US soldier killed in convoy attack

[Judi Lynn]

US soldier killed in convoy attack
29/08/2003 - 10:13:42 am

An American soldier was killed and four others were wounded in Iraq today when their convoy came under attack, the US military said.

Insurgents fired three rocket-propelled grenades at the support convoy on a main road near Baqouba, 40 miles north-east of Baghdad.

Capt Jay Miller said small arms fire also hit the group. One of the wounded soldiers would have to have a leg amputated, officials said.

The soldier’s death raises the number of American soldiers killed in Iraq to 282, of which 67 have died in combat since May 1 when President Bush declared an end to major combat. (snip/...)

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2003/08/29/story111435.html

[BeatleBoot]

1. So very sad.

:(

[0007]

2. "Bring 'em on"

Were these soldiers going or coming from protecting our oil wells or protecting our wealthy contractors?

(Said with a high pitch octave nasal whine, something like James A. Baker III)) Why does everything in the world hate us? Why
is everyone jealous of our freedom?

[saigon68]

3. The first today

I wonder how many more?

[izzie]

5. There does not seem to be the fire to stop this as in the 60's

I wonder if that is because so few in college know any of the men in the army now. I used to think the draft was bad but over the years I have seen the 'founders' believe in a citizen army, as it brings it to the people, where it should be. I think we have made an error to get rid of the draft.It should be every one goes draft. For get college for those years. It would make more people think about war I do believe.

[bowens43]

7. I think it's because

Rove won't let us see the casualties. They won't show us the flag draped coffins , the body bags or the wounded.

As far as the draft is concerned, IMO you are dead wrong. Let the 'willing' fight the oil wars, don't try to send MY sons to do bushes dirty work. Do you have any draft age sons? I do. If so do you want to offer them up for sacrifice to the neo-cons?

Do you really believe that the wealthy and the powerful wound not be able to get out of fighting? IMO this 'if we have a draft there won't be any wars' argument has no merit. The reason that the war opposition was so strong during vietnam is because we SAW hundreds of dead soldiers. We saw what was happening. This war has been sanitized. How many photos or films have you seen of dead Americans? We saw it all the time during vietnam.

[LosinIt]

4. God Damn It!!!!!! How many more will be killed or maimed for this madman??

But now that we have gotten ourselves into this mess, how will we ever get out? I can't see that we can simply bring everybody home, although on one level that is exactly what I would like to see happen, it just isn't realistic.

[teryang]

6. We can just leave-bring them home now!

We aren't doing any good over there. We are the problem. Are the Iraqis better off because we are there? We invaded them. We destroyed their government and infrastructure. We can't rebuild it. To think we can is pure chauvinism. The Iraqis are intelligent and have huge resources. They don't need our help. They can purchase all the help they want on the open world markets. Oh, wait a minute, that is exactly what we don't want to happen.

The ethical retribution for our aggression and colonial adventurism will be the humiliation and loss of prestige and influence of the bull boy fascists in our current regime. After their military foolery and failure they will fall from power. We can't fix it for the Iraqis by killing more people and stealing their resources.

Using the UN as a fig leaf for our murderous policies isn't going to work.

Total American dead since May 1, mission accomplished: 143. Other "coalition deaths" since May 1: 19.

[LosinIt]

9. Thank you for putting it that way.

Of course these people can run their own country. I just feel guilty for what our country has done to theirs. They probably would be better off if we got the hell out of there.

[wryter2000]

13. That's how I felt, Losinit

I thought we had to do something to clean up the mess we made. Now, I doubt there *is* anything we can do and being there just makes matters worse.

What a horrible, awful situation. And short of a time machine there is no good way out.

[ginantonic40]

8. re: soldiers deaths

I'd like to see some enterprising reporter do a article juxtaposing one of these soldiers days with Dimyas. Something along the lines of:

1300:
pfc Cannonfodder -- eats MRE in 120 degree heat and swarming flies.
Dimya -- attends $2000/plate luncheon at Hyatt Regency. Raises $1 million in campaign contributions.

1630:
pfc Cannonfodder -- take RPG round in humvee
Dimya -- exits golf cart for 2nd shot on the 3rd hole.

2100:
pfc Cannonfodder -- zipped into body bag
Dimya -- toddles of to bed to sleep the sleep of the righteous.

[MaineDem]

11. Excellent idea

Sounds like a Letter to the Editor in the making. May I steal your idea?

[ginantonic40]

17. It's a fair and balanced idea

so in my mind it's in the public domain. Post your letter when you're done.

[phillybri]

10. Anyone noticing that the pace of troop deaths has picked up SEVERELY....

:grr:

[rooboy]

12. Yep...

and the pace will accelerate the more tired, depressed and edgy the troops become.

[wryter2000]

14. Yup.

It's awful. And all those other people who died in the car bombing. I can't remember anything so awful in my lifetime.

[Barrett808]

15. "About what we would expect"

Speaking yesterday, the commander of US forces in Iraq, Lt Gen Ricardo Sanchez, said casualty figures since May 1 were “about what we would expect to get in this kind of conflict”.

Oh, really? Did anybody bother to mention this to the Chimperor before invading?

[karlschneider]

18. I had a small Freudian moment reading what you quoted

"Speaking yesterday, the commander of US forces in Iraq, Lt Gen Ricardo Sanchez, said casualty figures since May 1 were “about what we would expect to get in this kind of conflict”.
------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought it said "...Sanchez said casually, figures since May 1..."

Must be gettin' a bit lysdexic...
;-)

[atreides1]

16. No Topic Really

I bought myself a basebal style cap that had the 101st Airborne patch
on it. At first I use to wear it all the time, since July 1st I have only worn it each time soldiers die in Iraq or Afghanistan.

There have been times when I have worn it once or twice every week.

I have worn that cap all week so far, and it gets heavier each time I put it on.

But I will continue to wear it.

The 101st was the unit I was assigned to, after BCT and AIT in 1978, it was also the unit I was assigned to during Desert Storm, after volunteering.

[karlschneider]

19. I think you should send it to the Chimp in Chief and dare him to wear it.

:-(

[NickB79]

20. Wow, they're reporting a soldier losing his leg

Usually it's just "wounded" or "injured", not "gonna have to saw off his leg" or such. The old way of reporting it gave it a false sense of acceptance, like they just got scratches or bruises. Not a good sign for Bush when they start admitting that boys are losing limbs over there.