Article

2005-08-25 Iraq-Jordan

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Posted by CrazyFool 2005-08-25 14:02|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Too long to post and its all good.

Posted by CrazyFool 2005-08-25 14:06|| 2005-08-25 14:06|| Front Page Top

#2 The terrorist that wounded Kurilla was captured before in Decenber with a sniper rifle, an AK, pistols, a silencer, explosives and other weapons.

He was released.

Posted by Penguin 2005-08-25 14:33|| 2005-08-25 14:33|| Front Page Top

#3 Kurilla went in with 2 other guys. These other guys froze. And these are professionals. I can't imagine the kinds of issues you would get with draftees.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2005-08-25 14:48|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-08-25 14:48|| Front Page Top

#4 This part really bugs me. It's wrong:

That December day, Khalid Jasim Nohe and two compatriots tried to evade US soldiers from 2-8 FA, but the soldiers managed to stop the fleeing car. Then one of the suspects tried to wrestle a weapon from a soldier before all three were detained. They were armed with a sniper rifle, an AK, pistols, a silencer, explosives and other weapons, and had in their possession photographs of US bases, including a map of this base.

That was in December.

About two weeks ago, word came that Nohe's case had been dismissed by a judge on 7 August. The Coalition was livid. According to American officers, solid cases are continually dismissed without apparent cause. Whatever the reason, the result was that less than two weeks after his release from Abu Ghraib, Nohe was back in Mosul shooting at American soldiers.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-08-25 15:36|| 2005-08-25 15:36|| Front Page Top

#5 Michael Yon's dispatches are indispensable to anyone wanting to understand what's happening on the ground in Iraq. That they aren't featured on page 1 of the NYT says everything one needs to know about our despicable MSM.

Someone send a link to Chuck Hagel.

Posted by Kirk 2005-08-25 15:41|| 2005-08-25 15:41|| Front Page Top

#6 I'ts tough to imagine any MSM reporter picking up a carbine and going into the shop to help CSM Prosser. To help the terrorist, yes; to help CSM Prosser, no.

By the way, Yon has noted a couple of times that the M-16 and the M-4 aren't adequate. I don't know if that's true, but I've never seen that complaint in the MSM -- only complaints about body armor and vehicle armor. The difference is that Yon sees the mission as whacking bad guys, and the MSM sees the mission as avoiding casualties.

Posted by Matt 2005-08-25 16:03|| 2005-08-25 16:03|| Front Page Top

#7 M-16 and the M-4 aren't adequate

If you read Blackhawk Down, it spells out the dissatisfaction some of the troops have with the stopping power of the rounds. For this reason, one of the Delta guys (think it was Shughart) used an M-14, which'll definitely ruin your day.

Posted by Dreadnought 2005-08-25 16:13|| 2005-08-25 16:13|| Front Page Top

#8 Dispatches you will never read in the MSM. Thanks Michael Yon. God bless our soldiers.

Posted by John Q. Citizen 2005-08-25 16:20|| 2005-08-25 16:20|| Front Page Top

#9 No Matt, to the MSM the mission is to get as many americans killed as possible while allowing the terrorsts to escape.

Posted by CrazyFool 2005-08-25 16:31|| 2005-08-25 16:31|| Front Page Top

#10 Unbelievable. One of the best stories I've read on the war since "Thunder Run" -- and with pictures!

Posted by Mizzou Mafia 2005-08-25 16:32|| 2005-08-25 16:32|| Front Page Top

#11 I'ts tough to imagine any MSM reporter picking up a carbine and going into the shop to help CSM Prosser.

This guy obviously has his priorities straight. That's more than can be said for a lot of members of Big Media.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-08-25 16:39|| 2005-08-25 16:39|| Front Page Top

#12 Would be delighted to see him writings portrayed on the big screen. What a movie this story of Deuce Four could be!

Now theirs is a war story that deserves to be told.

Posted by Sherry 2005-08-25 16:51|| 2005-08-25 16:51|| Front Page Top

#13 Opps -- above -- exchange his for him... couldn't get preview to work!!

Posted by Sherry 2005-08-25 16:52|| 2005-08-25 16:52|| Front Page Top

#14 ZF, exactly why I don't ever want to be in a foxhole with another draftee.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2005-08-25 16:56|| 2005-08-25 16:56|| Front Page Top

#15 Sherry, you're right, but the movie would have to produced entirely outside of Hollywood circles (which can be done.)

Kurilla for President in 2008.

Posted by Matt 2005-08-25 17:07|| 2005-08-25 17:07|| Front Page Top

#16 Question -- what happens to those two guys that froze? More training, or moved from the line?

Posted by Sherry 2005-08-25 17:27|| 2005-08-25 17:27|| Front Page Top

#17 Every time I read Yon's work I'm amazed at his wordsmithing. Examples:

The Kiowa swooped and banked hard in front of the car, firing three more shots through the front hood, the universal sign for "stop."

...the plan was so cleverly contrived that the leadership at Deuce Four had to grudgingly acknowledge its excellence, even though the idea had originated from higher-up.

Posted by Xbalanke 2005-08-25 18:03|| 2005-08-25 18:03|| Front Page Top

#18 About two weeks ago, word came that Nohe's case had been dismissed by a judge on 7 August. The Coalition was livid. According to American officers, solid cases are continually dismissed without apparent cause. Whatever the reason, the result was that less than two weeks after his release from Abu Ghraib, Nohe was back in Mosul shooting at American soldiers.

Thanks to Seymour Hersh and Dan Rather. Worth more than an entire battalion of trained terrorists to the enemy. One of the most effective units the enemy has engaged against US forces.

Posted by Elmemble Ulaitch5567 2005-08-25 18:11|| 2005-08-25 18:11|| Front Page Top

#19 Ran across Yon the other day,definatly impressed me.Check his sight daily.
Main problem with the m-16/m-4 is it is too light a round traveling at to high a velocity and being steel jacketed,it punchs a nice neat hole,with little other tissue damage.Now if the troops wanted to get real nasty they would cut an x in the top of the round.
Then it would be ripping off arms.

Posted by raptor 2005-08-25 18:15|| 2005-08-25 18:15|| Front Page Top

#20 Why Raptor! That would violate the terrorists rights!!! Back to the ~~re-education center~~ sensitivity training for you!

(Can you imagine the MSM spin if they did just that!)

Posted by CrazyFool 2005-08-25 18:28|| 2005-08-25 18:28|| Front Page Top

#21 "Then it would be ripping off arms."
Yeah, but violating the Geneva Conventions.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2005-08-25 18:30|| 2005-08-25 18:30|| Front Page Top

#22 With respect to Yon's picking up and firing the rifle, he is former Spec Ops guy. I think he knows what he is doing.

I was surprised that he named names on the two trainees who froze and didn't mention anything more. My guess is that they were given a right ass chewing by the other members of Deuce Four.

Posted by remoteman 2005-08-25 19:24|| 2005-08-25 19:24|| Front Page Top

#23 I know I am going to piss many of you off. Oh well, I gotta say what I think. When I read what Michael wrote I couldn't help thinking why are we enganging an enemy on their terms. Having Marines kick in doors only to be met by a suicidal insurgent firing a superior weapon loaded with armor piercing rounds. Have Soldiers do daily convoy patrols so that some jackass with a spare cellphone and an 8'th grade education constructs and plants an IED in their path. Why, with all of our technology and the trillions of dollars we spend on it, why are we not crushing this enemy with overwhelming power. Yeah, I know war stories are nice to read. But think...Do we want another 'Blackhawk Down' ? I want us to stop placing more value on civilian casualties than on American casualties. I want more armor. I want to know where the hell is the U.S.A.F. in this war ! I want a plan to win. I want my son and to come home, alive. FIGHT, WIN, OR GET THE HELL OUT.

Posted by Marine Dad 2005-08-25 19:38|| 2005-08-25 19:38|| Front Page Top

#24 Kurilla for President in 2008.

I'm with you... but will he be 35 yet?

Posted by eLarson 2005-08-25 19:51|| http://larsonian.blogspot.com]">[http://larsonian.blogspot.com] 2005-08-25 19:51|| Front Page Top

#25 Fuck me sideways - his writing is damn fine. It's not the first time I've read his work, nor will it be the last.

I am massively impressed with what the American forces are doing in Iraq - commentaries like this just show how utterly pitiful the Abu Ghraib recidivists are.

Hats off to LTC Kurilla, and to all the members of Deuce Four.

To those who haven't - please - read the linked article, I promise you'll be uplifted by it.

Posted by Tony (UK) 2005-08-25 19:53|| 2005-08-25 19:53|| Front Page Top

#26 MD,

I just got through reading the article. I also don't understand why the marksman/sniper in the helicoper is giving warning shots. We need to blast these bastards out of the sky and if that means killing some civilians so be it. Hell, the Shiite's are killing women and children on purpose.

The fact that the commander was in the same OR with a known terrorist tells me that we are not really interested in winning, just buying time until the Constitution is signed.

The Israeli's would've taken the commander to the OR and took the terrorist to a interrogation room. If he spills valid beans then he gets a morphine shot.

I am with you Marine Dad, let's blast these terrorist with some overwhelming power. Take out half a city if you have to. It's the only thing they understand. GWB says that we are taking the fight to the terrorists, then let's really take it to the terrorists. When we go house to house, we are playing into their hands. If they go into a house, get some air power and blast the house, period.

Story time is over. It's time for a reality check and tell the pencil pushers to get out the way.

Posted by Poison Reverse 2005-08-25 19:59|| 2005-08-25 19:59|| Front Page Top

#27 Sherry, I had exactly the same thought yesterday in the discussion on why Hollywood is having such a dismal time at the box office. Deuce Four would make one hell of a movie without any need to fictionalize. I predict it would be the blockbuster of the decade.

Posted by phil_b 2005-08-25 20:25|| 2005-08-25 20:25|| Front Page Top

#28 Yea, but what would John Wayne have done to those pilgums?

Posted by Captain America 2005-08-25 20:38|| 2005-08-25 20:38|| Front Page Top

#29 I was watching the Battle of Falluja (I think part 2) on the history channel the other night. The civilians had all left and we were fighting door to door. I wondered why we didn't just level the shit hole instead having Tango heads sniping at our guys.

Posted by John Q. Citizen 2005-08-25 21:06|| 2005-08-25 21:06|| Front Page Top

#30 MD & JQC, it's without a doubt a PC war. If it weren't, the number in the casualties column would probably be a lot lower.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-08-25 21:25|| 2005-08-25 21:25|| Front Page Top

#31 With poll numbers for Bush slipping... as the MSM is so quick to tell us.... I just got to believe.... give us some of that American kick a** and watch those poll number sky rocket! (opps, litl'e old Southern lady, such language.)

However, this is my only comparison to Vietnam.. and those were my years... not protesting. Our guys of that day, their message was the same as today... let us win. They fought with the politics tying at least one hand behind their backs, it not, at times, both hands.

For a long time, I admired Bush, cause he was letting our incredible military fight, doing their job. Now?

IMHO.... his poll numbers are down, not because we are against the war, or what it is about... but because, our guys are fighting with one hand behind their backs. They can't shoot folks, if they capture someone, "catch and release" and they are gone... so what's left? How do you confront an enemy if you have to sign your life away if you shoot someone? And if you don't sign your life away, that second front of the enemy, the MSM is sure to give you your 15 minutes of fame, as you kill a "freedom fighter." So, you cuff him, send him to an AC cell, with 3 squares a day, medical benefits never even imagined, food that is prolly better than I feed myself each night, and then, be released to go do something bad again, and return to this resort managed by the United States of America.

Bush changes that, and watch those poll numbers zoom back up.

In my heart, I just really want to think, he's just waiting for them to get this constitution thing together.... get it voted on in October (he still has that Sept appearance before the infamous UN ) and then, let's go about winning this thing, and get back that oopmmmed we had in the spring, with democracy on the move with all those "protest babes!"

Posted by Sherry 2005-08-25 21:40|| 2005-08-25 21:40|| Front Page Top

#32 Sherry, amen. The best PR Bush has is frequent rotations back of troops who've been there, fighting the good fight, seeing progress, doing good deeds, contra the MSM medi drumbeat. I'd like to see more interviews and Bush/troop speeches that bypass the "quagmire" talk so heavily enforced by the MSM

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-08-25 21:50|| 2005-08-25 21:50|| Front Page Top

#33 BAR, I am beginning to think, expecially after PR's comment, that the problem is that the Army has now converted from the war fighting ROE to law enforcement ROE. Seems like a big mistake to me, but re-enlistment rates are staying up, so the men at the front must be OK with it. But it sure makes me want to puke.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-08-25 22:13|| 2005-08-25 22:13|| Front Page Top

#34 My Take:

Illegal combatant.
Direct fire ant atempt to kill 2 different soldiers.

Drumhead court martial on the spot. Taken to the alley, 9mm to base of skull, bayonet to open his belly and spread his entrail for the crows.

We do that, they stop fighting. Or sooner or later they run out of bodies to throw at us.

Posted by Elmush Angolet8785 2005-08-25 23:01|| 2005-08-25 23:01|| Front Page Top

#35 Thats me by the way.

Posted by Oldspook 2005-08-25 23:02|| 2005-08-25 23:02|| Front Page Top

#36 I'm fine with that

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-08-25 23:04|| 2005-08-25 23:04|| Front Page Top

#37 Good plan -- and screw what the MSM says about it.

Hearts and minds my ass. How will they respect us if we do this 'catch-and-release' shit. Catch and Release damn near got LTC Kurilla killed.

Posted by CrazyFool 2005-08-25 23:14|| 2005-08-25 23:14|| Front Page Top

#38 According to USMA Register of Graduates, LTC Michael Erik Kurilla, Class of '88, will be 40 years old in May 2006. Former Company Commander with 3/75th Rangers.

I have great respect and admiration for LTC Kurilla - I just wish he wasn't leading point. His value as a orchestrator of systemic destruction of the enemy's overall ability to wage war - that was much more important than his role as a rifleman.

The fact that Kurilla and Prosser were at the leading edge of battle - while much to their credit as warriors - makes me wonder what is going wrong over there. This approach - duplicated 100 times - virtually wipes out our ability to wage war.

The bad guys can always scrougnge up another batch of islamo-loonies and criminal thugs - but even at a trade-off of 1,000 bad guys to one Bn Cdr, we lose.

My best wishes to the valiant Bn Cdr, for a full recovery.

Posted by Lone Ranger 2005-08-25 23:21|| 2005-08-25 23:21|| Front Page Top

#39 ..the problem is that the Army has now converted from the war fighting ROE to law enforcement ROE.

Yeah, that blurb about "cases" being "dismissed" leads me to believe the same thing. The Armed Forces are not police, nor should they be used as such, and the ROE should reflect that.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-08-25 23:30|| 2005-08-25 23:30|| Front Page Top

#40 Time to switch to shotguns. IIRC, we never signed that part of the Convention.

Posted by Ulase Snimble3984 2005-08-25 23:39|| 2005-08-25 23:39|| Front Page Top

#41 LR: I have great respect and admiration for LTC Kurilla - I just wish he wasn't leading point. His value as a orchestrator of systemic destruction of the enemy's overall ability to wage war - that was much more important than his role as a rifleman.

The fact that the Battalion Commander is running up alleys going after 3 guys is a travesty. I wish him the best, but this is a real waste of human resources. Great guy, but that is not his job. And the fact that two GI's froze instead of trying to get him out is inexcusable. You always protect your king.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2005-08-25 23:47|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-08-25 23:47|| Front Page Top

#42 It just occurred to me that if the Command Sergeant and Mike Yon hadn't jumped in, the terrorists might have captured a Battalion Commander alive. This is really cutting it close. Kurilla's got guts to spare, but he shouldn't have been there.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2005-08-25 23:52|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-08-25 23:52|| Front Page Top

23:52 Zhang Fei
23:51 True German Ally
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23:21 Lone Ranger
23:21 Old Patriot
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23:15 Jan
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23:04 Frank G
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23:02 Oldspook
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22:54 .com
22:51 mmurray821
22:36 Bobby