Three U.S. Troops Killed in Iraq (Pummeled them with Concrete Rocks!)

Yahoo ^ | 11/23/03

[areafiftyone]

MOSUL, Iraq - Iraqi teenagers dragged the bloody bodies of two American soldiers from a wrecked vehicle and pummeled them with concrete blocks Sunday, witnesses said, describing a burst of savagery in a city once safe for Americans. Another soldier was killed by a bomb and a U.S.-allied police chief was assassinated.

The U.S.-led coalition also said it grounded commercial flights after the military confirmed that a missile struck a DHL cargo plane that landed Saturday at Baghdad International Airport with its wing aflame.

Nevertheless, American officers insisted they were making progress in bringing stability to Iraq (news - web sites), and the U.S.-appointed Governing Council named an ambassador to Washington — an Iraqi-American woman who spent the last decade lobbying U.S. lawmakers to promote democracy in her homeland.

Witnesses to the Mosul attack said gunmen shot two soldiers driving through the city center, sending their vehicle crashing into a wall. The 101st Airborne Division said the soldiers were driving to another garrison.

About a dozen swarming teenagers dragged the soldiers' bodies out of the wreckage and beat them with concrete blocks, the witnesses said.

"They lifted a block and hit them with it on the face," Younis Mahmoud, 19, said.

Another teenager, Bahaa Jassim, said some looted the vehicle of weapons, CDs and a backpack.

"They remained there for over an hour without the Americans knowing anything about it," he said. "I ... went and told other troops."

Television video showed the soldiers' bodies splayed on the ground as U.S. troops secured the area. One victim's foot appeared to have been severed.

The frenzy recalled the October 1993 scene in Somalia, when locals dragged the bodies of Marines killed in fighting with warlords through the streets.

In Baqouba, just north of Baghdad, insurgents detonated a roadside bomb as a 4th Infantry Division convoy passed, killing one soldier and wounding two others, the military said.

In Baghdad, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt confirmed the Mosul deaths but refused to provide details.

"We're not going to get ghoulish about it," he said.

The savagery of the attack was unusual for Mosul, once touted as a success story in sharp contrast to the anti-American violence seen in Sunni Muslim areas north and west of Baghdad.

In recent weeks, however, attacks against U.S. troops have increased in Mosul, raising concerns the insurgency is spreading.

Simultaneously, attacks have accelerated against Iraqis considered to be supporting Americans — such as policemen and politicians working for the interim Iraqi administration.

On Sunday, gunmen killed the Iraqi police chief of Latifiyah, 20 miles south of Baghdad, and his bodyguard and driver, American and Iraqi officials said. No further details were released.

The assassination occurred one day after suicide bombers struck two police stations northeast of Baghdad within 30 minutes, killing at least 14 people. Gunmen on Saturday also killed an Iraqi police colonel protecting oil installations in Mosul.

Elsewhere, Iraqi police said six U.S. Apache helicopter gunships blasted marshland after insurgents fired four rocket-propelled grenades at the American military garrison at the city's northern end. One Iraqi passer-by was killed in the air attack, police said.

In Kirkuk, 150 miles north of Baghdad, a bomb exploded at an oil compound, injuring three American civilian contractors from the U.S. firm Kellogg Brown & Root. The three suffered facial cuts from flying glass, U.S. Lt. Col. Matt Croke said.

KBR, a subsidiary of Halliburton, also has a significant presence at Baghdad's Palestine Hotel, which was rocketed by insurgents Friday, wounding one civilian.

"We all know that Americans are being threatened," Croke said.

Kimmitt told reporters in Baghdad that witnesses saw two surface-to-air missiles fired Saturday at a cargo plane operated by the Belgium-based package service DHL as it left for Bahrain.

The plane was the first civilian airliner hit by insurgents, who have shot down several military helicopters with shoulder-fired rockets.

DHL and Royal Jordanian, the only commercial passenger airline flying into Baghdad, immediately suspended flights on orders of the coalition authority.

Despite the ongoing violence, U.S. officials insisted the occupation was going well.

"If you look at the accomplishments of the coalition since March of this year, it has been enormous," Marine Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in Tikrit.

Pace is touring Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Iraq.

Also Sunday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said veteran Washington lobbyist Rend Rahim Francke was appointed Iraq's ambassador to the United States. Francke, an Iraq native who has spent most of her life abroad, led the Iraq Foundation, a Washington-based pro-democracy group, and has helped plan Iraq's transition from Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s rule.

The appointment will renew the diplomatic ties between Washington and Baghdad severed in 1990 when Saddam invaded Kuwait.

[Happy2BMe]

"When will we stop trying, in vain, to "win their hearts and minds", and start exterminating these animals like the vermin that they are?!?"

Good question. Check the end of my post #243.

[Emerging Patriot]

I don't normally reply during business hours but this story has bothered me deeply. By responding, I could be flaging this site to become restricted by the web-police at my company (as a web forum - not a business use of internet services).

Over the weekend, the grapevine here in Southern Indiana was alive with word that one of our local National Guard was killed in the Iraqi theatre in an event associated with a wreck of their vehicle. I wouldn't know if these troops are of our local boys or not. The picture are posted with out referance to what batalion they are part of.

I did not know him personally, but I do know that he was 28, a father of three small children. I could only imagine what his wife may be thinking upon seeing these pictures.

While it is important to stir up the national rage, a little more dilligence and patience would give more respect to the dead and their families.

Emerging Patriot

[TiaS]

I expected your comments -- have you researched the subject? Did you know that after the meltdown of Cherynoble it took seventeen days for monitors to pick up radiation over the state of New York? Did you know that recently, while undergoing some unrelated tests in the United States, a young man was found to have strontium 90 in his blood stream and that was traced back to the time he had eaten reindeer meat in a Scandinavian country sometime after that incident (food chain stuff). Did you know that the latency period for a malignant brain tumor associated with radiation contamination is about forty years . . . then there is the chromosome damage to future generations (birth defects). Nobody knew about these things when they dropped those bombs. There have been intensive studies since then, some conducted by the very physicists who worked on the Manhattan Project -- that's where I get my information, thank you.

[Mr.Atos]

I'm late to this particular party, yet my blood is boiling as well this dark, cold Monday morning. Two things however that I have picked up from reading the reports and the commentary. First, it was an Iraqi youth that informed the Garrison of its downed men. There are good people there. Granted I'm making an assumption with that statement, biut I do not doubt it is true, even in that cess-pool. As other posters mentioned, these were no 'teenagers'. Which brings me to point two. The press gave us the image that was intended. It was staged and executed for effect, knowing that world media would be compliant with the monster's intentions, or complacent out of bias against the right side of this fight. Nevertheless, the most dangerous enemies of freedom in this particular conflict is the Leftist world media propoganda machine that is tuned at the moment to seeing as many dead American troops in an increasingly brutal and shocking manner. This will get worse before it gets better. Don't lose it here. Manner on this thread, I fear, are falling right into the trap... second guessing command, second guessing the training and judgment of our brave men. I would suggest that this is a new kind of war from what the one they learned to fight, if they learned that at all in the NG. They must learn TBF like other men and women before them. But we are their spine. The attacks on them are meant solely for us and our 'shock and awe.'

Watch, learn, fear, learn, reinforce, learn, hold fast, learn, and learn how to win. Its a war of attrition now being fought on television for video victories on a front a long war away with combatants sitting on warm sofa eating cheetos.

For the sake of those men lying on the street this morning and all that they represented, DO NOT PROVIDE THEIR KILLERS THIS VICTORY.

We all know that the prowlers providing payback there, in the dark of night, are a whole lot more savage than their foes. Their executions are not broadcast on AJT or NBC. The bodies rot where they lay with one tiny hole through the cerebral cortex, ears removed. The fear spreads and the more that it does, the more vile the enemy becomes. But, it is their own execution that is truly at hand.

I suggest that we learn real fast. Patience and perserverance is our only friend in this world today. The wise warrier is ultimately the one left standing on the battlefield.

[Mr.Atos]

...apologies for so 'Manner' errors. (That would be 'Many') They were couresy on my little one fingered 15-month-old typing buddy.

[Happy2BMe]

News is now saying they were murdered by a "mob" that pulled them from their vehicle and killed them in the streets.

Time for tactics revisions.

[nicko]

although I usually do not side with jarheads, as they make lousy spagetti on Marine Corps League night at the VFW (good meatballs though) and they never let me win anything in the football pool (I know you guys rig it)... I gotta go with this one- Marines always travel with a heavy force protection package, even if it's just a log run, and they smoke up anyone and anything that even looks cross eyed at 'em...and this ain't Mogadishu, and we ain't gonna run...Semper Fi to all you former Marines out there...gimme the Giants and 7...

[af_vet_1981]

Time for tactics revisions.

It is time to fire the JAG and promote Lt. Col. West to a full bird. It is time for a day of reckoning.

[areafiftyone]

Thank you - you make alot of sense. Right on target.

[mystery-ak]

I couldn't agree more!

[jjm2111]

"I...live inside a six foot fence with alarms, security lights, a barky dog and long guns near every door and window because we are surrounded by thugs, gangs. drug dealers and assorted other illegal aliens."

That sounds like fun. Why do you stay?

[carpio]

That sounds like fun. Why do you stay?

Because I like it here??? :-)

Actually we have already bought a home in another state. We are just now trying to sell out and get out of here. But as you might imagine semi-rural properties in our area are not in great demand.

[91B]

You're not implying that there exists a force protection rule that allows, when violated, for summary execution by a band of teenagers?

Oh, for Christ's sake, of course not. But, you have to take every precaution to protect yourself in dangerous areas. Every indication seems to be that someone did not do so in this case. Personally, I do not intend to give the little vermin the opportunity to smash my skull in.

[rwr8084]

point well made.....Islam is evil and the only way to rid the world of this evil is to exterminate it, not try to co-exist with it. I hope I am never drafted into service and sent to Iraq, as I am afraid I will be looking for some major payback after the tragic events of the past few months. Things may get out of hand as I have an intense hatred of Muslims. Thanks for your post as I am glad there are FReepers like you not afraid to speak the truth.

[jjm2111]

I imagine the place wasn't that bad when you bought it. I've been to NM a few times and found it to be a very pretty place.

[carpio]

I imagine the place wasn't that bad when you bought it. I've been to NM a few times and found it to be a very pretty place.

I have been on this same spot for 22 years. This wonderful desert could be a virtual paradise if it were not for illegal immigration and deep rooted corruption in local and state government. Saddly we have become nothing more than a trap for wealthy retiree's lured here as prey for the flagrant real estate scams going on all around us.

[BlackbirdSST]

carpio says:And when I suggest that we should withdraw inside our own borders, seriously protect those borders and just concentrate on making America safe for Americans and Americanism they call me a goofy crank.

JH says:That's because you don't fit into the new order. You know, this one world, great Wal-Mart economy, where protecting the borders in some piece of sh*t third world country 7,000 miles away is more inportant than protecting our very own borders....

WOW! Three of us get it! Seal our border's, eject the scum intent on killing us, sit back and watch them turn on each other. Once they figure out they can't eat or drink OIL, and see that we are self sustaining, we can then reenter the World on our term's. Let 'em starve! Blackbird.

[FreeReign]

Like many of my veteran brothers, I served four years. Vietnam era. Well, are you going to tell us how they served?

Why would I tell them how THEY served? They didn't question the sacrifices of others. They didn't ignore the sacrifice that the Bush family and the Bush daughters now have to make for the rest of their lives. That's something you did.

If you want respect Joe, then you also have to give some. A little advice for you Joe, as you wear your bitterness on your sleave like no other here on this board.

[JoeHadenuf]:Bush's daughters ought to get out of their BMWs and limos and go serve.

[Indie]

If these people truly want a democracy they can start one themselves.

An interesting concept. You know, we did that and became the most prosperous, technologically advanced, and free nation on earth in just 200 years. Some of these "civilazations" and cultures have been around for thousands of years and...well...don't you KNOW it's all OUR fault that they are still in the dark ages??!!! LOL.
Typical of the world today as well as the Rats attitude...project responsibility for their own shortcomings to everyone except themselves and try to reduce everyone else to the least common denominator to be "fair." It's even in the schools. That sick attitude permeates every facet of life...and now I will stop my diatribe before I say something politically incorrect. :)

But don't forget, we're over there to stop the Islamic terrorism cancer from destroying the civilized world in reality. They would never be able to create democracy themselves. It is not their interest, but ours we are concerned with as well it should be.

Never forget who started it all. Never forget.

[carpio]

carpio says:And when I suggest that we should withdraw inside our own borders, seriously protect those borders and just concentrate on making America safe for Americans and Americanism they call me a goofy crank.

JH says:That's because you don't fit into the new order. You know, this one world, great Wal-Mart economy, where protecting the borders in some piece of sh*t third world country 7,000 miles away is more inportant than protecting our very own borders....

BlackbirdSST says WOW! Three of us get it! Seal our border's, eject the scum intent on killing us, sit back and watch them turn on each other. Once they figure out they can't eat or drink OIL, and see that we are self sustaining, we can then reenter the World on our term's. Let 'em starve! Blackbird.

I, carpio, also believe that countries who take the lives of Americans should forfeit at least half of their natural resources to us for a fifty year period plus 500 lives for every American killed. I feel that would take the water off the minnows as regards these third (rate) world countries feeling that murdering Americans is an acceptable method of making political statements.

And if you think I am the only wild eyed crank feeling this way just hide and watch. I predict it will not be long before the real Americans here begin to demand not only some justice but a little vengance as well.

Check back with me in five years and let me know how you think my prediction comes out.