Tough love: U.S. soldier chews out Iraqi police
posted at 3:05 pm on February 5, 2009 by Allahpundit
Part righteous frustration, part old-fashioned morale-building drill sergeantry: Awesomely awesome indeed, as Ace puts it, and predictably profane, so please observe your official strong content warning.
Is this guy sure he’s got Sadrists in his ranks? Muqtada’s influence is at ebb tide, especially now that Maliki’s party has swept the provincial elections, including among Shiites in the south. On a nationalist platform, no less:
Maliki’s alliance won the most council seats in Baghdad and in the crucial Shiite southern province of Basra, an oil hub that had been dominated by the rival Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council. Though Maliki’s Dawa Party and SIIC both have strong Islamic leanings, Maliki had pushed an anti-sectarian message during the campaign that won over many Iraqis. The Dawa Party’s slate was named Enforcing the Law for the purpose of the election, reinforcing Maliki’s image as a strongman who could bring security to the country.
In Baghdad, Enforcing the Law candidates won 38% of the vote compared to just 5.4% for SIIC. In Basra, Maliki’s slate took 37% of the vote, and SIIC won 11.6%.
Enforcing the Law also came in first in seven other provinces.
SIIC isn’t Sadr’s party; they’re the group formerly known as SCIRI, his chief rival for dominance among the Shiites. Or rather, his ex-chief rival. Maliki reigns supreme now. Exit quotation: “The big loser in this election was Iran… The big winner in this election was the concept of a unitary Iraq.”
Blowback
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Enforcing the Law – what a great party name. Maybe we need some of that over here.
Especially when it comes to cabinet nominees and tax laws.
Vashta.Nerada on February 5, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Good Lord. That is outstanding. I was ready to leave my office, fly to Iran, hunt down Mookie al-Sadr and “f*** him up,” as our fair American colloquially put it. Inspiring in a hilarious, profane way. My dad and grandpa are both retired sergeants, and seeing this brought back memories of unclean rooms and whooped hind ends.
As one of Ace’s commenters put…”when does Susan Collins get this treatment?”
Flyover Country on February 5, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Wow. This is the best video I’ve seen in a long time. Great catch
Baphomet on February 5, 2009 at 3:13 PM
I wonder if all the profanity, and er, colorful expressions, got through in translation.
Pasalubong on February 5, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Wow, incredible job!! Reminds me of R.Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket.
Pestilence on February 5, 2009 at 3:14 PM
“I refuse to help people who won’t help themselves.”– not sure if I got the quote exactly, but it was a great line.
Pasalubong on February 5, 2009 at 3:14 PM
God I miss being in the Army.
mindhacker on February 5, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Oooo-freaking-rah !!!!!!!
jake-the-goose on February 5, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Teh Awesomeness.
Wonder if he’s available to address a joint session of Congress with the Executive branch in attendance?
aquaviva on February 5, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Could we get this guy to talk to the congress?
MDWNJ on February 5, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Get him over to Congress and let him give those lib wimpy Senators (and maybe a few RINOs) a real a$$ whoppin talk on how to properly govern a country.
Kokonut on February 5, 2009 at 3:17 PM
I think this video is pretty clearly from before Operation Knight’s Charge, which cleared out the Mahdi Army from Basra, or the later operation doing the same in Sadr City. It might have even been filmed during one of these operations.
Like AP says, it doesn’t make much sense to assume MA infiltration now. Besides, these videos usually take a few months to hit the net, often after the filmmaker has returned from his tour.
Nessuno on February 5, 2009 at 3:18 PM
We need him to talk to the B.O Republican Senators. Prompto.
Dritanian on February 5, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Amen Brother !!
Maxx on February 5, 2009 at 3:19 PM
YEAH BABY!!!
Bicyea on February 5, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Great quote:
“I got no problem beating any one of your asses, not one, because I don’t give a fuck!”
THAT’S AMERICA BABY!
This guy is awesome, we need to draft him to run for office in the Republican party!
echosyst on February 5, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Now that’s a scene that needs to be in a movie.
I love our armed forces. HOOAH!
MadisonConservative on February 5, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Sweet!
We need a guy like that in the House and the Senate to start every morning off…
JetBoy on February 5, 2009 at 3:21 PM
OUR NEW KING!
aquaviva on February 5, 2009 at 3:22 PM
That was kinda hot.
Esthier on February 5, 2009 at 3:22 PM
What rank is this guy?
pseudonominus on February 5, 2009 at 3:22 PM
reminds me of scene in Gran Torino for some reason.
when girl tells Eastwood her father was Traditional like him, and Eastwood was like ‘good then’ and she comes back with “NO” not the same, “You are American Man”.
jp on February 5, 2009 at 3:25 PM
man i like that guy.
trailortrash on February 5, 2009 at 3:27 PM
95% lost in translation. They are all just standing there think how warm that goat was last night and which one they’ll pick tonight.
tommylotto on February 5, 2009 at 3:27 PM
It’d be interesting to know just for context when this happened. A year ago would be better than very recent.
Regardless, it’s awesomely awesome.
flipflop on February 5, 2009 at 3:27 PM
I say we promote this guy to Secretary of State.
scullymj on February 5, 2009 at 3:28 PM
I have a thrill running up my leg.
lorien1973 on February 5, 2009 at 3:30 PM
I think he was talking to you Benny and Media Hack.
Vince on February 5, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Great, now this guy’s career is ruined…wait until the new administration gets ahold of this. They’ll reopen GITMO for soldiers who speak like this.
Youngs98 on February 5, 2009 at 3:31 PM
I wonder what Michael Yon’s take on this is, if any.
Christien on February 5, 2009 at 3:31 PM
That’s terrible. That’s racist. That’s-*snicker*
Sorry, couldn’t keep a straight face.
MadisonConservative on February 5, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Yes!!! Send this man to DC and let him have at Congess.
Love the “Lead from the front” declaration.
raz0r on February 5, 2009 at 3:32 PM
seriously, they’ll use this video against us
jp on February 5, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Dude.
WisCon on February 5, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Wow. That was hardcore.
CP on February 5, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Awesome. I’ve always hated the fact that our guys put it all on the line in Iraq while many Iraqis won’t do the same for themselves.
Bugler on February 5, 2009 at 3:34 PM
So what’s the Iraqi word for “f**king?” I couldn’t quite get it.
I love our warriors. I get the whole “I’m in charge thing.”
But really. This guy is a bit over the top. A bit of an ego going here.
Rightwingsparkle on February 5, 2009 at 3:36 PM
now this guy has to run for office.
pabo on February 5, 2009 at 3:36 PM
How long till a O’Reily vs. Bale vs. this guy Youtube clip?
jp on February 5, 2009 at 3:36 PM
About 14-15,000 Iraqi police casualties. No prob with his take on Mahdi infiltration.
Christien on February 5, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Liberal outrage calling for the court marshal of the guy in 3… 2… 1…
Enoxo on February 5, 2009 at 3:37 PM
There’s method to the madness
if only we had video of Patton or MacArthur in charge.
Imagine what must’ve been said to the Japanese and Koreans while we were setting them up and putting down their oppressive forces.
jp on February 5, 2009 at 3:37 PM
That guy’s a serious badass. Hopefully, the US military and diplomatic leadership in Iraq has had similarly profane conversations with their Iraqi counterparts.
dakine on February 5, 2009 at 3:38 PM
awesome!
joey24007 on February 5, 2009 at 3:38 PM
the same Liberals who love the movie “Full Metal Jacket” will find “outrage” over this
jp on February 5, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Yeah, I can see how not wanting to lose any of your soldiers due to scumbag militiamen in the Iraqi police’s ranks would be a real ego downer…
Hoodlumman on February 5, 2009 at 3:40 PM
I think this soldier has correctly come to the conclusion that arabs don’t understand concepts like country. It’s a cultural thing. For them, the only thing that matters is religious sect, and within religious sect there are the clans. Even within clans, they kill each other. And within the clans, down to the most micro of levels, the family level, they kill each other if they feel there as been betrayal.
He has become painfully aware that trying to build a cohesive nation out of arab clans is pointless. This is why they are all ruled by dictators. Only dictators can hold together what can not be held together by notions of nationalism or patriotism. This is what Bush and the neocons didn’t understand. This is not an arab version of Japan or nazi Germany. It doesn’t work like that for them.
He’s completely frustrated because he realizes that fighting for these iraqi bums is pointless as they are all jockeying for position according to sects, clans, and family allegiances.
keep the change on February 5, 2009 at 3:41 PM
I have to disagree. This is a long war, with traitors in their midst and men who signed up acting as though they don’t want to be there while our troops take hits for them.
That’s not really a situation that calls for civility in tone.
Esthier on February 5, 2009 at 3:41 PM
I especially liked how he turned to the officers and made them eat a shit sandwich! Priceless.
epluribusunum on February 5, 2009 at 3:42 PM
I’d imagine George Washington and Alexander Hamilton would be proud of this guy.
Didn’t Washington hang some of his own Soldiers for something that today we’d consider relatively tame? can’t remember what it was though…
jp on February 5, 2009 at 3:42 PM
That’s it joey? No Palin connection?
dakine on February 5, 2009 at 3:42 PM
See what happens when you have one too many cups of tea?
/
Christien on February 5, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Wait and see…this guy will be compared to the guards at Abu Ghraib.
Matticus Finch on February 5, 2009 at 3:43 PM
This guy doesn’t seem passive. If he thought what he was doing was pointless, then I sincerely doubt he’d be there.
Esthier on February 5, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Yeah, that happens when you get shot at all day, see your friends torn apart, and then have to work with a bunch of people who are tainted with two-faced jackals working for the enemy shooting at you.
Wah wah.
MadisonConservative on February 5, 2009 at 3:43 PM
My guess is he’s a First Sergeant or Sergeant Major. Has the balls to say what needs to be said but doesn’t give a f*** which IP officers he pisses off.
SPCOlympics on February 5, 2009 at 3:43 PM
It has nothing to do with ego. It has everything to do with making guys you’re trying to train to do very dangerous and self-sacrificing work actually, you know, do it.
flipflop on February 5, 2009 at 3:45 PM
keep the change, you may have a valid point, but then what in the hell are we doing over there in the first place?
dakine on February 5, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Dont make him too famous the left will be screaming to charge him with human rights abuses because he hurt the Iraqi’s feelings.
God Bless our U.S.military! Hooah!(From a fiercely loyal military wife)
canditaylor68 on February 5, 2009 at 3:47 PM
It takes a lot of work to overcome the Inshalla mentality and tribal priorities. Only an American Serviceman already laying his and his men’s lives on the line for another people has the moral authority and the NADS to confront such apathy. God Bless him.
Maquis on February 5, 2009 at 3:47 PM
THIS is the way it should be, must be.
Mega kudos to the American advisor who knows his job better than most in our government.
“Lead from the front”…best maxim out there…always was, always will be.
coldwarrior on February 5, 2009 at 3:47 PM
Didn’t think there was any other kind. The spouses seem just as hardcore as the ones we have fighting over there.
Esthier on February 5, 2009 at 3:48 PM
darnit. Post something everyone is raving about and I can’t get it to work. boo hoo.
scalleywag on February 5, 2009 at 3:48 PM
And after that they became the best sharia police force in the whole wide world and lived happily ever after.
BL@KBIRD on February 5, 2009 at 3:48 PM
That was what my girlfriend calls a “come to Jesus meeting”.
RWLA on February 5, 2009 at 3:49 PM
he’s questioning their manhood, only thing that would make this better would be to mock them for the butt raping that goes on.
jp on February 5, 2009 at 3:49 PM
I guess you haven’t been over there. There’s no such thing as ego for a man who’s trying to keep his men from being killed for punks like those guys. Get a clue.
Youngs98 on February 5, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Sheeez! I gave substantially the same lecture to my volunteer police academy candidates just last night, albeit with much less profanity and without the ‘man up’ stuff (my class is coed).
Police training is the same the world over; as are training sergeants. I have dozens of videos of instructors delivering similar lectures to officer candidates at the Rio Hondo Police Academy outside LA.
I too have militia members in my class, but they didn’t require the captioned aspect of the lecture, since they are from a real, ‘well organized’ militias (from three states in my class).
I can tell you unequivocally that members of any militia (including ‘real’ militia like CA NG) and civilians require this lecture because police work is a genuine paradigm shift from military activities. It is also a very real paradigm shift from the civilian mentality, so both need this lecture. Some things such as the chain of command may be the same, but some concepts are very, very different.
The reward for the trainer is to see the dawn of realization in the minds of the trainees. The realization of ideas like the fact that police power and authority are merely tools that allow the officer to perform his basic job of ‘serve and protect’.
The realization (because of the visible example) that there is at least one officer standing nearby who is entirely willing to fight and die before he’ll see his fellow officers abuse their power.
Is this lecture essential? I think it is, because we do see abuses out there. Without this aspect of the training (and the less talked about actions and attitudes that go with it out from training and into the field in service) we would see a lot more abuses.
As we see in military and para-military training everywhere, the trainees treatment up to this point has been crafted to lessen their resistance to messages like this. This is where the message gets delivered.
One point he makes clear that I also make in my classes is that ‘you are fighting for your country’. Most members of police agencies think of their service as strictly local; but if you consider the issue cafefully, it’s really not strictly local.
And if your agency has won a lot of national awards as our agency has, then there is no question that local action is national in its influence.
Good on yer, Sarge! Wish we had more trainers like this everywhere.
ElRonaldo on February 5, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Love your freedom, Thank a soldier.
tjexcite on February 5, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Sorry I didnt mean to come across so strong.=)Twenty three yrs as a soldiers wife sorta hardened me up a bit. My hubby is a First Sgt and occasionally has to address his troops just like this hero is doing in the video. American blood sweat and tears covers the sand of that God-forsaken land-the least we can expect is for them to do their job supporting thier country. Hooah!
canditaylor68 on February 5, 2009 at 3:53 PM
Exactly.
keep the change on February 5, 2009 at 3:54 PM
F*ck sake man, you’re amateur!
The Ugly American on February 5, 2009 at 3:55 PM
God Belss the American military! I want this guy along side me ensuring the Constitution is upheld and protected against enemies foreign and domestic.
trs on February 5, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Oops Belss = Bless
My patriotism was making me shake.
trs on February 5, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Oh, no, I wasn’t criticizing but rather expanding on your point. I have a lot of respect for military families.
Esthier on February 5, 2009 at 3:57 PM
“I Will not help people, who will not help themselves”
sounds like a Conservative to me, Glen Beck needs to get him on TV to talk about the Porkulus
jp on February 5, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Does anyone know when this video was taken? I assume it was back in ’06 or ’07 when things were the worst.
Mark1971 on February 5, 2009 at 4:00 PM
aside from the fact we kicked AQ’s tale over there, the front most important to them per their top leaders. We also took out a Terrorist Sponsor State who had actively thumbed his nose at the United States for a decade and continiously violated Cease Fire Agreement he signed, each time a case for war.
and for the big Picture, Click here:Korea at Night
jp on February 5, 2009 at 4:01 PM
We know what Biden had to say back in Oct 2007
Wonder what he has to say these days.
pain train on February 5, 2009 at 4:03 PM
That’s hot
lostinjrz on February 5, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Ohh man
I loved this guy…
I was trying to get back in the army
because i wanted to go to iraq.
Damn blood pressure …
If i cant help them there i will do all i can here.
Oh i loved every stinking minute of it..
But especially i watched the policemen.
The sentance about you dont need trucks
just get some water and start walking i so true..
If you think about it this guy took on both
the men and their leaders..
Get off your ass and do something…
it was correct in so many ways..
The iraqis NOW must choose..
If they want the freedoms
if they want the prosperity
they will have to work for it..
because i think the soldiers know
obama is going to pull them out as fast as he can..
so this soldier is trying to crack the wip and motivate these iraqis
because if they cannot or WILL no get off their asses now
when we leave they will all sit there while their country burns around them..
Good Video..
Should be on hannity
jcila on February 5, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Military spouses are the unsung heroes of our armed services.
dakine on February 5, 2009 at 4:05 PM
I understood.I sometimes come across strongly and I wanted to clarify what I said,hopefully it wasnt offensive to anyone. My soldier is shipping out soon on his 5th 1 yr tour to that area-I cant say when he is going to go(OPSEC), only that he is going to go. It is having the support of American citizens that makes his going a bit easier on us (here at home)and on him while he is far away.
canditaylor68 on February 5, 2009 at 4:07 PM
HA! That is awesome!!!
Step aside Joe the Plumber meet Joe the F’ing Marine!!!
Whatever his name is in 2012!!!!!
HoosierCon on February 5, 2009 at 4:07 PM
And smile when you say Damn Yankee.
juanito on February 5, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Guide to thread:
1) If poster refers to this as “awesome”, poster is a Male
2) if Poster refers to this as “Hot”, poster is a Female
?
jp on February 5, 2009 at 4:09 PM
I got a dollar that says his career is ruined by lib bureaucats who never carried a rifle in DoD who don’t approve of his “neanderthal” ways.
Mr Snuggle Bunny on February 5, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Iraqi cultural loyalties run something like this:
1. Me against my brother
2. Me and my brother against our father
3. My family against the clan
4. My clan against the tribe
5. My tribe against my country
6. My country against all others
Country is like 6th place to your average Iraqi.
Guardian on February 5, 2009 at 4:09 PM
“I wonder if all the profanity, and er, colorful expressions, got through in translation.”
Yes. It always does.
Drill sergeants tell you that you will never forget them or what they teach you. They are correct.
dogsoldier on February 5, 2009 at 4:10 PM
God Belss the American military! I want this guy along side me ensuring the Constitution is upheld and protected against enemies foreign and domestic.
trs on February 5, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Load up. The time grows near. The socialists have infiltrated our government and have declared war on our individualism and the American value of personal responsibility.
saiga on February 5, 2009 at 4:10 PM
LOL, I was thinking the same thing.
This guy is why America kicks ass. I was raised by a Marine that refused to hear excuses, refused to let me puss-out, refused to let me fail and refused to let me give up when I did fail. This is what made me successful in my life. God bless Dad and god bless this man.
Claypigeon on February 5, 2009 at 4:11 PM
When the Iraqi soldiers or police fear their 1st sergeants more than they do getting killed in action, then their democracy is protected. I haven’t had my butt chewed on like that since I was in the Army and it brought back some interesting memories. Good job…
Viet Nam veteran
DL13 on February 5, 2009 at 4:11 PM
except the party that just won elections, won on Nationalism.
things are changing, gradually
jp on February 5, 2009 at 4:11 PM
I want to have his babies!
(I note “F***” doesn’t need translation.)
PattyJ on February 5, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Look sparkle. This is in no way over the top. I have a platoon of 40 men. Yes, all men and they need to be addressed this way at times. Just a bit ago I walked into a room and asked who was in charge. No one stood up. I took charge. They didn’t have fun. Military and police work on a different mentality than normal civilians. Especially in combat arms units. I don’t know if my men love it or hate it that I was an NCO for 11 years before I became an officer.
thomashton on February 5, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Pretty much. I’m not one to even type that normally, but men like that seem so rare these days, or rather, seeing men act like that is rare. The action itself is rather sexy.
Oh, good. I didn’t want you to think I was calling you out or anything. I hope the next year goes by very quickly for you.
Esthier on February 5, 2009 at 4:16 PM
That would be correct ;)
lostinjrz on February 5, 2009 at 4:18 PM
The first campaign video of 2012. F’ yeah
PackerBronco on February 5, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Either an officer is today loosing his job or being promoted and since this isn’t the CIA, I think the former.
PresidenToor on February 5, 2009 at 4:21 PM
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