The attack that killed 5 US troops in Karbala this week used a very scary new tactic: disguise. It means that the insurgents now have access to vehicles that look like US army vehicles and uniforms that look like US army uniforms. These insurgents are ruthlessly clever bastards.
In addition they speak enough English to “pass” for Americans at a checkpoint. Now this I have a problem believing. I’m more inclined to suspect that the checkpoint guards knew perfectly well that these attackers weren’t Americans and chose to look the other way, due either to intimidation or cooperation. But, if that is true and the checkpoint guards just let them through, then why bother copying US gear and vehicles. Who knows? Maybe to fool US air surveillance?
Regardless, this raises the war to a whole other level of deception. Isn’t it just a matter of time before there is an incident where American troops shoot other American troops because they will mistake them for insurgents in US Army disguises? I guess that’s the whole point.
What if, when the surge happens in Sadr City, the place is full of insurgents in American uniforms. What a mess.
2 comments:
That's some seriously scary shit. Every night on the news (the one with Brian Williams, not sure which network) there is a segment at the end that relates to soldiers. My son turns on the tv, and we always happen to catch it while we wait for Jeapordy to come on. Today's was about a series of homes that a man built where families could go and live with their wounded soldier-family members while they were in the various stages of healing. It showcased a mother whose son was wheelchair bound, couldn't talk, and his eyes just seemed to shake back and forth in his sockets. I think it was the saddest thing I've ever seen. I wonder when it will all end, and how many filled caskets and empty shells of people will be left behind when it finally does.
Anne,
I often hear how many soldiers lives are being saved because of better armour and faster surgery, etc.
But in many cases, the life that is "saved" is like the one you describe. Is it really so great to say that military deaths are down, if it also means that more soldiers come back in near vegetative state? It's horrible. I can't imagine being 20 something and living the rest of my life like that. and for what?
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