Soldiers at Camp Eagle weary of Baghdad slum, Iraqis, mission

[saigon68]

Soldiers at Camp Eagle weary of Baghdad slum, Iraqis, mission

By Patrick Kerkstra

Knight Ridder Newspapers

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/9770683/9893810.htm?1c

FORWARD OPERATING BASE EAGLE, Iraq - There's no shortage of dangerous, austere and just plain miserable military postings in Iraq, but the American soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division bunking at this base just outside Baghdad's Sadr City slum might have drawn the shortest straw of all. Since March, insurgents have flung more than 800 mortar rounds at Eagle, turning a walk to the mess tent into a life-and-death proposition. On patrol, the soldiers routinely encounter roadside bombs, small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades

But seven grueling months also have chipped away at the optimism many had when they arrived, lending a jagged edge to their attitudes about Iraqis, the war and the prospects for success. "I used to want to be nice and friendly with the Iraqis. Now I don't care. I'm all about getting home. I got a wife and baby, and I'm not going to take a chance that someone might be friendly and find out that they're not," said Spc. Jarred Mafouz, who's part of a tank crew.

The Dirty Bird, as Eagle is unaffectionately known, has none of the commodious lounges, movie theaters, bicycle fleets and other amenities that U.S. soldiers enjoy at other camps across IraqBut it's the pounding of mortar rounds, above all else, that makes Eagle one of the worst. Virtually everyone has had a close encounter with an incoming explosive. They've killed one soldier and two contractors and injured about 120, all in a 60-acre camp with little more than 1,000 soldiers. About 25 have been seriously injured, many of them losing limbs."Everybody's had a close call. I've had about a dozen or so. Everyone's got the same story," said 2nd Lt. Brian Panaro. "Close isn't close anymore unless you're covered in dust

The day after a big operation in Sadr City, Panaro gleefully described to other soldiers how a speeding tank towing a disabled military vehicle demolished marketplaces, sideswiped cars and crushed houses. Asked later if the offensives were wearing the enemy down, Panaro shrugged and said, "They're like cockroaches. You kill one and there's three more right behind them."


On Edit: "We were winning when I left" (old Nam saying when one was questioned how "the War" going)

[wtmusic]

1. "they're like cockroaches"

kinda illustrative of why there's a problem, and the cockroaches are kicking your ass

[Barrett808]

2. "They're winning"

At least one officer sees the situation clearly.

[knowbody0]

3. thanks saigon

notice how the media always refers to the bombing sites now as slums and these guys refer to the people as cockroaches. fucked up,eh?

[saigon68]

5. Bringing "DEMOCRACY" To a nest of "COCKROACHES"

So much for nation building respect for your fellow human---

I guess the sons of the mothers killed by these "Military Liberators" are taking matters into their own hands.

???????

[Boomer]

4. "...demolished marketplaces, sideswiped cars and crushed houses. "

And we wonder why the Iraqi's aren't grateful for liberation.

[tlcandie]

6. Did I misread this sentence?

<snip>
They've killed one soldier and two contractors and injured about 120, all in a 60-acre camp with little more than 1,000 soldiers.
<snip>

They've killed two contractors?! :wow: I thought they were on the side of the US?

[Arianrhod]

7. The latest Army Times poll

indicates that servicemembers prefer * to Kerry by 73% to 18%.

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. The military has failed their mission: Secure the oil supply

to reduce gas prices at home and stabilize/boost the American economy
prior to the November election. No wonder they are disheartened.

[leftchick]

9. "and they are winning"....

Smart young fella....

<snip>

Several doors down, a smiling Benigni watched a video of a Predator
drone wiping out a cluster of insurgents with a Hellfire missile. He replayed it for passers-by.

"We're the tip of the spear, man," he told one of his men as they celebrated and relaxed after the exhausting operation.

Usually, though, the mood is less jubilant. Later that day, Benigni worked to raise the spirits of a young officer, likening the long fight with insurgents to a chess match.

"And they're winning," the young officer replied.

"No, they're not," Benigni said.

"It seems like it, sir. It seems like they're outsmarting us," the young lieutenant said.