m50d's Journal: Do as we say, not as we do

I am amazed that most of today's news sources seem to be accepting the rescue of British troops by breaking them out of an Iraqi prison as a heroic episode. While I can understand the tabloids enjoying saving our brave boys from the evil beturbanned arabs, I'm far less enthusiastic than they and would expect more opposition than has been seen from elsewhere in the media.

Firstly, the British troops in question shot a police officer. That much isn't disputed even by the British authorities. Whilst I can appreciate the need to fit in when going undercover, and am happy to allow undercover troops or police to deal drugs, launder money, maybe even commit minor thefts when it's in the interest of stopping greater crimes, that stops well short of shooting at anyone, yet alone a police officer. Only the truly desperate criminal will kill an officer of the law rather than come quietly, but here are our "brave boys", supposedly the good guys, refusing to answer questions and opening fire when approached.

Second, if the soldiers were guilty they deserve what they get. It is, supposedly, the Iraqis' country, their government is supposed to be running the place, their legal system is supposed to be in charge. If, as the papers seem to be assuming, the soldiers were innocent, then shouldn't we have faith in the Iraqi justice system to clear them? How come the Iraqi government is good enough for Iraqis but not for the British troops? Could it be we don't believe the government is good at all, we're just installing one which will be the best for our interests, the very same policy that lead to Saddam being there and in charge in the first place?

Thirdly, the method of releasing them. The fact that official sources initially denied they'd broken down the walls shows there is at least some shame about this, but really, letting 150 criminals loose because you're worried about your 3 men who were arrested is a bit of an inappropriate response, to say nothing of wanton property destruction. Is the Iraqi prison situation so bad that we believe people would be killed that quickly, and if so, why are we allowing those 150 people to be held there? If they are genuine criminals, what about all the problems they'll now cause for other, innocent Iraqis?

We appear no better than an inner city gang busting da boyz out of the nick, because, y'know, they're da ladz, we stick together. I would expect more concern for other people, and more willingness to consider errors on our part, from the military of a civilised nation, and it seems hipocritical to expect others to accept the authority of the new Iraqi authorities when we are not willing to do so ourselves.