There are a few things I have noticed recently.

I think it was Geo. Carlin a few years ago that had this thing about responsibility, I thought of it when everyone seems to be taking responsibility for the vets care or the firing of prosecutors or whatever. Like Carlin, if they want to take responsibility they can impress me by taking over some of my bills and debts. Now that is a responsibility I would appreciate.

I listen to Bush on his radio speech, I was underwhelmed! He spoke about the massive anti-war protests and said, “the Constitution says that we may have a peaceful protest and we just want to bring the same thing to Iraq.” OK, how admireable, but has anyone in the admin asked the Iraqi people if that is what they want? Doubt it?

And now the Democrats–some totally forgetable person gave the Dems side, but DAMMIT! Please someone tell her it is Iraq not EYE-ROCK!

The anti-war movement is beginning and will only get bigger, my brothers from years past will be proud.

I live in the South, so ever year about this time something is pollenating, so everyone walks around snorting and coughing and sneezing. But for the last week or so the humidity has been 60% or more. So I believe that we are not suffering from allergies; we are breathing water–it has to be “gill disease”.

CHUQ

Troops And Training

Since the very beginning of the Iraq thing, all the concerned leaders have been piping the same line. We will train and equipment the Iraqi Police and Army and once that is accomplished we will hand over the enforcement of security for the country to them. I know damn well you have heard this crap! Do you believe it? I hope the hell not!

How long have we been in Iraq? I believe going on 5 years or so, is that about right? My next question is a toughy–how long does it take to train these people? I mean come on, are they about there yet?

But wait–they can always say that because of the violence and such, it is hard to find and train adequate forces so that the US troops can be nothing but back-up and logistics. Still how long does this whole operation take?

I will be fair–there have been a few successes, but there should be lots more properly trained individuals than they are telling us they have. I still have not heard an adequate explanation of why the shortfall.

Maybe they should hire some of the Drill Instructors from the Us military. I mean in this country you can enlist go to basic and on to advanced training and be ready for the battlefield in less than a year. With that kind of production and success with turning out fodder these people should be in charge in Iraq, and then the present program might be on time, for a change.

With all that said, I would like to take on the subject of proper combat training for the American soldier. I have been watching the war progress since the beginning. As an ex-combat soldier, I would like to ask a couple of questions. Are our troops being properly trained in urban combat? I mean, my training was something different from what I see on the tube. The embedded reporters that go out with the patrols, show the men walking single file within 5 feet of each other. My training told me that “to spread out for one round could get you all”. And when the reports are with these guys, say on a rooftop they are in position they are within a foot of each other. Now was my training wrong? Or has the technique changed. I can tell you first hand that a RPG will take out everyone within 20 feet of the impact. So why are these troops so close together?

I can see why we are losing people at an ever increasing rate. IMO, their training is lacking. Possibly the military should try to find some people that know how to fight an urban war and let them teach the troops the way to survive.

Just a few thoughts to keep you on your toes.

CHUQ
17/03/07