# Now Iraqis can't even go NEAR Americans **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 25, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809 "2005-10-25T13:58:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/41 "2005-10-26T14:27:27Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Iraq is an ally of the US in the sense that Vichy France and the Italian Social Republic were allies of Nazi Germany (to be clear I’m not trying to compare the US to the Third Reich). Could the present Iraqi government decided to order all foreign troops out of their country and relegalize the Baath Party, and have the US abide by their wishs? They could _order_ it. I doubt very much that anything would happen. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/42 "2005-10-26T14:33:11Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > And what’s the literacy rate in Iraq? Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.4% male: 55.9% female: 24.4% (2003 est.) [From here.](http://www.bartleby.com/151/iz.html#People) ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/43 "2005-10-26T14:48:05Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write > total population: 40.4% > male: 55.9% > female: 24.4% (2003 est.) > > [From here.](http://www.bartleby.com/151/iz.html#People) It’s clearly one of those Leave-No-Live-Iraqi-Behind education programs. No doubt once literacy rate has been pushed up by the thinning of the illiterate herd liberals will still be whining and bitching. There really is no pleasing some people. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/44 "2005-10-26T15:57:47Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > This is an old policy. Some posters seemed to think it is a recent innovation, but it is not. The wisdom of a policy is not determined by its age. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/45 "2005-10-26T16:05:19Z")
Never said otherwise. Still some posters are saying things that indicate they think this is new. It is not. (I swear I have some photos of the darn sign around here. I simply cannot find them.) ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/46 "2005-10-26T16:09:20Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > Never said otherwise. Still some posters are saying things that indicate they think this is new. It is not. > > (I swear I have some photos of the darn sign around here. I simply cannot find them.) The policy of randomly blasting the natives just in case they might be hostile has been in place for a while but actually specifying 100 yards is new to me. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/47 "2005-10-26T16:32:30Z")
Fair enough. Trust me, it is a policy that has been in place for well over a year. I say that with no cite whatsoever. Trust me. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/48 "2005-10-26T16:46:17Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > Fair enough. Trust me, it is a policy that has been in place for well over a year. I say that with no cite whatsoever. Trust me. Yes, it’s old news as[this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6403758&postcount=1) shows. The link no longer works but the relevant part of the newspaper story is quoted in the post. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/49 "2005-10-27T09:34:37Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > Yes, it’s old news as[this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6403758&postcount=1) shows. The link no longer works but the relevant part of the newspaper story is quoted in the post. Nothing about a 100 yard freefire zone there isn’t. But new or not it is contemptible in practice as your cite shows. No wonder attacks on coalition troops has so much Iraqi support. ---
**Author:** ![enitocinnlonahte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@enitocinnlonahte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enitocinnlonahte)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/50 "2005-10-27T11:12:38Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > How is this policy not a warcrime? Since when can a country simply arrogate the right to kill unarmed civilians for driving around in their own country? Especially when those civilians are ostensibly our _allies_ during _peacetime_. > > This is sickening. We used to be the good guys. No, we were never the good guys. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/51 "2005-10-27T11:51:10Z")
> [@Rashak Mani](#): > > I hope insurgents have stocked up on RPGs and AK-47s in order not to breach that 100 yards limit… :wally Wishing success on people trying to kill U.S. troops is more than a bit inflammatory. I’d suggest not repeating this sentiment, particularly in **GD**. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/52 "2005-10-27T14:16:20Z")
> [@enitocinnlonahte](#): > > No, we were never the good guys. I know some world war II vets (and their admirers, one of whom is me) who’d take issue with that statement. No one said we were the good guys at any point in this decade, or last decade, but there was definitely a point where we were the good guys, and a stretch afterwards where we were doing some questionable things but were still the best thing going. Okay, end hijack ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/53 "2005-10-30T15:39:19Z")
Found that photo … The placard is black on white, with red reflectors, Arabic on top, English on bottom. [Here](http://photobucket.com/albums/a275/PaulinSaudi/Parrot%20Stuff/?action=view¤t=Photo-04-Naked-Man-Tackled_400.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/54 "2005-10-30T19:48:18Z")
Surely that just says “Danger Stay Back”? Rather than a probably better “Danger Stay Back Or We Shoot” or something. It might say that in the Arabic part though, can anyone read that? Also, the name of the photo file is concerning… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/55 "2005-11-02T18:29:13Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > > [@Whynot](#): > > > > (Are the signs even visible and readable from 100 yards away?) > > Is anyone else picturing someone seeing there’s a sign, not being able to read it, and wandering closer for a better look… [If you can read this…](http://www.cyclespot.com/Harley_Apparel_Gifts/Signs/image/62487_if_you_can_read_this_.jpg) :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/56 "2005-11-02T21:18:04Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > Isn’t there something in the Geneva convention about, you know, shooting civilians? Aren’t we at least _discouraged_ from doing so? [sardonic] You know, John Kerry said that once, long ago when he was young & stupid. Good thing those patriots at Diebold stopped that unpatriotic freethinker from stealing this country away from right-thinking Americans. Pennzoil is better than ketchup, & God hates those who refuse to kill a foreigner for the sake of America. Ten Thousand Years, O Kali. [/sardonic] No, of course, you’re right. But DoD doesn’t actually follow the Geneva Conventions when they’re scared. They surrender to the Panic. Nietzsche fans, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809/57 "2005-11-03T12:47:46Z")
**Tom** , it seems clear to me that **Rashak** wasn’t wishing success on killers of Americans, he was using sarcasm to point out the implications of the rules. The insurgents now have a further incentive to stock up on those weapons. It will be a sad day for the Dope when sarcasm is banned: the terrorists will have already won. (Oh wait, that’s hyperbole.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-iraqis-cant-even-go-near-americans/327809.md?page=2)