August 11, 2005

Too many casualties

By Mike McGill
Before I get into this, let me provide a little background.  I am a former Marine and served on active duty in a Reconnaissance outfit for several years.  I am quite familiar with small unit infantry tactics, MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain), and raid operations.  In the interest of full disclosure, I was discharged in early 1991, so I am 15 years out of date in training and doctrine.  Having said that, it certainly looks like some of our troops are breaking some fundamental rules of combat and combat patrolling.  I have noticed several related things that appear to be primary causes of US casualties in Iraq.  First of all, every time I see video of troops holed up in urban terrain, they look like a covey of quail.  It makes my skin crawl every time I see an entire platoon packed onto a twenty by twenty rooftop during a firefight.  One accurately placed RPG or mortar would wipe out a double handful of young troopers.  This...(Read Full Article)