2 officers punished for errors in deaths (3 US soldiers killed in kidnapping-murder plot last June)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - Three U.S. soldiers slaughtered in a grisly kidnapping-murder plot south of Baghdad last June were not properly protected during a mission that was not well planned or executed, a military investigation has concluded.

Two military officers have been relieved of their commands as a result of the litany of mistakes, but neither faced criminal charges, a military official familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

A report on the investigation said the platoon leader and company commander — whose names were not released — failed to provide proper supervision to the unit or enforce military standards.

A seven-page summary of the investigation provided to the AP also said it appears insurgents may have rehearsed the attack two days earlier, and that Iraqi security forces near the soldiers' outpost probably saw and heard the attack and "chose to not become an active participant in the attack on either side."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070517/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/murdered_soldiers_investigation_4

[Rose Siding]

1. "soldiers were told to stand guard for up to 36 hours"

Daugherty said the soldiers were told to stand guard for up to 36 hours with just one Humvee, and there were no barriers on the road to slow access to them or provide early warning.

To expect them to operate an observation post for 24 to 36 hours was unrealistic, he said. "From the time a vehicle was seen, it would have been in front or beside the (Humvee) in a matter of seconds," he wrote.

Wow. I wonder how common that is.

[Barrett808]

2. Report says soldiers were not protected

Source: Associated Press

Report says soldiers were not protected
By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer
Thu May 17, 10:03 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Three U.S. soldiers slaughtered in a grisly kidnapping-murder plot south of Baghdad last June had been left alone for up to 36 hours in a poorly planned mission, a military investigation concluded. Two officers have been relieved of their commands.

Neither of the officers faced criminal charges as a result of the litany of mistakes that left the soldiers exposed, a military official familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

A report on the investigation said the platoon leader and company commander — whose names were not released — failed to provide proper supervision to the unit or enforce military standards.

A seven-page summary of the investigation provided to the AP also said it appears insurgents may have rehearsed the attack two days earlier, and that Iraqi security forces near the soldiers' outpost probably saw and heard the attack and "chose to not become an active participant in the attack on either side."

"This was an event caused by numerous acts of complacency, and a lack of standards at the platoon level," said the investigating officer, Lt. Col. Timothy Daugherty, in the summary.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070517/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/murdered_soldiers_investigation

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. And they aren't naming names?

I can name one: GW Bush. His plans were horrible and continue to be so.

[The Wielding Truth]

4. This administration should be in jail.

[daleo]

5. This says it all

"Iraqi security forces near the soldiers' outpost probably saw and heard the attack and "chose to not become an active participant in the attack on either side.""