Topic: Foreign Policy
American Interventionism Leads to Death in the Suez It is reported that this trader was a 27 year-old father of three. His three children will undoubtedly grow up with a serious distrust of America and its foreign policy. The chance that these children are going to grow up and become leaders against America is slim, yet they will provide their voices to an ever growing choir of middle-easterners effected by this war and our interventionist policies.by jposty
(Libertarian)
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The US navy ship Global Patriot, arrived in the Gulf of Suez and was awaiting further orders to sail to the Mediterranean when Egyptians on small barges approached the vessel. The Egyptian barges were ordered to disengage their approach and return to port.
Two of the three Egyptian vessels veered off while the third continued its approach to the naval vessel. The naval attachment to the ship opened small arms fire directed at the water in front of the ship.
An Egyptian security official at the canal, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said the ship fired several warning shots before shooting a man dead in the small motor boat and wounding three other men with him.
The Egyptian barges routinely approach vessels in the canal with the hope of selling goods such as, cigarettes and local produce. Several Egyptian vessels and gawkers congregated after the initial shot was fired, in protest.
The Egyptian traders know not to approach US war ships, since the Global Patriot is a civilian cargo container with without proper military markings probably caused the traders confusion.
According to the website of the US Navy's Military Sealift Command, the MV Global Patriot is a roll-on roll-off transport ship chartered from Global Container Lines.
The security source said that the ship was expected to cross the Suez Canal as planned at 6:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday.
After the 2000 USS Cole attack ship security in harbors and canals has become a high priority. The USS Cole was attacked by suicide bombers in Yemen by a motor boat, it led to the deaths of 17 US sailors.
The fact that this incident was a simple misunderstanding, that led to deaths of unarmed civilians is further evidence that proves the rule of unintended consequences. The Military Sealift Command had no intention of unnecessarily harming Egyptian / US relations or killing unarmed traders yet, our naval ships in a time of war, are on heightened alert which could and has led to misunderstandings. Although, further acts of protest or revolt is highly unlikely this event just underscores all of the indirect effects of our war on terror.
It is reported that this trader was a 27 year-old father of three. His three children will undoubtedly grow up with a serious distrust of America and its foreign policy. The chance that these children are going to grow up and become leaders against America is slim, yet they will provide their voices to an ever growing choir of middle-easterners effected by this war and our interventionist policies.
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2008 jposty, all rights reserved.
Published: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Last modified: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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2008 jposty, all rights reserved.