caught) is hardly a rational act. (The official word is that he was “disgruntled.”) And the word that the soldier is muslim is still a rumor. You might want to have your knee looked at, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/47 "2003-03-23T03:54:51Z")
Where did it say the suspect was a Muslim? ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/48 "2003-03-23T04:02:24Z")
Flying airplanes into skyscrapers is hardly a rational act, also, seems to me. My knee is doing fine, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/49 "2003-03-23T04:05:41Z")
Well, I can see that **hermann** is going to contribute greatly to the fight against ignorance around here. Or not. ---
**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, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/50 "2003-03-23T04:06:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > \*\*Attacking superior officers (in a compound where one is liable to be caught) is hardly a rational act. \*\* There are a variety of factors that could have contributed to his “breakdown.” Before deploying to Kuwait the 101st was in Afganistan helping with the “War On Terror.” He could be suffering from battle fatigue. He could be suffering from stress due to his unit’s imminent deployment to Iraq. Take either one of those, add the recent reprimand and you have what could be considered a disgruntled soldier. MSNBC is now reporting 14 injured soldiers. Supposedly the soldier’s unit was to enter Iraq in the next few days. ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/51 "2003-03-23T04:13:16Z")
I’ll try my best to. My point was that if a muslim attacks American interests it’s probably because it’s what they belive in doing. Going nuts or being rational has nothing to do with it. ---
**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, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/52 "2003-03-23T04:17:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hermann \* > \*\*I’ll try my best to. My point was that if a muslim attacks American interests it’s probably because it’s what they belive in doing. Going nuts or being rational has nothing to do with it. \*\* :rolleyes: …oh please. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/53 "2003-03-23T04:17:41Z")
The Washington Post is reporting one soldier is dead. ☹ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12212-2003Mar22.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12212-2003Mar22.html) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/54 "2003-03-23T04:18:18Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ll try my best to. My point was that if a muslim attacks American interests it’s probably because it’s what they belive in doing. Going nuts or being rational has nothing to do with it. You’re actually doing a very poor job of it. First, you are the _only_ source that the soldier was Muslim. I have found no report on the web or on the broadcast news making that claim. Secondly, you have leaped to the conclusion that (provided you are not simply making up his religion) his actions were motivated by his beliefs. That, of course, may be possible, but without actually knowing those beliefs, your action is simply knee-jerk Islam-bashing with no effort to fight ignorance, at all. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Ash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Mr.Ash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Ash)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/55 "2003-03-23T04:27:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > \*\*First, you are the _only_ source that the soldier was Muslim. I have found no report on the web or on the broadcast news making that claim. \*\* I’ve seen it mentioned several times in network coverage. Here’s at least one online cite: [Link](http://onenews.nzoom.com/onenews_detail/0,1227,177452-1-9,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/56 "2003-03-23T04:53:10Z")
**tomndeb** , elsewhere in other message boards, the buzz seems to be that the army is requesting moderation on reporting this attack, too late! It looks like the original accusation that this was a “Black Muslim” soldier came from a CBS news report that was changed to now say: “engineering sergeant”. Perhaps the reason why that other CNN link is now working now? In any case, I hope that it was indeed a mistake; I fear though that with that erroneous report, local American hate groups will come out hard against Muslims. And as I see from **Mr. Ash** ’s cite, FOX news was another of those irresponsible sources. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Ash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Mr.Ash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Ash)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/57 "2003-03-23T05:01:02Z")
I’ve seen a few other cites, but they each go out of thier way to say “Fox news reports that…”, so all of this could have come from a single non-credible source. Everyone also seems split on whether anyone has died as a result of the attack. Some source say one death, some say “no life threatening injuries”. Time will have to tell. ---
**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, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/58 "2003-03-23T05:03:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GIGObuster \* > \*\*The Washington Post is reporting one soldier is dead. ☹ > > [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12212-2003Mar22.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12212-2003Mar22.html) \*\* The “soldier” can now be tried under Sec. 918 Art. 118 (Murder) of the UCMJ. If convicted of premeditated murder he is subject to either life imprisonment or death. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/59 "2003-03-23T05:07:15Z")
CNN and Fox News have both refused to confirm that the suspect is a Muslim, but that he also had been reprimanded for insubordination and was going to be left behind when his unit moved on to Iraq. It seems that the impetus for the attack is not the guy’s religion, but that he’s a fuckup. If the suspect does turn out to be a Muslim (and judging by an Army PR officer’s clumsy denial, “I won’t say that the suspect is a Muslim-American” on CNN, he probably is), I just wish that the asshole had reflected that his petty desire for revenge would unfairly cast a shadow of suspicion over his co-religionists in the military. ---
**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, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449/60 "2003-03-23T05:23:34Z")
Agreed, **gobear**. If the guy just flipped and decided to frag (I still can’t get used to that term being used outside gaming lingo) his superiors, it doesn’t matter what other background he comes from. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-terror-attack-on-u-s-troops-by-iraq/163449.md?page=4)