US troops jumpy after fresh attacks in Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L26607890.htm

BAGHDAD, July 27 (Reuters) - <snip>"Things are worse now," said Staff Sergeant Kenneth Maxwell, nervously fingering the trigger of his machinegun on an armoured vehicle in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit on Saturday.

"They used to just attack us, mostly at night. But now they are attacking us during the day with AK-47s and RPGs (rocket- propelled grenades), at any American soldiers they can find," Maxwell said, eyes alert under the baking sun. snip

"We all agree that we need to fight the Americans," said Ali Abbas, whose sister is a nurse in the hospital. "But did they really have to hit them in a children's hospital?" snip

But many Iraqis resent the U.S. occupation and link the violence to anger over the way U.S. troops behave. Between 6,000 and 7,800 Iraqi civilians are believed to have been killed since the war began on March 20, though no precise toll is available.

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[saigon68]

1. SPIRALING DOWN THE DRAIN

This scenario sounds a little like war in the Balkans CA: 1944

[spinguru]

2. Are we surprised?

Any surprise they'd be jumpy? One soldier a day (+ or - a little) dying would make me a little concerned if I were over there. And the fact that they (Iraqis hostile to US forces) are now hazarding attacks during daylight wouldn't make one comfortable, now would it?

Ole W, if he's smart, needs to figure out an "exit strategy" for this quagmire without killing more of our young men and women. (Hmmm, perhaps he shouldv'e thought of the consequences before he Cowboyed in.) But then again, I don't expect he cares about what happens to our soldiers. That, along with the foundering economy, is what will give us the WH in 2004. . . Can't wait!

~spinguru

[lumpy]

3. The jumpy troops fingering their trigger

fingers will cause more Iraqi deaths. If our benevolent leader doesn't do something (haha) about the mess he created this will evolve into something similar to what is going on with the IDF and Palestinians.

[NNN0LHI]

4. You are right. And more Iraqi deaths will mean more American deaths

Where is this train headed too?

Don

[indictrichardperle]

5. its much worse than Palestine

you cant herd 25 million into a small walled off ghetto, in a country the size of California. Palestine doesnt have 350-400,000 well trained soldiers blended into the civilian population, with mortars and rpgs laying all over the place. The special republican guard are basically very good special forces...30,000 of them are enough to cause all kinds of fuc*ing trouble.

The next shoe to drop is if the Shia start turning into a "hezbollah" like resistance force.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48594-2003Jul25.html

This cleric seems to be calling for that.

[saigon68]

7. THEY ARE DYING LIKE DOGS FOR NO GOOD REASON !!!!!

For Freedom??? whatever that means.

For Justice??? whatever that means.

To Liberate the Iraqi people??? whatever that means.

To Fight Terrorism??? whatever that means.

FOR WHAT ??????????????????

[beanball]

10. For what?

MONEY

[grytpype]

6. Wanna guess how the military vote is going to go in 2004?

Might even make the margin of defeat for the Littlest King...

[NNN0LHI]

8. Don't start counting those votes yet. Some of these guys get into it

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0722/p01s04-usmi.html

<<snip>But despite letters punctuated with curses and imbued with hints of fading morale, a realistic streak is setting in, at least for troops. For Ms. Gasaways's husband, a brief return to the States left him itching to get back to his unit. To alleviate boredom at home, he'd toted a hand-held DVD player. "It's like they have two families: One's at home, the other's the Army," says Gasaway. "Sometimes you wonder if they care more about the Army."[p>

One young Army wife, pushing her son on a swing, takes solace in her husband's stalwart demeanor. "My husband's trying to keep his spirits up," she says. "He knows he's doing a job." And though complaints are loud and lengthy, many spouses say the Army is doing more for soldiers and families these days. Even as portions of the 3rd came home in a motorcade of buses last weekend, many heard from those still abroad via new satellite phones. A slew of videophones are making their way to desert camps. And to boost morale, a scuba-diving trip to Qatar is in the offing for troops in the desert for nearly a year.

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[TomNickell]

9. Today's High in Baghdad--110 F.

And that's down from 115 F last week.

Walking around in body armor. Yech.

[DemoTex]

11. Not quite NVA, but bolder (in the daytime, anyway) than VC

So there is no way this can be compared to Vietnam. No way. Eh, Rummy? Eh, Little Man Bu$h?

AK-47s and RPGs. Oh, man. Been there, done that shit.

[NNN0LHI]

12. I don't think our guys are going out too much at night, Mac

I am thinking they are staying holed up somewhere at night trying to sleep while taking an occasional incoming mortar round or 12? That has been my impression from the news reports. I think the curfew is still in effect too. So we are just setting up a few road blocks and blasting anything that comes near them during that period.

Don

[DemoTex]

13. Sleepless days and sleepless nights

You are absolutely right Don. They are on edge 100% of the time. How long can this go on? At least in the 'Nam the VC/NVA would back off for days at a time. This guerilla activity will only increase. We lost this fucking war the day Bu$h announced it. I saw it coming. You saw it coming. Most DUers saw it coming.