Originally posted by Malichai
Why are these people leaving and not staying to help?
Because someone just sprayed them with bullets, and they didn't want to stick around for more?
What would be your reaction?
Actually, the burning vehicle was mine. H2 Hummer with full armor. I was riding in the passenger side. Car bomb went off by it on April 13 2005. AP
reported that 5 local Iraqis were killed and 4 contractors injuried. Al qaeda's web page said we died

.
Truth was that 11 locals were killed by the bomber and 2 of us wounded. Military showed up shortly afterwards and secured the area and gave first aid
to the locals who were not killed. We left to take care of our wounded at the near by medical base. We only had minor burns to our faces and hands.
This is the kind of threat we have to deal with. The next week, another Aegis team was hit and one of the guys died near this hit. Later that month, a
peace activist from the US was killed by a car bomb near this spot when another team was targeted, and she was driving too close.
Last week, Aegis lost another person to a car bomb in Mosul.
The threat for us is real and that is why we have gunners in the trail vehicles. Rules of force are clearly outlined on what we have to do against
suspected threats.
BTW, I enjoy this forum and a lot of the information here is of use to us in getting a feel for the political situation.