Wednesday, September 03, 2003
War News for September 3, 2003
Bring ‘em on: Casualties reach ten US soldiers wounded in action every day. “The number of those wounded in action, which totals 1,124 since the war began in March, has grown so large, and attacks have become so commonplace, that U.S. Central Command usually issues news releases listing injuries only when the attacks kill one or more troops… The result is that many injuries go unreported…Fifty-five Americans were wounded in action last week alone”
Bring ‘em on: US troops under mortar fire near Tikrit.
Bring ‘em on: Four US troops wounded by IED near Tikrit.
US soldier killed, ten injured in helicopter accident.
Abel-Aziz al-Hakim, hand-picked member of Bremer’s Iraqi Governing Council who yesterday condemned US occupation, promises not to fight against the occupation but defies US order to disarm Badr Brigade.
Report from Baghdad: Murder and mayhem on the streets. “We’re making great progress.”
Lebanese cleric warns Iraqi Shi’ites will join resistance if occupation continues.
Attempted assassination of Shi’ite cleric near Baghdad shrine.
Bush approved Iraqi war plan in August 2002. A secret Joint Chiefs of Staff after-action review, leaked to the Moonie Times, says the part of the plan to search for weapons of mass destruction received the worst possible evaluation: “Division of responsibility for planning and execution was not clear. As a result planning occurred on an ad hoc basis and late in the process. Additionally, there were insufficient assets available to accomplish the mission. Existing assets were tasked to perform multiple, competing missions.” So let me see if I understand this: the administration failed to adequately develop a plan to execute the mission that they said justified war in the first place.
Great Moments in Bush Diplomacy No. 35882 in the series:
Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg propose an extra-NATO military command. “The idea was born amid great European opposition to the US-led war against Iraq particularly from the four nations who proposed it.” Richard Boucher throws a Bush-class tissy-fit and contemptously calls all four countries “chocolate-makers.” Other than a snarky mention by Maureen Dowd in the New York Times, US media fails to report the story.
This occurs on the same day Bush demands money, troops and mandate from the UN but insists on exclusive US control.
And on the same day the Congressional Budget Office reports that current US troop strength in Iraq is unsustainable. US must reduce troops levels by half, activate more Guardsmen or extend current tours past one year.
Nice going, Whistle-ass! Your State Department is almost as entertaining as the Ren and Stimpy Show.
Other news:
US troops in Iraq want UN help. Even French help: “We were here the first time, side-by-side with the French," said Evans, also from Texas, recalling the 1991 Gulf War. "They were great to work with, and as funny as hell. Some of their tactics were like 'wow, I would never have done it that way' but we learned from each other."
Hey Boucher! Those chocolate-making box-heads in Berlin read Maureen Dowd.
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