I'd be curious if the white flag is a known cultural symbol in that region. Maybe, but I don't know.
Perhaps the Americans could educate them through newspapers, etc. explaining to the general population how they operate, how they interpret events, and what kind of events precisely will trigger an attack, and how the locals can react to prevent attacks on them. Again, we should not just impose our own cultural interpretations since they may be foreign to them.
In that video, if they were just cameramen and their bodyguards, where they aware of these dangers? Again, I don't know the answer, but has the US military made any efforts through the Iraqi media to educate the population or did it just assume that the population is familiar with Western cultural norms of behaviour?
Again, I don't know if they are familiar with the Western meaning of the white flag. But has anyone in the US military ensured that to be the case and not assumed?
One possible solution I could see would be teaching the population certain norms which the US military would follow too as a form of protocol. For example, if a helicopter sees something, first they ensure they're seeing the right thing before engaging. And then they engage by firing one shot into the ground and the gunmen immediately respond by dropping their weapons or making some other sign that is acceptable to the helicopter. Again, this could be taught through the media and other means.
Also, have they been taught whether they are allowed to carry arms, what kind of arms, and whether they must register their arms, report to any government agency if they will be carrying arms on a certain day, etc.?
I don't know what the rules were under Saddam Hussain. But if the rules now are significantly different from then, that means the population is trying to learn new norms, new cultural codes of behaviour in their interactions with the US military.
Maybe the guys in the video were terrorists, and did not respond as appropriate and as had been taught to the general population. But why did the helicopter aim so lethally from the start rather than test the waters first by firing a warning shot?
I'm not saying I know the answers here, but would certainly be interested in what efforts the US has made in educating themselves and the general population so as to develop certain common cultural norms understandable to both that all sides could follow as a means of reducing deaths. Among the protocols to be taught could include:
1. A US solder does not engage until certain that the person is armed.
2. If it is confirmed that the person is armed, he must follow the appropriate protocol to confirm whether they are enemies or at least a threat. this could include a warning shot or some other protocol that the Iraqis would know too as per the media.
3. If receiving a warning shot, a person is to know the appropriate response, surrender, drop weapon, hands up, white flag if available, or if physically incapable owing to weakness, illness, etc. then alternatives such as laying on the ground with hands and legs spread, etc. etc. etc.
4. Clearly taught rules concerning the right to bear arms, citizens' rights in this respect, if armed, whether to inform any particular agency, etc.
Has anything of the sort been carried out, or had the US military simply assumed that a population living in relative peace would just automatically know without any proper education how to operate within a warring society. I'd imagine there would be much culture shock and misunderstandings.
