Posted on 09/29/2006 3:11:27 PM PDT by RGSpincich
Driver claims he was abandoned during Iraqi insurgents' fire Friday, September 29, 2006
RICHMOND — A Virginia National Guard unit from Martinsville and Rocky Mount came under scrutiny after a video seemed to show troops abandoning a civilian truck convoy during an attack by Iraqi insurgents, resulting in the executions of three unarmed drivers.
However, the military investigated the incident and found the military personnel responded properly. Investigators recommended awards for one soldier and one civilian in the incident.
The video, obtained by ABC News, shows a military personnel carrier racing away after insurgents open fire and disable four Halliburton trucks last September near Balad, Iraq.
“I do not know who the driver was of that Humvee, but he abandoned us,” civilian driver Preston Wheeler of Mena, Ark., who taped the footage, told ABC News.
Wheeler said almost 40 minutes passed before U.S. troops returned.
Military officials said Thursday that there was an immediate investigation, which found that no personnel had abandoned the convoy and they responded properly.
“They fought back bravely while waiting for reinforcements and attending to the casualties,” Lt. Col. Michelle Martin-Hing, a spokeswoman for the Multi-National Force-Iraq, told The Associated Press in an e-mail.
In fact, Martin-Hing said, investigators recommended that one soldier and one civilian be nominated for awards for the actions during the Sept. 20, 2005, incident.
Virginia Guard officials confirmed Thursday that its 1173rd Transportation Company was on active federal status at the time. The hometowns of the 1173rd are Martinsville and Rocky Mount, according to the Guard Web site.
Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Chester Carter III referred all questions to the Tampa, Fla.-based U.S. Central Command, home of key command centers in the U.S. war on terrorism.
Wheeler said that while the troops were absent, he crouched down in his truck and watched two truck drivers being shot at point-blank range.
“They just killed ’em. They just killed him. Oh my God,” Wheeler said in the video.
Wheeler can be heard on the tape pleading for help on his radio: “Please help me ... I’m fixin’ to get killed. I have no gun back here. I am by myself!”
Those killed in the attack were Keven Dagit, 42, of Jefferson, Iowa; Sascha Grenner-Case, age unavailable, of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; and Christopher Lem, 40, of Lyndon Station, Wis., said Cathy Mann, a Halliburton spokeswoman. They were killed while delivering the mail, according to a news release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in a dedication of a facility in Iraq.
The military investigation found that “individuals at the front of the convoy reacted as they were taught by pushing forward and getting out of the kill zone of the ambush,” Martin-Hing wrote.
“What is not visible in the video being shown is that they collected the casualties they could reach and laid down suppressive fire with their weapons to help get those vehicles that could move from the front of the convoy out of the kill zone,” she wrote.
The troops then set up security, called for support and medical evacuations and directed the movements of other gun trucks farther back in the convoy, she said.
In a news release, KBR, Halliburton’s engineering and construction subsidiary, did not address the details of the incident but said the military has “command and control” over its convoys in Iraq and is “required to provide security.”
No, the Japanese didn't but "we" did and we continue to abide by the rules.
"When will it appear on ABC, with a full retraction and apology?"
About the same time as when a pack of wild monkeys spontaneously fly out of my butt. :)
This is a weird coincidence, isn't it?
No surprise that his video is also displayed on Michael Moore's website...he's cashing in big time.
I know. That's why I pinged you. ;~)
Here's one you'll like.
'Cuz it ain't television.
I read some of his stuff. As you may recall, he caught a lot of grief from a high ranking officer for that, and I think they threatened to send him out of the country if he did it again.
The point of the rules, is, when an enemy does not abide by them, you are freed from them also. In that way, the enemy is encouraged to follow the rules, because the evil ones gain no advantage by their violation.
I used to teach a class on the subject. If the enemy fired on you from a hospital, they do not gain protection by so doing, but rather, they remove protection from the hospital. By firing from a mosque/church, the same thing occurs. Because we are nice people, we teach our Soldiers Sailors, Marines and Airmen to respond when necessary, and to respond proportionately. That proportionate response goes beyond the rules, which puts us on the right side of where we have to be.
By continuing the fight during WWII, by destruction of resources, until there was no food left for the civilian population, the Germans did not place an obligation on the Allies to starve their soldiers. Rather, Eisenhower did the very hard, very right thing, and set priorities: First priority Allied Soldiers. Second priority civilians. Third priority German POWs.
A lot of German POWs died in Germany, of starvation. Half rations makes people thin. Quarter rations make people thin out fast.
The point is, people do don't play by the rules don't get to complain when the rules aren't followed. A lot of the German soldiers who didn't destroy food stocks died. A lot of German soldiers who did destroy food stocks did die.
Best to play by the rules. Best to do what it takes to encourage the enemy to play by the rules, and not be stupid enough to give him an advantage when he cheats.
Yes. But not to prosecute. Someone was embarassed. He did not commit any kind of crime.
On the other hand, the LTC was lying in the street bleeding from three wounds, waiting to see if he would pass out before, or after the terrorist came out to finish him off. Good thing the Sgt Major happened along when he did. If he hadn't Michael Yon might have just had to save the LTC's life. Can't have that now, can we!
Yes, that made it even more surprising that they gave Yon the grief they did.
The true fact is, we know the line. The sad fact is, some bureaucats want to be really, really far on the other side of the line, lest their precious career be hindered.
But Michael Yon is excitable, in a good way.
Not with the Geneva Convention which we honor regardless of what our enemies elect to do; one of the many things that distinquishes us from them.
That is incorrect.
The Geneva Convention requires certain behaviors under certain conditions. If the conditions are not obtained, the question is moot.
What we called REMFs, now called Fobbits (from forward operations base and Hobbits who never leave the Shire) often pretend that line soldiers have to play by their silly rules, and should be willing to die happily for such noble stupidity. My point is such noble stupidity is not required by the Geneva Convention. Anyone who asserts that it is required, is a liar. Anyone who attempts to enforce such rules, and causes US soldiers to suffer fatalities by doing so, is a murderer.
I don't think my words are too strong. In fact, I think that my words err on the side of moderation.
In like manner, police officers are permitted to use hollowpoint bullets, despite the Hague Convention which bans them. Why? The Hague Convention does not protect criminals, only soldiers, and does not restrict hunters, police officers, or (other) civilians, but rather only restricts only the armed forces. A country complies with the Hague Convention, while issuing hollowpoints to its police.
LOL! Thanks God adults are in charge and you're behind a keyboard.
By the way, I was an infantry captain, and taught hundreds of classes on the Geneva Convention back during the Cold war. Perhaps you remember the Baader-Meinhof and Red Faction terrorist gangs of that era?
Not surprising at all that you taught a subject you didn't completely understand yourself; but that is pretty much indicative of the Cold War Army.
To get to the position where I could teach the class, I was trained.
Wrong again bucko.
LOL! You were trained by someone like yourself...assigned to give the classes. Apparently they weren't very proficient or your memory isn't what it once was...Bucko.
And your font of expertise is what?
Font of expertise? Not making up the rules as I go along just because I don't like them.
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