Complaceny Kills... use link to teach Marines/Soldiers
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=cb4_1174174085
Please view very disturbing link recently posted on liveleak.com.
I'm posting this here with the assumption that most readers support the current strategy of moving our forces in with the people and out of the fortress FOBs. I certainly do. There's an increase in risk, at least initially, with this plan until we build relations w/ the people and create a legitimate indigenous force to operate alongside. This link demonstrates the importance of why we can never get complacent; why more armor, sappi plates, NVGs, etc. aren't the answer; and why we need to make sure our Marines/Soldiers understand the dedication and strategy of our enemies.
Truly disturbing that this insurgent was able to pull this off and have his buddy covering him with a video camera in the process. Reminds me very much of the tactics discussed in Poole's Phantom Soldier, Tactics of the Crescent Moon, and Terrorist Trail.
I'll use this link to reinforce enemy TTPs and what we must do to combat them.
My guess is some folks were inside
Like RTK says. Plus the insurgent actions indicate they believed it was occupied.
Unless they stole it off the lot and staged the whole thing.
But I think the most likely solution is some lads lost their lives in an unfortunate moment of less diligence, and some insurgents with big brass ones were drinking tea that eve talking about it and watching it.
This will get around to reinforce the point we all already know. Bradley, LAV, truck, etc. - Maximus hit it head on. Complacency kills.
PM Maliki Says: Just Say No
Taken from the Jerusalem Post, 3/20:
"The US-backed Iraqi government is enforcing the Arab boycott of Israel with increasing frequency, The Jerusalem Post has learned, with the number of boycott-related incidents involving US firms operating in Iraq nearly quadrupling last year, according to official US statistics.
In its recently released annual report for 2006, the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security noted that there had been 31 cases in which the Iraqi government had engaged in restrictive trade practices last year.
In 2005, according to the previous year's report, there were a total of just eight such cases involving Iraq."
On The Other Hand, What They Don't Know Won't Hurt 'Em
Taken from the Israeli Newspaper Haaretz, 3/20/07:
"Elbit Systems: Israeli-made drones in action in Iraq, Afghanistan
20.3.07 | 12:00 By AP
Small Israeli-made pilotless planes are gathering intelligence for U.S.-led forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, the manufacturer said in a statement Monday.
Elbit Systems, one of Israel's leading defense electronics companies, said the little Skylark can be carried and operated by a single soldier, covering an area within a range of 6 miles day or night, the company said. It did not give details of its exact size or weight.
Skylark is operational and currently deployed in the global war on terror in Israel, Iraq and Afghanistan, the statement said. It described the Skylark as suited for close range, beyond-the-next hill, counter-terror missions.
Lt. Col. Matthew McLaughlin of CENTCOM, the American command that handles Iraq and Afghanistan, said the military would not confirm the use of the drone...."
(wink, wink)