Two DynCorp IPTs (aka: Mercs) Blown Up in Basra Yesterday

[leftchick]

Basra sure is heating up. I saw another attack today on a British convoy.

Jan. 18, 2006, 2:40PM
(BW) Two DynCorp International Police Trainers Killed in Southern Iraq


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/prn/texas/3595954.html

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2006--Two international police liaison officers (IPLO) working for DynCorp International were killed today in Iraq when a roadside bomb hit their convoy near the city of Basra. One other American IPLO and an Iraqi translator were injured in the attack. The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 pm local time.

Killed in the attack were Richard Thomas Hickman, 52, of Cave Spring, Georgia, and Roland Carroll Barvels, 42, of Aberdeen, South Dakota.

<snip>

The two men were assigned to the Civilian Police Advisory Training Team (CPATT), the component of the U.S. military Multinational Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I) responsible for the U.S.-led effort to train and equip the 135,000-member Iraqi police service. DynCorp International recruits, trains, equips, and supports the 500-member U.S. contingent of trainers through a contract with the U.S. Department of State.



British soldiers walk towards a vehicle destroyed by a roadside bomb in the southern Iraq city of Basra January 18, 2006. A roadside bomb killed two U.S. private security contractors and seriously wounded a third in Basra on Wednesday, the U.S. embassy said. A spokesman for DynCorp International, a U.S.-based security contractor, confirmed that two of its employees, who were assisting with Iraqi police training, were killed in the attack. Picture taken January 18, 2006. REUTERS/Atef Hassan

[The2ndWheel]

1. Go Aberdeen!

But seriously, I really feel bad about this. No, really. Seriously. Not kidding.

[MrModerate]

2. Not sure why Basrah is heating up . . .

The Shiites own the police (aka "death squads"), the election results (when they're finally released) will put the Mullahs firmly in control, so who's blowing up who?

Maybe the IPLOs are trying to stand up a real police force and not simply the execution arm of the local religious leaders?

[txindy]

3. Wow, pretty Chevy Suburban in that picture. So,.... white.

Do our troops get to be as clean as that SUV? Or are they usually forced to spend their days all sandy and sweaty? What kind of priorities does that suggest, anyway?

I'm sorry to say I have little compassion for mercs, so I'll just comment on the picture. A telling picture, imo.