The Vietcong did this kind of crap. Worked at the PX in the day; set charges at night.
Frankly, I was wondering just how long it was going to be before something like this happened. They're even crazier than the Vietcong.
This was my speculation yesterday (see related thread) based on what forensic evidence I could garner from news reports and the few photos that were coming in.
The damage and casualties were not consistant, IMHO, with incoming ordnance, even though the "experts" were attributing it to a 122mM Katusha rocket.
20 - 30 casualties is not inconsistant with a Hamaas Islammakazi body-bomb in a target rich environment like an Israeli Bar Mitzvah.... or a crowded Mess Tent.
I'm disapointed (to put it mildly)that such a tactical opportunity was presented on a virtual silver platter to the enemy in that compound... it seems that lessons learned the hard way in VietNam have all but been forgotton... at least by the brass around Mosul.
The guys have felt like sitting ducks in that mess hall and other buildings in the compound ever since they got there - this attack came as no surprise. And that's from "inside information" you might say.
Let's hope some of the HQ Staff gets a clue before this becomes a habit!
That was the reason we did NOT have local hire KP's in the boonies. I always felt uneasy when in base camp and had Vietnamese KP's and other workers around me. The really scary ones were the barbers with a straight razor in their hands.
They also knew when attacks were coming and the ones that were actually on our side (I'm sure they had to play both sides for fear of getting taken out) would tell our guys when to sleep low that night.....
My barber was a VC colonel and was killed in the wire one night. I was real careful about haircuts after that!
From my previous deployments you'd be amazed how much access the locals have to everything, just amazing. I'm surprised only that it took so long. Another I don't frigging undersstand: with daily mortar attacks, why is the mess hall after 2 years in a tent and not a hardened structure with a sandbagged roof?