Military speaking out on AlQ

KerrySpot ^ | 26OCT2004 | Jim Geraghty

[aft_lizard]

YET ANOTHER SERVICEMAN REFUTES THE TIMES ACCOUNT [10/26 05:23 PM]

From yet another Kerry Spot reader with a ".mil" e-mail address:

You are correct in your bottom line conclusion. Here is a second follow up.

I was serving as a [identifying information removed by the Kerry Spot] staff member during the time in question. The Commander on the site had complete real time intelligence on what to expect and possibly find at the Al-QaQaa depot. The ordinance in question was not found when teams were sent in to inspect and secure the area. When this information was relayed, Operational plans were adjusted and the unit moved forward. Had the ordinance in question been discovered, a security team would have been left in place.

THAT HMX? NEVER USED AGAINST COALITION TROOPS, APPARENTLY [10/26 05:14 PM]

N.Z. Bear puts the spotlight on a little-noticed detail of this story:

Other Pentagon officials, also speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that the explosives could have been hidden elsewhere before the war. They also stressed that there is no evidence HMX or RDX have been used against coalition forces in Iraq.

And he asks these key questions: "How plausible is it that eighteen months after these explosives were allegedly looted by terrorists now locked in a life-and-death struggle with Iraqi and U.S. forces, none of the 380 tons of explosives have been used? If terrorist groups did indeed loot it, and they have it, what could they possibly be saving it for?" MORE FROM A KERRY SPOT READER WHO WAS THERE [10/26 05:07 PM]

More from a Kerry Spot reader with a ".mil" e-mail address, stating he was among the soldiers who secured Al QaQaa on April 10th with the 101st:

I can tell you what happened at my squad level. When we arrived there, humvees with Mark-19's and other mounted weapons immediately secured the parameter with appropriate manpower backup. On the foot level we broke up into squads and went building to building and cleared them; mind you, we couldn't do them all. But we found what had been typical finds, caches of AK-47's, artillery rounds and bullets. There was absolutely no talk of a big find, and what I could sense no worries of anything that should have been there. Of course, we were still worried about the possibilities of chemical weapons but they never panned out.

I am a little perturbed at the gross mischaracterization of what went on there. From what I remember of the NBC crew, they did not go out with us, and they may have in fact been asked to not to go on the search with us, due to the dangers that may have possibily come up. Now this part is my opinion, but don't you think that if they had gone out with us they would have video?

Thanks to this guy for what he did, and sharing what he could.

You read words like this, from a guy who has put it on the line for his country, and wonder who heck thinks they have the right as a Monday Morning Quarterback to tell guys like him they botched the job.

[danneskjold]

drip, drip, drip...

[aft_lizard]

A gentleman sending me e-mail from a ".mil" address writes:

But I was there at Al QaQaa on April 10th with the 101st, I can rest assure you that [NBC producer interviewed on MSNBC earlier today] Lai Ling Jew is lying about it, she seems to be expressing a convenient contrary opinion of the time. The very first thing we do when we move into an area is clear it of any enemy combatants, including going inside warehouses full of ordinance, which we did immediately when we reached there.

Another gentleman sending me e-mail from a ".mil" address writes:

Operational plans in modern warfare are continually rolling and are available to combat commanders in a real time network environment. The original pre-invasion Operation Plans listed the Al-QaQaa weapons depot as a priority security site. After the 101st Airborne Division inspected the site, the security priority was downgraded and the Operational Plan was modified.

So first, I would assume that before the 101st stopped at the site for 24 hours, they would at least send guys with guns through to make sure there weren't any hostile forces at al-QaQaa. I don't care how big the site is, no commanding officer is going to leave a bunch of buildings unchecked for badguys who might try to attack his guys. Also, wouldn't "securing" this site mean checking for booby traps? Wouldn't our guys want to know what's in these buildings that they're walking around?

And I would assume that the process of securing al-QaQaa — "a priority security site" would include checking for explosives in all these buildings they're securing. So that the message, "hey, guys, careful if we get attacked and have to defend this position - there are 350 tons of high-grade explosives over in that storage bunker over there" gets to everybody who needs to hear it.

[Dog]

Here it comes.....the men who were there are now opening that can of whoop ass on the media..

[Dog]

Here comes the cavalry...

[aft_lizard]

Can you please add the name Al QaQaa to the title, for some reason it got deleted when i posted it.

[hobson]

Ah! But wait for Nightline to find a terrorist that supports NYT's story.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

You read words like this, from a guy who has put it on the line for his country, and wonder who heck thinks they have the right as a Monday Morning Quarterback to tell guys like him they botched the job.

john kerry of course.

[Terabitten]

I like Al Kaka better lol...

[cgk]

Bump!

[MEG33]

John Kerry..Undermining our troops since '71

BUSH/CHENEY O4 FOR THE SAKE OF OUR NATION

[MEG33]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1257320/posts

BOMB-GATE [Cliff May]

Sent to me by a source in the government:

“The Iraqi explosives story is a fraud. These weapons were not there when US troops went to this site in 2003. The IAEA and its head, the anti-American Mohammed El Baradei, leaked a false letter on this issue to the media to embarrass the Bush administration. The US is trying to deny El Baradei a second term and we have been on his case for missing the Libyan nuclear

[DonnerT]

Kerry in dp-Do Doo over al-Qa Qaa?

[matchwood]

As usual, NBC is trying to twist the real evidence to suit their political agenda. What in hell do we Americans have to do to get the story you are telling to the people?

[MEG33]

Kerry is sounding COO COO

[SheLion]

As usual, NBC is trying to twist the real evidence to suit their political agenda. What in hell do we Americans have to do to get the story you are telling to the people?

I hate to say this, but if it wasn't for Free Republic, I wouldn't know much about FnKerry at all, thanks to our wonderful (sic) media!