McG of H your not seriously suggesting that a full VCP should be set up in a war zone? That would be totally naive, Iraq is not N.Ireland,the Iraqi troops could target the area, neatly marked out with signs and traffic cones.

The troops need to be able to set up and go just as fast,load of nonsense asking for signs to be laid out, leaving troops vulnerable to attack.

I do not think that the VCP was handled correctly, and I'm saying this based on the reporters account. But I do have a question, why did the driver try to speed through? Considering the theory that the driver may have thought it was an Iraqi vcp, why should the driver be worried? if they thought it was a US vcp why should the driver be worried?

The reports show that the vcp was on a long road, to say it was anything near an ambush shows a little ignorance. You do not ambush people while hiding in the middle of the road with two big tanks right out in the open, why? because those you wish to ambush would see you and run off.

Is it true that the Captain, who said that the platoon just killed people because they did not fire a warning shot quick enough, was sent home. I was told the Capt. was on T.V. saying that his comments did not refer to the vcp incident.

I do agree with you that the slogans and images would not be conducive to winning over people, nor does the reports that show some US troop whooping it up on a tank after taking part in some action.

Is subtlety lost on some people, or that their actions do have consequences, who would support people who have such slogans as "This is for NYPD", which is to suggest this is in retaliation for Sept 11. This would indicate to Iraqi people that they were responsible for the Sept attack, and under these conditions,I understand why they have not greeted the US troops with open arms.

Should such associations to the NYPD or any reference to the Sept 11 attack be made in this war? I believe not and in doing so really cheapens the aims of the war to simple revenge.