'2 Soldiers Likely Killed by 'Friendly Fire'-Contrary to Press Rpts -- And One Was Not Fully Trained

[babylonsister]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003567503

Two Soldiers Likely Killed by 'Friendly Fire' -- Contrary to Press Reports -- And One Was Not Fully Trained

By Greg Mitchell

Published: April 04, 2007 6:20 PM ET

WASHINGTON Two soldiers killed in Iraq in February may have died as a result of friendly fire, Army officials said Wednesday, not from enemy fire, as the press reported.

The military suspected friendly fire later in February but did not inform the dead soldiers' families of these new doubts.

One of the soldiers died just hours after arriving in Iraq -- and was one of those troops rushed to the country in the "surge" who did not receive full training.

The Army said it is investigating the deaths of Pvt. Matthew Zeimer, 18, of Glendive, Mont., and Spc. Alan E. McPeek, 20, of Tucson, Ariz., who were killed in Ramadi, in western Iraq on Feb. 2. The families of the soldiers at first were told they were killed by enemy fire.

According to Col. Daniel Baggio, unit commanders in Iraq did not initially suspect they were killed by U.S. forces, but an investigation by the unit found they may have been.

A supplemental report filed Feb. 28 suggested that the initial report might be wrong and an investigation was under way. It took another month before the families of the two soldiers were told, on March 31, that friendly fire was suspected.

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[BuyingThyme]

1. It's tough to get the straight story now that army generals

are ordered to lie about everything.

Remember when general was an honorable rank?

[babylonsister]

2. I guess that's why honorable generals decide to retire nowadays. nt