An Iraqi boy holds a leaflet in broken English that reads 'Fallujah, the cemetery of the Americans,' near a burning car in Fallujah. (AFP/Karim Sahib)
FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) -- In one of the bloodiest days in weeks for the U.S. military, five troops died when a bomb exploded under their military vehicle west of Baghdad on Wednesday. At least four foreign nationals, including one American, were killed in a separate attack and some of the bodies were burned, beaten and hanged from a bridge.*UPDATE* By now, everyone knows that the burned bodies of the four contractors were dragged from their vehicle, mutilated and strung up. Shades of Mogadishu, 1993. Some questions: Who were the contractors? What were they doing there? I've heard reports from NPR this morning that they may have been connected to the Department of Defense. APTV, the broadcast arm of the Associated Press, showed footage of a DoD identification card found near one of the bodies. Fallujah is considered so hot, however, that no Coalition or other allied forces operate there right now. About 4,000 Marines are based nearby, but they didn't come to help. No ambulances, no police came either. [UPDATE 2 AP is reporting that the four contractors worked for Blackwater Security, of North Carolina, (thanks, hah!) which provides security training and guard services. "The company said in a statement Wednesday that it was a government subcontractor providing security for the delivery of food in the Fallujah area."] The descriptions of what happened are horrible:
Falluja's streets were thick with men and boys and chaos. Boys with scarves over their faces hurled bricks into the burning vehicles. A group of men dragged one of the smoldering corpses into the street and ripped it apart. Someone then tied a chunk of flesh to a rock and tossed it over a telephone wire. "Viva mujahadeen!" shouted Said Khalaf, a taxi driver. "Long live the resistance!" Nearby, a boy no older than 10 put his foot on the head of a body and said: "Where is Bush? Let him come here and see this!"When crowds of men and boys desecrate bodies, this is no longer an insurgency made up of "dead enders" and foreign terrorists. This is a movement with popular support and it should be seen as truly frightening. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy operations director for Combined Joint Task Force 7, said the U.S. would be "undeterred" by these attacks. "To buckle under to a bunch of insurgents" would be the ultimate disgrace to the victims' memories, he said. In a press release from CJTF-7, Kimmitt called the attacks examples of "a slight uptick in localized engagements," which he said have had a "negligible impact" on the Coalition's progress. During the past week, Kimmitt said, daily engagements have averaged 28 per day against Coalition military forces, five per day against Iraqi security forces, and just under four per day against Iraqi civilians. This "uptick" has lead to a total of 50 dead and 300 wounded U.S. troops in March, making it the second deadliest month of the liberation/occupation/war since President Bush's "Mission Accomplished" stunt on May 1, 2003. Lord knows how many Iraqis are dead. The cumulative death toll is 599 Americans, 59 British troops and 42 other Coalition deaths, for a total of 700 soldiers dead. Again, no one knows about the number of Iraqi civilians killed. Meanwhile, he said, the Coalition is "stepping up its offensive tempo" to kill or capture insurgents. OK. Good. But bear in mind that Central Command has been saying that the capture of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein on Dec. 13, along with documents in his possession, allowed for the infiltration of insurgent cells.
American generals have said that these breakthroughs had given them the upper hand in the battle against Saddam loyalists and created the conditions for the American occupation authority to move forward with confidence to the planned handover of sovereignty under an interim government on June 30 and to an elected government in January 2006. At the same time, the generals have been saying that their main focus in the conflict has shifted to Islamic terrorists who they believe to have been responsible for many suicide bombings and other attacks on the Iraqi police, civilians and foreigners. These attacks, they say, have effectively carried the Iraqi conflict into a new landscape that makes the fighting here part of the worldwide war on terrorism.But today's slaughter was not an Islamic _jihad._ This was nationalism, not Islamism. But that distinction doesn't seem to matter much.
In a modulation of their assessments in recent days, the generals had begun to say that there may be a merging of diehard loyalists to Mr. Hussein and Islamic militants, with the two groups at least loosely coordinating their attacks. On Tuesday, Kimmitt, who had previously emphasized the growing role of Islamic terrorists in the conflict, said at a news conference that the military no longer considered the distinction between Saddam loyalists and militant Islamists to be so significant from the viewpoint of military operations. "I'm not sure trying to over-classify these different groups is helpful," he said. "It might help somehow in the intelligence community, in terms of trying to find out where they come from and trying to find some trails onto them. But on the operations side we just call them targets."Look, I understand that anyone trying to kill you is a target. I think most people get that. But not to keep that distinction in mind when you're making plans and tactics is a sure sign that the U.S. military has given up the battle to win hearts and minds. I fear the U.S. is on the verge of giving up even the pretense that Operation Iraqi Freedom was about Iraqis' freedom. God help the Iraqi people if that's the case. Coupling the awesome firepower that the U.S. military can bring to bear with angry, twitchy soldiers who have stopped seeing the Iraqi people as anything but "the enemy" is a recipe for massive civilian casualties, harsh reaction from the Arab street and more recruitment for radical Islamists like Osama bin Laden. But you shouldn't blame the troops for this attitude. No one who's not been there should dismiss the psychological conditioning a soldier must do to protect him- or herself from people who are trying to kill as many Americans as possible. A soldier almost _has_ to see the Iraqis as an enemy, otherwise, he ends up dead very quickly. While the deaths of those soldiers and contractors falls squarely on the a group of savage killers, the deaths of soldiers' souls rests -- in part -- on the war planners and politicians in Washington. You know who you are. George over at Warblogging has a picture, if you want to see. I don't want to put it up here, as I don't think it serves any purpose other than incite strong emotions, of which I think we're have plenty right now, thank you.
Bring our troops back and let the Iraqis kill them selves. They are a bunch of motherless cowards.
Joe,
What a strange coincidence: That’s kind of what I think of the Israeli’s and Palestinians (build a fence around ‘em, let ‘em fight it out, then shoot the last survivor).
Thank God neither of us are in charge around here. I say that because I only feel strongly about the Israel/Palestine conflict in moments of frustration—and that is never a reason to make momentous decisions.
I’m very much against this war, but since we’ve already kicked over the sand castle, we have both a moral and legal obligation to rebuild it.
Having said that, I hate that there are a small number of Iraqi’s that want Americans dead and humiliated. The Marines will happily call-in cluster-bomb strikes to answer that minority, so at least there is that small comfort.
As for our frustrations—take it out on Shrub and the goons who put our good men and women into the line of fire. Otherwise, we’ll be seeing this same tragedy played out in some other earthly hell-hole.
Some questions: Who were the contractors? What were they doing there?
From what I’ve heard, they were employees with a security firm from North Carolina called Blackwater. In other words, they were hired soldiers.
Apparently they are based outside falluja and do security tasks for the CPA (escort duties and such).
comment on updated post:
Did the White House have a plan for this? We’re not talking about terrorism here. This isn’t al-Queda or Hammas or any of the other goons out there. This is purely a nationalistic hatred of foreign occupation.
If the Japanese invaded and occupied Washington, I’d be stalking through Seattle with a stick and a brick, even though I’m thoroughly disgusted with Governor Locke.
I don’t in any way condone the brutality that the insurgents of Fallujah use in their “struggle”, and I cheer every Marine who gives his enemy a dirt-nap. Having said that, I do blame Shrub for putting these good men and women in harm’s way for a needless political stunt.
That picture is the most disgusting thing I’ve seen. And it’s REAL. For all those pro-war people out there I gotta wonder - do you still think this was a good idea? The last remnant of any positive result is fading fast, and will be gone soon. What I think we have here is a case of hard core reality. Anti war people had a much stronger grip on reality, while pro war people were much more idealistic, and fanciful…
“Im very much against this war, but since weve already kicked over the sand castle, we have both a moral and legal obligation to rebuild it.”
cthulhu: There’s one major problem with that line of thinking. It presupposes that we’re actually in control of the situation. But, as was the case in Nam, the situation seems to in fact be in control of us!
The Bush Regime’s vocal supporters have employed the phrase “draining the swamp” (fraudulently) to describe Iraq as a source of terrorism. In one other sense, though, it’s really quite appropriate: “When you’re up to your ass in alligators, it’s difficult to remember that your initial objective was to drain the swamp.”
In this particular case, the “alligators” don’t seem to be seeing things quite our way. (And who can really blame them?) Plus, this “swamp” seems to be breeding them rather vigorously.
All things considered, I get spitting mad when I think that Jay Garner was relieved of his position for having the “audacity” to advocate rapidly turning the reins of power over to the Iraqis themselves. How many lives that might have saved! And perhaps, had we done so, the elusive “peace with honor” might have been possible. Now I’m not at all sure it is.
Don’t get me wrong. Given a realistic opportunity to set things right in Iraq, I’d probably be on the same wavelength. I’m just not sure that opportunity exists any more.
Who were the contractors? What were they doing there?
Here’s what I’ve pieced together about who they were.
American Mercenaries killed in Fallujah blog
I posted a diary about this on Daily Kos and there is more interesting information in the thread.
Daily Kos Diary post
JMFeeney,
Nice to see you here as well as on http://www.warblogging.com =)
“There’s one major problem with that line of thinking. It presupposes that we’re actually in control of the situation. But, as was the case in Nam, the situation seems to in fact be in control of us!”
We don’t necessarily disagree here. However, no matter our actual level of control, we—the United States—still have an obligation to rebuild what we have destroyed. We Americans can agree or disagree on this point, but our feelings are almost moot: The United Nations will hold us to the obligations that we ourselves helped to create. The occupying power is responsible for the safety and well-being of the country occupied.
……we—the United States—still have an obligation to rebuild what we have destroyed.
If an arsonist burned down your house, would you want him to rebuild it?
Wouldn’t you want him to pay for it and get the hell out of your life while you rebuilt your house yourself?
I think I’m going to vomit.
“Nice to see you here as well as on http://www.warblogging.com =)”
Likewise, cthulhu. You make a lot of sense.
Frankly, I feel like I’ve spent far too long NOT making a habit of Christopher’s excellent blog. So I’ve been trying to correct that failure.
Incidentally, if I hadn’t said so yet, Christoper, well done. You’ve really kept apace of things, and then some. Good show!
Thank you very much, JMF. Good to see you around again. In the next day, I’m going to post about my plans for return — there are some changes in store, in light of the recent violence.
Too surrealistic for me, personally.
From the Blackwater USA website…
* Blackwater provides VALUE TO THE CUSTOMER
Blackwater is a SOLUTION PROVIDER
Blackwater provides QUALITY PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Blackwater EXECUTES WITH SPEED and EFFICIENCY
Blackwater provides THE FULL SPECTRUM OF SUPPORT TO THE CUSTOMER
Blackwater has THE PEOPLE TO EXECUTE ANY REQUIREMENT
When mercenaries start writing mission statements that sound like the usual fluff from corporate America, I’ll stretch a bit and say that perhaps it’s yet another sign that as a society we’ve become a tad bit numbed from the whole experience of what war entails. Reminds me of the Livermore Lab folks I talked to many years ago, on their way to work to design new nuclear weapons as I tried in vain to block their way. It was “just a job” or “I have to feed my family” they’d yell at me. Robert Jay Lifton talks about the psychological aspects of the war & empire mentalities, the psychic numbness of survivors, in his new book Superpower Syndrome
What a sad day, another one among many, and without a sea change in attitude, of many more yet to come, no doubt…
I’d be having second thoughts about going to Iraq right about now. They were killed because they were white; the attackers presumably had no time to discern that they were in fact mercenaries when they started shooting at the passing SUV.
I’d be having second thoughts about going to Iraq right about now. They were killed because they were white; the attackers presumably had no time to discern that they were in fact mercenaries when they started shooting at the passing SUV.
Then again, perhaps they were killed because they were in an SUV. The attackers probably figure that anyone in a big American 4x4 is probably Coalition personnel of some sort.
Arms and the Man has a link to a Mother Jones article about Blackwater: Soldiers of Good Fortune
From what I read and assimilated they( Iraqi) had been playing a deadly game of cat and mouse, the ‘insurgent’s’ ( locals I think) recognising the vehicles and the backup covering formation they use in case of one car becoming disabled. I feel part of the jubilation was from being able to attack the attackers in this deadly game. Crowd mentality occurs as well, with kids being egged on by peers and elders. ‘Blooding’ if you will.
The “cut and run” mentality I’m reading on this page is making me sick and will be the cause of more days like Falluja and Mogadishu. Osama bin Laden himself referred to Mogadishu in his famous interview saying Americans are weak and will “cut and run” when things get nasty.
Wether or not you agree with going to war in the first place you need to suck it up and coil your hand into a fist! You are in fight now and running will only ensure that the next time you fight (and you will have to) it will be in your own front yard! Or you can finish it now in the school yard currently known as Iraq!
Health care, social security and all those other wonderful things won’t exist if the United States doesn’t exist. Freedom is not FREE!
Good blogs. Great alternative views.
Mercs operate outside any SOP or ROE that apply to organized state military forces who are signatories to International conventions (Geneva convention etc) So, these cats can use “frangible bullets” and other weapons and loads that aren’t approved by the DoD. google: Frangible bullet Army Times. Read the rave report, and watch the test video on a pot roast!
Vinnell, Erinys, Blackwater, and of course, our old buddies at DynCorp. DynCorp was involved in that child-sex-slave ring operating in the former Yugoslavia, uncovered by whistleblower.
All these companies getting Pentagon loot. Oh, I mean YOUR loot.
Civilian deaths in Fallujah go unreported.
Be interesting to watch the US sink in the the abyss of moral equivalency. I think they’re already as low as they can go, but when the Marines go into Fallujah it’s going to be the end of humanity for a lot of those soldiers.
FYI,
Those Blackwater boys f*cked up on that joy ride through town.Clearly a mistake to take that route.
Of course they’re hired guns.So what?
They knew the risks, that’s why they’re paid big bucks.
They got ambushed and weren’t ready.End of story.
This is war, you idiots.What do you expect?
Besides, more Americans were shot in Atlanta last night than in all of Iraq, but does that make headlines?
Put it into perspective, folks, and don’t play into the bad guy’s strengths…
Hi names Eathen leelac.Ime righting a on going paper in school.Well let me get to the point.(1)How has this terrier come to the (US).Westnile,anthrax,madcow,monkypox.Then theres that power outage in NJ.Clearly someones not telling us the truth.(2)If you have kids [more than one]you can picture one being stronger.Then theres the one that’s not so strong.Being pickd on/then retaiates.Having no strenth to properly defent himself he hits and flees hits and flees.This reminded of somthing.I flushed it out of my head.Then there was a spy found.I still flushed it out.Then there were bombings.[Madrid]Then I knew it for fact.The terrierist were hiting and ducking.THE QUESTION WHY SO DETERMOND!!Though Madrid is no were in America.This country still feels it.For instance Asia produces most of the US’s tech & computer systems.If japan weren’t linked to the US. I dont think there would have been a S.A.R.S TO THE MAIN (Q) people just don’t up and say hmm I dont like you!Let’s faLLow him to the ends of the earth till he crys in shame.What that thing did on 911 made me sick to my stomic.So many inocent lives taken.We all know what he did.(Q)WHY/(2Q)What hapend to Iraq to prompt such behav….
Those hired guns were Darwin award nominees who included themselves OUT of the gene pool.
Oh well.
Did I mention that that one of them’s first namer was Jerko? No kidding! His BROTHER was on CNN and gave his REAL first name but said they call him “Jerry”.
By now everybody should know that Iraq WAS not about terrorism, it was about the Bush family against the Saddam family. Where the Bush family was lying to the world and still does. NOW it is about terrorism. Once more American foreign policy created a great supply for new terror.
I just hope all the EU troops go home very soon, it is not our war. If it would have been about terror sure, but it never was. Bush can send thousand other hired guns to clean up what he messed up. However I fear the won’t be able to handle it at all.
Hopeful someone will punish the Bush family for what they did.