US Troop Valour All Hogwash Say Indian Truckers

[JSJ]

Onkar Singh in New Delhi | August 02, 2004 18:23 IST



Indian truck drivers who returned after working in Iraq have a poor impression of American soldiers and their valour.

According to their accounts, whenever armed militants attacked a convoy of trucks ferrying supplies to US troops in Iraq, the escort vehicles carrying American soldiers, instead of protecting the convoy, would be the first to flee leaving the unarmed and hapless truck drivers to fend for themselves.

Some Indian truck drivers had been caught by people opposed to American occupation but were let off after being beaten up and in return for a promise not to return to Iraq.

"We took food for them in 60-feet long trucks. But once inside the army camps, we were held captive at gunpoint by American soldiers and not allowed to leave. Their treatment was horrible.

"As far as their bravery is concerned, the less said the better. When a convoy was attacked, the escort vehicles would simply speed off in different directions and leave the hapless truck drivers to fend for themselves," he said.


http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/aug/02iraq2.htm

The article definately has the ring of truth about it- what with all we've since learned about the troops and whatnot.

[necso]

1. I don't know whether this is true or not.

Disgruntled former employees are not the best sources for unbiased information.

But I do know that the concept of having civilians deliver supplies to our military is a very bad one. It combines all the nonsense of privatizing critical government functions, which simply can't be trusted in civilian hands, with all the ugliness of sweetheart contracts and the "no-bid".

A likely consequence of having civilian supply is that the troops will not feel as motivated to risk live and limb to defend the contractors, as they would for fellow soldiers. But this is matched by the contractors' reluctance to risk live and limb to do their job --- as well as their reluctance to risk their profits.

Crap like this could hurt us big time in a real war.

[tommilator]

2. With soldiers reporting..

Of days with only one meal, I'd say crap like this is hitting you in this very real war.

But of course, dead Indians don't count (or aren't counted.. you choose) so cutting and running helps with the statistics.. Even if it's not what an escort traditionally would have done.

[necso]

3. Of course my point is

not that this isn't a form of warfare or that civilian supply has not harmed the troops (it certainly has --- the large number of non-casualty medical evacuations is testimony to that).

My point is that in facing a more formidable foe, conducting the envisioned war of maneuver, the lack of supply could result in the destruction of American armies. Such armies use an enormous amount of material, and fuel is required for just about every action, including the defensive use of many weapons -- to save nothing of ammunition, spares, food and water.

But your point is taken, this is a real war, although not the war our armies were built for. The operation of elements of these armies, like civilian supply, might be even worse under the circumstances that they were envisioned for.

Privatization is a terrible thing to inflict on our soldiers in any event.

[tommilator]

4. Yes as if it wasn't enough..

That their equipment is supplied by the lowest bidder. Now it's spread into logistics while they're deployed in a part of the world where 'living off the land' is not an option.

Money, a satanic masterpiece.