Once upon a time in Iraq, my CI/HUMINT team got a squad of infantry (and their Stryker armored vehicle) to support us on a mission. When we got to town, we had so many people, I didn’t know what to do with them all. We got an amazing amount of work done. We did the scheduled meet plus three targets of opportunity, in addition to chatting with people on the street and talking to the kids who always gathered around the vehicles. It was great. And as always, we bought lunch for the support crew. Getting to eat local (not DFAC) food was always a treat.
After we got back to base, we got busy writing the many reports such a mission creates. About an hour later, the base XO slammed into our room, screaming “The days of you assholes going into town are over!” After I explained to the moron major that is what we did five days a week, every week, in order to develop the intel that kept them alive and servicing targets, he calmed down a little. Eventually he admitted that the infantry squad had complained to their company commander that what we did was dangerous. They were too afraid to go out with us “intel pogues” ever again.
So we went back to taking a couple cooks, clerks, or maintenance guys out with us in soft sided HMMWVs, like we had been doing.
Read this yesterday, couldn't comment, that bothered me.
ReplyDeleteStill don't know what to say.
I would guess this could have happened as early as 2004, but no matter when it was, it's a sad testament to our "readiness". NOT that I want our people fighting ANYWHERE overseas for FUSA/USA INC and Satanic, Commie, pedo, for profit, parasitic, ritual blood sacrifices.
OUR much reduced military should have 1 job, protect America from enemies, foreign and domestic, at home.
Oh yeah, good story telling.
What was the local chow like?
ReplyDeletePretty decent, as long as you avoided the fish (infested with parasites, stinking of petroleum). Excellent flatbreads made fresh, good lamb/mutton (which I normally don't like). Chicken and rice dishes well seasoned, but not excessively hot (between Cajun and jerk). Tea and coffee were excellent. Sweet buns and various things made from philo, nuts, and honey for dessert. Fruit drinks with a touch of "preservative" (cheap vodka).
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