50 New Iraqi Soldiers Executed by Jihadis as they were going home on leave after basic..

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 50 New Iraqi Soldiers Executed by Jihadis as they were going home on leave after basic..

Posted: 10/24/2004 7:33:24 AM EDT

Updated: 10:32 AM EDT
50 New Iraqi Army Soldiers Shot to Death
Soldiers Were Apparently Ambushed After Basic Training

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BAGHDAD, Iraq (Oct. 24) - The bodies of about 50 unarmed Iraqi soldiers - many killed execution style with gunshots to the back of the head - were found on a remote road in eastern Iraq, victims of an ambush as they were heading home on leave after basic training, Iraqi authorities said Sunday.

The nature of the attack suggested an increased boldness and organization by insurgents, who, until now, have mainly used roadside bombs and suicide car bombs in their attacks on the Iraqi military and police.

Interior Ministry spokesman Adnan Abdul-Rahman said the victims were believed to have been killed about sundown Saturday on a road about 95 miles east of Baghdad near the Iranian border.

Police offered varying accounts of the incident, with one source saying all the victims were shot in the back of the head. Some of the victims had their hands crossed behind their heads, said Lt. Ali Jawad Kadhim from the nearby Mandali police station.

Photos from the site showed the outstretched bodies laid out in formation, some charred, others bloodied. Many had their arms at their sides.

There were conflicting reports on the exact number of dead, whether they were members of the Iraqi army or the Iraqi National Guard and whether they were all killed execution-style.

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An Associated Press reporter on the scene reported seeing the burned frames of two minibuses. Bloodstains were visible on the ground, along with human remains. Witnesses said the attackers stole some buses. Police said they had found 51 bodies from the attack place.

Initial reports citing witnesses that insurgents had initiated the attack by firing rocket-propelled grenades at several vehicles carrying the unarmed troops have not been confirmed.

Police said witnesses saw the soldiers' buses being stopped by the attackers before they were forced to leave the area.

Gen. Walid al-Azzawi, commander of the Diyala provincial police, said the bodies were laid out in four rows each, with 12 bodies in each row.

"After inspection, we found out that they were shot after being ordered to lay down on the earth,'' he said.

Al-Azzawi said he believed the soldiers were training at the Kirkush military camp northeast of Baghdad. The soldiers had just finished their training course and were being given leave before reporting for duty, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said.

Diyala's deputy Gov. Aqil Hamid al-Adili told Al-Arabiya TV he believed the ambush had been set up.

Reuters file
Iraqi army soldiers march during a graduation ceremony.

"There was probably collusion among the soldiers or other groups. Otherwise, the gunmen would not have gotten the information about the soldiers' departure from their training camp and that they were unarmed,'' he said.

"In the future we will try to be more careful when the soldiers leave their camps. We will provide them with protected cars that can escort them home.''

A U.S. military source in the region confirmed the incident, but was uncertain of the number of dead.

Kadhim said the Iraqi bodies were taken to the Kirkush training camp, where they would be identified through military records since their IDs and belongings were stolen in the attack.

10/24/04 10:15 EDT

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Posted: 10/24/2004 7:35:55 AM EDT

[#1]

The fuckers. I swear, the Iraqi people know EXACTLY who the insurgents are. They are just afraid to say so.

This is becoming another Vietnam ( a liberally controlled media spinning this into a war run by the numbers ).

Posted: 10/24/2004 7:39:33 AM EDT

[#2]

That is very unfortunate, but we are winning the war contrary to what the liberal USA new media is reporting. They are just trying to make GWB Jr. look bad. Just try looking at BBC news and some of the report we have here in this board. GWB Jr. was crippled by a ineffective and de-clawed CIA cause by the previous Clinton Admin.

Posted: 10/24/2004 7:44:36 AM EDT

[#3]

your a soldier and your conutry is at war on its own soil...

why the fuck are you UNAMRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

is this bad western training/mentality?

Posted: 10/24/2004 7:47:52 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
That is very unfortunate, but we are winning the war contrary to what the liberal USA new media is reporting. They are just trying to make GWB Jr. look bad. Just try looking at BBC news and some of the report we have here in this board. GWB Jr. was crippled by a ineffective and de-clawed CIA cause by the previous Clinton Admin.

Believe me, I know, but it is hard to control the rage that builds up listening to all the BS spewed back and forth. Democrats hopefully will cease to exist as a party in another 10 years.

Posted: 10/24/2004 7:48:47 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
your a soldier and your conutry is at war on its own soil...

why the fuck are you UNAMRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

is this bad western training/mentality?

+1 Although it may be a case of not being able to trust them in their off-hours?!?

Posted: 10/24/2004 7:50:09 AM EDT

[#6]

Advide to insurgents:

1. Go to Prisons!

2. Ask U.S. troops to hand over 150 iraqi insurgent prisoners!

3. Hack them to death on Iraqi national television!

4. While still televised release buzzards and leave the bodies lay!

Funny these great warriors of Moonworship err i mean Allah didn't attack them while they were armed, PIG FUCKING COWARDS!!!

Posted: 10/24/2004 7:51:27 AM EDT

[#7]

Ps. Follow steps one through four as neccesary until all insurgents are either dead or crying home to mama!

Posted: 10/24/2004 7:54:17 AM EDT

[#8]

We don't ever send our soldiers home from basic with weapons. Thats probably why they had no weapons. Another lesson from the Israeli Army that the US failed to learn in time in Iraq. Israeli soldiers are not ALLOWED to go anywhere without their weapon, even off duty.

This was also the only time they would have been able to catch Iraqi soldiers without their Green Beret leaders as well.

Posted: 10/24/2004 7:56:43 AM EDT

[#9]

They were unarmed probably because of some stupid policy.

Posted: 10/24/2004 8:01:29 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
We don't ever send our soldiers home from basic with weapons. Thats probably why they had no weapons. Another lesson from the Israeli Army that the US failed to learn in time in Iraq. Israeli soldiers are not ALLOWED to go anywhere without their weapon, even off duty.

This was also the only time they would have been able to catch Iraqi soldiers without their Green Beret leaders as well.

While this is true, WE don't often hold BCT in a warzone either, therefore no real reason to send our troops home with a rifle!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 50 New Iraqi Soldiers Executed by Jihadis as they were going home on leave after basic..

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