5 soldiers killed, 7 wounded in patrol attack

[BigVito]

RIP

By Lauren Frayer - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jun 29, 2007 14:346 EDT

BAGHDAD — Five American soldiers were killed and seven wounded in a coordinated attack in southern Baghdad involving a roadside bomb and rocket-propelled grenades, the U.S. military announced Friday.

The soldiers were on a combat patrol when a roadside bomb exploded near them Thursday, the military said in a statement. Shortly after the blast, insurgents attacked with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, it said.

All seven wounded soldiers were evacuated to a military hospital, and one has since returned to duty, the military said. The victims’ names were withheld pending family notification.

The deaths brought to 99 the number of U.S. troops who have died in Iraq this month, according to an Associated Press count. The death toll for the past three months — 329 — made it the deadliest quarter for U.S. troops in Iraq since the war began in March 2003.

The British military issued a statement Friday saying all of its bases came under attack from mortars or rockets in the past 24 hours, but there were no casualties or damage.

Britain maintains a force of about 5,500 troops based mainly on the fringes of Basra, Iraq’s second-largest city, 340 miles southeast of Baghdad.

[Diesel Kinevel]

its a damn shame but unfortunatly thats what happens in war. Im just glad we as a country still have those that are willing to defend their country

[BigVito]

Originally Posted by Diesel Kinevel

its a damn shame but unfortunatly thats what happens in war. Im just glad we as a country still have those that are willing to defend their country

Very true we need to get the MMPV in use to help.

[Papichulo]

My prayers are with all soldiers, airmen, marines, seamen and their families...

[WyoBob]

Originally Posted by Diesel Kinevel

its a damn shame but unfortunatly thats what happens in war. Im just glad we as a country still have those that are willing to defend their country

Yes, we are fortunate to have such brave men and women serving our country and, yes, unfortunatly some will die. The greatest tradgedy is the fact that our armed forces members are being let down by shoddy leadership, top to bottom. They may not have the gear or armored vehicles they need but, by god, at least Halliburton is making big bucks serving food to the troops and the stock market is smokin'.

For a really interesting look at the present war, read "On the Hunt" by Col. David Hunt. One of his comments was that we'd be in better shape if we let the sargents prosecute the war. It is a very well written book and I really like Hunt's writing style but the book will also make you angry about how our nation's finest are being "used and abused".

Anyone here been around long enough to remember another war run by middle aged white men who had never fought in a war? 58,000 dead in the Vietnam war and now we're trading partners with them. I wonder how many of the "pro war" politicians had loved ones die in that war? About as many as in this war, I'll bet.

Three cheers for our troops and a pox on our leaders who won't let people who know what they're doing lead the fight. Oh, and the troops aren't the only folks endangered by incompetent leadership. As long as we have politicians from both sides advocating open borders (so as to collect as many votes from as many different groups as possible) we are all at risk. To have troops dying overseas "to protect us from terrorists" while doing nothing about the open border is an insult to every fighting man and woman.

WyoBob