Iraqi Police Major, Gunmen Attack GIs

Associated Press | Jebruary 8, 2004

[HAL9000]

TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) -- Gunmen, including a major in the new Iraqi police force, attacked a group of American soldiers, sparking a gunbattle in which the officer was killed and two other attackers wounded, the U.S. military said Sunday.

The soldiers were observing a house belonging to a person suspected in rocket-propelled grenade attacks on American forces in the village of Qadisiyah, 30 miles south of Tikrit, when the gunmen opened fire Saturday evening, the military said in a statement.

The Americans fired back and threw a hand grenade at the attackers, killing one and wounding two. Two more gunmen were captured. The slain attacker was identified as an active Iraqi police major.

The U.S. military has been training Iraqi police forces to take on a greater role in fighting the insurgency waged by guerrillas against American troops, mainly in Baghdad and regions north and west of the capital. Supporters of Saddam Hussein's ousted regime are thought to be leading the campaign, which has also targeted police and other Iraqis seen as cooperating with the American occupation.

The troops were from the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division, which patrols the region around Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home town 90 miles north of the capital.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[ChadGore]

. . . as far as I can throw em'

[saquin]

I hope we get more details on this. Were these policemen in uniform who mistook the Americans for bad guys and mistakenly attacked? Or policeman who are actual bad guys and knowingly attacked the GIs?

[xJones]

The slain attacker was identified as an active Iraqi police major.

How can you tell the good guys from the bad guys? It's obvious when they start firing at you, but how do you know when recruiting?

[PattonReincarnated]

>> How can you tell the good guys from the bad guys? It's obvious when they start firing at you, but how do you know when recruiting?

The bad guys are muslim. It's really pretty simple.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Careful now, see this:

U.S. Says Files Seek Qaeda Aid in Iraq Conflict

[DeltaZulu]

I remember hearing something about the US knowing that some of the police recruits were probably AQ plants. Looks like we found one. For the rest of those who have infiltrated the Iraqi police force, take note of this ... you will be fragged.