[bradclark1]

Originally Posted by Platapus

BTW would not an Iraqi using a cell phone to set off an IED make the call from inside a building?

Why would they call attention to themselves by violating the curfew, especially when they know that the Americans will shoot first and forget the question?

I think we've all learned by now that we don't understand the Arab mind. Bush and company made some assumptions and it didn't work so hot and some of the biggest shooters at us now are those we "liberated".

The insurgents are many things but they are not stupid.

They must be if they are outside of curfew with a cell phone. I would suspect that word of mouth would be "Hey don't hang around outside with a cell phone in your hand"

An insurgent would want to

1. Ensure his or her safety

:rotfl: I don't think the suicide bombers understand that part.

Catching a slug in the head would not allow either of these objectives to be met. The insurgents are many things but they are not stupid.

If this logic is valid, it would lead more credence to the probability that an Iraqi standing outside, making a phone call is an innocent person as a guilty person would be hiding inside.

You are trying to use western logic. Doesn't work. In fact logic would tell me don't go out after curfew and sure as hell not with a cell phone in your hand.

I'd be pretty sure that the troops don't shoot at every Tom, Dick, or Harry with a cell phone as soon as they see them. I'd say they probably observe first.

The critical question is: Do the American forces really care about innocent Iraqi citizens or are they just "collateral damage"?

The critical question is: Do you know who is going to shoot at you next or where the next IED is going to be. Then answer your own question.

Facta sunt potentiora verbis.

Don't read it. Have no desire to learn it. If it was Klingon I would probably go through the hassle of translation.