What are we doing to sort out the good guys from the bad guys in Iraq?

Question

Do we uses photo ID records of individuals... take finger prints... or what?

I have never seen nor read any details about how our troops conduct their police investigations. It all seems so hit or miss. Does anyone have a clue? Has anyone ever seen or read anything about our data collecting methods over there?

I'm not criticizing... I'd just like to know.

I decided to send an idea to the president and vice president, (...somewhat silly, I know, but it's better than sitting around like a useless lump, LOL). Anyhow, here's the letter:

Subject: A procedural suggestion for our troops in IraqWould it be feasible to use GPS location and Date-Time-Name-Age-Finger Print, & Photo ID to aid our military in their task of "policing" in Iraq? It seems to me that it would be useful as well as quick and easy to perform and probably very inexpensive requiring only a decent laptop computer and a secure wireless link... or perhaps just a cell phone would do.Example: Initial visit to a location: A patrol group enters a home (or any other location) and they collect data from those individuals found at the location. They log day, date, time, name, sex, age and a thumb print of all the individuals present and then snap photos with the respective data imprinted onto the same record. The uploaded photos/ data/IDs could then sort into a file that is geographically arranged according to the GPS coordinates where the interview took place. Other data could be added to the file as needed, i.e., photos of Driver licenses, etc.

Second visit to the same location: By calling up a GPS location from the file, a subsequent patrol to any given site would able to positively identify by photo/data/ID comparisons and identify any new individual who had been added, subtracted or replaced according to the original set of data. Random stops of individuals anywhere: An individual whose photo/data/ID, was not found anywhere in the data base could be easily sorted by several means; finger print, photo image, name, etc. This seems so simple that I’ll bet I’m not the first to think of it but, nonetheless, here it is. Insurgents will necessarily need to move around a lot in order to do their dirty work and by this method we might be able to interrupt some of their freedom of movement before they can do any harm. Although this method seems a tad Orwellian, there are people dieing daily who might just appreciate temporarily trading-off a little of their personal freedom for the sake of their personal security and t

and the security of their new country. For what it’s worth, I’m an American and I’m with America all the way. Good luck to us all and thanks for your dedication.

Comments are welcome, of course.

Answer 1

In the Marine Corps we have a team that goes out with us when we are doing search operation. This team specializes in counter intelligence. I'm not going to say too much on the subject mostly because I don't know who you are but, the counter intel team talks to the civilians and bases what he is hearing on past intel gathered. A lot like a police investigation. We also video tape the residence and occupants as well as any form of identification they might have.

Answer 2

This is of course the problem that should have been sorted out in the beginning when the invasion first took place. Instead of tearing down images of Saddam start to collect data on the people and find out who knows who the bad guys are and then set out to find them. Since this never happened now you have people who you see everyday and you don't know if they are the good or the bad. Putting id tags on these people now is almost too little too late. Another method which I cannot believe was never used was to give payments to the Iraqi people for stopping crime. If they knew of an insurgent then they could give the police the name etc. of this person and let the guy get caught, sort of like crime stoppers here. But since the Iraqi never see their oil money anyway they figure why turn in anyone. Saddam controlled by killing probably anyone who was suspect along with his family members and who knows the people next door just for good measure so no one would get involved in car bombs etc. The US army is too nice to do this, but remember this is war and the enemy plays by no rules, so why should you?

Answer 3

Kicking doors in.

We have deployed the U.S. Military. It is not a police force. They are a broadsword, not a scalpel.

I'm not criticizing our soldiers. I'm just saying they are what they are. Expecting something else will get them killed.

Here's the gist of an interview that I heard with an Iraqi. He said his 3 sons had joined the new Iraqi military when it was being formed. He was very proud. Then, and IED incident occurred in his town. That night the U.S. broke down his door and destroyed furniture in his home during a search. They drug every military aged Iraqi into the street for questioning. The man said they humiliated him in front of his wife. He didn't say what they did but it's easy for me to believe cultural differences could have made our men's actions appear even worse than they were. He said that night he lost his pride and started hating the U.S.

Answer 4

They sort them by putting bullets in the bad guys or watching them blow up innocent people as well as their miserable selves. The good guys get freedom of democracy. Sorry I cannot be more serious, but that is an OPSEC issue. I know they do allow them the chance of redemption after incarceration, unlike under the old regime under Sodamn Insane, where they just killed everyone in a 10 block radius.

Answer 5

Not sure but my guess is you have two sources

1) Direct evidence as caught on video or apprehension at the scene

2) Witnesses

Problem with 2 is the unreliability of the witnesses for various reasons including the possibly use of torture or just the general revenge factor to get your enemies in US custody.

Answer 6

i'm satisfied that you lined a lot interior the question, via the indisputable fact that makes it extra common which could help you. i do not think you're over-interpreting something. You reported before that he stated he had some issues to workout consultation. i experience you should go away him be for awhile, because at the same time as he's operating his existence out, it should be person-friendly for him to get offended at you for something that has not something to do with you. believe me, at the same time as he's fixed his self issues, it will be plenty extra common for you 2 to be "extra ideal" pals. believe me.

Answer 7

Well honestly I don't know how they are doing it but if it was me anyone who was or is shooting at me is a bad guy.

Answer 8

If it moves, is an insurgent
if it doesn't move, its a well trained insurgent.

Answer 9

we're light years ahead of you, killer