US Soldier Dies (in Iraq) from IED Blast (this morning)

[WilliamPitt]

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Casualty_Report.asp?CasualtyReport=20031214.txt

December 14, 2003
Release Number: 03-12-14C

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TASK FORCE “ALL-AMERICAN” SOLDIER DIES FROM IED BLAST

AL HASWAH, Iraq – A soldier was wounded and subsequently died while attempting to disarm an improvised explosive device (IED) during the morning of Dec. 14. The device, discovered by a patrol unit, was hung on a telephone pole near the road. The soldier, a trained explosive ordnance disposal specialist, approached the IED to disarm it when the device exploded.

[Lithos]

1. Who?

Obviously not important for mainstream news. </sarcasm>

Sad, this soldier's death will be overshadowed and under reported because of Saddam's capture and all of the RW talking heads talking about a non-existant victory.

It will take sometime for it to dawn on people that the US is involved well over its head in Iraq and things are not as simple as ShrubCo have made it out to be.

[tabasco]

2. Not a very enchanting day as far as I'm concerned.

The war will continue as usual for our troops. Mostly ignored by the press. RIP 82nd trooper.

[corporatewhore]

3. And the war goes on

there is no reasons to keep the troops there if it was about saddam

[aquart]

4. Damn.

[Cooley Hurd]

5. "Same as it ever was - (armchop) - Same as it ever was..."

I was utterly shocked by the number of threads this morning that said things like:
"Is this the deathblow to Dean's insurgent anti-war campaign?"
"Is Saddam's capture a deathblow to Clarks anti-war campaign?"
"Lieberman: If Howard Dean got his way, Saddam would still be in power!"
"Kerry is now proud of his IWR vote"
and my personal favorite...
"Bush will win Big in 2004 - There Is No Longer Any Hope For Us."

It's clear that Saddam, in his cubby hole, was in no position to command the insurgency, lacking very basic communications like a radio, cell phone or internet access. If he were able to communicate via courier, it was probably inneffective to his command due to the inability to issue orders in "real-time." Because he was on the lam, his authority and leadership was neutralized...

His capture doesn't change a thing in regards to the insugency and, arguably, could actually make the few loyalists he has left more determined to undermine the US occupation. I expect the attacks on coalition forces to increase over the coming months as they continue to become better organized and hone their tactics.

Unfortunately, it didn't take long for the insurgency to shrug off Saddam's capture and strike back. It's becoming obvious that Saddam's capture didn't change a thing, including the political fortunes of the Dems or for Bush. The war is still wrong, Iraq is no more secure and the world still turns, with or without Saddam's capture.

[hadrons]

7. and given that Saddam was such a hot potato ...

I doubt he was told too many details and given his state of mind how much could he remember

[leetrisck]

6. That just can't be so it must be wrong

after all, we got Saddam - end of story - bow & scrape to bush now everyone.

[Moderator]

8. Dupe... locking

Please continue discussion within the original LBN thread on this subject, which can be found here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=268852

Thanks!
DU Moderator