Again...?

FALLUJA, Iraq, April 30 — United States soldiers opened fire here today on marchers protesting a clash late Monday night in which 15 anti-American demonstrators were reported killed by American troops. The city's mayor and hospital officials said two protesters were killed in today's incident and 14 were wounded.

A United States Army officer said soldiers in a convoy passing the demonstrators were shot at, and then returned fire. There was no immediate indication of any American casualties.

About 1,000 residents marching down Falluja's main street stopped today in front of a battalion headquarters of the United States Army's 82nd Airborne Division, in a compound formerly occupied by Saddam Hussein's Baath Party. The demonstrators were carrying signs condemning Monday night's shooting. [Emphasis mine.]

I was surprised to find out that the Americans have occupied the former Baath Party headquarters in Falluja. Now, isn't it simple common sense that when you've invaded a country to "liberate" it from a generally unpopular regime and you're trying to reassure the populace that you are definitely not there to replace that regime or occupy their country, you would distance yourself in every way possible from the regime? Like, for instance, not setting up your command center in their former headquarters ?

Of course, you also would avoid shooting unarmed demonstrators. But what do I know?

Judging from the following quote, Lt. Col. Tobin Green, commander of the Second Squadron of the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment, which is taking over from the 82nd Airborne in Falluja (and getting off to a smashing start), is an ardent follower of our fearless national leader.

"The evildoers are deliberately placing at risk the good civilians," Colonel Green told The Associated Press. "These are deliberate actions by the enemy to use the population as cover."

Yes, and your's and the president's vocabulary and worldview have not evolved since the second grade.

I'm sure Colonel Green will quickly grasp the complexity of the sensitive, volatile situation and we can expect a vast improvement in the upcoming days.

Full story here.