The Few, The Proud, The Hilarious

The media has a tendency to cast the military in Iraq as either villains or victims, but they are rarely viewed as humorous.  At a checkpoint, this Marine shows both levity and bravado in a situation that can quickly turn from droll to dire. 

Note:
It's a mistake to compare the situation in Iraq with any type of situation we could have in the United States.  Not all countries are the same, and security issue in Iraq make the average Iraqi prefer American military over there very own.   

Comments

[Ralph]

I love it! What's so cool is that he is mocking the Haji in his own country. It would be like a Chinese soldier on our streets with a huge weapon casually ridiculing an American motorist at a checkpoint. The Chinese soldier could make all kinds of humorous put-downs making it seem like the American was some kind of idiot as he mumbled he didn't understand in English. I wonder how many Americans would laugh at themselves? And I wonder what other nation would occupy another country and then make fun of and belittle the very people they are supposed to be helping (ie the dumb, child-like hajis).

[Question]

Yeah, I don't see the humor in ridiculing a defenseless Iraqi who is trying to do his job, support his family, live his life (i.e. survive). The Marine thinks it's funny that he has the power to stall him, use up his VERY expensive fuel, prevent him from being on time etc all for the sake of a laugh at the expense of this civilian.

It's actually quite telling about your own sense of humor (or lack thereof) that you think this is funny.

[0311]

You guys are kind of clueless. He's not teasing the Iraqi he's playing it up for the cameras and telling people that they're ready.

This Marine is willing to lay down his life to protect that Iraqi, and the Iraqi knows it.

When we were in Haditha, the people would come to us for help and not even to their own police. Why? Because they knew that we could and would protect them.

Good job Sanchez

5/10

[Randy]

"You guys are kind of clueless. He's not teasing the Iraqi he's playing it up for the cameras and telling people that they're ready."

I think you need to get a sense of humor dude. Anyone who's been to Iraq has endless stories of how these hajis aren't the brightest people. If there's a traffic jam on the highway, they will actually cross over and drive the wrong way on the other side. And if you shout at them or tell them to halt at a check-point, they frequently speed up (and suffer the consequences, lol). These primitive people are living like we did 100's of years ago. And I didn't even mention, it's common for men to be seen holding hands. Their saying is that "women are for babies, boys are for sex".

[Randy]

"You guys are kind of clueless. He's not teasing the Iraqi he's playing it up for the cameras and telling people that they're ready."

I think you need to get a sense of humor dude. Anyone who's been to Iraq has endless stories of how these hajis aren't the brightest people. If there's a traffic jam on the highway, they will actually cross over and drive the wrong way on the other side. And if you shout at them or tell them to halt at a check-point, they frequently speed up (and suffer the consequences, lol). These primitive people are living like we did 100's of years ago. And I didn't even mention, it's common for men to be seen holding hands. Their saying is that "women are for babies, boys are for sex".

[Randy]

"You guys are kind of clueless. He's not teasing the Iraqi he's playing it up for the cameras and telling people that they're ready."

I think you need to get a sense of humor dude. Anyone who's been to Iraq has endless stories of how these hajis aren't the brightest people. If there's a traffic jam on the highway, they will actually cross over and drive the wrong way on the other side. And if you shout at them or tell them to halt at a check-point, they frequently speed up (and suffer the consequences, lol). These savage people are living like we did 100's of years ago. And I didn't even mention, it's common for men to be seen holding hands. Their saying is that "women are for babies, boys are for sex".

[Randy]

"You guys are kind of clueless. He's not teasing the Iraqi he's playing it up for the cameras and telling people that they're ready."

I think you need to get a sense of humor dude. Anyone who's been to Iraq has endless stories of how these hajis aren't the brightest people. If there's a traffic jam on the highway, they will actually cross over and drive the wrong way on the other side. And if you shout at them or tell them to halt at a check-point, they frequently speed up (and suffer the consequences, lol). These primitive people are living like we did 100's of years ago. And I didn't even mention, it's common for men to be seen holding hands. Their saying is that "women are for babies, boys are for s3x".