> From: Ronn!Blankenship [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >them stand as bases for the insurgents. This is especially > true with the > >Shrine of Ali in Najaf. I agree that the rules of war allow > for attacks on > >mosques if they are used for military purposes, but I think it highly > >likely that we would be blamed for any damage. > > > >This is a classic double bind, which has always been one of > my nightmare situations. > > So what do you think now that our troops have returned fire > when someone > was firing at them from a minaret?
Part of me wants suggest making a general announcement that if a mosque is being used as a base to launch military attacks against our troops it has automatically lost its protected status and will be flattened. Not just the minaret but the entire thing. After an appropriate warning so non-combatants can be evacuated. (Not something like the Shrine of Ali, as somethings are just too powerful of a symbol to do something like that.) But then the rest of me responds that this could play directly into the hands of the insurgents. I don't know, it's a very tough question. Clearly we can't allow this to go completely unanswered. - jmh _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
