Posted on 11/09/2004 5:15:38 PM PST by M 91 u2 K
WASHINGTON - Rambos they're not - yet.
Hundreds of troops from Iraq's new army that U.S. forces were relying upon to help in taking Fallujah have either failed to show up for the battle or deserted after they arrived.
"I do have reports of Iraqis not making the movement to Fallujah," said Army Gen. George Casey, overall commander of U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq.
In a phone link to the Pentagon, Casey said he could not confirm the accounts of journalists with U.S. forces at Fallujah that more than 300 troops from an Iraqi battalion of 500 deserted.
But without confirming the reports, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said, "One ought to expect from time to time you're going to see this type of thing."
U.S. troops were leading the way into Fallujah, trailed by Iraqi units, Casey said. Iraqi forces took over a hospital and a railway station yesterday after U.S. troops drove off defenders.
Both Rumsfeld and Casey said Iraqi forces performed well in recent fighting in Najaf and other insurgent strongholds, but Rumsfeld said, "There have been incidents when they have not performed so well."
In April, Marines stopped their assault on Fallujah to allow a "Fallujah Brigade" of Iraqis to take control, but the Iraqi force dissolved or went over to the insurgents. Rumsfeld said it was "hard stuff" to develop noncommissioned and junior officers to instill morale and cohesion in new Iraqi troops.
The Iraqis also come under pressure from their ethnic and religious groups to reject cooperation with the Americans.
Iraq's Muslim Clerics Association issued a statement warning Iraqi troops outside Fallujah that "history will record every drop of blood you spill in oppressing the people of your nation."
Casey and Rumsfeld said training Iraqis to provide their own security is the cornerstone of U.S. policy in Iraq. Once the city falls to the coalition, Casey said, U.S. troops will patrol with Iraqis, but the goal is to have "Iraqi security forces take over the presence in Fallujah."
Most Arabs never could fight worth a $hit. Look what little Israel did to them. Look what we did to them.
"Hundreds of troops from Iraq's new army that U.S. forces were relying upon to help in taking Fallujah have either failed to show up for the battle or deserted after they arrived.
"I do have reports of Iraqis not making the movement to Fallujah," said Army Gen. George Casey, overall commander of U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq."
WTF???
Never send an Arab to do an American's job.
amen to that !
Seems that the Iraqis have no problem with AMERICANS shedding blood to save their worthless hides, but ask them to fight for themselves and they tuck tail and run...
Sickening...
This is kinda unnerving. I hope they aren't turing into ARVNs. These people are gonna have to stand up and fight for there country. I know they've done it before so perhaps this is an isolated incident.
Seems that the Iraqis have no problem with AMERICANS shedding blood to save their worthless hides, but ask them to fight for themselves and they tuck tail and run...
Sickening...
sorry for the double-post...I'm still pretty new here...still getting used to this forum...
We should be relying more on B-52s in Fallujah.
Cowards by nature. They can't help it.
The message they got? These Americans are RUTHLESS! They KILL EVERYTING THAT MOVES! They will get the same feeling most got when they first watched R. Lee Ermy as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in "Full Metal Jacket".
Sure wish I was an active duty Marine and I could be there with them, instead of being reitred and following it on FR.
It seems that they have been spending too much "quality time" with the french.
And then the damn slammie clerics have been encouraging them to defy the American military.
Was Back UP lost in translation?
A people who truly want freedom will sacrifice. I'm sure these Iraqi troops cash their paychecks but what else will they do? I wonder.
I have to say I am for the least possible civilian casualties, but.....
I dont think one more soldier should die for these ungrateful people if they show our soldiers no mercy.
I feel we should all request in a strong voice that the bomb be dropped and God Rest their souls.
Foregive me but I cant understand how we could have so much military power and stand by and watch good Americans die.........I just cant do it any longer.
-ccm
They sure make good terrorists.
It is bad that they deserted. But, from what I know about what is going on over there, many of them are having their families butchered because of the actions they are taking for defending their country.
The numbers that deserted are a fraction of the troops that are still there fighting. We should focus on those that are willing to sacrifice their own lives/blood for their future; build them up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.