Dead Protester

>>>>> "scott" == Scott Forbes <[email protected]> writes:

  scott>     The dead protester was (along with other attackers)
  scott> trying to kill the police in the jeep. The photo series makes
  scott> that very clear. 

No it doesn't. It doesn't at all. They show protesters smashing the
jeep with stuff like wood and fire extinguishers; they *don't* show:

     - what precipitated *this* skirmish
     - the intent of the protesters

	 News reports say they were attacking the
  scott> jeep, but actually they were attacking the people in the
  scott> jeep.

I don't think you can tell that from the photos I've seen. Even if
they were attacking the police, the only justifiable use of deadly
force I can condone is in self-defense against a *deadly force*
attack, not against *any* attack.

  scott>     While it's sad and unfortunate that a life was lost, you
  scott> have to remember who started the fight. 

Oh, absolutely, that's totally relevant. The police did, of course.

	 I think the
  scott> anarchists were the aggressors. I am on the side of the
  scott> police, not the violent protesters.

Well, you think that, but do you have any evidence for it other than
sheer assertion?

  scott>     Anybody in their right mind would think twice before
  scott> attacking Italian police. They have different rules of
  scott> engagement than Americans do. Those young officers were
  scott> probably scared for their lives as you or I would be. They
  scott> responded in a natural way.

Nope, in fact, the natural response is probably to *flee*. They
responded in the way they were *trained* to respond, that is, by
repressive, overwhelming deadly force.

  scott>     I hope all those who simply want to cause damage get
  scott> what they ask for. 

I suspect that that's vastly less than 1% of the total protesters
there; and yet the cops have been bashing *hundreds and hundreds* of
heads in, often of nonviolent protesters, cowering on the ground,
doing nothing more than covering their heads with their hands,
pleading "tranquilo!"

I suspect you've never been to a mass protest.

	 These lawless aggressors have no regard
  scott> for property and human life. Law abiding citizens should not
  scott> have to put up with a bunch of punks who confuse violence
  scott> with free speech.

From what I've read, and from my experience at other mass protests,
the local residents are as terrified of the Carabinieri as everyone
else. They're certainly incensed by the repression.

  scott>     If I were the police officer in the jeep, I would have
  scott> probably done the same thing. Except I would have shot all
  scott> those cowards who were trying to kill me.

Heh, this makes very clear your bias and inability to perceive
clearly. You're just a new job and gun away from being a murderer
too. Congrats.

  scott>     By the way, the driver of the jeep did not mean to run
  scott> over the body. That is clear from the photos as well. They
  scott> were simply trying to get away from a violent and murderous
  scott> crowd.

Says you. You call the crowd murderous and yet the injuries and deaths
are *totally* one-sided. How curious.

Cheers,
Kendall Clark