Iraqi forces fighting beside Marines angry at being outgunned

KFOR ^ | 4/17/04

[LibWhacker]

Fallujah, Iraq-AP -- Some members of Iraqi security forces working alongside Marines in Fallujah (fuh-LOO'-juh) say they resent fighting fellow Iraqis. And they also say they're being outgunned by Sunni insurgents.

One member of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps says 80 percent of them want to leave Fallujah, and go to Baghdad.

Some of the I-C-D-C forces stationed in Fallujah before the fighting have abandoned their posts -- and U-S commanders acknowledged that some may be joining the insurgents.

Army Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt says members of the 36th Battalion, made up of 240 soldiers helping enforce the Marine cordon on the south side of the city, have been "acquitting themselves admirably." Kimmitt adds there will be repercussions for any refusal to fight.

[LibWhacker]

Sounds like they want heavy weapons when fighting alongside us (so when Abdul gives the signal they can turn them on us perchance?). I wouldn't give these guys peashooters.

[rageaholic]

Some members of Iraqi security forces working alongside Marines in Fallujah (fuh-LOO'-juh) say they resent fighting fellow Iraqis.

Well if the pathetic Iraqi police didn't always run away, they wouldn't have to.

But of course that's irrelevant. They really mean they'd rather be fighting Americans.

[WOSG]

Well, how do you expect them to be motivated to fight when they are outgunned by the other side?

[saquin]

Well, which is it? Are they upset at being told to fight fellow Iraqis, or upset that they are outgunned against them? Don't those two things seem inconsistent?

[LibWhacker]

Good catch! Lyin' b******* just wanna kill Americans.

[LibWhacker]

When you're a rifleman, you get a rifle. They're riflemen who seem to be demanding .50 cal machineguns, mortars, tanks, and probably artillery, too. Personally, I'd never trust them with those weapons. But they have a legitimate role to play. They're simply refusing. Off with their heads!

[WOSG]

The AP article doesnt say what they have nor what they would like.

Anyway, we should back them up with tanks and artillery - manned by our marines of course. :-)

[TexKat]

Sigh!!!!

God bless the coaliton troops.

[LibWhacker]

Exactly! They make it sound as if we're using them for cannonfodder, which I'm certain is not true. It just isn't done anymore. Still . . . It's a very dangerous job -- one our own boys are being forced to do -- and they just don't want to do it.

Glad to see Kimmit mentioned repercussions. Discipline will do 'em good. There are lots of reasons the Iraqis lost the war against us, not the least of which is their army was a bit of a joke.

[tet68]

Maybe we need to treat them like we did the media.

Embed them with our units in small numbers, let them learn
how we support each other before returning them to a bad situation, it is a tough situation for them to be fighting
their own countrymen. Until the country is given back to an Iraqi government they are men without a country, not an envious position, but if they want a country they had better be prepared to fight FOR it.

[BenLurkin]

When another "strong-man" comes along, Iraqis desiring order will gather with him to put down these oddball rebellions.

I know that isn't W's plan for Iraq but frankly I think its the best anyone can realistically hope for.

[rogueleader]

Send in the pesh merga.