PrintJune 24, 2006
Honoring Just Warriors
Three squadrons of American Marines are picking their way carefully down a Baghdad street, headed for a meeting with the mayor. The warriors are anxious because attacks in that area have been frequent, and they know that today would be a perfect opportunity for an ambush, not only on them, but on the mayor and his entourage. They would prefer to clear the streets, but this is not possible in a busy urban environment. People pass frequently talking on their cell phones. Although these Marines don't know Farsi or Arabic, they have to try to distinguish between conversations that are potentially threatening and those that are not. They know the consequences if they can't tell the difference between a man calling his wife to tell her where he is, and a terrorist who is calling in their position to other Fedayeen fighters.
On this particular day, they are becoming anxious because of one particular Iraqi man in the street who has been talking intently on his...(Read Full Article)
