WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. military’s chief medical officer for Iraq was among a group of 12 high-ranking soldiers killed on Saturday in a helicopter crash outside Baghdad, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Col. Brian Allgood, 46, was an orthopedic surgeon serving as command surgeon in Iraq.
He and 11 other officers, mostly combat support personnel, were on what defense officials said was likely an “orientation flight” ahead of the arrival of other soldiers. Defense officials, however, declined discuss the group’s specific mission at the time of the crash.
Army officials also declined to say why a dozen high-ranking soldiers were traveling together. The group included two colonels — the highest rank before the four-step class of generals in the U.S. Army — as well as a lieutenant colonel, a major and a captain.
The crash is under investigation. CNN has reported the Black Hawk helicopter was shot down by a shoulder-fired missile.
It’s curious to me that the Iranians insurgents jihadists knew that the helicopter was full of high-ranking Soldiers. How would they have gotten that information?
While we are trying to ‘win the hearts and minds’ of our enemies, it gives them the opportunity to play us for fools. When we use locals for interpreters and to work on the FOBs, it gives them the opportunites to gather intelligence to give to the enemy.
Take Baghdad. Take Iraq. THEN start worrying about winning the hearts and minds of the people. It worked in Germany and Japan. It has worked in every war we have won.
The only times we have lost wars has been when the American people have not supported the war and therefore the war was fought in half-measures.
History tells us that anything short of unconditional surrender only leads to further conflicts for another generation to have to deal with … but in this case I’m not at all sure it will wait for another generation.
January 25th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Excellent post.
I agree, “limited war” is probably the cruelest thing ever invented by man. As you said: “History tells us that anything short of unconditional surrender only leads to further conflicts for another generation to have to deal with … but in this case I’m not at all sure it will wait for another generation.â€Â
The best example of this is WWI. It was a limited war with limited objectives which were achieved. An armistice was reached, the enemy was economically punished, and it gave us the world’s greatest disaster – WWII.
Thanks again for a nice post.
January 25th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Thank you Beth for sharing this information I am also posting it on my site.
We must fight and give 110% effort in order for this victory, the soldiers want it but our public is under different views and think that pulling out is the right answer when it is the worst idea possible. We need to stay until the job is done, we must follow the DTA (Don’t Trust Anyone) policy so that leaks can be minimal.
Randy
January 25th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Hey LomaAlta and Randy.
I agree with both of you. I’ve used the example of WWI myself. It lead to WWII and ultimately all the other wars of the 20th century. We really need to be in it to win - period. The news we get is so twisted that I don’t believe people who don’t pay close attention to the issues really understand what is going on. That’s scary to me.