Posted on 11/05/2004 2:59:57 AM PST by AngloSaxon
Senior officers in the Black Watch had feared the sort of attack that claimed the lives of the three soldiers.
One officer said before the move north: "Our biggest fear is of a massive bomb detonated right next to one of the Warriors. There is intelligence to suggest the Black Watch will be targeted by the insurgents because of the potential political embarrassment to the Prime Minister.
"There is little anyone can do to prevent a suicide bomber for instance - though our years in Northern Ireland mean we are very experienced in counter-insurgency operations and the Black Watch is more than capable of holding its own."
Operation Bracken - the redeployment of troops from Basra to Camp Dogwood - followed an American request for British soldiers to replace US marines needed for a full-scale assault on Fallujah, due to start soon.
It is believed that a carefully planned ambush was triggered when a roadside bomb was detonated beside a 30-tonne Warrior armoured vehicle, ripping off its wheels and track.
Black Watch soldiers coming to the aid of their comrades were attacked by a suicide car bomber and mortar fire.
All Warriors had been fitted with iron grilles to help protect them from rocket-propelled grenades but these offer no protection against an "Improvised Explosive Device".
Senior officers in Iraq were concerned that the political furore in Britain over a routine transfer of a unit to a slightly more dangerous area had made the Black Watch intensely vulnerable. "For the insurgents, it was what the Americans would call a 'no brainer' to go for the Black Watch," the same officer said last night. "The fact this was announced in the House of Commons shows how political this has become.
"If the troops had been moved without the fuss we saw from the Tory party and anti-war elements who wanted to exploit the issue for their own ends then perhaps we would not be telling three families that their sons and husbands were dead."
American soldiers have been facing the risk of this sort of attack for 18 months, particularly within the Sunni Triangle. More than 1,100 American soldiers have been killed in action compared with 34 British.
On Saturday, eight US Marines died when a suicide bomb exploded next to their truck south of Fallujah. Staff Sgt Jason Benedict, who suffered burns, said: "These people are cowards basically. Nobody wants to face us."
That says it all really.
Carolyn
Exactly. The same selfish mentality that doesn't care how many people get killed so they can make waves.
That way the terrorist get to gauge you, your equipment and SOPs.
This bit has me worried.
Black Watch soldiers coming to the aid of their comrades were attacked by a suicide car bomber and mortar fire.
Experience from North Ireland has shown time and time again that the main attack always happens against the relief force.
Training states first rule don’t become a casualty your self.
Pacify the area, even if it means you cant aid your comrade straight away, ruthless yes, but as a dead man you are of no use to him.
Dealing with IEDs is constant patrolling of a area so that you recognize anything out of the ordinary in the terrain.
But the first few days are always the most dangerous because that is when you are unfamiliar with the area, and that is when the terrorists will strike.
Tony
I agree completely!
Our dearest friends live in Eastbourne. Both husband and wife are Libs, but started out vociferously supporting the war on terrorism. Now that time is passing, their passions have diminished and I feel them going fast to the other side. Is this common among Brits regarding support of conflagration. Start out strong and fade fast if all is not well in 6 weeks?
I'm not being hard or smart aleck, but it truly has hurt me to see them weaken this quickly. I would love to not have to ask them directly.
No wonder poor Tony's heart is sick. He is sick at heart, I'm sure.
The media whores have become the mouthpiece of terrorists.
May their houses fall down upon their heads.
"When people are given the facts, they are able to determine by themselves the best course of action. The unfortunate thing in the UK at the moment is that we have a mainly left wing media, reporting mainly left wing anti-war views."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry, but I don't agree that mine was a silly question or with your comments, particularly that noted above.
1. I was in London the day the British public were protesting Bush en masse in March/April 2001. The man had been in office only 3 + months at that point, and 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq were months/years into the future. They hated our president during his first campaign and have remained hate-filled ever since.
2. This country has been indundated for years with a lying, liberal media and we are able to overcome that influence and think for ourselves - en masse. This week was certainly proof of that. You appear to be saying that y'all are not capable of forming beliefs without the media, or did I misunderstand? You're on an island, but certainly not cut off from resources other than your own press.
3. If you take an objective look at your current dependence upon government services, some of which are less than effective, but tolerated regardless of their quality, you see how close to complete socialism you've come. By the way, my opinion of your government services was formed by my experiences with it and the opinion of British citizens, not your or our media coverage of it.
How can you blame your media completely on the majority's decision to turn their lives over to government intrusion in toto?
Has your media taken over the role of dictator of thought?
They gave aid and comfort to the insurgents in an effort to defeat President Bush.
The massive anti war protests prior to the war gave Saddam Hussein false hope that President Bush would NOT go to war.
The consequences of that folly is clear but unappreciated by the perpetrators.
Redcoats at the ready if you please!
Ping
*dons Redcoat*
My name is Slipperduke. And I'm reporting for duty.
1, En masse against Bush in 2001? I'm not sure that's true. En Masse in 2002 is true. Two million people marched against the war and, given the way it was presented to us, I wasn't entirely unsympathetic. If there was an anti Bush protest in 2001 then it was small enough for it to pass by me unnoticed.
2, Our media is pretty much half and half. Yes, The Mirror (1.9m), The Independent (260k) and The Guardian (360k) are very much to the left, but they are more than cancelled out by the higher circulation of The Sun (3.6m), The Times (700k) and The Telegraph (900k). We don't have to go anywhere to get more information, we just have read more than one newspaper.
3, You certainly have a point on our acceptance of poor quality public services. As a nation we could do with arguing a bit more! However, we are a long, long way from being a socialist nation. Blair is much closer to Conservatism than I think Americans give him credit for. That's why most of his own party hate him.
The media hasn't taken over anything, don't worry. The fact that so many of us Brits are here on FR should be evidence enough that!
And we here in the colonies are able to perform very well without the Socialists from the UK and Europe, thank you.
Some of the statements you've made here indicate to much BS! I would bet that you are a socialist.
Anyway if you would like to read about why I voted against Kerry please do.
VVAW, FBI files and John Kerry, What I have found
1. “On September 30, 1971, Robert Malone, Chief of Police, University of Nevada, advised Kerry’s speech at the University was sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of Nevada, and that he was paid $1,200.00, including expenses for his appearance.” Kerry is paid for VVAW speeches, pg 25
2. VVAW pickets restaurant because owner refuses to serve long haired, barefoot and dirty veterans in his place of business. It is also noted that the organization encourages the use of narcotics. VVAW pickets restaurant, pg 28-29
3. VVAW distributes literature at an event that is used to collect intelligence on military tactics and methods in Vietnam. Considering the fact that the VVAW has meetings with the North Vietnam Communists and VVAW members travel to Moscow and Hanoi, this is a very serious matter. VVAW collects military intelligence concerning US tactics and methods in Vietnam War. Pg. 51-57
4. Joseph Urgo, Second Vice-President of VVAW is in North Vietnam August 13, 1971. VP of VVAW in North Vietnam, pg. 92
5. VVAW attorney was in North Vietnam on November 22,1970 and returned with letters from US POW’s. VVAW went to NV, pg. 96
6. Throughout this section of the FBI documents is a constant link between the VVAW’s activities and Communist groups or Communist front groups in the USA. Communist groups, pg. 86
7. VVAW shows a Communist propaganda film “entitled, ‘Evil Hour’, which depicted the effects of United States military actions on children in Vietnam..” Propaganda movie, pg. 101
8. Randy Floyd, President of the VVAW at the University of Texas. to speak in Oslo Norway concerning US war crimes in Vietnam. War crimes Oslo, Norway, pg. 115-116
9. FBI document reveals that, “all members of the VVAW who had traveled to Finland, Moscow, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), England…..” One of the VVAW members that traveled to Moscow had pictures attached to their mid-section of alleged atrocities in Indo-China, pg. 117-118
10. Speakers at a VVAW rally include Socialist/Communists advocating anti American propaganda. Communist groups speakers, pg. 132-139
11. Again the VVAW is using a Communist front organization of the Communist Party USA, in a rally, the YWLL. Communist groups, pg. 142
12. In reading the FBI files concerning John F. Kerry and the VVAW I find several instances where the VVAW is receiving money, directions, and non-monetary support from Communist Organizations in the USA, Europe, Soviet Union, France and Southeast Asia, as well as other countries. So, John Kerry worked for Communist Organizations attempting to overthrow the Government of the United States of America.
13. FBI Documents indicate that while John Kerry was with the VVAW, VVAW leaders met with KGB agents in the US. “VVAW collusion with foreign spies? “The Diplomatic List published by U.S. Department of State, in 1971 listed Grigoriy Sergeyvich Milhaylovskiy as an assistant Military Attache, Embassy of the U.S.S.R., Washington, D.C.”
14. Vietnam Veterans Against the War, John Kerry, FBI files Section 8 (Oct-Nov 1971)
15. Do the FBI Files concerning the VVAW (Kerry’s antiwar group) indicate a plot to assassinate Pres. Nixon?
16. John Kerry caused a fracture in VVAW for his own selfish goals (FBI Files reveal)
17. Kerry, Watergate: DNC Links Caused Break-in? (Kerry lied! Still with the VVAW after February 1972)
18. Lets watch the film of John Kerry and VVAW members throwing combat medals over the fence
19. Treat as Yellow – John Kerry’s VVAW coordinating with the North Vietnam Communist Government when US forces are under attack
20. VVAW leader meets with Communists to discuss tactics in the US antiwar movement. Kerry’s group!
21. Prior to “Dewey Canyon III” Mike Thelan East Coast Coordinator for the VVAW tells a gathering of possible attendants that the VVAW’s official position is not to encourage anyone to commit acts of violence, but that VVAW activists are not “discouraging someone from “doing it”. VVAW activists are not “discouraging someone from committing acts of violence, pg 4
22. FBI files indicate that “VVAW is under active investigation in view of indications of communist and other subversive infiltration”. indications of communist and other subversive infiltration, pg 24
23. Speaker at VVAW antiwar rally Carl Moore makes following statements, “President Nixon is a red baiting Fascist” and “the real problem is Capitalism. All power to the oppressed”. Speaker Carl Moore, pg 30
24. On stage to speak but did not speak at antiwar rally is one “Stanley “The Deacon” Alexander, member of Communist Party USA. Communist Party USA, pg 32
25. Tom Hayden speaking at antiwar rally uses the language of Jihad claiming “that Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony Russo are real Martyars”. Language of Jihad, pg 36
26. One speaker at the rally called for the “elimination of the penal system”. Penal system, pg 37
27. Speaker claims at the rally that, “ the ideal form of government is socialism as it exists in Cuba.” ideal form of government is socialism, pg 38
28. Speeches were given at rally advocating the release of Angela Davis, a self-admitted member of the Communist Party, and facing murder and kidnapping charges. The United Committee to Free Angela Davis founded by CPUSA, (Communist Party USA). Also note at bottom of page the desire to “increase welfare payments. CPUSA, pg 39
29. The VVAW has the SDS and the YSA, Young Socialist Alliance at demonstration. SDS and YSA working with VVAW, pg 69
30. Again we find the VVAW working hand in hand with Communists and Communist front groups. VVAW works with Communists, pg 75-80
31. Membership in the VVAW placed at about 8,500 members nationally. How many Vietnam vets were in the US at this time? And because they did not speak out against the VVAW we all know what happened. VVAW membership numbers, pg 81
32. Read the FBI report concerning a speech given by John Kerry at the University of Nevada, September 30, 1971. Kerry states in this speech, “My ten years of political consciousness in America is very wrapped up in gravestones……the men of Attica and the other 53,000 brothers in Vietnam?. John Kerry speech, pg 86-87
33. An antiwar group (CPPTC) working with the VVAW had also traveled to Hanoi in late 1970 to meet with Communists. People to people peace treaty with North Vietnam, pg 104
34. More support from Communist groups for the VVAW. Communist support, top of pg 111
35. We ask why Senator John Kerry votes against defense and intelligence spending, here may be the answer. page 142, item 2
36. The Black Militant Group in Cairo Illinois that the VVAW has been supplying with food, clothing and guns attacks the local police. Armed Negros Attack Police, these several pages are a must read. Note that in the November 1971 VVAW meeting it is discussed that VVAW supplied the weapons to this Black Militant GroupBlack Militant Group attacks police, pgs 168 – 171The first article you can’t read but follow to the next two articles.
37. VVAW stated goals are to number 9. “To affirm that the membership is not only concerned with ending the war, but changing the domestic, social, political, and economic institutions that have caused and permitted the continuance of war”. The Socialist/Communist agenda, pg 181, item 9
38. VVAW paper identifies John Kerry as “National Spokesman for VVAW. John Kerry Identified as national spokesman, pg 183
39. VVAW collusion with foreign spies? “The Diplomatic List published by U.S. Department of State, in 1971 listed Grigoriy Sergeyvich Milhaylovskiy as an assistant Military Attache, Embassy of the U.S.S>R., Washington, D.C.” VVAW meets with Soviet KGB spy, pg 184-185
40. Back to the future, read John Kerry’s statement to a news paper concerning the Vietnam War, I’ll bet it sounds familiar. “”We are here because we, above all others, have earned the right to criticize the was in South-east Asia. We are here to say that it is not patriotism to ask Americans to die for a mistake and that it is not Patriotic to allow a President to talk about not being the first President to lose a war…..”. Kerry’s speech than sounds like Kerry’s speech now, pg 247
41. Read in the FBI files where John Kerry states, “Ho Chi Minh is the George Washington of Vietnam. Ho studied the United States Constitution and wants to install the same provisions into the Government of Vietnam,” Kerry speaks, pg 248
Sorry, just me weirding out from the election and such.
No worries!! :D
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.