Military: Slain soldiers were alone at checkpoint

[MADem]

Why does it always take so long for the truth to come out???

TIKRIT, Iraq — Two U.S. soldiers who vanished during an insurgent checkpoint attack and were later found slain had been left alone while other vehicles in their patrol inspected traffic, the military said Thursday.

Previously, a witness had said insurgents managed to separate the three-Humvee convoy by opening fire and forcing two of the vehicles to give chase. Those reports now appear to be wrong, said Lt. Col. Michelle Martin-Hing, spokeswoman for the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.

The two soldiers — believed to have been kidnapped by insurgents before their mutilated bodies were found this week — and a third soldier killed during the attack had been alone with one Humvee to guard a hydraulic bridge at a Euphrates River canal south of Baghdad.

When the attack occurred, others in the unit could not see the vehicle and were checking on their colleagues by radio, Martin-Hing said.

... http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1890820.php

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. So there were left there, outnumbered. What will the spin be on this?

Don't hold your breath waiting for an "official" statement from the WH or Scumsfeld.

[Disturbed]

2. The facts emerge after the spin is issued.

This is SOP for the DOD and the Bush Regime.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. I'm sure Tony Snow will clear this up at tomorrows damage-control session.

[DocSavage]

4. It is not

common practice to leave troops if they are outnumbered. The key here is did the NCO or SNCO in charge know they were outnumbered? Kind of doubt it. If anyone had any idea that there would be trouble, I bet a hummer with a 50 or a bradley would be there. But then again, it may have just been an attack of opportunity. Had to have happened quick, I am sure that they had a radio, and help would have only been 5 minutes away if that. There is no spin to spin

[erpowers]

5. Lose Rank

I think someone is going to lose some rank for this. I read an article about this Thursday or Friday and it said that leaving the two soldiers along was against Army policy and an investigation is now ongoing to determine why this happened.