Iraqfilter, with midgets.

October 11, 2006 5:46 PM

"Most Surreal Moment - Watching Marines arrive at my detention facility and unload a truck load of flex-cuffed midgets. 26 to be exact." A Marine's observations from Al Anbar province.
posted by the duck by the oboe (20 comments total)

Yeah, I'd call that surreal. Almost sounds like a device you would see in a movie. A point where the protagonist is about to crack from the pressure/ boredom of waiting to fight and then there is this oddity in the background.

There is another aspect that is kind of interesting; they brought in 26 people because they were looking for one? Didn't they have a better description than 'midget'?
posted by quin at 5:56 PM on October 11, 2006

Yeah, I'd call that surreal. Almost sounds like a device you would see in a movie.

I think someone at the Defense Department has been watching Fellini stoned again.
posted by jonmc at 6:02 PM on October 11, 2006 [1 favorite]

I liked this a lot. Well-written, good anecdotes, good perspective on what's going on and what it's like for the guys on the ground.

Thanks.
posted by craven_morhead at 6:05 PM on October 11, 2006

Excellent. Thank you.
posted by notsnot at 6:06 PM on October 11, 2006

Best Chuck Norris Moment - 13 May. Bad Guys arrived at the government center in the small town of Kubaysah to kidnap the town mayor, since they have a problem with any form of government that does not include regular beheadings and women wearing burqahs. There were seven of them. As they brought the mayor out to put him in a pick-up truck to take him off to be beheaded (on video, as usual), one of the bad Guys put down his machinegun so that he could tie the mayor's hands. The mayor took the opportunity to pick up the machinegun and drill five of the Bad Guys. The other two ran away. One of the dead Bad Guys was on our top twenty wanted list. Like they say, you can't fight City Hall.

Heh.
posted by delmoi at 6:10 PM on October 11, 2006

Adding the thanks. Best of the web, indeed.
posted by Ufez Jones at 6:13 PM on October 11, 2006

Gotta love this one:
Most Profound Man in Iraq - an unidentified farmer in a fairly remote area who, after being asked by Reconnaissance Marines (searching for Syrians) if he had seen any foreign fighters in the area replied "Yes, you."
posted by 445supermag at 6:16 PM on October 11, 2006

Good post.... thanks...

For those of you that haven't read the link yet...give it a try.... well worth your time.
posted by HuronBob at 6:20 PM on October 11, 2006

Well written and fascinating. Regarding the midget, presumably, in most small towns, that would probably be enough of a description: who would expect dozens to be living nearby?
posted by Maias at 6:36 PM on October 11, 2006

This was my favorite:

(After the midgets . . . )

Coolest Insurgent Act - Stealing almost $7 million from the main bank in Ramadi in broad daylight, then, upon exiting, waving to the Marines in the combat outpost right next to the bank, who had no clue of what was going on. The Marines waved back. Too cool.
posted by jason's_planet at 6:47 PM on October 11, 2006

Yes, this was a standout post on a day of good posts round here.

445supermag beat me to posting my favorite.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:24 PM on October 11, 2006

This is great.
posted by bunglin jones at 7:31 PM on October 11, 2006

interesting, but "the bad guys" rings kinda hollow given today's news about the dead 655,000.
posted by dydecker at 7:50 PM on October 11, 2006

Did we ever bother having an FPP about the news that the Brand X muslims have control of the hospitals, and are basically engaged in the wholesale slaughter of all Brand Y muslims that seek healthcare? I hope it's only a rumour, not a verified report.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:18 PM on October 11, 2006

not a dupe? then (via del.icio.us)
posted by MarkO at 8:19 PM on October 11, 2006

Good stuff, thank you.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:05 PM on October 11, 2006

Biggest Outrage - Practically anything said by talking heads on TV about the war in Iraq, not that I get to watch much TV. Their thoughts are consistently both grossly simplistic and politically slanted. Biggest offender - Bill O'Reilly - what a buffoon.

Thank you.
posted by psmealey at 6:25 AM on October 12, 2006

Great article
posted by cmicali at 6:27 AM on October 12, 2006

The article I read mentioned that it was edited. Does anybody know where we can find the unedited version?
posted by atchafalaya at 9:44 AM on October 12, 2006

*raises a glass*
posted by Smedleyman at 2:20 PM on October 12, 2006