U.S. soldiers not killed in sneak attack - Contrary to U.S. military statements

[Kadie]

U.S. soldiers not killed in sneak attack
By STEVEN R. HURST and QASSIM ABDUL-ZHARA, Associated Press Writers
4 minutes ago


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Contrary to U.S. military statements, four U.S. soldiers did not die repelling a sneak attack at the governor's office in the Shiite holy city of Karbala last week. New information obtained by The Associated Press shows they were abducted and found dead or dying as far as 25 miles away.

The brazen assault 50 miles south of Baghdad was launched Jan. 20 by a group of nine to 12 militants. They traveled in black GMC Suburban vehicles _ the type used by U.S. government convoys, had American weapons, wore new U.S. military combat fatigues and spoke English.

In a written statement, the U.S. command reported at the time that five soldiers were killed while "repelling the attack." Two senior U.S. military officials as well as Iraqi officials now say three of them were found dead and one mortally wounded in locations as far as 25 miles east of the governor's office.

The U.S. officials said they could not be sure if the soldiers were killed as the attackers drove them to the place where they abandoned the Suburbans or afterward. Iraqi officials said the men were killed just before the vehicles were abandoned.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070126/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_sneak_attack_1

[rodeodance]

1. so, as the story leaks out, the military starts to tell the truth:

.....The daring commando team also took an unclassified U.S. computer with them as they fled with the four soldiers and left behind an American M-4 automatic rifle, senior U.S. military officials said.

For more than a week, the U.S. military in Baghdad declined comment on reports that began emerging from Iraqi government and military officials which suggested a major breakdown in security surrounding U.S. forces in Karbala.

[NNN0LHI]

2. I wonder if they were hanged but our government doesn't want to say that? n/t

[gratuitous]

3. What's the point of lying about this?

The truth will surely leak out sooner or later, just like it did with the daring "rescue" of Jessica Lynch. It makes the military and the administration look foolish, erodes a little more trust, and is just in general such a bad policy that every time it happens, a high ranking officer should lose a finger or something (a crude way of saying that there should be some real repercussions).

If the details of an incident aren't readily available or clear, then say that. But why lie about a sneak attack or gin up some nonsense story about the soldiers dying while repelling an attack? Surely it doesn't do much good for the troops' morale to know that even their deaths will be misreported (at least initially) so as to sustain this madness.

[Forrest Greene]

8. "Nothing Ventured,

...nothing gained," thinks the Army.

[Straight Shooter]

10. "What's the point of lying?"

You know the answer to that one. They didn't want the truth to tarnish Little Boots' shiny SOTU speech. Things have clearly disintegrated beyond bedlam in Iraq, and it would hurt his case for launching a war against Iran.

[Recursion]

12. Quite a few people still believe the official Lynch story

Retractions never get the ink that the original sensational stories do. Most people I've talked about it with still think Lynch shot back -- those of us who were in the military then know better, because we had rules of engagement training subtitled, and this is true, "No More Jessica Lynch's"

[hippiechick]

4. Can't help but wonder if they were ...

... Blackwater "contractors" trying to up the ante for the surge by ... visibly eliminating US soldiers and blaming it on the "insurgents".


:tinfoilhat: :shrug:

[Nabia2004]

7. ...or if they were targeted for another reason?

strange indeed

[lebkuchen]

15. Interesting that we lost so many soldiers the day after Gates arrived

to Iraq...

[Dhalgren]

5. My gods, and our government is sending more troops into this hell.

If the congress does not stop this insanity, right now, then what fucking good is it? We have an insane megalomaniac as President and our congress is just standing around trying to look stern and hope that George "Lecter" Bush doesn't destroy the world. Jesus....

[shadowknows69]

6. What a tangled web we weave

when we practice to deceive

[ms liberty]

9. K&R...what are they hiding? I smell a backstory they don't want told...n/t

[Recursion]

11. If I were a betting man I'd bet that was a probe

They want to see if they can get English speaking people inside the Green Zone to wreak God-knows-what havoc.

[Dhalgren]

14. I'd bet you are right. This was a test to see if they could pull this off.

And where is the insurgency getting brand new US uniforms, weapons and SUVs? That "surge" of Saudi money has really paid off, hasn't it?

[mopinko]

13. where are they getting black suburbans?

wasn't there another attack where they snuck up wearing our uniforms and driving these black suv's?? are they stealing them from us? or are "we" selling them to them? i can't help thinking that driving a black vehicle in that part of the world would be a strange thing to do, no?

[lebkuchen]

16. the black Suburban SUV is also used by the Secret Service

wherever Bush goes, the Suburban follows, no matter what country.

[shadowknows69]

17. I'll bet Blackwater mercs own a couple too.

Tom Clancy novel shit I know but if it served their ends wouldn't the cartel hire their own "insurgents" if they had to.

[mopinko]

18. that's what i can not help thinking.

i keep meaning to make a button that says- i (heart) my :tinfoilhat:

[lebkuchen]

22. Aren't you the writer behind the wheel?

Keep up the good work! I love reading your stuff.

[shadowknows69]

23. writer behind the wheel?

you mean my taxi reports. If so, guilty. Thank you kindly.

[lebkuchen]

24. excellent info

I get mine from a local car dealer, who everybody wants to talk to. Sounds like you have the same disarming touch.

Thanks for taking the time to write up your experiences.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

19. Who here believes ANYTHING that comes out of the DoD and military spokespeople

anymore?

[Seen the light]

20. An interesting short story I have

So I was arguing with a fellow classmate of mine about the legitimacy of things that come out of the Pentagon information-wise. He swore that the Pentagon and the US government would NEEEEEEEEEEEVER publish something or release a statement on something unless they were absolutely certain that they were correct and would certainly never lie.

How does the story end? Well, he's obviously an idiot. The end. :D

[oasis]

21. The cover-up story will surely be revealed in one the upcoming congressional hearings.nt