Caps vs Helmets

Not long after Baghdad fell and Saddam's forces were pronounced defeated, we began to read how American forces were persisting in maintaining an unreasonably menacing stance. American soldiers, we were told, kept wearing their helmets and body armor -- unlike the more worldly Brits, who were reportedly winning hearts and minds by leaving off the protective gear and switching to unintimidating cloth caps.

Yet as the weeks passed, and casualties from ambushes and hit-and-run attacks continued, staying on alert came to seem entirely reasonable and prudent. Now the British have started taking casualties, too. Are the troops patrolling Basra now wearing their body armor and helmets again? One thing is certain: those who were asking why American soldiers couldn't be more like the British aren't coming back to the issue now that the answer is at hand.

Posted by David on June 24, 2003 1:00 PM