Masks!

This is coolbert:

Here is the type of headline that really makes me mad:

From the Chicago Tribune yesterday:

"Interpreters ordered to remove ski masks"

"BAGHDAD — The U.S. military has barred Iraqi interpreters working with American troops in Baghdad from wearing ski masks to disguise themselves, prompting some to resign and others to bare their faces even though they fear it could get them killed."

"'The terps [interpreters] are the No. 1 wanted here,' said A.J., a 36-year-old military interpreter, using the shorthand for his profession. 'More than the Americans. More than anyone.'"

"We are a professional Army, and professional units don't conceal their identity by wearing masks," Lt. Col. Steve Stover, a U.S. military spokesman."

It is because of callous, stupid, mutton-headed and just plain ordinary wrong decisions like this that the American effort in Iraq can and will fail.

Those interpreters are brave men, placing their lives and the lives OF THEIR FAMILIES on the line!!!

And this is the reward that they get!! I suppose that the persons making this decision to unmask the interpreters do not realize that there exists a whole host of persons quite willing and able to kill the interpreters and their entire families in the proverbial heartbeat!!

And, as for this American "spokesman" who maintains that professional units "don't conceal their identity by wearing masks". NO!! American special operations troops, by regulation, perhaps by signed binding agreement, in many cases ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REVEAL THEIR IDENTITY!! AND, DURING CERTAIN SPECIFIC UNDERCOVER ASSIGNMENTS, MISSIONS REQUIRING ANONYMITY, WEARING A MASK MAY EVEN BE OBLIGATORY!!

Those senior commanders having made the decision and ordering the Iraqi interpreters to remove their masks ought to be immediately cashiered from the U.S. Army, denied pensions, maybe even kicked hard in the balls for outright stupidity!!

NO, I really mean it. This has me pissed off!!

coolbert.