NEWS: 17 U.S Reservists Arrested In Iraq. U.S Military Deny Arrests.

17 U.S Reservists have been arrested for disobeying orders by refusing to undertake a mission which involved driving oil supplies on Wednesday to Taji, Iraq - north of Baghdad - because their vehicles were considered extremely unsafe this without military escort and support. Some of those arrested described the order as a "Suicide Mission".

Update

The U.S Military have denied that 17 reservists have been arrested but say they are investigating "an incident".

This contradicts the words of one of the 17 who had a chance to phone home who stated that they were being held against their will and were under arrest.





[edit on 16-10-2004 by Banshee]

[edit on 16-10-2004 by John bull 1]

**** that, I don't blame em!

[edit on 15-10-2004 by John bull 1]

I'm confused.

Aren't these "reservists" "in" the armed forces?

Aren't they there own "escort"?

Or did they want a brigade deployed for the supply mission....

This doesn't make any sense.

Wells and Pipelines burning; Truck Convoys; and now gas stations
Example :

An Iraqi worker cleans the debris of a damaged gas station after it came under attack by mortar fire in Baghdad, August 9, 2004. Several patrol stations were attacked by mortars on early Monday, causing structural damage but no casualties, Iraqi police and witnesses said.

Whoa thanks John bull,

I see so now troops in Iraq are taking matters into hands and decided to better get arrested than become casualties of bushes war.

So.....things in Iraq must be pretty bad for then to refused orders from their superious.

I can wait to read more in the story

Where is the link to this story?

They are probably just a trasportation company. They may have a few m-16s w/ 203s and 1 or 2 M240s (new m-60s). They really dont have any "heavy" weapons. Normally you would get an MP unit or a motorized infantry unit to escort you. Usually 2-3 humvees that would have a 50 cal and Mark 19s (automatic gernade launcher). The bigger the convoy the more vehicles needs to escort them. Some HQs will not even let you leave the compound with out an escort.

I just wonder what the basis of their disobeying it are? I bet it was something like the soldiers were trying to follow the SOP (standard operating procedure) and their officer was telling them to do it anyway.

[edit on 15-10-2004 by Ronan]

This is a breaking story picked up from a reliable news source.I haven't found a link yet.

WHOA THERE YOURSELF! Jesus Christ, hold your horses people!! I don't know why it should, but it surprises me that certain people can post opinions about this, when they admit they haven't even read the article! C'est les ATS, no?

For those who haven't yet decided that they know the truth about ANY report out of Iraq, HERE is the original story from the Clarion Ledger.

So far, all the other reports on the net regarding this, seem to be a rehashing of this original story.

Best regards,

-Cypher

[edit on 15-10-2004 by Cypher]

Iraqi youths chant pro-resistance slogans near a burning U.S. military trailer following an attack on a highway west of Baghdad, October 14, 2004.

Thankyou cypher.

Originally posted by Ronan
They are probably just a trasportation company. They may have a few m-16s w/ 203s and 1 or 2 M240s (new m-60s). They really dont have any "heavy" weapons. Normally you would get an MP unit or a motorized infantry unit to escort you. Usually 2-3 humvees that would have a 50 cal and Mark 19s (automatic gernade launcher). The bigger the convoy the more vehicles needs to escort them. Some HQs will not even let you leave the compound with out an escort.

Hey I don't blame then, cab you imagine what an attack on a oil tank can do? I mean can you survive that?

And in the sunni area?

"I would not want any member of the military to be put in a dangerous situation ill-equipped," said Thompson, who was contacted by families. "I have had similar complaints from military families about vehicles that weren't armor-plated, or bullet-proof vests that are outdated. It concerns me because we made over $150 billion in funds available to equip our forces in Iraq.

I am sorry, but they are in the armed forces in a milatary zone with a war going on. THey should be rotated home, discharged dishonorably with no benefits and no jail time. My father at one time in Vietnam was designated as a finance clerk, but the man part of his job was security for the trucks jeeps or copters when transporting money. He was involved in firefights. He must be rolling over in his grave right now at the audacity they have to refuse orders. They aren;t working at burger king, and if they decide not to transport needed goods to soldiers, does that not also hurt the soldiers waiting for the supplies. Send the babies home, because if the sh*t did hit the fan, they probably would all die with that attitude. (shakes head)

John Bull - It was my pleasure, feel free to edit the link into your original post.

BTW: Sorry about the rant folks, but I get tired of those on ATS who love to claim the lofty goal of "Denying Ignorance", and yet manage to shoe-horn every story to fit their narrow worldview. Sometime things aren't so black and white as people would wish you to believe, and this story is a perfect example. Anti-Iraq war people will claim this is an example of how the troops on the ground are protesting against "Bushes(sic) War", while those for the Iraq war will claim it's an isolated incident. The truth of the matter, doesn't matter to either of them! It becomes just another item they can spin to prop up their arguments.

Nuff said,

-Cypher

I just read this. Information is popping up in quite a few outlets fairly quickly. I'm suprised that the military is even bothering to deny that this has occurred. Several news articles are quoting many family members who has received phone calls from the troops in custody. Some congressman from Mississippi is/has started some form of congressional inquiry into the matter.

This is quite serious. I doubt these troops will receive a simple slap on the wrist, although admittedly any huge media attention couldn't hurt their chances. ( Election in a couple of weeks as well..)

I don't think I should give my opinion so to speak, because of course we don't know the whole story. But, when I was in the service, we were well aware of exactly how serious things like this were...

( One of the places I dug up, AP news reporting) apnews.myway.com...

edit: I will say that I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of that NCO involved in this.



[edit on 15-10-2004 by TCR]

[edit on 15-10-2004 by TCR]

"He told me that three of the vehicles they were to use were deadlines ... not safe to go in a hotbed like that," Patricia McCook said.

Hill said the trucks her daughter's unit was driving could not top 40 mph.

"They knew there was a 99 percent chance they were going to get ambushed or fired at," Hill said her daughter told her. "They would have had no way to fight back."

This is the mother of one soldier relaying what her daughter said over the phone.

These 17 reservists were given a mission to drive their humvees and fuel trucks without escort. Apparently the fuel they are supposed to deliver is unusable anyway, since it was contaminated with water and already refused at on drop off location.


[edit on 15-10-2004 by taibunsuu]

Originally posted by TCR

I don't think I should give my opinion so to speak, because of course we don't know the whole story. But, when I was in the service, we were well aware of exactly how serious things like this were...

Yes but with the increased of information as to the reasons of this Iraqi war and the intentions of the government, reservists are taking matters into their hands, a regular soldier don't have a say so that is his duty, but national guard and reservist they can take it a littler more to the extreme.

I am glad that this is happening I am tired of the unnecessary death toll in our troops for a non justify war.

How about bush going into Iraq and drive the truck with the oil himself, and Cheney in the back keeping an eye on the "insurgents"

Originally posted by TCR

I don't think I should give my opinion so to speak, because of course we don't know the whole story. But, when I was in the service, we were well aware of exactly how serious things like this were...

[edit on 15-10-2004 by TCR]

Basically, it means the troops saw the mission as an absolute death ride with no possible benefit whatsoever. Whether their view is accurate, the soldiers saw the mission as sucidally stupid. When soldiers see a situation like that, they lose confidence in the command and make up their own minds about situations.

I also thank you Cypher for the sanity.

This is a Reserve QUARTERMASTER unit. They deliver food, water and fuel. They are supposed to be escorted.

The story from the link says that the NCO, a Staff Sergeant, with 20+ years stood up to the Chain of Command because the vehicles and the mission was unsafe. The vehicles were 'deadlined' [that means they do not work properly], equate that to you being told to drive a car that should not be on the road, not safe, good way to get in a accident.

Sometimes an NCO just has to speak out and tell the Chain that what they want done is not safe, sane and could get soldiers killed.

If their vehicles were in good shape and they had an escort, like they were supposed to, you would never have heard of this because it would not have happened.

The NCO's in this platoon have earned the respect that they deserve.
I know that they have this NCO's respect. Any NCO worthy enough to wear the stripes would have done the same.

This is not politics, just fact.