It’s looking like we’ll be doing all the standing up in Iraq for quite a while:
Iraqi Unit Flees Post, Despite American’s Plea
BAGHDAD — A company of Iraqi soldiers abandoned their positions on Tuesday night in Sadr City, defying American soldiers who implored them to hold the line against Shiite militias.
The retreat left a crucial stretch of road on the front lines undefended for hours and led to a tense series of exchanges between American soldiers and about 50 Iraqi troops who were fleeing.
Capt. Logan Veath, a company commander in the 25th Infantry Division, pleaded with the Iraqi major who was leading his troops away from the Sadr City fight, urging him to return to the front.
“If you turn around and go back up the street those soldiers will follow you,” Captain Veath said. “If you tuck tail and cowardly run away they will follow up that way, too.”
Captain Veath’s pleas failed, and senior American and Iraqi commanders mounted an urgent effort to regain the lost ground. An elite Iraqi unit was rushed in and with the support of the Americans began to fight its way north.
You got that? We are pleading with the Iraqis to fight, and they are turning tail and running. U.S. commanders are begging the Iraqi Army to fight. And they won’t.
Why should they, when they know we’ll bail out their bacon every time! They have no incentive to wade into harm’s way--let the Americans do it!
What is wrong this picture? Everything!
