Stupidity writ large

In retaliation for the apparent downing of the third U.S. helicopter in two weeks, American troops backed by Bradley fighting vehicles swept through Iraqi neighborhoods before dawn today, blasting houses suspected of being insurgent hideouts with machine guns and heavy weapons fire.

"This is to remind the town that we have teeth and claws and we will use them," said Lt. Col. Steven Russell, commander of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment. article

Oh, we're all teeth and claws. No doubt about that. That's just about the extent of us apparently.

And since then (and there is more)...

The military reports two soldiers have been killed in Fallujah. Meanwhile, Iraqi police say mortar rounds were fired at a police station in Mosul.

Witnesses also say a U.S. convoy came under fire on the road between Fallujah and Ramadi and that three trucks were set ablaze. article

They have teeth and claws, too, it would seem.

What in the name of anything reasonable are you people thinking? Are you so much teeth and claws that you have no room for brain? Vengeance. That has always been a recipe for disaster. Somebody get these people a copy of Dr. Seuss' Butter Battle Book. Obviously they have the emotional maturity of children, and perhaps they could learn something about retaliation.

Secretary of State Colin Powell says attacks on American troops in central Iraq are a serious problem -- but not necessarily what could be called a "nightmare." article

Just a very, very bad dream.

In what coalition officials called a "show of force," two F-16s fighter planes flew low over the marshy area and dropped at least two 500-pound bombs near the crash site north of Baghdad.

... Although the investigation into Friday's fatal crash continues, U.S. mililtary officials suspect the chopper was shot down. "We do believe it was brought down by ground fire," said Lt. Col. Steve Russell, commander 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Division.

Believe? Retaliation for something they don't know yet?

...U.S. command said in a statement that initial findings "discount the use of surface-to-air missiles as a possible cause." (From a separate Yahoo article which also says there were at least three 500# bombs dropped.) So, if it turns out there was a helicopter malfunction or this was some failure on the part of the Coalition, the Iraqis who just got "punished" for it aren't going to be just that much more inflamed, I suppose.

The mighty U.S. military has been embarrassed, and they are pissed. Out of control. Completely.

"We're showing a little bit of force tonight and we've got lots of tools at our disposal," said Col. James Hickey of the 4th Armored Division in Tikrit.

The attacks will continue "as required in terms of anti-coalition activity," Aberle said.

Were the warplanes seen over Scotland due to an assumption that increased "activity" could be expected, and this is how we'd deal with it? Or are they part of something else planned?

And, the Red Cross has finally been driven out completely.

Progress.

Update 1:30 pm: Maybe not quite as much progress as we could hope for. The Italian Red Cross announced its 32 doctors and nurses, along with 40 Iraqi staff are staying at a hospital in northern Baghdad.

Hats off to your courage IRC. May you be safe, and may yours be a mission that truly is accomplished.