Refusal of Orders

[BlueMark]

!9 Reservists have refused a order to complete a resupply mission in Iraq.

They had to travel from the South of Iraq through Bagdad to a Army unit just north of the capital.

The Reservists have cited the lack of armoured support, air cover and the ill repair of thier vehicles as reasons for thier refusal to comply with orders.

The soldiers have been confined to barracks while a investigation is being held.

Another unit completed the resupply mission.

Source FoxNews

 

[Dry Rot]

Probably just the tip of the iceberg - morale must be going down the toilet.

 

[BlueMark]

Further 6 US soldiers have been killed in the fighting today and 2 Blackhawks have crashed as well. Not confirmed as to cause yet.

There have been bombings all over Iraq including 5 Christian Church's and the almost now daily mortaring of the Green Zone.

But my favourite sight this week has been watching my crazy 'kill em all' ex Lt Col Marine friend wandering around Iraq showing off his brand spanking new folding stock AKM. Funny thing was that he was shaking so much I thought he was going to drop it.

 

[CharlieG]

Further 6 US soldiers have been killed in the fighting today and 2 Blackhawks have crashed as well. Not confirmed as to cause yet.

There have been bombings all over Iraq including 5 Christian Church's and the almost now daily mortaring of the Green Zone.

But my favourite sight this week has been watching my crazy 'kill em all' ex Lt Col Marine friend wandering around Iraq showing off his brand spanking new folding stock AKM. Funny thing was that he was shaking so much I thought he was going to drop it.

- Six soldiers dead...

- 5 churches bombed...

- 'But my favourite sight this week has been...'

I sincerely hope you don't see the violence in Iraq as something 'good', BM. I see it is as the inevitable consequence, but I don't revel in it.

 

[dan warna]

the iraqi people are fighting for their freedom, their morale seems up despite the fact the illegal US invasion has murdered tens of thousands, and they are getting bombed hourly, and losing 20 for every American killed...

It was interesting watching the news on Ch7 a few weeks ago taht suggested the US is losing control all over iraq, and similarly in afghanistan, the warlords control 90% of afghanistan and its the same old same old, only with the US stamp of approval, and heroin is being manufactured to the tune of thousands of tonnes...

 

[medusala]

the iraqi people are fighting for their freedom, their morale seems up despite the fact the illegal US invasion has murdered tens of thousands, and they are getting bombed hourly, and losing 20 for every American killed...

It was interesting watching the news on Ch7 a few weeks ago taht suggested the US is losing control all over iraq, and similarly in afghanistan, the warlords control 90% of afghanistan and its the same old same old, only with the US stamp of approval, and heroin is being manufactured to the tune of thousands of tonnes...

You are way off the mark in Afghanistan. The elections were held with bugger all violence and the central govt controls the vast majority of the country.

 

[BlueMark]

I abhorr what is happening in Iraq. Every person who dies by whatever means is one to many. Anybody who enjoys what is happening is sick. Some on here and elsewhere see my opposition to the war as supporting the resistance, this is a false assumption. My sympathy lies with the Iraqi civilains who are caught in a blood feud between the resistance and the US and the US ground troopers who in the main are simply trying to stay alive despite being let down by both thier Military and Political leadership.

But I must admit I did enjoy watching the 'gung ho' retired lunatic of a Marine ex Lt Col "Kill em all' pretending to be tough when it was obvious he was terrified. Deadset he was shaking so hard I really did think he would drop his weapon. BTW why was a civilian reporter allowed to tote a infantry assault rifle around, Russian made as well.

At least Col North gets amongst the soldiers with no more than a mic and body armour. Didn't like what he did re Contra gate but there is no doubting the fact he has balls.

 

[BlueMark]

Crap Medusula. The Central Government has little authority outside of Kabul, the drug trade is back in full swing and there was plently of violence before and during the election. Aid agencies have largely pulled out or operate out of heavily guarded compounds. Like in Iraq the US Army cannot move without armour and air support. The National Afghan Army is little more than brigade strength and are little more than token guards and ceremonial troops, thier combat effectiveness as has been shown by the singular lask of success is virtually nil. Desertion runs at about 30% of recruits before the end of training.

 

[dan warna]

interestingly with iraqi's refusing to fight iraqis or the US trained iraqis taking their weapons and armour and 'dissappearing' or assisting the freedom fighters against the US, the US has asked NATO and the brits for help.

Britain may controversially redeploy combat troops to Baghdad, with NATO forces or other 'allied' forces taking control of the south and more mercs moving in for support roles.

NATO won't be bailing the US out of their bloody mess and the brits have said they DON"T want to work with the US troops or under US command, esp after the junkie 'speed freak' pilots murdered british troops last time.

 

[GuruJane]

interestingly with iraqi's refusing to fight iraqis or the US trained iraqis taking their weapons and armour and 'dissappearing' or assisting the freedom fighters against the US, the US has asked NATO and the brits for help.

Britain may controversially redeploy combat troops to Baghdad, with NATO forces or other 'allied' forces taking control of the south and more mercs moving in for support roles.

NATO won't be bailing the US out of their bloody mess and the brits have said they DON"T want to work with the US troops or under US command, esp after the junkie 'speed freak' pilots murdered british troops last time.

Najaf gone. Samarra gone. Sadr City gone. Can Fallujah be far behind?

 

[Freo Big Fella]

Najaf gone. Samarra gone. Sadr City gone. Can Fallujah be far behind?

Not if the three bombed marine camps I heard reported on the news last night are anything to go by.

 

[BlueMark]

Najaf gone. Samarra gone. Sadr City gone. Can Fallujah be far behind?

Will this be the 3rd or 4th 'liberation' of Fallujah? I have sorta lost count.

 

[Mr Q]

You are way off the mark in Afghanistan. The elections were held with bugger all violence and the central govt controls the vast majority of the country.

If by "vast majority" you mean Kabul and its immediate surrounds, then perhaps.

Doesn't seem that too many people seem overly happy with the elections in Afghanistan anyway.

 

[Leper]

Maybe I'm being naive, but won't don't the Yanks et al all just get the hell out of there and let them sort out their own country now that Saddam is out.

Doesn't have anything to do with oil would it?

 

[dan warna]

Maybe I'm being naive, but won't don't the Yanks et al all just get the hell out of there and let them sort out their own country now that Saddam is out.

Doesn't have anything to do with oil would it?

haliburton = ******** cheney = profiteering from the blood and lives of US soldiers and civilians as well as iraqi children, freedom fighters, civilians and the odd scumbag from al qaeda

 

[dan warna]

Will this be the 3rd or 4th 'liberation' of Fallujah? I have sorta lost count.

mmm if its so peaceful, why is morale so low, US bombs dropping in all locations daily and the demand from NATO and the the brits moving troops into the 'combat zone?' or is that the freedom fried zone?

 

[Lestat]

Najaf gone. Samarra gone. Sadr City gone. Can Fallujah be far behind?

Yep Jane, things are just great in Iraq...aren't they.

----------------------------------------------------

Divided they stand in a war of suspicion
October 20, 2004

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An Iraqi National Guardsman displays a rocket that was turned in at a police station.
Photo: Reuters
Adrian Blomfield in Karmah discovers a deep mistrust between American troops and the Iraqi soldiers they are training.

If the US marines and Iraqi national guardsmen at the Karmah military barracks near Fallujah talk at all, they speak through the bars of a small window. The Americans peer out from the ammunition room, filled with weapons confiscated from suspected insurgents, trading banter with the Iraqis who stand on tiptoe in a huddle outside.

Although there is laughter, things are not as they should be. "This is Camp Poison," whispered a marine.

The sinister atmosphere is not difficult to understand. The marines believe that many, perhaps most, of the 140 members of the Iraqi National Guard they share the camp with are double agents working for the insurgents holding Fallujah. In the past week they have arrested five of the guardsmen, including their commanding officer, Captain Ali Mohammed Jasim.

It is just one example of a Vietnam-era experiment, resurrected to form the backbone of an offensive planned for the end of the year to retake Fallujah, that is going disastrously wrong. Under the Combined Action Platoon scheme, US soldiers train Iraqi guardsmen, live with them in the same barracks and venture out on joint patrols, all steps towards a long-term objective of the withdrawal of US troops.

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The plan was developed in Vietnam, where US marines cohabited with local militias to defend villages from Vietcong raids. At the same time they trained the militiamen, hoping to turn them into an effective fighting force. However the Vietnamese were too ill-equipped and underpaid for the plan to have much success.

The present program seems to be facing even greater problems. Across the country US troops work with their poorly equipped Iraqi colleagues in an atmosphere soured by mistrust.

Marines, such as those at Karmah, are trying to secure the province around Fallujah. Their efforts have been blighted by remotely detonated mines targeting the patrols that venture into towns that have become insurgent havens. Since June, some platoons have seen up to half their men wounded. Eighty marines have been killed in the province.

The marines believe the guardsmen know where many mines are planted, and say they have caught guardsmen in the act of laying them. When joint patrols are attacked, they say, the guardsmen refuse to fight.

As the relationship worsens, guardsmen are refusing to turn up. Of the 140 at Karmah, an average of 40 to 60 attend each day. At other barracks, the number is sometimes as low as two.

In their bare dormitory, angry guardsmen tell their side of the story, accusing marines of arrogance, bullying and a disregard for civilian life.

"The first mistake they make is that, when they are attacked, they don't just fire at the terrorists, they shoot everywhere," one said.

- Telegraph

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/19/1097951693713.html

 

[Lestat]

In their bare dormitory, angry guardsmen tell their side of the story, accusing marines of arrogance, bullying and a disregard for civilian life.

"The first mistake they make is that, when they are attacked, they don't just fire at the terrorists, they shoot everywhere," one said.

Pretty much says it all!