I had to share this article about soldiers in Iraq seeing the futility in driving around constantly getting shot at or targeted with IEDs. They are basically slacking off or using the ‘look busy’ technique. Thats all we did while on base. It was a constant game of avoid ‘work’ and appear busy.

One soldier said “We were hit by so many roadside bombs we became incredibly demoralised, so we decided the only way we wouldn’t be blown up was to avoid driving around all the time.

“So we would go find an open field and park. Then we would call our base every hour to tell them we were searching for weapons caches in the fields and doing weapons patrols and everything was going fine.

“All our enlisted people became very ­disenchanted with our chain of command.”

Another soldier said, “We’d go to the end of our patrol route and set up on top of a bridge and use it as an over-watch position. We would just sit with our binoculars and observe rather than sweep. We’d call in radio checks every hour and say we were doing sweeps.”

Why would troops want to drive around and potentially get blown up when they could drive off to a field and avoid conflict?

Huzzah….I’m going back to Iraq! Months of “BOOM!” and “I’d do anything for a beer right now!”  

Oh…and wot this guy says…

Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Berkshire, England, died in an attack by US warplanes in Iraq in March 2003.  It was a “Blue on Blue” incident, and not one of malice. But, the inquest into his death is causing quite a bit of news over here, primarily because of the cockpit footage (with sound) from the A10 Tank Buster, which the Ministry of Defence (MoD) denied the existence of.  And then, when the video did come to light, the MoD refused to enter it into evidence at the hearing because it was classified Secret (within the collective agencies).  Things being as they are, the video entered the public domain soon after when a tabloid managed to get a copy of the footage and the video was subsequently declassified by the US in order for it to be viewed at the inquest.

Well, apart from the egg on the face of the MoD, which is not the most trusted office at present (in the eys of the public), and whether it will have to answer for its denied stance, is whether the pilot(s) of the aircraft involved will face a court regarding their actions.  Allegedly, the pilot(s), not yet named, are still serving, have been promoted (one to colonel) and are teaching novice pilots how to fly.  Bear in mind that the same pilots were apparently novice in 2003 also.

Having watched part of the footage, heard the recorded voices and read the transcript of the incident, I don’t suspect anything above and beyond a blue on blue, which although tragic and sad is an unfortunate occurrence in war.  But, I do harbour other concerns regarding the way Britain willingly handed over four bankers to US courts for trial on some money/fraud incident, yet when the shoe is on the other foot the US doesnt appear so willing to show openess.  Now, I understand it can be fragile, but I very much doubt the classification of the footage served to protect any deeper operational need other than to perhaps avoid what may (hopefully not) move on to a hunt to identify the pilots.

The important part. The only part is putting to rest an incident whereby soldiers of the same coalition happened upon each other and a death ensued.  Perhaps we can learn why.  Perhaps we can learn how not to let it happen again.

If you are interested in reading up on this story and keeping abreast, follow the BBC.  Strangely, I didn’t find mention of it on a US Site, but I am probably mistaken.

Whilst the Americans cannot be legally obliged to help, they should do so, bearing in mind they are our allies

Constitutional Affairs minister Harriet Harman

OK… They executed Saddam after a way too long public spectacle also referred to as a trial. And this solves what? Does anyone remember the name Osama Bin Laden? hmm. Where is he? Why hasnt he been executed? Whats going on? Whats the point of our 3000+ dead US soldiers in Iraq? Wasnt Bin Laden last seen in Afghanistan… not Iraq?

Hmmm. So, in the Public area of this sin bin, Mob posted this weird stuff.  Now, how the chips does that work then? How do you mime for god? Im lost. Its got to be some amazing American stuff that I just don’t get. And..as usual, I make a general disclaimer that says “cos Im a Brit, I dont think the USA is full of mentalists”, or I wouldnt be a friend of Mob..would I? Okay..I know what you are going to say, “But Mob really is in need of sectioning”, but its just not true I tell ya! True, he does have a weird fetish for dead old ladies, but thats by the by.

Anyway…I digress…

HOWEVER..I bet I would pay to see them. Why? Cos on the surface it sounds like total rubbish. And thats enough for me to part with good money for bad ideas. Hey, Im reknowned for dismissing things before trying them, so these weirdo mimes get my vote. If they can turn me to God, then obviously its a good thing. But, on the surface, it looks like shite.

So, back to my paultry country.  In the last week, I have listened to debates about not wearing red poppies on rememberance day and chagning them for white ones cos we dont want to offend anyone (bog standard political correctness shite although rememberance day is not religious blah blah) and that 3 prisoners have received monetary settlements out of court for protesting that their human rights were being contravened for not being allowed to get drugs in prison. Eh? Quick, give the rapists some live bait! They might sue!

And tonight his Tonyness (mr Blair) is speaking about the need to talk with Iran and Syria regarding assisting in Iraq. Hmm..arent they two of Bush’s Axis of Excrement? No matter, its all gone pear shaped anyway, so why not bring them in. Im guessing though that Syria will jump up and down shouting “pick me, pick me”, whilst Iran will say, “Yea. Sure. Now….piss off and let us have Nukes”.  Its all one big fat face saving exercise if you ask me. Okay, so you havent, but thats not important.

Other than that, Im well. Thanks for asking.

Well, its soon to come off when he plunges down from the gallows!

Mr Insane has been sentenced to death.  Get on with it and let’s move on.  But…no…the roundabout of opinions will surely go on about “flawed trial”, which, in Iraqi is that which Husseins appeal will surely focus on.

Regardless, I doubt anyone really believes that he has anything to do with what is still going on in Iraq today, but yet I do think that the world needs rid of the man, although I harbour doubt as to whether the people of Iraq actually believe that he was tried by Iraq Law as opposed to a set of rules written in another country and imposed upon their “new found” democracy and given the title “Iraq Law”.  This in itself will cause debate hereafter.

But…he is to die and then perhaps the world can forget about him.  He was a tyrant and regardless of who fills his shoes, its one less finger waggling dictator in this cruel world.

Good riddance I say. However, he is not the only criminal…is he!

 

liberty forum – I dont know if its true, false, or worse than the article states.

EDIT – My inside sources (friend who was at a nearby base next to Falcon) says that everyone is ok – no one was killed. The article is more or less just to give hope to the insurgents and their “cause”.

A really good gallery of Iraq photos: unembedded.net