Posted on 03/29/2003 11:53:24 AM PST by baylorbaylor
Edited on 03/29/2003 12:18:57 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
CENTRAL IRAQ (AFP) - Iraqi civilians fleeing heavy fighting have stunned and delighted hungry US marines in central Iraq by giving them food, as guerrilla attacks continue to disrupt coalition supply lines to the rear.
Sergeant Kenneth Wilson said Arabic-speaking US troops made contact with two busloads of Iraqis fleeing south along Route Seven towards Rafit, one of the first friendly meetings with local people for the marines around here.
"They had slaughtered lambs and chickens and boiled eggs and potatoes for their journey out of the frontlines," Wilson said.
At one camp, the buses stopped and women passed out food to the troops, who have had to ration their army-issue packets of ready-to-eat meals due to disruptions to supply lines by fierce fighting further south.
Civilians have remained largely out of sight since the invasion began 10 days ago. Towns and villages are virtually deserted, prompting speculation that most had shifted to safer ground before the fighting began.
Corpsman Tony Garcia said the food donation was an act of appreciation for the American effort to topple the brutal regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"They gave us eggs and potatoes to feed our marines and corpsmen. I feel the local population are grateful and they want to see an end to Saddam Hussein," he said.
"It was a lovely, beautiful gesture."
Khairi Ilrekibi, 35, a passenger on one of the buses, which broke down near the marine position, said he could speak for the 20 others on board.
In broken English he told a correspondent travelling with the marines: "We like Americans," adding that no one liked Saddam Hussein because "he was not kind."
He said Iraqi civilians living near him were opposed to Saddam Hussein and that most were hiding in their homes and were extremely tired.
Lance Corporal David Polikowsky stood guard over 70 POWS near the broken down bus, saying how grateful he was for food cooked and donated by locals, which included oranges.
Looking on warily at the POWS he was guarding, who included two Jordanians, as well as an Iraqi colonel, captain, major and second lieutenant from special forces and the regular army, he said he had been moved by comments from local civilians.
He said they told him: "We welcome you. What is your name? We will pray for you."
He said another group of POWS, largely conscripts, had been moved south.
"They told me they wanted to go to America after the war. I said where. They said California. I said why? They said the song Hotel California and they left singing Hotel California."
Soldiers with this marine division -- on the east of a two-pronged thrust toward Baghdad -- have seen some of the fiercest fighting of the war so far.
They battled their way through heavy fire at Nasiriyah, Sharat and Rafit before pausing to resupply within 250 kilometres (180 miles) of Baghdad on Thursday.
Prisoners have been taken and pockets of displaced people carrying white flags have been seen along the way. Some have waved, others have asked the marines for cigarettes and water.
But US troops have been keeping a wary distance from civilians, mindful of reports that some Iraqi forces were mingling with civilians in order to drift through American lines and launch surprise attacks.
Ambushes and harassing fire along the massive communications lines to Kuwait in the south have caused casualties and disrupted supplies of water, food and fuel to the frontline troops.
Garcia and Wilson are attached to a Shock Trauma Platoon with the Marine Expeditionary Force and have treated about 20 civilians for war-related wounds in the past five days.
As troops munched on their feast, one medic warned the food could have been deliberately contaminated.
He was quickly disregarded as the hungry marines forged ahead to make a fondue out of a donated tin of Australian processed cheese, but the potatoes were eaten before the cheese could melt.
"Man I never thought a boiled egg could taste so damn good," one burly marine observed.
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...
I would say they are pretty darn hungry if they are down to eating one MRE a day so they don't completely run out of food.
An Iraqi farm worker walks Thursday through the remains of a building that was struck by artillery shells and missiles Wednesday in the Al Usfiya farming complex, about 10 miles south of Baghad. ALI HEIDER/AP
The caption forgot to mention the liberation of the a/c unit...
The angle I would look at is this: The refugees wanted to give the Marines a gift, and were undoubtedly glad that they actually had something the Marines could appreciate. It would be heartwarming, but not all that surprising, for villagers to offer a small group of Marines a home cooked meal as an alternative to field rations. That refugees did it is really impressive.
I believe them too. I'd also like to apologize for taking 12 years to get there.
Slight irony here, the story is attributed to reporting by AFP, and AFP IS the French Press Agency :)
Lol, when I first read that, I went uh oh. I thought the song had to do with being in hell. Now I'm trying to remember the darn lyrics. Are you sure it's about pot?
Considering the minimum number of calories in a single MRE is about 1200, two MREs equal 2400 calories - perhaps a bit low for a strapping young marine involved in heavy activity, but nowhere near starvation rations, particularly in a warm climate.
I'm sure Bill just had a strong sentimental attachment to that sink.
You Bush bot neo-pinkos are all alike. Go straight for the poster instead of arguing the point. Every time. Like clockwork. It's all about Georgie and all with opposing opinions must be taken after.
You're all schizzy freaken nutjobs.
I'll make one more attempt to stick to the point before I wave bye-bye.
I see things with my own eyes, I don't watch the networks. Anyone could run across a desert at full speed if you don't want your men to get any sleep, you want your logistical assets to be left behind and you want to leave your ass wide open. Not that it shouldn't ever be done, but at least there should be a reason.
We ran across a desert at a gazillion miles an hour to sit 50 miles outside of Baghdad? Can you tell me the purpose? No you can't, because you haven't the slightest clue, not the foggiest idea. I got news for you, neither does anybody else so don't feel bad. What's funny is that anyone thinks that this is the work of military genius.
Take of your political glasses for two seconds and watch FOX News, they really are rationing MRE's and they really have outran their supply trains, and they really are sitting in the desert waiting, and those mechanics really did get killed because some very basic and ancient military doctrine was ignored. That's secure the ground you capture.
See, for some odd reason some of us (like you) think every General is a paragon of virtue. Some Generals are the cream of the crop, some are the bottom of a cesspool, some are something in between. They all love types who swallow everything that's fed to them. Gives them elbow room.
You should see the look on people's faces when I tell them we eat in Tijuana when I make my perscription medicine run. Knock on wood, so far so good. There is a little stand right under the walk over bridge that sells great tacos, among other things. They shave the meat off an undetermined animal leg, pile it on homemade tortillas. You can then go to the condiment stand and pile on cabbage, fresh salsa, and guacamole. Wash it down with genuine Dos Equis or Corona. Mmmmm goood :)
Dude have some faith. I don't have cable, know better than to believe the spin on regular tv; I don't have a clue about how to run a war, and don't need to. After 8 years of Clinton I again have faith in my president and my government. Shit happens to the best of plans, and things will work out exactly when they are supposed to. No one will starve out there, and they are going to be fine.
Just have faith.
I wouldn't bet my life on THAT.
Michael Savage, phone in.
Someone is stealing your schtick.
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