General: Convoy Had No Armor; soldiers who refused order may face discipl.

General: Convoy had no armor; soldiers who refused order in Iraq may face discipline, commander says

From Jackson, MS, Clarion Ledger staff and wire reports

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The U.S. Army Reserve soldiers who refused orders to drive a dangerous route were members of one of a few supply units whose trucks are still unarmored, their commanding general said Sunday.

The soldiers, now under investigation, had previously focused on local missions in safer parts of southern Iraq and had never driven a convoy north along the attack-prone roads passing through Baghdad.

"Not all of their trucks are completely armored. In their case, they haven't had the chance to get armored," said Brig. Gen. James E. Chambers, commanding general of 13th Corps Support Command, which sends some 250 convoys ferrying Army fuel, food and ammunition across Iraq each day. Chambers, speaking at a press conference in Baghdad, said the 18 soldiers involved in the Wednesday incident, including three from Mississippi, had returned to duty and it was "too early" to determine whether any will undergo disciplinary action.

He said a pair of investigations are examining the soldiers' disobedience as well as their allegations that the trucks were unfit for the hazardous journey. He would not discuss particulars, citing the soldiers' rights.

Ricky Scott of Quinton, Ala., father of one of the soldiers, had said Saturday that his son, Spc. Scott Shealey, told him he was one of five platoon members who would be punished with a general discharge.


more at: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041018/NEWS01/410180350/1002

How quaint you yellow-bellied southern boys. *sarcasm*

Maybe a general discharge en masse for these types of actions would be a good thing for everybody. Hint hint.

It's shocking (okay, not really) that the media seems to have turned on these soldiers. Everyone has on a yellow ribbon pin or car magnet, yet when the soldiers bring up serious concerns they suddenly become dishonorable.

Wish that Kerry would seize on this and pound it to death--the fact that, even after the 87 million dollars, we STILL have troops in unarmored vehicles--demonstrating that Bush's prioritization of our armed forces is all talk.

No, wait, on second thought, maybe you're right and the other $86.913 billion went to Halliburton, leaving only $87 million for the soldiers.

It is a duty to refuse an order if unsafe equipment - but GOP spin is NBC and the Clarion Ledger


- Matt does not do truth - only GOP spin

At least the stupidity of the commander was exposed as he refused to allow time to clean the trucks before switching between jet fuel and diesel.

As the fellow said - and chopper using the load would have added to our - dead by accident and don't count on NBC and other GOP outlets - total dead.

Under Bush, "unarmored" is Kerry's fault - I believe 12000 Humvees are still "unarmored", despite Bush's great planning and leadership!

sigh ....

:-)

...last method of getting trucks armored that should have been armored from Day One, they (the senior officers prosecuting the case and any others giving orders of this type) are opening themselves up to being fragged. Troops don't take real kindly to being told to expose themselves to enemy fire when they shouldn't have to.