Marines and guardsmen 'embed' with the Iraqi army in restive Anbar

[Barrett808]

...While Military Transition Teams (MiTT) of American advisors can be found with Iraqi troops all over the country, in Habbaniyah the teams are unique in how they live, sleep and eat with the Iraqis.

"You don't understand people until you live with them," said US Marine Colonel Juan Ayala, whose chiseled features hint at his Indian origins. "The good thing with this advisor program is that we actually get to live with the Iraqis."

The marines are here with the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Iraqi Division, one of the oldest and most battle-tested units in the Iraqi army.

Scattered throughout the area are 150 officers and non-commissioned officers, mostly marines, among the 1,400 men of the brigade, meaning two marines usually accompany patrols of 20 to 30 Iraqis.

Unlike MiTT teams elsewhere which have their own guarded bases separate from the Iraqis with their own US contractor-supplied food, the marines eat the Iraqi food and share their humble accommodations -- especially in the spartan advance bases.

(more)

http://channels.netscape.com/news/story.jsp?floc=ne-world-12-l4&idq=/ff/story/7000%2F20060617%2F1105000003.htm&sc=shmideast

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Why oh why am I reminded of oh Vietnam?

Oh yes, we did the SAME THING...

Same shit different war...

[daleo]

2. Was that the early stages of Viet Nam

When they were called advisers, or something like that?

[bahrbearian]

3. This Quagmire is still young

[daleo]

4. I am afraid you are right

At "only" 800 military deaths per year, influential sectors of the American elites may think this can go on indefinitely.