[mystery-ak]

Mike(hubby) just called from Kuwait, he's back from Balad and preparing to take his other Co up in the very near future.....his weapons on the convoy include: automatic weapons(SAWS),50 Cals, grenade launchers, and M16's sticking out of every window....every GI is issued the basic load of 3 magazines and re-supplied when needed......

[pawdoggie]

This "story" smacks of the "only one MRE a day" crap we heard at the start of Operation IF. Obviously, if the Army has one set of ROE, and the Marines have another, then ROE isn't being dictated from the top. There are some force protection issues (like convoys escorted by armored vehicles) that need to be addressed (as they were in other conflicts), and the GIs need to learn that they have to be on guard (but not trigger-happy) in dealing with the locals. I like what their doing offering rewards for turning in enemy combatants. Fight Saddam's blood money (for killing Americans) with some of our own.