US soldiers shoot at Canadian Diplomats

[CptStern]

Four Canadian diplomats, including the charge d’affaires to Iraq, escaped injury Tuesday when their vehicle was shot at in Baghdad by U.S. soldiers.

The vehicle, reportedly carrying charge d’affaires Stewart Henderson, came under friendly fire after it apparently attempted to pass an American convoy, said U.S. Lt.-Col. Barry Johnson, spokesman for the multinational force in Iraq.

“There were two convoys. We’re looking at the reason shots may have been fired,” said Johnson. “I haven’t seen the final report.”

However, military convoys carry markings warning that the common procedure is not to pass, a precaution against suicide bombers, he noted.

If vehicles fail to respond to hand signals followed by warning shots, “shots may be fired at the vehicle,” he said.

Canadian and U.S. officials are investigating.

“It’s certainly under review, to see what procedures, what steps were taken and who made a mistake, to make sure this wouldn’t happen again,” said Johnson. "

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...ageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home

stupid americans our diplomats dont understand hand signals unless they're done in french

 

[Razor]

stupid americans our diplomats dont understand hand signals unless they're done in french

Which purpose Canadian diplomats should of picked up upon when driving around in a country such as Iraq where signs are in Arabic and English?

 

[Gray Fox]

Meh, canadians make great target practice. Who can blame the US soldier.

 

[CptStern]

Which purpose Canadian diplomats should of picked up upon when driving around in a country such as Iraq where signs are in Arabic and English?

you've obviously never met a frenchmen


...and you do know I'm joking right? hand signals in french ...think about it

 

[Razor]

you've obviously never met a frenchmen


...and you do know I'm joking right? hand signals in french ...think about it

Signals with the hand can mean different things in different countries. For example, sticking your middle and index finger up at someone in a V-sign in Britain is rude but in Canada, it most probably means you want 2 of something.

 

[jerkasaur]

came under "friendly fire"

yeah right...

 

[CptStern]

Signals with the hand can mean different things in different countries. For example, sticking your middle and index finger up at someone in a V-sign in Britain is rude but in Canada, it most probably means you want 2 of something.

or it means "peace"


hand signals are hand signals ...most people get my intent when I wave my middle finger in the air ..this was a check point with a car traveling towards it, you'd think the signals would be something they could see from at least a dozen metres or so ...I'm pretty sure it's something like this ..which is pretty universal ..in fact they're all pretty clear and universal as I recognize them and I'm a civilian

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/19-25/APPC.htm


...anyways my joke isnt funny when I have to explain it ..but it does show me that some of you look for the bad in every post I make

 

[jerkasaur]

your joke made sense,
<3 you Stern.

 

[CptStern]

thanks

 

[Razor]

or it means "peace"


hand signals are hand signals ...most people get my intent when I wave my middle finger in the air ..this was a check point with a car traveling towards it, you'd think the signals would be something they could see from at least a dozen metres or so ...I'm pretty sure it's something like this ..which is pretty universal ..in fact they're all pretty clear and universal as I recognize them and I'm a civilian

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/19-25/APPC.htm


...anyways my joke isnt funny when I have to explain it ..but it does show me that some of you look for the bad in every post I make

If only you were a Canadian diplomat, you would of been able to avert such accidents ;(.

And CptStern, i would have to agree with Jerkosaur here, Fire, especially when it's coming from American's isn't very friendly now is it?

 

[jerkasaur]

Fire, especially when it's coming from American's isn't very friendly now is it?

quoted for truth-ness

 

[CptStern]

If only you were a Canadian diplomat, you would of been able to avert such accidents ;(.

yes, because I wouldnt be there in the first place

And CptStern, i would have to agree with Jerkosaur here, Fire, especially when it's coming from American's isn't very friendly now is it?

yes it's "shoot to kill ask question later", although this particular soldier managed to not kill anyone

 

[Razor]

yes, because I wouldnt be there in the first place



yes it's "shoot to kill ask question later", although this particular soldier managed to not kill anyone

Unfortunately, he probably called in a bombing run when he couldn't hit the vehicle's from several feet away, the bombs hitting several local schools and hospital's 3 miles away.

 

[CptStern]

the same day on CNN

"US bombs destroy insurgent strongholds to great success, iraqis falsely claim the US actually bombed schools and hospitals"


the same day on Fox"news"

"US bombers bravely destroy WMD factories to great success, iraqis cheer as Americans wave and give out chocolates"

 

[dream431ca]

Lets get one thing straight...the Canadians were in a Iraqi jeep..or something like that...the Americans didn't know it was Canadians who where there...plus when the Americans told the vehicle to stop, it didn't so they fired at the engine of the vehicle...you know...given the circumstances..that was a good thing to do...they didn't shoot anyone, just the vehicle. Of course Canadians are angry at this..but they have to understand the circumstances before they judge the situation.

 

[CptStern]

I think that some of you see these squence of events whenever I create a thread:

Stern + "America" in a thread title = flame fest


I'm laughing at the situation not slamming them for shooting up the canadians

 

[jerkasaur]

we never said that Stern,

 

[CptStern]

no not you

 

[Top Secret]

While it's unfortunate, I don't blame the soldiers. If it was clearly posted to not pass, then they simply shouldn't have passed. Other than that, yeah, fox news is a great fictional channel. I often watch bill o reilly. Great comedian.

I think that some of you see these squence of events whenever I create a thread:

Stern + "America" in a thread title = flame fest


I'm laughing at the situation not slamming them for shooting up the canadians

I've come to realise you don't actually hate America. Well, not entirely. =D

 

[Glirk Dient]

Haha this is actually quite funny. I am not sure whether the event is funnier or the fact that the soldier didn't hit anything is funnier.

 

[jerkasaur]

oh no he doesn't hate america, he's just not that easy with it...

 

[CptStern]

While it's unfortunate, I don't blame the soldiers. If it was clearly posted to not pass, then they simply shouldn't have passed. Other than that, yeah, fox news is a great fictional channel. I often watch bill o reilly. Great comedian.



I've come to realise you don't actually hate America. Well, not entirely. =D

because I dont ..300,000,000 people is a lot of hate


the canadians in question had to be pretty dumb if they were unaware that checkpoints require you to stop or else run the risk of being fired upon ..I'm willing to bet every single person here knows that so surely diplomats in a foreign country held by foreign troops would have to know that ..especially since so many incidents in the past have occured where people were killed as a result of speeding towards a checkpoint ...there's probably much more to this story that hasnt been seen yet

Haha this is actually quite funny. I am not sure whether the event is funnier or the fact that the soldier didn't hit anything is funnier.

you're not giving him credit ..he DID hit something:

a tire, the engine block and the driver side window ..I think that's pretty good shooting especially when you're trying to stop a vehicle

 

[Pajari]

...there's probably much more to this story that hasnt been seen yet

Like what? Friendly fire happens all the time. I keep getting the feeling that people in this thread think this was intentional or something equally ridiculous.

Also, lovin' the "america shoots every1 asks questions l8r lool" vibe.

 

[CptStern]

Like what? Friendly fire happens all the time. I keep getting the feeling that people in this thread think this was intentional or something equally ridiculous.

Also, lovin' the "america shoots every1 asks questions l8r lool" vibe.

yes because there's never been a story that developed over time that made the original story dull by comparison

 

[French Ninja]

If only you were a Canadian diplomat, you would of been able to avert such accidents ;(.

And CptStern, i would have to agree with Jerkosaur here, Fire, especially when it's coming from American's isn't very friendly now is it?

Fire's deadliness from an American is the same as anyone else. Quit the "America pow pow!" cowboy stereotype before I start asking you for tea, ol chap.

 

[OCybrManO]

Fire's deadliness from an American is the same as anyone else.

It had damn well better not be!

I mean, with all the cash we throw at our military compared to everyone else... if we're still on equal footing, someone on our side has some explaining to do.

 

[Pajari]

yes because there's never been a story that developed over time that made the original story dull by comparison

It's not the same thing at all- this isn't based on pure hearsay or the circumstantial evidence of a single person. Are you suggesting that this was intentional or what?

 

[jerkasaur]

hey, who hates a little "friendy fire"?

 

[Ome_Vince]

Yeah, if you have nothing to do, and owe a guy money from a night of poker, just "accidentally" shoot down his chopper. "OEPS, sorry man".
Seriously though, while playing DoD, BF2, or CS or whatever, you get friendly accidental fire all the time . People panic when something fast happens. Just pull the trigger : "whoeps".
You see accidental teamkills constantly. Especially in BF2 it can be hilarious sometimes...

 

[Razor]

Fire's deadliness from an American is the same as anyone else. Quit the "America pow pow!" cowboy stereotype before I start asking you for tea, ol chap.

American Pow Pow :|

 

[jerkasaur]

Yeah, if you have nothing to do, and owe a guy money from a night of poker, just "accidentally" shoot down his chopper. "OEPS, sorry man".
Seriously though, while playing DoD, BF2, or CS or whatever, you get friendly accidental fire all the time . People panic when something fast happens. Just pull the trigger : "whoeps".
You see accidental teamkills constantly. Especially in BF2 it can be hilarious sometimes...

yeah, after all...

 

[CptStern]

It's not the same thing at all- this isn't based on pure hearsay or the circumstantial evidence of a single person. Are you suggesting that this was intentional or what?

read the thread from the beginning, point out where I suggest that

 

[dys4iK]

Canadians are still a bit touchy after the incident in Afghanistan. Four soldiers were bombed by an American aircraft while on a range.

As for this most recent story, it serves one purpose--to reveal how quickly people will arrive at conclusions about a story based on sparse media reports and their own fantasies, even before the military has finished its investigation.

The diplomats have more to lose by lying in a situation like this--keep that in mind--but neither side has anything to gain.

 

[Raziaar]

Without reading the rest of the thread... hmm, they must of thought the diplomats had CptStern among em.

And on a more serious note. If that happened its awful... but you REALLY shouldn't be passing an american convoy in such a contested country. Thats something a terrorist bomber would do... drive alongside a convoy as if trying to pass, to blast a vehicle or two from the side and cause a pileup for as many casualties as possible.

 

[CptStern]

Without reading the rest of the thread... hmm, they must of thought the diplomats had CptStern among em.

And on a more serious note. If that happened its awful... but you REALLY shouldn't be passing an american convoy in such a contested country. Thats something a terrorist bomber would do... drive alongside a convoy as if trying to pass, to blast a vehicle or two from the side and cause a pileup for as many casualties as possible.

"Without reading the rest of the thread"


read the thread

 

[Raziaar]

"Without reading the rest of the thread"


read the thread

Look man. I don't HAVE to read the rest of the thread to respond to the initial post. I *WILL* read it, but it is not imperative for my post. I was responding to the TOPIC AT HAND.

 

[CptStern]

not one person here is arguing it was on purpose, that's why I asked you to read the thread

 

[ríomhaire]

There was an American soldier on the Late Late Show saying that the stop signal they gave is holding your fist in the air facing the car. Is a more universal one not stick your hand straight our palm open?

Edit:
Also, is showing your fist normaly a sign of aggression and a rased fist a festure of triumph? Could they have picked worse had signals?

 

[Raziaar]

not one person here is arguing it was on purpose, that's why I asked you to read the thread

Did I say they were? I said that if they got shot at, thats awful. But that its foolish to try to overtake a military convoy in a contested country.

What is there to argue with in what I said? I think you're arguing for the sake of arguing.

There was an American soldier on the Late Late Show saying that the stop signal they gave is holding your fist in the air facing the car. Is a more universal one not stick your hand straight our palm open?

For civilians maybe. But I personally would construe a closed fist and an open fist equally in a situation like that. If they're signalling to me i'd sooner stop and ask what they meant, than continue on just because you didn't understand.

 

[CptStern]

you give me a headache ffs



ríomhaire: on the first page of this thread I posted a link of official military traffic signals