GIs Who Refused Job Had Unarmored Trucks

[lovuian]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041018/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_unit_investigation&cid=540&ncid=716

GIs Who Refused Job Had Unarmored Trucks

47 minutes ago Middle East - AP


By JIM KRANE, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. Army Reserve soldiers who refused orders to drive a dangerous route were members of one of a few supply units whose trucks are still unarmored, their commanding general said Sunday.








The soldiers, now under investigation, had previously focused on local missions in safer parts of southern Iraq (news - web sites) and had never driven a convoy north along the attack-prone roads passing through Baghdad.

more...

I want to know who ordered these guys to do this and how important was this ...

[NMDemDist2]

1. one of the things that struck me was the troops said there was water

in the helicopter fuel. two days later 2 choppers crash

what's up with that?

[MSgt213]

2. Check out the thread I started on this topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2503964&mesg_id=2503964

[knowbody0]

3. i talked to my buddy in iraq last night

asked him if they had everything they need. he responded that it didn't matter.asked about the mutiny, he said little but like a good little soldier stated that they went about it in the wrong way, but that everyone there wanted to go home,moral was poor,that they would never win this war.they are told the mission is to stabalize.
needless to say, our conversation was wrenching.temperature cooled down to 100 degrees, spiders big as your hand, scorpions and bugs everywhere. he's lost 30 pounds and lots of his hair, he stutters and i vision him trembling.
guys, we need to scream about this shit. and get them the fuck out of dodge. our nightmares are their realities

[aquart]

4. It was important that they refused to bring tainted fuel to our soldiers.

[sandnsea]

5. Where'd the $87 billion GO???

Most important story this year. Why the hell weren't their trucks armored? Where'd the money go? Who was responsible for that fuel? Where'd the money go?

Please DU, this is 100 times more important than polls or Sinclair or Mary friggin' Cheney. RAISE HELL!!!

[daleo]

6. Carrying fuel in unarmored trucks in a known ambush zone

Might be safer if is was contaminated - less likely to blow up if an RPG hit, maybe. I wonder how hard they will be trying for re-certification. It is an honor that one might reasonably feel ambivalent about.

"As a result of the incident, the entire 343rd is in the midst of a two-week "stand down," bolting on new armor and upgrading maintenance on its vehicles. The 18 soldiers under investigation must complete additional training and win re-certification to regain permission to perform convoy missions, Chambers said."

[lovuian]

7. Again the commander who ordered these men to do this

was not thinking at all of us men and their lives

This is being a good commander ...You take care of your soldiers because they take care of you...

And obviously their commander doesn't realize these are not robots
these men are thinking human beings and the Military commanders are becoming like the commanders in Vietnam and thats not good!!!

[Moderator]

8. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=911840