Do you really believe that American Snipers "Bait" their enemies?

Question

Recent articles claim that US. Military Snipers, are targeting Iraqies,... after they bait them with items of value. As, "I AM NOT THERE..., and by the way... NEITHER ARE YOU..., how will we ever really know? The media makes their own stories. Allways have, and allways will. The only way to know for sure is to ACTUALLY BE THERE WHEN THESE ACUSATIONS COME TO LIGHT. I am appauled that anyone sitting behind a TV, make these type of accusations about our men & women in the service. There may be some "Bad Apples" out there..., but is it enough to claim that there is a conspiracy in the MILITARY to shoot Iraqies??? I doubt it. They have enough on their plate. I know because I have been in the military and retired a few years ago. You Americans..., should stop looking for ways to hate the military..., and start believing that the Military only do what they are told. They are told what to do by your elected officials. Hence the word.., Military..., orders given, orders followed. Nothing else.

Answer 1

The article said that the bait was placed within the confines of US military installations. If the target is stealing munitions on a us military installation I say he is fair game. I doubt he is taking the stuff home to show his kids.

Answer 2

CSM Doug,

Yes, I do believe we lay bait. I do believe this is a common tactic in the sniper handbook if I recall correctly.

Is it such a smart idea in a politically sensitive arena such as Iraq? Well, yeah, it used to be, I think, but now we have placed "amnesty boxes" here and there just like we have everywhere else. I doubt it's as effective a tactic as it was before. If it was, it shouldn't be now. What if someone were simply trying to do the right thing and put the bait in it? Can you tell just by the way they look? c'mon, this is Iraq! Everyone "looks" suspicious. I trust the triggermen know the difference and how to handle each circumstance. They have a very tough job.

I think part of this smear - and I do believe it is another media political smear - is based on a person's popular idea of what a sniper is: someone that kills mercilessly without thought, immediately and senselessly. Someone who doesn't understand the craft. (It truly IS a craft)

If I were a sniper, if possible I would wait for them to pick it up and then find out where they were taking it.

As for the rest? If I've learned nothing else in this forum, I've learned that emotion, fear and ignorance rule to the detriment of reality. I really don't much care what they say.

Answer 3

I don't care. If they are "Enemies" they should be killed by any means necessary.

"according to the article"

They are not leaving money or TVs out in the street and shooting people who come to get them.

They are putting out contraband (bomb making materials or weapons), things that will make them a target under the rules of engagement (by the way Iraq does have this stuff just laying around all over the place so finding the stuff in the open is not out of the question).

it sounds to me like another good tactic has been given away by the media.

another thing they mentioned was "drop weapons". That is where an unarmed man is killed and a weapon is placed on them to make it look like a legal kill. This is not acceptable to the army.

Answer 4

You know there has never been a Republican president say anything like that. How do you know that for sure, you may be asking? Because if there had been any kind of record of any Republican president saying anything close to that available, the libs in the lamestream media would already be out there playing it over and over and over while sniveling with glee "See, See, Republicans say it too, See, See". Between that disgraceful comment and his little "Republicans have to ride in the back seat" comment, looks like obamadinejhad's true colors are finally showing. What a disgrace.

Answer 5

Baiting the enemy is nothing new. Insurgents would randomly fire off their weapons just to get a response from coalition forces, and then ambush them. I believe anyone playing around with weapons on the battlefield are fair game. Army snipers are not stupid, they know the difference between a noncombatant and a potential insurgent.

Answer 6

Kind of hard to bait people a 1/2 a mile away Snipers Kill you from a distant not up close

Answer 7

It's Just some more anti troop propaganda..
I for one don't care if they bait some Ahole to send him to meet his maker.
Atleast that one won't get to kill any of our troops.
Now shooting the unarmed is out of order.
I couldn't support that one. But I don't believe All snipers would be doing that.
I support our troop's..War is hell and alot of incent people do and will die.That is sad.
To charge one our snipers with murder when his job is to kill, is beond me. Seem like the story was lacking some info.
Freedomm ist free. If you want info on how you can support the troop s Go to link

Answer 8

The one I read this morning was not right. The description of what was being done made NO sense in general terms. Something was missing. Placing stuff on the ground could attract anyone. It's like dropping money on the street and then arresting everyone that picks it up. Sounded like Bravo Sierra to me.

Answer 9

Ok, forgetting the inane ranting above me from sky is falling. Snipers shoot from distance, now if someone is entering the base to steal munitions to use against us, why not kill them.

Thats war, sucks to be the guy in the crosshairs of the Leopold M3, shouldnt mess with the US...

Answer 10

I believe the article I read said that it is a "calssified" program. So let's leave it that way. If it is "calssified" we may never know the real story and should never know as a matter of national security. SO who do you think really killed Kennedy?