Lest there be ANY remaining doubt

[frogcycle]

http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2007/01/27/572260.html&cvqh=itn_troopskidnapped

"BAGHDAD, Iraq - In perhaps the boldest and most sophisticated attack in four years of warfare, gunmen speaking English, wearing U.S. military uniforms and carrying American weapons abducted four U.S. soldiers last week at the provincial headquarters in the Shiite holy city of Karbala and then shot them to death."

This was a sophisticated operation. Well-planned, coordinated. The perpetrators were well-equipped, well-trained, and carried it out with precision.

Any remaining vestige of doubt that Iraqis could handle their own security is gone. Granted, these particular people were not, as far as we know right now, acting on BEHALF of the puppet government. But they were not trained and equipped by us (as far as we know right now), even though the equipment they had was evidently brand-new US-issue.

This is the proof-of-concept. If we get our people the hell out, then whatever faction emerges as the ruling body can and will field a strong, well-equipped, well-trained security force to clamp down on all the crap now going on. The chaos will stop. Granted, it will probably be another brutal regime like Saddam's. That is a way of life in the area, and has been for thousands of years.

The Iraqis are NOT "ignorant savages" that need us there to train them in the ways of warfare and police action. THEY WILL FIGURE IT OUT! We just need to get the hell out of there and let them do it.

[SpiralHawk]

1. Black ops ???

One has to wonder with the Skull & Bonemeister at the helm, "leading" the occult cabal of corrupt republicon mercenaries and war profiteers, and the chickenhawk Commander AWOL backed up by Dick 'Five Deferments/Massive-War-Profits" Cheney...

Patriotic U.S. citizens are -- alas -- forced to SUSPECT everything that happens with this corrupt cabal of AWOL clowns in the seats of power...

[Toots]

2. But will they let America run rampant through out their country and access their oil?

Bush* desperately needs a puppet government that will allow America to take the oil and launch war from their country against other Arab nations or Persian whichever the case may be. That appears to be the main problem. The Iraqi people don't want America to do this...They don't seem willing to tolerate a government that will allow the infidels to dictate how they live...No more than Americans would allow North Korea to dictate how we live here...

[teryang]

3. but they're sitting on our oil!

...and we will make it our own. That's the Cheney energy plan, conquest.

[frogcycle]

4. pretty extreme

I hear what you're saying, but can't quite accept that it's gone that far.

Still, if this gets pinned on Iran as the entity providing the American equipment, training the perps, etc., one could wonder whether it was done by our side to create an "incident". I don't believe that though. I would not put it past cheney, but I cannot believe it is an order that would have been carried out.

Of course, when you recall ollie north's covert operations selling missiles to Iran, it is somewhat plausible to imagine someone working for cheney DID funnel the equipment to Iranians to sucker them in to doing this. Or it would have to be some rogue mercenaries, selected for their willingness to do any damned thing for the thrill of it, with the intent of planting evidence to implicate iran. That too sounds far-fetched, but howard hunt and gordon liddy are examples of just the sort of folks that could be recruited.

[frogcycle]

5. to toots & teryang

Of course you are exactly correct.

It has ALWAYS been about conquest - imperialism - world domination

That was strongly suspected by many at the outset, and has now been repeatedly proven beyond question.

One excuse - cover story - after another has been given to pursuade the nearly 300 million bumbling doofuses to trust Big Brother and let him have his way.

The ONLY remaining cover story they have now is that "it will take time" for the Iraqis to be trained in the presumably complex and sophisticated techniques only embedded US troops can teach.

That is the weak and hollow rationalization for the "surge" (more appropriately termed 'delaying tactic').

This event should be used to turn the tables on them. It is going to be used to rationalize the need for escalation, perhaps pinned on Iran. It SHOULD be used to pop the balloon of the latest excuse. We should "spin" it for all its worth. The assassination of these five guys (I just posted links and pictures on my website yesterday morning; the story at that time was still vague - I'll be updating in a minute) should not be allowed to be in vain. Their sacrifice should get their comrades the hell out of there.

[caseycoon]

6. Support our troops!

Bring them HOME NOW!

[frogcycle]

7. here are the DoD press releases:

There has been little information about these guys - the names were only released on the 23rd though, and it usually takes a few days for home-town paper stories to appear. And of course there were 12 others killed the same day in the helicopter "crash", as well as seven others in other incidents. Then two petty officers committed suicide in separate incidents the next day. So the DoD press office has been busy.

As have I.

I have photos of three of the five posted; will be looking for more and post as I find.


Frogcycle's Tribute Pages

http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=10431

http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=10426


IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 071-07
January 23, 2007
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Capt. Brian S. Freeman, 31, of Temecula, Calif., died Jan. 20 in Karbala, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his meeting area came under attack by mortar and smalls arms fire. Freeman was assigned to the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion, Whitehall, Ohio.

For further information in regard to this release the media can contact the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) public affairs office at [phone].


IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 076-07
January 23, 2007
DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Jan 20 in Karbala, Iraq, from wounds sustained when their patrol was ambushed while conducting dismounted operations. The soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Killed were:

1st Lt. Jacob N. Fritz, 25, of Verdon, Neb.

Spc. Johnathan B. Chism, 22, of Gonzales, La.

Pfc. Shawn P. Falter, 25, of Cortland, N.Y.

Pfc. Johnathon M. Millican, 20, of Trafford, Ala.

For more information about these soldiers, contact the Fort Richardson public affairs office at [phone].