Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 181-190 next last
To: baylorbaylor
"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."

How funny! And this, friends, is the sum total of why the Europeans hate us so much: American culture is ubiquitous, and such as the Frogs--who consider their own culture the non pareil--can't stand it.

61 posted on 03/29/2003 12:53:28 PM PST by Illbay (Don't believe every tagline you read - including this one)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AAABEST
I can't, and don't, blame you for being cautious and being more than a little concerned that our troops may not be, but I don't think they are stupid (and I'm not accusing you of saying that they are). I'm sure that somebody tested the stuff before they were allowed to eat it.
62 posted on 03/29/2003 12:53:52 PM PST by P8riot (Looks like Deja Vu all over again)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: jude24
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.

There is something else to that also. In some Arabic cultures you are prohibited from harming a person with whom you've either hosted in your home or shared a meal with. Not sure which instance applies. Middle Easterners are known to be very hospitable if they like you.

I know the troops have to be extremely cautious, otoh, the civilians have to be careful what they do too. Especially within sight of POW's.

63 posted on 03/29/2003 12:54:13 PM PST by TheSpottedOwl (America...love it or leave it. Canada is due north-Mexico is directly south...start walking.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: ohioWfan
My son is not a Marine, he's in the Army......but he's 19, and he's always hungry.

Helloo00OO00oo. This is not "growing boy" hungry, this is "my chain of command had a brainfart" hungry. MRE's are not even fun to live on when their plentiful. You burn a ton of calories digging holes on 3 hours of sleep, trust me on that one sister.

64 posted on 03/29/2003 12:54:42 PM PST by AAABEST
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: AAABEST
Logic dictates that you don't take unecessary chances in life or death situations.

Agree.

It is slightly amusing that keyboard warriors seem to think they have a better grasp of the right course of action, vis a vis the hospitality of the folks we are liberating, than do the liberators.

Do you think our troops to be stupid?

65 posted on 03/29/2003 12:55:15 PM PST by don-o
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: TheSpottedOwl
There is something else to that also. In some Arabic cultures you are prohibited from harming a person with whom you've either hosted in your home or shared a meal with.

Excellent and factual observation. Thanks for making it.

66 posted on 03/29/2003 12:57:24 PM PST by don-o
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: cyncooper
ping.
67 posted on 03/29/2003 12:59:14 PM PST by EllaMinnow ("Dark days are coming for the Dark Side")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: M Kehoe
"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."

Precious!

I wonder what a Big Mac would taste like after being mailed to the front lines in a care package . . .

68 posted on 03/29/2003 12:59:17 PM PST by TPartyType
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: sweetliberty
Ahh, but Bill exposed the bilgebreath for what he is, an appeasenik who wants to push PC down the throat of patriotic Americans! Sadly, that littleman is a college professor shaping the minds of impressionable students. Liberalism is a deadly infestation in our college system ... and it's filtering down to infect even elementary schools! Did you read about the elementary 'teacher' who took her class to a peace rally? Now that scumbag ought to be fired!
69 posted on 03/29/2003 1:01:03 PM PST by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote Life Support for others.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: baylorbaylor
Isn't it against the Dasshole rules of war for out troups to accept food from them?

70 posted on 03/29/2003 1:02:49 PM PST by lawdude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: baylorbaylor
They better be careful with this...Greeks bearing gifts and all...
71 posted on 03/29/2003 1:06:14 PM PST by Bob J
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: baylorbaylor
My wife is from Morocco. In the middle-east, the offering of food is a cultural practice which is meant to communicate "we consider ourselves honor-bound to protect you." A good sign.
72 posted on 03/29/2003 1:06:43 PM PST by cookcounty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: baylorbaylor
Take that New York Times and France!

The article is sourced to AFP. AFP IS French.

73 posted on 03/29/2003 1:08:51 PM PST by BunnySlippers
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tomahawk
Yea, as nice as a gesture as it might be, it would make me a bit nervous.
74 posted on 03/29/2003 1:11:14 PM PST by Husker24
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: don-o
It is slightly amusing that keyboard warriors seem to think they have a better grasp of the right course of action, vis a vis the hospitality of the folks we are liberating, than do the liberators. Do you think our troops to be stupid?

Amused or not, you're definition of "keyboard warrior" differs from mine. My definition of "keyboard warrior" is one who was never a real warrior at all, but thinks they have a "grasp" on things from behind their keyboard.

Fact is they shouldn't be needing food from the locals, but I can't blame them for taking it if they're that hungry. Forget poison, there are many reasons for the LOGIC behind not eating the local's food, even if they are partisans. I was out of commision for a week because of a nasty case of dysentery. That's because they fertilize their food with human feces over there.

I think I'll end the conversation there don-o. You're going south on me and putting thoughts in my head, because you're not hearing what you want to hear. Come back and talk to me when you lose that fresh tone of yours. I tried to be nice.

75 posted on 03/29/2003 1:14:52 PM PST by AAABEST
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: BunnySlippers

V bump!


76 posted on 03/29/2003 1:16:14 PM PST by cgk (the Mrs half)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: tiredoflurking
It is much better to have it sent stateside for analysis, I know I would....
/sarcasm off
77 posted on 03/29/2003 1:17:29 PM PST by bwteim (bwteim=Begin With The End In Mind)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: TPartyType
"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."

I wonder if they know this song is about THC (marijuana)?

78 posted on 03/29/2003 1:20:16 PM PST by ez (Were it not for the brave, there would be no land of the free.-Lcpl Gomez USMC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: StriperSniper
Not sure what good that is going to do him out in the desert...
79 posted on 03/29/2003 1:22:35 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: baylorbaylor
And from on Yahoo at that...not known for their conservative news posting posture.

Amen!
80 posted on 03/29/2003 1:26:40 PM PST by wardaddy (G-d speed our fighters!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 181-190 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson