Who's Killing Our Boys

Houston Home Journal (Warner Robins GA) ^ | 08/10/2005 | William John Hagan

[WJHII]

Who’s Killing Our Boys By William John Hagan

Houston Home Journal Warner Robins, GA 08/10/2005

One third of the 1,402 American Soldiers killed by hostile fire have died as a result of “roadside bombs” or what the US military, euphemistically, refers to as Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). While, at the beginning of the American Occupation of Iraq, the term improvised appeared to describe these devices, this is no longer the case. In the past few months, it has become clear that these IEDs are no longer the makeshift bombs of the early insurgency, but sophisticated factory-manufactured weapons from a deadly source.

On July 24th, one of these new generation IEDs was used to kill four soldiers with the Georgia National Guard's 48th Brigade Combat Team. The bomb contained 600 pounds of explosives buried beneath a roadside in South Baghdad. An additional four soldiers were killed, six days later, by a similar 500 pound bomb that was buried under a Baghdad Street. According to Brig. Gen. Stewart Rodeheaver, Commander of the Georgia Brigade, his men had discovered about a dozen other bombs in the area. It is clear that these attacks took place with obvious complicity of the residents of South Baghdad. In the densely populated confines of South Baghdad, it would be impossible to bury dozens of half ton explosives under public roads without locals witnessing the events. We’re taking about major road work. The transgressions of these internal assaults become compounded when one realizes that we are not just fighting an internal insurgency but a well-financed foreign campaign to keep Iraq in tatters.

The IEDs, now being used in Iraq, are being supplied by Iran. As recently as last week, a large shipment of IEDs were captured as they entered Iraq from Iran. In direct response, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld gave a glaring critique about Tehran’s “meddling” in Iraqi affairs.

There are two reasons why Iran wants to keep the Untied States bogged down in Iraq: A successful Iraqi insurgency increases the chance that the United States will be forced into a Vietnam-like withdrawal from Iraq. Such a scenario would leave the Iranian government in a good position to bring Iraq’s Shiite majority into its sphere of influence. More importantly, the success of the insurgency decreases the likelihood that the United States will have the manpower left to expand the War on Terror to Iran.

If the United States plans to leave a democratic Iraq in its wake; then, it is left with no choice but to deal militarily with the Iranian theocracy that is threatening mid-East stability. According to a May 15th article in the Washington Post, the military has a classified contingency plan, known as COMPLAN 8022-22. This strategy is designed to strike Iran in response to "imminent" threats, using both conventional and possibly nuclear weapons against Iranian targets, without involving ground forces in the initial stages. This operation would be similar in nature to President Clinton’s war against Serbia. A source with close ties to the NSA and the former Carter administration also confirmed for me that in June 2004 the United States began preparations for such an attack on Iran with war exercises that included the majority of the US Carrier Fleet and the 6th Maine Expeditionary Unit. Publicly, the operation was know as Summer Pulse’04, which the Navy described as preparation for “a national emergency or crisis”. It seems that Iran’s current meddling in Iraqi affairs may leave the Bush administration with no choice but to take military action against Iran. The Iran Government should be well advised to consider this before assisting in the murder of any future US troops in Iraq.

Letters to the editor can be e-mailed to: hhj@evansnewspapers.com

William John Hagan can be visited on the web at: http://williamjohnhagan.blogspot.com

[WestVirginiaRebel]

And we can thank Peanut Boy for this.

[jocon307]

The worst thing about this nation building stuff we've gotten into in Iraq is that it has prevented us from going into Iran, Syria, etc.

I really think we should have done the WOT thing a different way.

That's why I say: somebody meaner in '08. Let them look back on our beloved W as a lovely guy, a compassionate guy. Look back in regret I mean. Gitmo, mon amour, and all that.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.


MEL's -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085111/posts

.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

Just for the LOVE of it...


See: 'ALOHA RONNIE' Freeper Home Page


Hit: 'posted by ALOHA RONNIE' -Here


Hit: 'Links' -There

.

[dufekin]

Look, the poll numbers for the Iraq war are in the mid-30s and dropping rapidly, and according to the latest poll, half of Americans are liberal Democrats. Recall also that the Democrats effectively control the Senate, which must approve all appropriations bills. And the surrender-minded Democrats have leveled fake-but-accurate ethics allegations against enough House members to carry that chamber in 2006.

Bush is a politically impotent lame duck. We've lost this war at home. The American people have no heart for anyone stronger than Bush. And there's no way that we can invade Syria or Iran (even though doing so would improve our chances of losing Iraq less severely).

The terrorists, in any case, are the moral, ethical, and legal equivalent of innocent civilians staging a peaceful political protest against the evil, bloodthirsty American occupiers, no matter how many Iraqis or Americans die at their hands. We just don't understand their take on the culture of death and destruction. If only we were to embrace this culture and forswear war and share our arms with the terrorists, then we might survive our loss. (I think that covers the Democrats' position nicely. Mine obviously differs, but I'm in the minority, I'm afraid.)

[dsc]

I would be really frightened if I thought Dub and the people around him were just now figuring this out.

[texas booster]

A source with close ties to the NSA and the former Carter administration also confirmed for me ...

Any chance of the NY Slimes checking to see if this "unnamed source" may have broken any clearance rules?

I can't imagine that the concept of invading Iran is any great secret, but to confirm it so distinctly seems a violation of the intelligence clearance agreement.

[WJHII]

I hope they try so I can stick my boot up their as...

[Gondring]

In the densely populated confines of South Baghdad, it would be impossible to bury dozens of half ton explosives under public roads without locals witnessing the events. We’re taking about major road work. The transgressions of these internal assaults become compounded when one realizes that we are not just fighting an internal insurgency but a well-financed foreign campaign to keep Iraq in tatters.

But, but, but...I thought they all loved us there! You mean, both the Iranians and the locals want us out? Aren't there any purple-fingers out there now to call us up and say, "Hello, American base? I'd like to report a bomb-digging crew on Main Street..."

And has Donald Rumsfeld explained how this isn't a matter of insufficient surveillance? It seems to me that if we had more eyes watching for these activities (via RPVs or aircraft or satellite or Mark I eyeballs or ...), then we might prevent many attacks.

[injin]

We are in fact 'at War' with Iran already....it is just that no one is telling us this yet.
Iran....Syria....both , it's time for them to taste American steel . Let's do it.

[WJHII]

This is why we need to be treating Iraq as a War and not a building project.

[WJHII]

I couldn't agree more. This time has come to crush these "people".

[Greenpees]

First Option: Take care of Iran through punishing airstrikes designed to show them that the supporting of insurgents is a lose-lose proposition.

Downside: American people have lost their nerve, will not support a widening of the Mideast battle lines (I hate this fact, but it's true according to polls and our illustrious MSM)

Second Option: Leave Iraq.

Downside: We will have to nuke the entire Mideast someday, because the Iraqi people are simply to stupid and cowardly to rebuke these maniacal mullahs that Iran will install as the birth of a caliphate (World of Islam). Their goals will all be the same as Osama.

Third Option:

Intercept every friggin truck and person coming in from Iran and search it, giving death/life sentences to all who arrive with weapons.

Reminding Iran, every friggin Day.. that someday Iraq will be as tough as they once claimed to be and more. And that someday their attempts at destroying a democratically electeted Iraq will be repaid with interest. Goal: Iraqi domination, and an overthrow of Iran's Mullahs, along with the installation of a temporary provisional government prior to free national elections.

BEEF UP THE IRAQI MILITARY NOW, UNDER A DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT.

Once this government has real military power. Trust me, they will not give it up to an Ayatollah.

[WJHII]

Option Four: Turn Iran into Glass.

[RightOnline]

Sorry. Utter B.S.

[dts32041]

Option five use the same border control methods we use in the US.

Oops Sorry we are already doing that.

[OKIEDOC]

I agree with the article.

There will be no peace in Iraq as long as Iran is shipping armaments across its borders.

If I was Bush Iran would have one hour to decide whether or not to cease and desists abetting the terrorists in Iraq.

I read stories like this and it really jacks my jaws.

I get so damn mad at our government letting this Iraq campaign turn into another politically correct untenable war trying to satisfy left wing anti-American fanatics.

Almost makes me have memory lapse when it comes to those scumbags in the ACLU and thats saying something.

[JSteff]

"It seems to me that if we had more eyes watching for these activities "

How about the British installing some of their citizen monitoring video cameras on every street?

Nah... guess they need them to watch their own citizens.

[Black Tooth]

It is clear that these attacks took place with obvious complicity of the residents of South Baghdad.

Is anyone surprised by this?