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Lack of precision weapons lead to excessive force in Iraq: report
Brigadier General Joseph Chavez said laser-guided pistols, for example, could be used instead of the heavy weapons mounted on Humvees to ensure proportional force is used in response to attacks. âWhile defending combat logistics convoys, soldiers manning heavy crew-served weapons in turrets of gun trucks are challenged to use the appropriate elevation of force toward hostile acts,â he wrote in the memo. Chavez commands an Army National Guard brigade that guards convoys moving in and out of Camp Anaconda, a sprawling logistics base near Balad, north of Baghdad, that serves as the supply hub for US troops in Iraq. Although the March 15 secret memo does not mention any unwanted civilian deaths by Chavezâ troops while defending military convoys, it suggests strongly such incidents have taken place. âPreviously, reports indicated that excessive use of force, to include unauthorized deadly force, was employed by some convoy escorts,â Chaves wrote to the commander of all multinational forces in Iraq. He said there was little time for soldiers in Humvee turrets responding to hostile fire to leave their M-2 machine guns and MK-19 grenade launchers for lighter, more precise weapons stored inside the vehicle. âThe speed of our convoys and oncoming threats allow no time for soldiers to alternately reach down to grab an M-16 or M-4 [rifles] in order to ensure that proportionate force is utilized to ensure innocent civilians are not engaged,â Chavez said. He suggested his soldiers be equipped with hip holsters to give them quick access to laser-guided pistols, which would also provide an additional benefit. âA soldier wielding a pistol is viewed by local nationals as a token of authority,â he said. Posted by: Steve White 2005-07-29 |
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