Humvee Tragedy Forges Brotherhood of Soldiers (Iraqis Recover US dead)

[Rose Siding]

snip>
"When I saw those Iraqis in the water, fighting to save their American brothers, I saw a glimpse of the future of this country," said Col. Mark McKnight, commander of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, which had overall responsibility for the unit in the accident, his eyes tearing.

The dramatic events offer a counterpoint to the prevailing wisdom about the nascent Iraqi security forces -- the key to the Bush administration's strategy to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. U.S. commanders have said repeatedly that when the Iraqi troops are ready to stand and fight, American forces will pull out.

To date, the reputation of the Iraqis among American soldiers has been one of sloppiness, disloyalty and cowardice, even though thousands of Iraqi soldiers, policemen and recruits have been killed by insurgents.
Many U.S. soldiers say they fear even standing near the Iraqis because of their propensity to fire their weapons randomly. At Camp Paliwoda in Balad, where Americans from the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment are training a new Iraqi army battalion, the soldiers work at adjacent bases but are separated by a locked gate, razor wire and a 50-foot-tall chain-link fence.

Pfc. Russell Nahvi, 23, of Arlington, Tex., a medic whose platoon was involved in the accident, said he arrived in Iraq this month with preconceptions about the Iraqi forces. "You always heard never to trust them, to never turn your back on them," he said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42460-2005Feb21.html

[havocmom]

1. Glad everybody pitched in

but... ANOTHER hummer accident? :wtf: Those things are not preforming very well... costing WAY too many lives.

[jean]

2. think about that next time you see one on your city streets - we just

saw a Hummer limo the other day and nearly drove off the road.

[DeaconBlues]

3. Aahhhh,

what a sweet propaganda puff piece.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

8. I wonder if it's even remotely true.

[leftchick]

10. probably not...

I am so cynical these days.

[ausiedownunderground]

4. Iraqi unit flees Ramadi Battle at first sign of Resistance!!!

Looks like a big battle brewing in Ramadi! However this battle is likely to be a lot different to Fallujah. Ramadi is much larger and the population has not evacuated. Could get extremely "bloody" with no winners! Resistance likely to be much stronger!

[daleo]

5. Spin cycle set on high.

Washington Post already crashed my browser once tonight as I was reading this story, so I will just paraphrase a few points that I saw in the article:

1) Apparently the Humvee was driving with no lights a 4:30 a.m. along the canal, and thus crashed into the water. I imagine they did this so as not to be a giant target to the Iraqi resistance. Thus, this "accident" was certainly combat related.

2) The article makes a big deal of the Iraqi National Guard (occupation government forces) cooperating with U.S. troops in dredging the canal for bodies. While this may present some comrade-like features, it hardly constitutes a "band of brothers" under fire. The article is pure bumf on this point.

[cliss]

6. Interesting.

I wonder if I'm the only one who suspects very strange information coming out recently about combat-related/vehicle problems in Iraq.

There seems to be a rash of vehicle deaths recently. The Pentagon seems to be hiding something. They repeatedly refer to 'accidents', or they're very vague about what happened.

As I try to read between the lines, I'm sensing that

a) a lot of vehicles are getting hit lately. Bombs buried in the street, grenades being lobbed at the drivers, or bombs somehow causing a rash of fatalities.

b) bombs and explosives seem to be taking over, as opposed to gunfire.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. Yes...lots of vehicle, plane, and other "accidents" taking place in...

...Iraq these days. We used to read about the same kind of "accidents" during the Vietnam War...until everyone got wise.

[MSgt213]

7. I don't think the Iraqis are cowards, nor have they ever been cowards

What they have been is realistic. The US can't protect them or their families and neither can the Iraqi government. They are like any other men any where else who have to decide on life and death situations. Unfortunately those who choose life are branded cowards while those who stand and die are considered heroes. The US created this mess, now we expect other people to be brave and die for it.

Not to belittle the actions of the men discussed in the article, but one battle does not necessarily make or break an army. In any war there are going to be wins and losses and it will be that way as long as both sides in wars are armed.

[Disturbed]

9. What are the U.S. folk expecting the Iraqis to die for?

A U.S. Puppet Govt.?