Bless the Beasts and Children
posted at 11:50 am on July 2, 2007 by Bryan
On 29 June, American and Iraqi soldiers were again fighting side-by-side as soldiers from Charley Company 1-12 CAV—led by Captain Clayton Combs—and Iraqi soldiers from the 5th IA, closed in on a village on the outskirts of Baqubah. The village had the apparent misfortune of being located near a main road—about 3.5 miles from FOB Warhorse—that al Qaeda liked to bomb. Al Qaeda had taken over the village. As Iraqi and American soldiers moved in, they came under light contact; but the bombs planted in the roads (and maybe in the houses) were the real threat.
The firefight progressed. American missiles were fired. The enemy might have been trying to bait Iraqi and American soldiers into ambush, but it did not work. The village was riddled with bombs, some of them large enough to destroy a tank. One by one, experts destroyed the bombs, leaving small and large craters in the unpaved roads.
The village was abandoned. All the people were gone. But where?










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I read this report from Michael Yon yesterday…again, where is the outrage? Beheaded children. There are no words.
zeebeach on July 2, 2007 at 11:55 AM
“But where?”
Probably buried in the desert somewhere. This is why even the Iraqi insurgents are coming over to our side. The people of Iraq have been on our side all along, despite what the media wants us to believe.
Tony737 on July 2, 2007 at 12:02 PM
We’ve already established these Muslim mass murderers as beyond anything remotely civilized so they’ll all escaped, murdered, or kidnapped.
Mojave Mark on July 2, 2007 at 12:04 PM
Lets see, Muslims killing Muslims. Oh you say some of them were children, umm, ok. So these children will never get the chance to wear a suicide bomb, blow up innocent people in a market place, splatter their tiny little arms and legs all over hells half acre or become holy jihad martyrs.
That said you are right, where is the moral outrage of the liberals? Perhaps somebody forgot to send them the e-mail about this little insignificant incident? Perhaps liberals really don’t give two sh%t’s about any atrocity if it doesn’t some how damage either America’s standing in the world or cant be blamed on the evil Booosh…
doriangrey on July 2, 2007 at 12:05 PM
The jihadists have learned a valuable lesson: Once you disregard the sanctity of human life all things are possible.
There is not now nor will there ever be “outrage” at the atrocities of our enemies. Indeed they are expected to commit unspeakable crimes. In a few short years we have become numbed by beheadings. In the summer of 2001 no one would have thought it possible but piles of decapitated children are not news. Gang rapes are not news.
Dig deep into the depths of your imagination and dredge up something as horrible as you can conceive – in ten years that will be mundane. Only something beyond our imagining will have the power to shock us.
Thomas the Wraith on July 2, 2007 at 12:09 PM
Islamic terrorists are the purest form of evil. This religious fanaticism must be recognized by those in the Islamic faith for what it is. To behead children and parents in the name of God is insanity and cannot be tolerated by civilized people. Evil left unchecked will devour the innocent and will only accelerate the death of millions.
volsense on July 2, 2007 at 12:12 PM
I posted this on another post further down the page but i think it needs to be repeated:
Does anyone else understand this is why we are losing in Iraq:
Later in the day, some of the soldiers from the unit I share a tent with, the C-52, told me that one of their Kit Carson scouts (comprised of some of our previous enemies who have turned on al Qaeda) had pointed out an al Qaeda who had cut off the heads of children. Soldiers from C-52 say that the Kit Carson scout freaked out and tried to hide when he spotted the man he identified as an al Qaeda operative. Just how (or if) the scout really knew the man had beheaded children was unknown to the soldiers of C-52, but they took the suspected Al Qaeda to the police, who knew the man. C-52 soldiers told me the Iraqi police were inflamed, and that one policeman in particular was crazed with intent to kill the man who they said had the blood of Iraqi children on his hands. According to the story told to me on 30 June, it took almost 45 minutes for the C-52 soldiers to calm down the policeman who had drawn his pistol to execute the al Qaeda man. That same policeman nearly lost his mind when an American soldier then gave the al Qaeda man a drink of cold water.
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/bless-the-beasts-and-children.htm
Why in God’s name would we:
1) stop the Iraqi from shooting this maggot in the first place; 0r
2) more importantly why would we offer aid and comfort to our and the Iraqi’s enemies?
At the very least we should have turned our backs and let the Iraqi take care of the problem. In truth, we should have marched this murdering maggot outside and did to him what he did to the children of the village so that all Iraq could see justice done.
Instead we fight a war of lawyers. This is not peacetime this is war and should be fought as a war.
unseen on July 1, 2007 at 11:43 AM
unseen on July 2, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Here is a poster’s response to my post and my response. Again I think it needs to be repeated. We need to change our thinking on this war:
Sensei Ern on July 2, 2007 at 8:20 AM
We cannot allow executions without proper investigations because there are too many false accusations going on.
THere are a number of reasons that the Kit Carson would give a false positive. One would be that the accused is a member of a rival family…like Hatfield calling McCoy a lying, murdering, thief.
Or, maybe the accused is married to someone the accusor wants…and can get his rival taken out of the picture without any direct responsibility.
The police might be in on the accusor’s plot. Not saying it is that way always, but we need to protect innocents. To do otherwise just incites additional people to fight against us.
The time to unleash all hell on a reported AQ is when there is combat fire coming from an unknown location and the spotter identifies the source.
Sensei Ern,
With all due respect, this type of view IS the problem. We are at WAR. Your langange is the langage of trials and courts. It is not the langage of war. In war we have allies and enemies. We help our allies and kill our enemies. We do not seek to find guilt or innocence in WAR. We seek to obtain Victory. Victory only comes from killing our enemies enough and capturing and holding enough real estate that they stop fighting. If our allies wish to deal with their enemies we let them. If our allies ask us to deal with the enemy we do. If some innocents get killed during this process that is a shame but that is WAR. Innocents die in war. War is Hell. War is barbaric. You can not fight a civilized war. You unleash the dogs of war and you do not reign them in until the enemy is fleeing in abject fear. You do not piss on your allies or they turn against you. If you want the courts to decide guilt or innocence you WIN THE WAR first.
unseen on July 2, 2007 at 9:25 AM
unseen on July 2, 2007 at 12:16 PM
volsense -
It will get much worse. Imagine such an atrocity in Europe, an empty town or a housing development where the evil has slaughtered everyone and beheaded the children. Car bombs are not the worst they can do, not by a long shot.
Thomas the Wraith on July 2, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Moral outrage on the left has been dead for 50 years. Their understanding of things like this is somewhere along the lines of “freedom fighters (terrorists)” are people, too. They are children, mothers and fathers. Hey people, live and let live. If we be nice, the “misguided (bad) people will go away. The depth of their understanding is somewhere along the lines of Dylan’s “Blowing in the Wind” and their complacent give peace a chance attitude leaves a legacy to their children and grandchildren that is, indeed, horrific.
Glynn on July 2, 2007 at 12:18 PM
This is truly tragic. Al Qaeda is proof that evolution has kicked into reverse for some of our human population. Thx for Michael Yon for doing what our MSM will not do: expose the harsh impacts of jihadists.
jediwebdude on July 2, 2007 at 12:19 PM
Pray they simply fled, but I fear the worst.
When my son came home from his second tour he told me of a night patrol down some dark alley in Tal Afar. He was crouched in front of a door way, wearing nightvision and looking like some lost Starship Trooper. The door opened next to him. Of course, he thought, this is it. Standing in the doorway was an Iraqi mother holding the hand of her child. He said he was within a half a heart beat of shooting her.
She looked at him, put her finger to her lips, and then pointed to her roof. She then closed the door and went back inside. A few minutes later there was one less bad guy.
My family prays for that woman every day, whoever she is.
Limerick on July 2, 2007 at 12:20 PM
This sort of report simply sickens me.
Not necessarily the fact it is happening, as stated earlier we have come to expect that from our enemy and it isn’t so surprising. We have known this sort of thing was going on all along.
It angers me that the left in our country want to abandon the fight against these animals. There was once a time that the left was in the forefront standing up for human rights around the world. Now, apparently, the United States in general and President Bush in particular are the ulitmate source of evil.
I think I’ll send that along to Mister Clever, my congressman. Will probably only get a form-letter back that says Bush Sucks again.
JamesLee on July 2, 2007 at 12:20 PM
I don’t even want to read it.
Fred on July 2, 2007 at 12:27 PM
We shouldn’t be surprised at the non-reaction from the MSM or the Left. After all, these were the same people who thought reports from the Cambodian killing fields were imperialist propaganda, that the Cultural Revolution was not worth reporting, that Vietnamese labot camps were beneath their attention. The list goes on.
Why should we expect jihadists horrors to be treated any differently?
Thomas the Wraith on July 2, 2007 at 12:27 PM
Limerick on July 2, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Sadly if the liberal left here in America ever heard that story it would provoke the moral outrage against that Iraqi mother that the beheading of children by Muslim terrorists never will.
doriangrey on July 2, 2007 at 12:28 PM
Fred on July 2, 2007 at 12:27 PM
You NEED to read it. We NEED to make EVERY AMERICAN read this story. We all NEED to understand what we are fighting and why we are losing the fight to the lawyers.
unseen on July 2, 2007 at 12:28 PM
When I read this dispatch on Michael’s blog yesterday I remarked that only Fox would cover the story.
Well last night Fox covered Di and Zsa Zsa but not a mention about the progress in Iraq.
Google news for the last day has 429 hits for “Zsa Zsa Gabor” and only five for “Michael Yon”. I guess it just doesn’t match the story line we are susposed to be hearing.
Go figure, Hot Air and Fox accounted for three of the five hits for Michael.
TunaTalon on July 2, 2007 at 12:30 PM
This is kind of like the argument that weak minded people use.
We can diss our own people, but an outsider can’t. Only they say…we can kill our own people, that’s alright, but no one else can come in a kill. So they can kill thousands, and if we kill one by accident, we are wrong. That is the code of the U.N. and other national organizations.
The exception to that rule is killing Jews, that’s ok under any circumstances. U.N. has issued a no tag, no limit on Jews, and an open season.
right2bright on July 2, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Sadly if the liberal left here in America ever heard that story it would provoke the moral outrage against that Iraqi mother that the beheading of children by Muslim terrorists never will.
doriangrey on July 2, 2007 at 12:28 PM
If one of our lawyers sees this, that soldier would be brought up on murder charges because there was no “proof” that the guy on the roof was a bad guy. Did the soldier have any “evidence” that he was an enemy.
Again we need to get the lawyers out of Iraq. Today.
We need to get Patton’s childern in to this fight in their place.
unseen on July 2, 2007 at 12:32 PM
There are hundreds of thousands of them. All the MSM will tell you is how they all want us dead. My son made many friends and found many allies there. I am not saying they are the majority, but since when should that matter? God help these people, and God help our troops.
Limerick on July 2, 2007 at 12:33 PM
The kind of decisions most of us never have to make, and could never fully understand. It sure is easy sitting at a keyboard.
God bless your son.
right2bright on July 2, 2007 at 12:33 PM
Well last night Fox covered Di and Zsa Zsa
TunaTalon on July 2, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Fox news for whatever reason has been taken over by the left. From the dive it took for immigration reform. To No spin zone calling for withdrawal from Iraq. The endless coverage of Hilton, Cutts etc reveals that the left has taken over Fox.
unseen on July 2, 2007 at 12:35 PM
As Americans we are always shocked at the brutality of other societies, we expect a certain reasonableness as a universal concept.
If the MSM isn’t there to record it (or cares to report it) do horrible human travesties happen?
We need to understand our enemies and appreciate and protect what we have.
Not to mention support those protecting us from brutal societies.
Speakup on July 2, 2007 at 12:36 PM
This is happening while the MSM is busy covering Paris Hilton’s ‘tragic’ ordeal.
Sickening.
Yet the MSM still refuses to cover these ‘freedom fighters’….
CrazyFool on July 2, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Gosh, if the New York Times ran dozens of front page stories about Abu Ghraib just because prisoners were forced to wear panties on their head, then obviously the Times will run months of stories about Al Qaeda executing captive villagers and beheading their children, right?
Just kidding. That will never happen, will it? That would make the enemy look bad instead of Bush.
Tantor on July 2, 2007 at 12:37 PM
I’m beginning to wonder if Rupert Murdock is terrified of the FCC instituting a fairness doctrine.
Speakup on July 2, 2007 at 12:38 PM
As Americans we are always shocked at the brutality of other societies, we expect a certain reasonableness as a universal concept.
Speakup on July 2, 2007 at 12:36 PM
I disagree, Americans have always treated others as we were treated. In history when we have fought past wars if the enemy attacked our civilans we attacked theirs. IF the enemy did a surprise attacks on us, we did it to them. If the enemy sought our complete surrender, we sought theirs. We have always been nice and civilized until it was time not to be nice and civilized. We are fast approaching that time IMO.
unseen on July 2, 2007 at 12:44 PM
I read it on Sunday and ever since then I can not get the Carpenters song by the same title out of my head. I don’t know how the young men and women we have serving can handle this sort of stuff. This just a visiousness and depravity beyond even animal behavior. I want this vermin exterminated off the face of the earth, no Gitmo, no tribunals, no more rights then I would give to a rabid dog.
It is time for America to go to war and quit this damn pussyfooting around. A high degree of caution no doubt prevented us from entering the village earlier. Didn’t want to hurt the innocent don’t you know. Well you don’t have to worry that now do you?
As far as Gitmo goes, close the damn thing. Load all of them on a C-130 or two and drop into the Afghan border region. Those that make it to Pakistan congratulations.
If you are truly an innocent then once you are dropped off stay there, don’t move and we let the Afghanis sort it out. Either way it is off our hands and all those lawyers can go back to chasing ambulances and working on Edwards campaign.
Sorry for the rant but it is that damn song. I can’t get it out of my head!
LakeRuins on July 2, 2007 at 12:44 PM
Speakup on July 2, 2007 at 12:38 PM
I don’t know why but from the last say 6 months the trend is unmistakeable. It started after a Suadi millionaire bought a 10-20% stake in its stock. IMO. Or it could be due to the 2006 elections. For whatever reason, it is there.
unseen on July 2, 2007 at 12:47 PM
I started to gag while reading it.
Can you imagine the Iraqi army in that situation? Digging up the putrid half-decomposed bodies of beheaded children?
I could blame no man for vengeance in the face of such horror.
Those Iraqis, U.S. servicemen, and Yon will all be haunted for life by what they saw in that village.
Pelosi and Reid should be the ones digging up and reburying those children.
unamused on July 2, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Speakup on July 2, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Ah…I see, you just don’t get it. The evil neo-con/conservatives in America are the brutal society that the entire rest of the world need to be protected from. America doesn’t have any enemies, only down trodden unwashed masses exploited by American corporations whose only desire in life is to get out from under the heel of our jackboots which is slowly crushing their windpipes leaving them grasping for air.
They dont actually want to hurt us, they are just seeking a little justice and restitution for our vicious exploitation of their children their culture and their natural resources.
doriangrey on July 2, 2007 at 12:50 PM
LakeRuins on July 2, 2007 at 12:44 PM
Welcome to the club. Whatever the MSM says the American people are starting to express their desire for victory. We understand on a base level that that victory can not happen until we get the “civilized faction” out of the decsion making process.
unseen on July 2, 2007 at 12:51 PM
unamused on July 2, 2007 at 12:48 PM
I couldnt agree more…
doriangrey on July 2, 2007 at 12:54 PM
I don’t there is anybody in Democrat party who has ever heard of Michael Yon. They probably think he is some sort of Chinese political prisoner. Go visit the liberal blogs and you won’t see any posts referencing either him or Bill Roggio, Michael Totten or any of the Milblogs. In their world they are all persona non gratus.
LakeRuins on July 2, 2007 at 1:03 PM
I don’t know how the young men and women we have serving can handle this sort of stuff.
I read on another blog that a soldier that encountered much the same thing in Bosnia ended up taking a tour through Walter Reed…
This is a horror that not many can put aside if faced in real time…
To slaughter an entire village; men, women, children, animals? Your tool box on how to bring peace to the world does not work here…
Babs on July 2, 2007 at 1:50 PM
Oh, and BTW, throw Michael a fin. Jesus, what he is going through to bring us the truth…
God bless you Michael.
Babs on July 2, 2007 at 1:54 PM
Even after reading this article, the lefties would still blame America. Despite the fact that Saddam did the same thing when he was in charge. The libtards will go on thinking that we can negotiate with animals like this. Pathetic.
Tony737 on July 2, 2007 at 3:37 PM
Our troops, and the Iraqui troops, see these atrocities everyday. This is why the American GI’s come home and say they believe in what they are doing in Iraq. They have seen first hand the evilness of our enemies.
God Bless our Troops and I pray, watch over them all and keep them safe. And…..THANK YOU for keeping us safe here at home!
SouthernPride on July 2, 2007 at 3:42 PM
Tony737 on July 2, 2007 at 3:37 PM
Beat me to it. You can already hear their response, “if we weren’t there…
PowWow on July 2, 2007 at 3:43 PM
Tony737 on July 2, 2007 at 3:37 PM
Kind of reminds me of the denial that was so prevalent here in the United States during the mid 30′s to the early 40′s about what was happening to the Jew’s in Germany. The forerunners to todays libtards simply refused to believe the reports coming out of Germany that the Nazi’s were butchering the Jew’s whole sale.
doriangrey on July 2, 2007 at 3:52 PM
Yep. And often he will personally write to say Thank You.
RushBaby on July 2, 2007 at 4:11 PM
Dittos. Doing what the M.S.M will ignor.
They glee showing us hours and days of Rosie and
P.Hilton .
Texyank on July 2, 2007 at 11:39 PM
There are not words to describe how disgusting these terrorists are. Again, beheaded children- outrageous, but this is not anywhere on TV or the newspapers. I hope we wake up to what these people really are soon.
Trtle2001 on July 3, 2007 at 12:05 AM
This is the most important report on the Iraq war I remember reading. I immediately decided to send some support Yon’s way. Just witnessing that awful carnage and reporting on it is worth more than any overpaid MSM hack safely housed in Baghdad.
gmoonster on July 3, 2007 at 12:37 AM
We don’t want to demonize them.
That would be too mild.
Sounds like flamethrowers need to be brought back into service.
To remind them where they’re going next.
profitsbeard on July 3, 2007 at 1:00 AM