Fake Surrenders, will they cause a strategy change?

[John Corn]

It is being reported on CNN, that Iraqis used fake surrenders to lure in American forces and then ambushed them.

My question is whether or not the U.S forces are likely to change their strategy, when a white flag is raised if the Iraqis continue to use this technique? Perhaps the Americans would simply feel they can no longer take those chances, and will just keep firing until they know all Iraqis are dead in any given situation.

Does anyone know enough about the military and the rules they adhere to, that they could say if it is possible, for a strategy change in light of the Iraqi tactics?

[gcutler]

Make them surrender nude and bent over with their guns up their butts, otherwise an Iraqi with a White flag is now a legitimate target!!!

[George_F]

If they surrender, they should walk into the open without their weapons...all of them. If not, fire upon them. But I don't think we should be forced to go looking for surrendering opposition armies at the expense of American lives.

I just hope that there isn't too much attention being paid to getting good press for humanitarian treatment of the opposition at the expense of our soldiers' lives.

[John Corn]

What this will do is to push Tommy Franks into Schwartzkoffs tactic of "find the enemy and kill em", not the tactic the current of minimizing caualties on both sides but go after the head. This is not what the anti war people have been preaching here for the last several months. However, it appears Iraq is forcing our hand and into doing just that.

[RichW]

Our Armed Forces have been trained for this contingency. This has been an obvious enemy tactic since the Korean War. I have no doubt that every Soldier an Marine is still taught to approach those surrendering with caution. The problem as I understand it is not coming from those who actually surrender, but those who simply lay down their arms and mix with the civilians.

I would hope that our military leaders were smart enough to paln for such an obvious guerilla-type tactic by Iraqis. If there is any change due to this, I think it will take place in the attitude of those American citizens who thought this was going to be a "cake-walk". Ground action, as opposed to air combat is far mor deadly and dangerous. It is essentially risking lives for real estate. I've been there and done that. Even the best trained troops wil make mistakes and let their guard down or get ambushed. That is the nature of a ground war.

We need to be prepared for ambushed, uprisings, and terrooosit attacts in Iraq (especially suicide attacks) as long as we are there. Look what continues to happen in Afghanistan and it is easy to predict more of the same in Iraq.

[Jacob S]

Some could give up their weapons with some more soldiers behind with weapons in hand and start shooting at us.

[Richard King]

The Japanese used similar tactics in WWII. They would come out with a white flag and approach our troops. When told to raise their hands, a grenade, with pin removed, would fall from beneath each arm.