Tarnished
The US army’s image of it’s activities in Iraq is looking even more tarnished than usual this week:
- A British SAS member resigned in protest at the “war of agression” in Iraq, becoming the first member of the SAS to resign and refuse to go into combat on moral grounds. He says he saw “dozens” of illegal acts by US forces while on a 3-month tour of duty in Baghdad.
- Meanwhile, a memo written to Tony Blair in 2003 from John Sawer – Blair’s special envoy to Iraq at the time – has surfaced, which doesn’t mince words describing the situation in Iraq after the US-led invasion- here a few excerpts:
...Garner’s outfit, ORHA (Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance), is an unbelievable mess. No leadership, no strategy, no coordination, no structure (my emphasis), and inaccessible to ordinary Iraqis. Bremer’s arrival is not a day too soon. Garner and his top team of 60-year old retired generals are well-meaning, but out of their depth…
.... A big part of the problem is the US Third Infantry Division. They fought a magnificent war and now just want to go home. Unlike more mobile US units they are sticking to their heavy vehicles and are not inclined to learn new techniques. Our Paras company at the embassy witnessed a US tank respond to (harmless) Kalashnikov fire into the air from a block of residential flats by firing three tank rounds into the building. Stories are numerous of US troops sitting on tanks parked in front of public buildings while looters go about their business behind them. Every civilian who approaches a US checkpoint is treated as a potential suicide bomber. Frankly, the 3rd Inf Div need to go home…