Someone ordered those soldiers to man that dangerous position

[SoCalDem]

It's starting to look more and more like a collapse of military leadership to me. It could just be that things are so dicey there that even the ones in charge are losing it..

Those three young soldiers would not have just decided on a whim to go and man an unprotected checkpoint/barricare/whatever.. Someone higher up SENT them there..

For anyone in command to think that they would be "okay" on their own is just plain nuts..

I fear that a LOT of the deaths are because the ones in charge are not adequately planning missions and/or protecting their own people..

Of course, inquiries rarely go very high up, and whatever "blame" is eventually assessed will likely be placed in the graves alongside the coffins....not where it belongs.

[Chipper Chat]

1. It really doesn't matter - they were "just numbers."

Tony Snow's little quippy remark will come back to haunt him.

[Rex_Goodheart]

3. ????

What Tony Snow remark?

[Chipper Chat]

5. Tony reacting to the benchmark number of 2500 dead in Iraq

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/06/15/tony-snow-on-the-2500-us_n_23066.html

[Jim__]

2. I thought there were more soldiers at the checkpoint originally.

They came under some kind of attack from insurgents. The insurgents ran and 2 humvees left to chase the insurgents leaving the 3 soldiers and 1 humvee at the checkpoint. Then, more insurgents attacked the checkpoint and overwhelmed the remaining soldiers.

I heard that version on the news. It sounds the insurgents sprung a trap.

[democracyindanger]

4. It wasn't just three

According to last night's CBS news, there was a squad there--probably about a dozen soldiers. They came under fire, the officer/noncom on the scene ordered those three to stay there while the rest of the squad took off in pursuit. When they did, AQ came in, killed one and took the other two. The soldiers in pursuit heard the gunfire, turned back, but by then it was too late.

Sounds like a tactical mistake.

[SoCalDem]

6. That's almost sadder.. The others took off and left them behind

All of them were very young..Under attack is under attack, even if part of the "bad guys" run away".. I hope the guy who told them to stay there at least gets a reprimand..

[democracyindanger]

8. Yep. Your point still applies, though

Just not at the high level you originally stated. It's not out of the question--highly probable, actually--that the myriad of problems the troops face greatly contributed to a breakdown in decision making by the squad leader. How long has he been incountry? How many tours has he done? ad freakin' infinitum.

I've got a terrible feeling that we're watching our military fall apart before our eyes. You can't leave troops in a combat zone indefinitely, especially with no identifiable objective.

[atreides1]

7. Then that was the problem

This was a checkpoint they should have never left their position. Sounds like some gung ho idiot was in charge and bucking for a medal.

[ComerPerro]

9. and, if that's the case, then leadership is just rolling over on these guy

[SoCalDem]

10. Update from the "media"..

Now they are saying it was NOT a "patrol"..but one humvee with a "few" men...they left those three behind as...what?? bait???