Sgt Sostand
07-10-03, 12:27 PM
Promises tough response as attacks continue on U.S. troops
BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 10 — Insurgents launched fresh assaults on U.S. soldiers in Iraq, killing at least two servicemen and wounding a third in shootings and rocket-propelled grenade attacks, the military said Thursday — bringing to 31 the number of U.S. troops killed by hostile fire since President Bush declared major combat in Iraq over on May 1. On a week-long tour of Africa, Bush acknowledged a deepening “security issue” in U.S.-occupied Iraq, but vowed to “remain tough” against insurgents.
BUSH SPOKE in Gaborone, Botswana, amid a debate at home about erroneous evidence that the administration cited as part of its justification for the invasion of Iraq. A group of arms control experts accused the administration of misrepresenting intelligence information to justify the war.
Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the private Arms Control Association, was one of several experts challenging the administration.
“We, along with an increasing number of others, believe that the administration made its case for going to war by misrepresenting intelligence findings as well as citing discredited intelligence information,” Kimball said Wednesday.
And on Capitol Hill, Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said he had a fear “we may find ourselves in the throes of guerrilla warfare for years.”
“We cannot leave Iraq,” Skelton said at a committee hearing with retired Gen. Tommy Franks, the U.S. commander in the war. “This must be a success.”
Bush, responding to concern about the rising casualty toll, said, “There’s no question we have a security issue in Iraq, and we’ve just got to deal with it person to person. We’re going to have to remain tough.”
More than 70 American soldiers have died since Bush declared major combat over May 1, 31 in hostile fire incidents. “It’s going take more than 90 to 100 days for people to recognize the great joys of freedom and the responsibilities that come with freedom,” he said. “It’s very important for us to stay the course, and we will stay the course.”
Franks testified, meanwhile, that besides the 19 countries with forces in Iraq, another 19 were preparing to send troops and 11 were discussing it.
MORE U.S. DEATHS
In Iraq, the security situation showed no signs of calming.
A soldier was fatally shot Wednesday evening near the city of Mahmudiyah, 15 miles south of Baghdad, said Spc. Nicci Trent, a spokeswoman for the military.
Another soldier was killed and one wounded in a rocket-propelled grenade attack late Wednesday near Tikrit, 120 miles north of Baghdad, Trent said. The soldiers were taken to a nearby medical facility, but one of them died.
In the city of Ramadi, 60 miles west of the capital, three separate mortar attacks targeted U.S. troop, but there were no reports of casualties, the military said.
The military also reported that a soldier died Wednesday in what it described as a non-hostile gunshot incident. The military gave no more details. The names of the dead and wounded were withheld pending notification of next of kin.
BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 10 — Insurgents launched fresh assaults on U.S. soldiers in Iraq, killing at least two servicemen and wounding a third in shootings and rocket-propelled grenade attacks, the military said Thursday — bringing to 31 the number of U.S. troops killed by hostile fire since President Bush declared major combat in Iraq over on May 1. On a week-long tour of Africa, Bush acknowledged a deepening “security issue” in U.S.-occupied Iraq, but vowed to “remain tough” against insurgents.
BUSH SPOKE in Gaborone, Botswana, amid a debate at home about erroneous evidence that the administration cited as part of its justification for the invasion of Iraq. A group of arms control experts accused the administration of misrepresenting intelligence information to justify the war.
Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the private Arms Control Association, was one of several experts challenging the administration.
“We, along with an increasing number of others, believe that the administration made its case for going to war by misrepresenting intelligence findings as well as citing discredited intelligence information,” Kimball said Wednesday.
And on Capitol Hill, Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said he had a fear “we may find ourselves in the throes of guerrilla warfare for years.”
“We cannot leave Iraq,” Skelton said at a committee hearing with retired Gen. Tommy Franks, the U.S. commander in the war. “This must be a success.”
Bush, responding to concern about the rising casualty toll, said, “There’s no question we have a security issue in Iraq, and we’ve just got to deal with it person to person. We’re going to have to remain tough.”
More than 70 American soldiers have died since Bush declared major combat over May 1, 31 in hostile fire incidents. “It’s going take more than 90 to 100 days for people to recognize the great joys of freedom and the responsibilities that come with freedom,” he said. “It’s very important for us to stay the course, and we will stay the course.”
Franks testified, meanwhile, that besides the 19 countries with forces in Iraq, another 19 were preparing to send troops and 11 were discussing it.
MORE U.S. DEATHS
In Iraq, the security situation showed no signs of calming.
A soldier was fatally shot Wednesday evening near the city of Mahmudiyah, 15 miles south of Baghdad, said Spc. Nicci Trent, a spokeswoman for the military.
Another soldier was killed and one wounded in a rocket-propelled grenade attack late Wednesday near Tikrit, 120 miles north of Baghdad, Trent said. The soldiers were taken to a nearby medical facility, but one of them died.
In the city of Ramadi, 60 miles west of the capital, three separate mortar attacks targeted U.S. troop, but there were no reports of casualties, the military said.
The military also reported that a soldier died Wednesday in what it described as a non-hostile gunshot incident. The military gave no more details. The names of the dead and wounded were withheld pending notification of next of kin.