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Iraqi civilians feed hungry US marines
AFP/Yahoo ^ | 3-29-03

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]

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.


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 ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: actsofkindness; iraq; iraqicivilians; iraqifreedom; supplylines; war; warlist
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To: tomahawk
Fox reported this early this morning. Commanders were warning their men not to eat anything offered to them.
21 posted on 03/29/2003 12:09:12 PM PST by Redcloak (All work and no FReep makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no FReep make s Jack a dul boy. Allwork an)
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To: baylorbaylor
I wouldn't eat that crap, never know what's been put in.

Not for anything but what are our marines doing "hungry"?

22 posted on 03/29/2003 12:09:28 PM PST by AAABEST
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To: merrin
Do we really believe this story?
23 posted on 03/29/2003 12:12:38 PM PST by Ditter
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To: don-o
It's a good thing.

It's a good thing until someone gets a bright idea to lace your drumstick with strychnine. In a situation where you don't know who the enemy is trust is not an option.

24 posted on 03/29/2003 12:13:56 PM PST by AAABEST
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To: tiredoflurking
Is it a good idea for them to be eating this food, though? After hearing about terrorists dressing as civilians, I'm not sure they should trust food that's given to them by any of these people, well-meaning though they may be.

I agree. There was a post a couple of days ago about an American in Russia who was poisoned by hot chocolate someone gave him.

25 posted on 03/29/2003 12:14:36 PM PST by Paleo Conservative (Time to bomb Saddam!)
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To: AAABEST
It's a good thing until someone gets a bright idea to lace your drumstick with strychnine. In a situation where you don't know who the enemy is trust is not an option.

I would assume that our guys were pretty careful about that, don't you think?

To me, it was a touching and encouraging story.

26 posted on 03/29/2003 12:18:35 PM PST by don-o
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To: baylorbaylor
Related article - Iraqi civilians offer food to hungry Marines - but doctor warns of poisoning danger
27 posted on 03/29/2003 12:19:07 PM PST by HAL9000
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To: All
"Man I never thought a boiled egg could taste so damn good," one burly marine observed.
28 posted on 03/29/2003 12:21:15 PM PST by stlnative
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To: baylorbaylor

29 posted on 03/29/2003 12:21:44 PM PST by xm177e2 (Stalinists, Maoists, Ba'athists, Pacifists: Why are they always on the same side?)
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To: sciencediet
I believe this story. Nobody could make up that Hotel Calfiornia line.
30 posted on 03/29/2003 12:21:50 PM PST by Toskrin
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To: AAABEST
Interesting dilemma....

In the middle east, to offer someone your food shows comraderie more than anything else. Sharing a meal creates an almost sacred bond between the two.

To refuse offered food in a mideast culture is to refuse the offer of friendship, and an insult.

31 posted on 03/29/2003 12:21:52 PM PST by jude24 ("Facts? You can use facts to prove anything that's even REMOTELY true!" - Homer Simpson)
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To: baylorbaylor

Iraqi civilians feed hungry US marines

CENTRAL IRAQ (AFP) - Iraqi civilians fleeing heavy fighting have stunned and delighted hungry US marines in central Iraq (news - web sites) by giving them food, as guerrilla attacks continue to disrupt coalition supply lines to the rear.


AFP Photo

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 (news - web sites).

"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.


32 posted on 03/29/2003 12:22:18 PM PST by Paleo Conservative (Time to bomb Saddam!)
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To: baylorbaylor
Sorry, I should include the link to the cartoon's homepage (the rest of the cartoons at that site are just as good)
33 posted on 03/29/2003 12:22:28 PM PST by xm177e2 (Stalinists, Maoists, Ba'athists, Pacifists: Why are they always on the same side?)
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To: Paleo Conservative
I agree. There was a post a couple of days ago about an American in Russia who was poisoned by hot chocolate someone gave him.

???

In my town, two days ago, one old boy hit another 'un with a tire iropn.

34 posted on 03/29/2003 12:22:55 PM PST by don-o
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To: StriperSniper
Great picture. Everything but the kitchen sink? No, including it.
35 posted on 03/29/2003 12:24:23 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: don-o
In my town, two days ago, one old boy hit another 'un with a tire iropn.

Was the boy enaged in pro-American and pro-war demontrations? The American I was referring to was.

36 posted on 03/29/2003 12:25:32 PM PST by Paleo Conservative (Time to bomb Saddam!)
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To: Diogenesis
Ping: Here's a great article about the kindness shown by the Iraqis to Americans. These Iraqis are grateful to us for fighting the Ba'athists in Iraq. There are some pictures, too.
37 posted on 03/29/2003 12:26:12 PM PST by TenthAmendmentChampion
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To: baylorbaylor
great article from the pt of view that some iraqis are welcoming us...

the most disturbing fact is the supply issue - how can this country, so rich, so powerful, allow our troops go hungry and thirsty in the front lines...the brasses and rumsfeld have a lot to answer...pentagon insists there is no supply shortage problem, tell this to the marine who thought bioled eggs taste so good!
38 posted on 03/29/2003 12:26:25 PM PST by FRgal4u
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To: AAABEST
" I wouldn't eat that crap....."

ditto..... and no way Jose.

I can't believe they'd be that stupid.

39 posted on 03/29/2003 12:28:03 PM PST by gitmogrunt
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To: baylorbaylor
Must be quite a dilemma for our soldiers. Being fundamentally trusting and decent people, it has to be hard for any American to get his/her mind around the concept that someone's hospitality could as easily be an attempt to kill you. Add hunger to the equation along with sleep deprivation which can seriously impair judgement. I just can't imagine. God be with them and give them discernment.
40 posted on 03/29/2003 12:28:59 PM PST by sweetliberty ("To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.")
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