Report Says Slain U.S. Soldiers Tried to Surrender (Graphic Photos)

Reuters ^ | Wed March 26, 2003 10:51 AM ET | Reuters

[Smogger]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One report reaching the U.S. military said that some of the 12 soldiers whose supply convoy was ambushed near Nassiriya in southern Iraq on Sunday were killed by their captors although they tried to surrender, a U.S. defense official said on Wednesday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the report received from the field said that the U.S. soldiers "weren't given the opportunity to surrender. They attempted to surrender." Some of the U.S. soldiers instead were killed by the Iraqi forces, the official said.

The official did not characterize the nature or reliability of the intelligence information on which this report was based. The official also did not indicate where the surrendering soldiers were slain.

Another defense official said the U.S. military had received "mixed reports" about the incident.

U.S. officials have said an Army supply convoy apparently made a wrong turn during a battle near Nassiriya, and members of an Army maintenance unit were ambushed by Iraqi "irregular forces." U.S. officials say 12 soldiers were missing.

Five U.S. soldiers being held as prisoners were shown being interrogated on Iraqi television. The dead bodies of several others also were shown on Iraqi television. Some of the bodies appeared to have bullet wounds to the forehead, suggestive of possible execution, and were shown sprawled on the floor of a room in puddles of blood.

[phasma proeliator]

As I stated, I believe that it is disrespectful to post pictures of coalition troops on the internet - that belief applies to this war and every war and every dead soldier.

Before some smart ass decides to try and throw in my face "what about Iraqi troops - is it disrespectful to put their pic on the internet?" ... yes I believe it is. to be honest - I don't really give a damn about Iraqi soldiers but they do still have families.

This is disrespectful especially to the dead soldiers and their families, but IMHO to their unit, and all coalition troops.

Like I said - this is MY OPINION - i don't support putting these pics out for public consumption - but you have a right to believe and do as you choose... that's what we're fighting for.

[Grampa Dave]

Clue one and two:

#1. Reuters major stock holder is a super rich Opecker Prince.

#2. Reuters starting about 12 Sept 2001 banned their reporters/editors/publishers from using the word terrorist or terrorists acts when reporting on any Islamofacist terrorist or terrorist acts.

[LiberationIT]

Good question.

[asformeandformyhouse]

Technicians prepare a Massive Ordnance Air Blast, or MOAB

But I like 'Mother of All Bombs' better.

[PISANO]

Call me cold-hearted, mean spirited, or evil but I will tell you this: There is NO difference between INNOCENT civilians THAT have been terrorized to the point that they will follow Sadaam's orders to hell, or the legitimate military REPUBLICAN GAURD. Either will KILL our military, either will torture our military, either will execute our military or parade them in the streets or in front of a cameera. The MORE that DIE from our hands means the less that die by theirs. IMHO those civilians that eventually rise up and help us take Baghdad are the ones that WILL KNOW THAT putting anti-aircraft missle sites within 300 feet of civilian populated areas is what caused civilian deaths and they will NOT blame us. Screw the rest of the world and their opinion!!!!

[cake_crumb]

"I am suddenly much less concerned about the explosion in the Baghdad market."

Me too. Besides, it's likely that Saddam's troops did it in order to manufacture more propaganda against the allied forces. Saddam's soldiers are ANIMALS.

[cake_crumb]

"So why is Reuter's posting this as news, days after their Islamofacists did these evil deeds?"

For the propaganda value. I predicted last weekend tha the media was going to continue to report this same story over and over again all week long. So far they haven't 'disappointed' me. They will jump on ANY chance from now on to post those d@mned photographs, do ANYTHING to demoralise us, convince us that we're losing this war and make us think it's The Next Viet Nam.

[TankerKC]

I assume that they have green camo chem-bio suit on over their desert camo uniforms. The green may be all that we have available...that's all I have ever used. Anyone know for sure?

[freepersup]

It's possible that because this was a (rear) maintenance unit, the desert cammies had not been issued due to (Army wide) budgetary reasons. Other thinking may have been along the line that a rear unit would be less inclined to encounter the enemy, therefore the need for the camos as a tactical concealment strategy wasn't imperative.

As an example: I entered active duty (Army) in 1982 and was issued BDU's (woodland camo pattern) for wear as a duty uniform. My basic training NCO wore the OD green (pickle suit) as his duty uniform, and on occasion would wear the BDU's.

In 1985, I exited from active duty and joined the IL. Air National Guard. The standard issue duty uniform was the OD green pickle suit. Over a few years, BDU's replaced the OD green duty uniform.

Budgets, specific duties, areas of operation, and DOD orders, drives the decision as to what kind of combat duty uniform the unit wears.

[Pagey]

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the report received from the field said that the U.S. soldiers "weren't given the opportunity to surrender. They attempted to surrender."

Reuters is full of mindless word drool too. American soldiers are in Iraq to kill the enemy,who are Iraqi soldiers. Even if caught off guard, I do not,cannot,will not believe they would EVER offer themselves up for surrender, (even if it was a surprise attack in the dark- you'd still shoot) unless they were a Liberal with extreme guilt who wasn't whittled out in the process of becoming a soldier,like that SOB American/Muslim (isnt that an Oxymoron!) soldier who threw grenades at his own superiorrs tents a few days ago.

[ffusco]

My deepest sympathies to the families of these soldiers. However I want to know waht kind of savages we are fighting. I have heard many people say that those pictures should not be shown. The same well intentioned folks, who are not related to the deceased, also decided that 911 was getting too much airplay. What a utopian, sanitized, spineless bunch of wimps.

And I suffered a loss on 911.

[cmotormac44]

Pictures should be posted of 'atrocities' so all of the American public can know what war against a dictatorship is really like---grow up and face life in this world as it really is---Americans live a sheltered existence but there is a world of hatred, murder of innocents, depraved humans who prey on anyone weaker to show their power and feed their lust---grow up America and take off the 'rose colored glasses'

[TankerKC]

I've seen the front line guys in woodland camo too. I suggested before that they might only have woodland chem suits. The chem suit has to go on over the desert uniform. You think that might be it?

[TankerKC]

Looks like you were right on:

Slate: Why Are U.S. Troops Wearing Dark-Green Camouflage?

[k2blader]

Bump.

[TankerKC]

One more link.

Looks like the chem bio suits are woodland green too!

[MarkL]

We must fight the fight thinking of our own soldiers now.Enough is ENOUGH!

I realize just how callous this sounds, but a single American or British service man or woman isn't worth 1000 Iraqi lives. I'm all for trying to minimize the number of innocent civilians injured or killed, but when that ideal starts getting "the good guys" wounded or killed, it's time to start re-evaluating the situation!

Mark