Really, the Iraq security forces seem to be actively conducting the killing of US forces in the country, yet America seems intent that they are the answer to the countries problems, what do you reckon?
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington … tion_N.htmBefore the night erupted in violence, it was unusually quiet in the Karbala government compound where American troops and Iraqi police were encamped Jan. 20, according to a previously undisclosed Army investigation.
That night, insurgents wearing U.S. uniforms managed to get past Iraqi police, storm two buildings and abduct four soldiers, whom they later killed. The ease with which the insurgents entered the base jarred the U.S. military. Last week, Pentagon officials accused the Iranian government of training the attackers.
On that Saturday night, U.S. soldiers relaxed on their cots listening to music, watching videos or instant messaging family at home. 1st Lt. Jacob Fritz, 25, of Verdon, Neb., sat at his laptop computer in his room. He had just loaned another soldier his copy of the movie Miami Vice. Pfc. Shawn Falter, 25, of Cortland, N.Y., grabbed a sandwich before joining Spc. Johnathan Chism, 22, of Gonzales, La., for sentry duty in a Humvee at the front gate.
Iraqi police usually filled the compound. But that evening, mysteriously none was there, according to Army investigators. Iraqi vendors had suddenly closed up shop and gone home early. Investigators now suspect Iraqi police secretly cooperated with an Iranian-trained assault force.
About 6 p.m., a column of five to seven SUVs moved toward the government center. The SUVs had false antennas to make them look like Pentagon contractor vehicles, the report says. The men inside spoke English, wore American uniforms and helmets and appeared to be armed with U.S. weapons, investigators were told.
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Iraqi checkpoint guards either let them pass or were disarmed at gunpoint, according to the investigation. "The attackers, pretending to be American, used short U.S. phrases that the IPs (Iraqi police) could understand: 'Sit down,' 'Stop,' 'Go,' " the report says. "The insurgents moved and spoke like Americans and acted as if their presence at the (headquarters) was a normal occurrence."
The column apparently divided as it approached the central compound with two SUVs heading for an inner gate guarded by Falter and Chism. Several soldiers disembarked and walked toward the sentries. Smiling, nodding and exchanging pleasantries, they walked right by Falter before one turned and shot Falter in the back, the report says.
Another gunman jumped on the Humvee and fired at Chism and wounded him. "Chism had no chance to react," the report says.
Both men were believed to still be alive when they were placed in the SUVs.
The attackers then struck the Provisional Joint Coordination Center and a nearby barracks housing Americans, the investigators say.
Aware that the U.S. defensive drill was to go the roofs of the buildings, the attackers used grenades that led officers to pull troops back inside the buildings, according to the report. Adding to the confusion was .50-caliber ammunition that began exploding inside one of the U.S. Humvees blown up by the attackers.
"The explosions were so loud and close it rumbled the building, shattered the windows and also knocked a few of us on our (backsides)," one soldier, whose name was blacked out, told investigators.
Gunmen entering the center's first floor headed for the only two rooms containing Americans, the communication center and a room shared by Fritz and Army Capt. Brian Freeman, 31, of Temecula, Calif. Using concussion grenades and automatic weapons, they tried to force their way inside the center where there were five GIs.
One was Army Pfc. Johnathon Millican, 20, of Locust Fork, Ala. As one soldier tried to bar the door, an attacker threw what investigators believe was a concussion grenade inside the room. Millican, the report says, "fell on it when it came to a stop."
He blocked the explosion with his body, but was killed by bullets fired into the room. Saved from the concussive blast, the other soldiers fended off the attackers, the report says.
Last week, Millican was posthumously awarded a Silver Star for his bravery.
'The attackers abducted Fritz and Freeman, who were possibly stunned by a second concussion grenade thrown into their room, the report says. Fritz's laptop was taken.
The attackers then quickly left the compound with their captives in handcuffs. "There is compelling evidence," the investigative report says, "that all four resisted to the best of their ability and were still alive when taken."
The gunmen later abandoned their vehicles in a rural area. Three of the captive were found there shot to death. A fourth, Freeman, was still alive, but mortally wounded and later died en route to a hospital. Not a single Iraqi was hurt during the attack, the report says/
