Same s--t, different decade.
Posted on 12/16/2011 6:43:21 AM PST by Evil Slayer
If the U.S. military held a yard sale, the rummaging would look a lot like what has been going on in Iraq.
Troops are leaving a bounty of leftovers as they exit the country this month, abandoning dining-hall tables and chairs, tents, air conditioners and old vehicles.
Unlike a traditional American yard sale, the military bric-a-brac is free. The stuff likely would be dumped back home. For an Iraqi force moving into once-bustling U.S. bases, the accouterments are just the thing to make the soldier’s life a little more comfortable as he takes on the full load of fighting insurgents against the government.
The State Department, which inherits the lead U.S. role in Iraq on Jan. 1, also is accepting hand-me-downs, such as armored vehicles and surveillance electronics to protect its turf.
“We’ve gone through a very extensive review process to determine what we need to take back to the United States, what gets reconditioned, what we can afford to transfer to the State Department, or to state and local governments back in the United States, or to the Iraqi government,” said ArmyMaj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq.
“It’s really the leftover things we’ve transferred to the Iraq government.”
The command estimates that it has bequeathed to the Iraqi government more than 4 million pieces of this and that, valued at $580 million. However, the military is saving more than $1 billion in shipping costs.
Here is some of what Iraq is getting when it assumes control of all U.S. bases:
• Containerized housing units, air conditioners and gym equipment.
• Generators, water and fuel tanks, cars and stoves.
• Tables, washers and dryers, portable chemical toilets; and large, portable concrete walls and barriers.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I can just imagine :(
Speaking as a former Task force S4, I was thrilled when told to leave behind equipment in Iraq. Made my life easier. Anyone who has gone through those navy customs inspections when you leave country would undoubtedly agree with me.
It will cost more to pack and ship it that the items have in value. More cost effective to abandon the stuff in place.
The Communist Traitor Mole In Chief is thrilled.
Not to mention how much lost/stolen/mislaid/ gear will be able to be marked down as left behind, saving years’ worth of investigation.
It used to be that such gear would be “added” to the load of a crashed helo etc. Now it can just be marked “Left in Iraq.”
paid for by the American taxpayers...half of me says leave it to ‘em and hopefully they’ll appreciate it; the other half wishes we had made everything we left nonfunctioning, irreparable, or totally destroyed (short of B52s doing their thing and dropping BIG bombs on the whole country...)
what a mess from the get-go...
my thoughts and prayers go out to all those Americans & allies who suffered injuries, and especially those who lost family & friends. Our “undeclared wars” are the worst on our national collective soul, I think.
US to Iraq: “How ‘bout a little something, you know, for the effort?”
www.iraq_ebay.com
Exactly how many people are going to be left there?
Gee, I’d like one of those generators.
They did already. They burned the American Flag as we were leaving.
Same s--t, different decade.
Ever had a garage sale?? Usually not worth the time...
It could go to our base in Kuwait, too.
Portable??? They make it sound like you can just toss them in the back of your little Toyota PU and move on.
Hahaha.
Generators and black water tanks. Ah, the sights, sounds and smells of Iraq.
I guess if we have to go in there again, we will be going against some of the best military equipment this country has.
I'll throw the BS flag. The new Arab colonel in charge will sell everything off, as personal property, within weeks. The Iraq soldiers will be sleeping on the floors without A/C within a month.
It will all be in terrorists hands within a few years. And we don’t get one drop of oil for the effort.
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