Platoon defies orders in Iraq

Clarion Ledger | October 15, 2004 | Jeremy Hudson

[KillBill]

If what these soldiers say is true, it's outrageous that they were being sent in that way, and some officers need to be relieved of duty. If not, we're starting to get a bunch of cowards and yellow peaceniks in Iraq. I'd look for someone thinking himself the next John F'in Kerry to start making a big scene of this soon.

[PAR35]

A clickable link would have been nice.

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041015/NEWS01/410150366/1002

[OXENinFLA]

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson said he plans to submit a congressional inquiry today on behalf of the Mississippi soldiers to launch an investigation into whether they are being treated improperly.

"I would not want any member of the military to be put in a dangerous situation ill-equipped," said Thompson, who was contacted by families. "I have had similar complaints from military families about vehicles that weren't armor-plated, or bullet-proof vests that are outdated. It concerns me because we made over $150 billion in funds available to equip our forces in Iraq.

BIAS ALERT!!! BIAS ALERT!!!

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson

Dem or Repub.???-------------He a dem, I'm shocked that's not mentioned in the story.

Also........The platoon is normally escorted by armed Humvees and helicopters, but did not have that support Wednesday, McClenny told her mother.

Something's fishy here...

[MEG33]

said Patricia McCook of Jackson, wife of Sgt. Larry O. McCook.

[Phisher]

If the vehicles were marked unsafe than it is an illegal order. The only person who would be responsible is the officer for issuing the command. However, if it was just in the opinion of the soldiers than the fault is with them.

This article doesn't tell us much and is really only giving one side of the story.

[Slings and Arrows]

90% of the article is a hit piece on Bush. So much for credibility.

[bad company]

Sgt. McCook, a deputy at the Hinds County Detention Center, and the 16 other members of the 343rd Quartermaster Company from Rock Hill, S.C., were read their rights and moved from the military barracks into tents, Patricia McCook said her husband told her during a panicked phone call about 5 a.m. Thursday.

Already losing the smell test.

[PAR35]

It quotes Bennie Thompson and bashes Bush. I smell an agenda by the paper. No quotes from official sources, or even any indication that the reporter contacted the Army for a statement.

[KillBill]

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson Dem or Repub.???-------------He a dem, I'm shocked that's not mentioned in the story. Yeah, I'm surprised they didn't make a point of mentioning exactly how many African-Americans there were in the platoon, call Thompson "Black U.S. Rep Bennie Thompson", and accuse the army of trying to kill African-Americans. Amazing what the media will do to your standards.

[Sooth2222]

"Her son e-mailed her earlier this week to ask what the penalty would be if he became physical with a commanding officer, she said."

Hmmmm. Not something I ever remember asking my mom about.

[sonofagun]

99% they'd be attacked? In a Combat Zone?

I'm sure these guys realized they weren't joining the boyscouts when they joined the "Army Reserves", or maybe they thought they were!

[Baseballguy]

Our nieghbors down south.

[sonofagun]

If the vehicles were marked unsafe than it is an illegal order.

An illegal order is an order to shoot a prisoner or some such, not an order to accomplish a mission with whatever means are available at the time.

The article doesn't state the importance of this mission or how many lives might be depending on their completion of that mission.

[Robert357]

I have a feeling that there is probably more to this story than is being reported and that the reporting is partisan in nature.

None-the-less, I expect military officials to investigate this. There is the concept of playing together nicely. While there are lawful orders in the military that result in soldiers being sacraficed for a greater good, I doubt that was what this was about. If a group refuses to obey an order that raises questions about the person giving the order and the lawfulness of the order.

I suspect that this was the final issue in a long simmering battle of wills between one officer and those within his (her) command. I furher suspect that the media call was an attempt to end run the military investigation or at least speed it up.

[bayourod]

I don't buy it. Lots of factual inaccuracies and improbabilities.

[mbynack]

That was my feeling, too.

It would set a pretty bad precedent if the military allowed soldiers to refuse to perform a mission because they might get shot at.

[Darksheare]

Likely we're not getting the whole story, and what we are getting is heavily slanted.
This is highly fishy.
It looks rather heavily 'selectively reported'.. much like Dan Rather ignoring certain stories, and Jaysun Blair making things up.

[StarCMC]

WTH is THIS???? ping

Any of you guys I know ~ can you shed some light for me here??

[G.Mason]

"I'd look for someone thinking himself the next John F'in Kerry to start making a big scene of this soon."

Like you seem to be?

[Darksheare]

Already here.
Sounds like someone was playing patty cake and decided to act like my former Captain.
Reads like we're only getting a partial story on it though.