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 ...
To be as aggressive as feasible -- to occupy as much of Iraq as soon as possible and to be as close to Baghdad as possible, as soon as possible. Or, as the General said yesterday at the Pentagon briefing, "Because we could."
Mull that over and swallow, our dear Bush basher. ;-)
Hey! They are people too!
(This message bought to you by PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Appliances ;-)
But honestly, he's not the issue here. Objectively speaking, there are mistakes being made that need to stop right away. Some very basic military doctrine is being ignored, such as not announcing your plans to the enemy and ensuring that captured land and supply assets are secure. Other things too. In the military there's a saying that goes strategy is done by pikers and logistics is done by pros.
This is by no means a failure, but this nonsense about everything going as planned is a just a bald faced lie. If they were planning on having marines eating one MRE a day then they're being lead by a$$holes and we need to fire every singe one of them. If any of you have served you're familiar with the term "no excuse sir". When it comes to the lives and well being of people you're in charge of, you don't have the luxury of screwing up.
I admit to being cynical and a bit over the top at times, but I consider those men and women to be my brothers and sisters. It's very personal for me and I haven't slept right since this started. I also know how military lifers think. Some are the greatest and smartest people ever, who I'd give my life following. Schwartzcopf was one, and believe it or not McCaffery was a great leader (lousy drug czar) but great leader who was all shot up in Nam. He knew the score.
Please whatever you think about me is OK, but try to keep your objectivity. Not all of these generals are your friends, and some of them care not a whit for their troops. Some are career minded sociopaths who use the troops for their ends. I know this for a fact, think Clinton personality.
I'll try harder not to offend your anymore, but some things just need to be said.
AAA, you pegged me as a loser the first time you ever posted to me and have ridiculed me ever since, simply because of my support of the President. You have never had any respect for me, regardless of who I am, or the validity of what I believe, and you have posted some horrible, and completely false accusations about me.
Perhaps you are the one who should try to maintain some objectivity, rid yourself of some of your self-admitted cynicism, and realize that those of us who respect and trust the President and those he has chosen for his administration are not the abject fools you believe us to be.
It is apparent that you are almost anxious to believe the negative about what is going on, rather than objectively trying to find out the truth. You assume the generals are 'screwing up' because you are a cynic. Many of us assume they are not, because we are not.
I have a whole lot at stake here........the life of my son......but I will not participate in your cynical view of the military, and your complete lack of trust in their competance and ability. The generals may not be my friends, but I do not believe that they don't give a rip about the lives of the men and women fighting in this war. I believe that in the military, the attitude shown by the men reflects the attitudes of the Commander in Chief......and whether or not you hate him because you imagine him to be a 'semi-socialist,' he is a GOOD man and a STRONG leader who loves and respects his troops, and they respect him in turn.
For whatever reason you pinged me to your post, I'm not trying to offend you.......but some things just need to be said. Now, if you'll forgive me, I need to try to get some sleep. Even though I have never been more proud in my life than I am now of my son, the pain of missing him, and concern over his safety is exhausting.
I wonder if they were sending us a message.
Outstanding, sir or m'aam.
And a Tennessee prayer up for your son.
GO back and read that story again. It was Moscow, IDAHO.
Really? Then you have not lived enough on your own cooking, and then been invited to a home where a Mama (your's or someone else's) has cooked up a real supper.
That was what the GI was talking about when he talked about a real boiled egg tasting so good.
The spin is secondary. Keep a clear head.
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