U.S. Iraq war casualties reach new milestone

[ice grillin you]

yeah but ive never seen someone embolden their own post

usually its used to point out the only interesting part of a long article

[DutchBird]

yeah but ive never seen someone embolden their own post

usually its used to point out the only interesting part of a long article

Well,

I have had too many problems with people having a lack of reading skills and no reading comprehension at all. Especialy with topics like these, which are sensitive (to some). Therefore I think the boldened part needed a bit of emphasis.

I think there are serious problems with the attitude of most American troops on the ground in Iraq. I see it as an exponent of a more general problem.  I am of the opinion that most man and women on the ground are trying to do the best they can, and genuinely think they are going the right way about it. Why? Simply because they have been told to do so in training.

IMHO the problem/cause is the upper echelons. It is the wrong training (can't fault the grunts for that). It is the general attitude that the US is superior to anything; it is the fact that the US military members are being protected no matter what by their government, and rarely are helt accountable for their actions if they involve non-Americans. The only time that happens is if there is a big stink made about it, and the political cost of shoving it under the carpet is to great. The examples are numerous:

1. Abu Graib.
2. The Marines killing the Iraqi family
3. Wedding parties bombed.
4. The journalist hotel in Baghdad shelled.
5. Friendly fire on a journalist convoy by an A-10.
6. Friendly fire, A-10 strafing an English armored column; covered up, until video footage from the actual attack was leaked.
7. A-6 pilots cutting the cables of a cable car in Italy due to illegal low flying, leaving IIRC 26 people dead. This despite numerous warnings over the years that low flying was illegal in the area, and several near misses. The authorities on the air base (IIRC Avioano) never seriously acted on the warnings and complaints. the responsible pilots were wisked out of the Italy before they could be prosecuted. Last we heared was that they were only demoted, if that.
8. The marines raping a Japanese girl on Okinawa. They were only handed over to the Japanese afte they threatened to end the leases for numerous American bases in Japan.

[Phanatic]

yeah but ive never seen someone embolden their own post

usually its used to point out the only interesting part of a long article

Well,

I have had too many problems with people having a lack of reading skills and no reading comprehension at all. Especialy with topics like these, which are sensitive (to some). Therefore I think the boldened part needed a bit of emphasis.

I think there are serious problems with the attitude of most American troops on the ground in Iraq. I see it as an exponent of a more general problem.  I am of the opinion that most man and women on the ground are trying to do the best they can, and genuinely think they are going the right way about it. Why? Simply because they have been told to do so in training.

IMHO the problem/cause is the upper echelons. It is the wrong training (can't fault the grunts for that). It is the general attitude that the US is superior to anything; it is the fact that the US military members are being protected no matter what by their government, and rarely are helt accountable for their actions if they involve non-Americans. The only time that happens is if there is a big stink made about it, and the political cost of shoving it under the carpet is to great. The examples are numerous:

1. Abu Graib.
2. The Marines killing the Iraqi family
3. Wedding parties bombed.
4. The journalist hotel in Baghdad shelled.
5. Friendly fire on a journalist convoy by an A-10.
6. Friendly fire, A-10 strafing an English armored column; covered up, until video footage from the actual attack was leaked.
7. A-6 pilots cutting the cables of a cable car in Italy due to illegal low flying, leaving IIRC 26 people dead. This despite numerous warnings over the years that low flying was illegal in the area, and several near misses. The authorities on the air base (IIRC Avioano) never seriously acted on the warnings and complaints. the responsible pilots were wisked out of the Italy before they could be prosecuted. Last we heared was that they were only demoted, if that.
8. The marines raping a Japanese girl on Okinawa. They were only handed over to the Japanese afte they threatened to end the leases for numerous American bases in Japan.

Interesting read. In talking to an Army common soldier on the ground and his opinion has some variation. That of course does not mean that it is the actual truth of the situation.

He feels that the incidents you've listed above are causing the upper echelon to limit his ability to do his job by over scrutinizing his every action. He was even demoted for an incident that he claims he was justified in his actions. He's an 18 year old kid when it all comes down to it. His actions could make CNN and form opinions.

I really think the troops are in an unwinnable spot because the tactics of those that don't want us there take advantage of our sensabilities. They attack each other to keep the religous unrest going between Shiites and Sunnis (Attack on a Shiite site just today) while making sure that no one feels safe anywhere in the country. Unsettle the troops with kid knappings road side bombs and if they too harsh they are admonished for it rightfully so. It all boils down to what happens to troops and politics in an unwinnable situation. No tactic is going to make things go right for those troops on the ground that is politically correct because war is not politically correct. War is kill or be killed. One reason why it should be avoided at all costs really.

[Rome]

I just did an appraisal for a woman who has been re-called for the second time to go back to Iraq.  She's a medical specialist and the Army gave her two choices: either report for duty July 7th or go to prison.  She was in Desert Storm then got out of the military for 9 years, got recalled after 9/11, did a 16 month tour over in Iraq, was released and is now being recalled.

The stories she told me about what is going on not only in Iraq but also how our military personnel are being treated in Europe, Asia, etc. was shocking.  They farging HATE AMERICANS yet we keep sending in fresh grist for the mill.  They don't want us there.  In fact, they're just biding their time until we leave so they can get down to the business of wiping each other out.  She also mentioned that certain fanatics have started to intentionally get injured so medical units will treat them and they can set bombs off that they attach to themselves.  Why?  For no other reason than to kill as many of our people as possible.  You can read all the horror stories but until someone tells you these things face to face, it really doesn't register.

Anyway - I just wanted to say that this particular woman is doing something for her country that we can all be proud of.  She has no choice, of course, because the piece of shtein corksucker in the White House is giving her and hundreds of thousands of others no choice, but she's putting her life on hold AGAIN to do something.

She has my respect and so do the countless others who've been forced into the same godawful situation.

[ice grillin you]

I really think the troops are in an unwinnable spot because the tactics of those that don't want us there take advantage of our sensabilities. They attack each other to keep the religous unrest going between Shiites and Sunnis (Attack on a Shiite site just today) while making sure that no one feels safe anywhere in the country. Unsettle the troops with kid knappings road side bombs and if they too harsh they are admonished for it rightfully so. It all boils down to what happens to troops and politics in an unwinnable situation.


well said and these are all things that should be weighed BEFORE we invade another country but in the case of iraq were completely ignored

[General_Failure]

I just did an appraisal for a woman who has been re-called for the second time to go back to Iraq.  She's a medical specialist and the Army gave her two choices: either report for duty July 7th or go to prison.

There was a thing on the news here a couple weeks back about the number of US troops that have gone over to Canada. Quite a few of them, from what the story said. Guy who went there to miss out on Nam is a lawyer helping out as many of them as possible.

The part where they interviewed the Wal*Mart American Pride wife was interesting. She went on about how she never thought here husband would be a traitor to his country, but she supports him now and goes to support groups full of the wives of AWOL soldiers.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Check out the new graduates!



Fuuuuuuck.

[Phanatic]

No worries. The Sunni insurgents we just gave arms to will probably take care of them for us...

[Diomedes]

And if they don't, at least Bush has secured the borders and ports.  No way they even get in.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

And if they don't, at least Bush has secured the borders and ports.  No way they even get in.

Thanks, I just had beer dribble out my nose on that one.

[ice grillin you]

i thought the taliban was crushed and afghanistan a booming democracy??

[Diomedes]

well in the sense that a lot of money is being made (that's how Bush Cheney & Co define democracy, afterall) by evil fargs then yes, Afganistan is doing just fine.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

i thought the taliban was crushed and afghanistan a booming democracy??

Absolutely.  Same in Iraq.

[phillymic2000]

no worries, the newly elected House and Senate are doing just as they promised, getting our troops out and cutting of the war budget I'm sure they will build the joke of a couple hundred of miles of fence on our border that was passed by the last bunch of Yahoo's I hate all of them all of them are just one big fargin joke, out for their own $$$ bastiches.

[phillymic2000]

i thought the taliban was crushed and afghanistan a booming democracy??

Absolutely.  Same in Iraq.

mission accomplished baby, mission accomplished!!