3 MARINES KILLED, 7 INJURED IN GRENADE LAUNCHER ACCIDENT NEAR AL-KUT

Fox News Channel ^ | April 23, 2003 | N/A

[Illbay]

3 Marines were killed and 7 injured when test firing a new kind of grenade launcher. This happened near the Iraqi city of Al-Kut.

The Marines were part of the First MEU.

[Illbay]

Thank you. I was going to reply but decided not to dignify it.

I knew that fellow-FReepers would put the guy straight.

He ought to be irritated at Fred Mertz, not me.

[Illbay]

Hey, everyone needs a hobby.

[Fred Mertz]

I'll continue to express my opinions regardless of your rants, Illboy.

[Illbay]

As the weisenheimer in Tenth Grade would invariably point out: "They're full of air."

[Illbay]

Fine. And we'll continue to laugh at you.

[VRWC_minion]

Dude, you gotta remember the </sarcasm off> at the end of your post...

There was a time on FR when this wasn't even necessary. If you have ever read some of Jimrobs's posts you would get a sense of the type of "normal" discourse on FR.

Personally I hate the "Barf" comments and the < /sarcasm off> comments. They are not necessary and reduntant on a conservative site.

[ErnBatavia]

The "flame trigger" is set on Sensitive today, isn't it?

[Illbay]

I agree with you.

If you aren't perceptive enough to figure out when someone is being acerbic and when they are "series," then you ought not be here.

[Charles Martel]

I wonder if they're field-testing the OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon). The "XM-29" has had problems before involving it's unique semi-automatic 20mm grenade launcher. The grenade fuses can be set for air-burst over enemy positions, but in testing at least one grenade detonated before leaving the barrel.

[Illbay]

Hm, that sounds pretty close to what happened.

Let's see if you're right.

[FreeTheHostages]

Fine. And we'll continue to laugh at you.

Hmm, I'm not laughing. Although, Illbay, I did find your sarcastic post and the ensuing confusion mildly amusing, it really didn't work as a taunt of Fred 'cause Fred wasn't suggesting any kind of "imperialist" cover-story. He just thought it might be a "cover story" for something else.

Frankly, when I read this, the thought did cross my mind that there might be more to this story, inasmuch as it's unlikely that we're generally using Iraq to test new weapons system. Mr. Mertz just said what it sounded like to him, and, hey, he could be right. His observation isn't weird or conspiratorial or laughable, in my opinion.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Possibly they took some 40mm Mk19 automatic grenade launcher ammo (which is hotter) and tried to shoot them through the M203 tube which is slung under the barrel of the M16.

I suspect,(this is a wild ass guess Fred), that a bunch of gung ho marines (God Bless them though He didn't make them smart enough to get in the ARMY) found some Russian (or the Iraqi knock off)made RPG and before destroying the lot wanted to test fire a couple of them. I do not believe anything new and low tech would be sent to combat troops involved in a short time war.

[Illbay]

Well, except I know that ol' Fred despises President Bush, and is a staunch Buchananite.

[Neets]

I am laughing...hysterically...

I got Illbays sarcastic meaning and I also get Fred's Tinfoil conspiracy submlininiable posting.

[Neets]

*feigning shock at that revelation!!!


<*snort>

[COBOL2Java]

Personally I hate the "Barf" comments and the < /sarcasm off> comments. They are not necessary and reduntant on a conservative site.

I know, but Illbay got some hot reactions, so I thought it might help. Notwithstanding, I agree with you.

[FreeTheHostages]

Pshaw. :P

[FreeTheHostages]

Well, 3 marines did die, so I guess the fun is a little tempered, I'm sure we all agree. I do think there's more to the story and I hope by this evening we know it.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

LOL