Inherent Resolve wounded
The Daily Beast points out that there are 5 wounded military personnel who were involved in Inherent Resolve, the war against ISIS.
According to U.S. Central Command, which oversees military action in the region, the details of the wounded are not available, despite repeated requests for such basic information. The only specifics available are from a Washington Post story, which reported the first service member was wounded in March, just south of Baghdad, while in a guard tower. He was struck in the face by bullet fragments, according to the report, while coming under enemy fire.
I’m not surprised. This administration hasn’t been able to tell the public the truth about anything, but, you know, if this was the McCain Administration or the Romney Administration, Code Pink and VoteVets would be tearing down the fence around the White House.
The administration is a little bit careful what they call the mission in Iraq. From the Washington Post;
Briefing reporters hours after the raid took place, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said that “U.S. forces are not in a combat role in Iraq.” He said a team of elite U.S. soldiers had provided transport and support for the Iraqi Kurdish commandos. But the Americans were not intending to take part in the raid itself, he said. That changed when a firefight erupted and Wheeler jumped in to help. Later that day, Cook said that Wheeler’s death was the first combat casualty there since 2011.
On Monday, asked about operations in Iraq, White House press secretary Josh Earnest declined to characterize the operations there as combat. He said the “train, advise and assist” mission differed from “the long-term, sustained ground combat operations” that took place after the 2003 invasion. Over 160,000 U.S. troops were stationed in Iraq at the peak of that war.
The folks in Baghdad are little more blunt about their mission;
…Wednesday, Col. Steve Warren, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, described the mission in blunt terms. “We’re in combat,” he said, speaking via video feed to reporters at the Pentagon. “That’s why we all carry guns. That’s why we all get combat patches when we leave here. That’s why we all receive imminent danger pay. So, of course it’s combat.”
Maybe Media Benjamin and Jon Soltz could get a straight answer.
Thanks to Chief Tango for the link.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Terror War
Either the colonel was replaced five minutes after the briefing or he was instructed to use that can’t-be-misconstrued line, “We’re in combat.” Either way, this whole story line is sicker than the last of the Rocky movies.
Leave it to COL Warren to not parse words; though, he might have added that Iraq is a Presidential declared “Combat Zone”.
Designated Combat Zones
Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf area (including
Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain,
Qatar, UAE, as well as the Persian Gulf, Gulfs
of Aden and Oman, Red Sea, and parts of the
Arabian Sea) , and certain areas in the Balkans
region are currently designated as CZs or
QHDAs. We been in combat along time!! Tax free all day!!!
Weren’t Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and other areas removed from CZ designation a few years ago? I seem to remember reading that somewhere.
Unless DoD has “backtracked”, yes – effective almost 17 months ago.
http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=39169
In the chart at the top it only shows 1 KIA, was there not 1 Navy service member KIA during a helicopter incident at the very begining of OIR?
My apologies, it was a Marine, and the airframe was an Osprey.
Also after a quick search, there was a C-130 crash in Afghanistan with 11 on board and I think 6 of those were contractors (DOD employees?) and the rest Air Force.
And 1 F-16 crash with another Air Force KIA.
The reporters are not doing enough research before publishing.
Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the waters of the Persian Gulf were taken off the HF/IDP authorization list. This is a DOD only action.
The countries remain as part of the Desert Storm era Combat Zone, as that is done through Executive Order and only the President can cancel it.
The Grunt’s Guide to Military Operations
#1 If someone is shooting at you, you’re in combat
#2 incoming fire has the right of way.
#3 Tracers work both ways
#4. The only thing more dangerous than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
#5. Friendly fire… Isn’t.
#6. Mr. Grenade is nobody’s friend once you pull the pin.
#7. The bombs on an F-35 are very, very accurate. They always hit the ground.
Combat Zone vs Non Combat Zone same Bullshit line no matter who is in office. I don’t care if its a bullet or some fucker coming across the DMZ and hacking you to death. If you are on the issuing or receiving line of bodily harm…It’s COMBAT!
When asked to comment, President Obsma attributed the death and injuries to work place violence. They just happen to work in a combat zone.