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More pictures of prisoners from Al Ghraib reappeared just when the video of Arab children, being beaten by Brit troops, was threatening to take the issue of the Muhammad cartoons off the agenda as the main gripe for Muslims. The shock I feel is that there is any surprise that such events happen.The video of the children being beaten was spooky ...not because armed men were using such violence on kids but because of the commentary. I had thought this was a Rodney King-type video where a brave whistle blower had taken risks to film the "LAPD Story ".
No, the Brit video was filmed by a colleague encouraging them and clearly wanting to join in. "Oh yes, you 're going to get it ". They did. The BBC said "It may inflame the situation ". That British use of understatement!
If foreign troops were here, would we not forgive such youthful folly or indeed encourage teenagers to protest? Was it Robert Morley, in "Topkapi ", who, when a Turkish border guard asks if he is a foreigner, says "Goodness no, I 'm British. "? We.. are ...the ...foreigners. Our presence is resented. Time to go.
The BBC commentator said "..the troops "appear " to be assaulting the children " as our men are clearly seen catching these kids and taking them out of sight from their fathers, who may have offered a bit more resistance. They are then seen holding them down and walloping them.
Who would they have caught? Slower, less able, more vulnerable children. Few soldiers with packs, boots, rifles and helmets could catch a fit, scared teenager. They "appear " to have outstayed their welcome.
Sending our young people to a country with a history of civilisation that is thousands of years older than ours, must be thought through better than this debacle was. We cannot justify our presence. We are the target. Our troops are being set up for disaster. Time to go.
