U.S. troops endure 125 degrees in Iraq

[cal04]

After a long day searching homes in suffocating Iraqi heat, Lance Cpl. Mike Young saw a most surprising source of relief _ a sprawling Wal-Mart had appeared in the distance.

"No joke _ looking through the haze I thought I saw a Wal-Mart. I said to myself, 'I bet they got some cold water in there,'" Young said, recalling a mission last year in a rural area west of Baghdad.

He contemplated running over to fetch water for fellow Marines who were "staggering like dead men." Three of them had collapsed in the heat.

Young soon stirred from his heat-induced hallucination and returned to the struggle of enduring summertime in Iraq.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4098942.html

[pooja]

1. that sucks... should we put bush out there and see how he fares?

[drthais]

2. now how sad is THAT?

the realization that a soldier in Iraq
would see as his 'oasis'
..a WALMART!

[kestrel91316]

3. I hate to say it, but if they volunteered for the military and did so

after we got involved in the ME, they have no one to blame for this but themselves.

You KNEW I was a snake when you picked me up - as the story goes..........

If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

Edit: I know it sounds harsh, but this country has GOT to stop enabling Bush. If he has too few troops, you can bet he will pull out. He hasn't the "capital" now to restart the draft, and it would fail anyway.

[Lindacooks]

5. That's a load of crap.

Our military deserves the best support and equipment this country can provide. If they don't get it, that is NOT their fault. And we COULD provide it if chimpy wasn't such a complete and total tool.

The ones to blame for this are BUSH, RUMSFELD, CHENEY, and POWELL.

That kind of BS is exactly the thing that people like (M)ann Coulter and Limpballs say.

[LSK]

6. 2 weeks a year, 1 weekend a month

Join the National Guard and get help with college funds.

Sorry, but how many of the troops over there are National Guard??? They did not sign up for this.

[Ravenseye]

4. Think about the civilians as well

Most of them have relied on air conditioning most of their lives, and now get, if they're lucky, 1 to 4 hours of electricy per day in spurts. How many old people die in places like Paris when the temperature tops 100? How many are dying in Baghdad now from heat stroke?

My grandmother who lived in Iraq most of her life and who we just recently were able to get out, told stories about how when they were young they'd have to wet towels and wrap them around their heads just to stay cool in the 120 degree heat. Now though all the water relies on electrical pumps so many homes not only dont' have air conditioning, but don't have water either...

[ChristianLibrul]

7. They're not drinking enough

Assuming they have plenty of clean water, CamelBaks and salt tabs, and know to keep their uniforms wet. Too bad they have to wear flak vests and helmets that don't do anything besides dehydrate the wearer.

Sergeants are supposed to take care of their men: Full canteens, dry socks, etc. The rule for the hottest weather is, "If you don't need to pee, you ain't drinkin' enough." And where are the medics? They're supposed to nag GIs, too.