Base hit by daily attacks told no GI's for patrols

[JoFerret]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&e=6&u=/chitribts/basehitbydailyattackstoldnogisavailableforpatrols

This sprawling supply base on a dusty stretch about 50 miles northwest of Baghdad is officially known as a "logistical support area." Some of the thousands of soldiers and contractors who endure daily mortar and rocket attacks have another name for it: Mortaritaville.

At least six soldiers and contractors have been killed and nearly 100 wounded here since April. There have been about two attacks daily since July. Three weeks ago, a young airman lost his legs and his right hand when a mortar shell slammed into the base.

Officers here say Anaconda, the largest support base in the country with 22,500 U.S. troops and 2,500 contractors spread over 15 square miles, is also the most frequently attacked. But there is no indication the soldiers will get help.

Brig. Gen. Oscar Hilman, commander of the 81st Brigade Combat Team, an Army National Guard unit from Washington state whose mission is to operate the base, has asked for 500 to 700 more soldiers to provide more patrols. But he said his requests were denied.


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[realFedUp]

1. Certainly denied until after Nov. 2....

playing war with other people's lives...

[w4rma]

2. I bet the problem is that the commanders are so brainwashed that they

don't believe the attacks are happening and that everything is hunky dory at that base. They probably think that Brigadier General Oscar Hilman is just a big liberal whiner who is trying to undermine their "fearless leader".

Bush practically ran off all the non-partisan and non-Democratic Generals.

[Rose Siding]

3. Thank you, Brig. Gen. Oscar Hilman

People willing to go on record to expose Bush lies is just what we need. How many times has Bush said that the military never asked for more troops?

[Hand]

4. Khe Sanh... Dienbienphu...

...and Anaconda.

The march of folly goes on, and good soldiers die for bad politicians.

:cry:

[grasswire]

5. I thought Bush said....

....that the commanders in the field hadn't asked for any more troops.

I thought he said they would have everything they need.

[Tsiyu]

6. Absolutely a quagmire

Absolutely