marinemom
09-03-03, 05:39 AM
'Come and Help Us in Iraq,' U.S. Soldiers Urge World
Updated 5:54 AM ET September 3, 2003
By Andrew Cawthorne
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - American soldiers struggling to keep a lid on violence in Iraq and concerned by near-daily fatalities yearn to see more troops from other nations share the work of occupation.
"It's getting crazy out there, and we can't be everywhere at the same time," said Tikrit-based Sergeant Michael Evans, referring to Iraq's recent string of bomb blasts and guerrilla attacks on the U.S.-led force in Iraq.
"It's time the rest of the world gave us a little reinforcement. We're paying for too much of this. I think we should scale down and let others come in."
Around 150,000 American troops are stationed in Iraq, supported by 21,000 from other nations, 11,000 of them British.
As the human and financial costs mount, Washington is anxious for U.N. involvement to get more non-American soldiers in and perhaps allow some of its troops home.
President Bush on Tuesday directed Secretary of State Colin Powell to open talks at the U.N. Security Council on a resolution aimed at building a wider, multinational force.
"I think we would have lost less people if the U.N. had been with us earlier," Sergeant Rob Summerfield, from Ohio, said on Wednesday at the U.S. military base in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home town north of Baghdad.
Sixty-seven U.S. and 11 British soldiers have been killed in attacks since Bush declared major combat over on May 1.
"I think a lot of people want to come over here and help us but they can't," Summerfield added. "For political reasons, their country is not sending them."
WHERE ARE THE "GOOFY BLUE HELMETS?"
Wary of serving under a U.S.-led occupation, nations such as India, Pakistan and Turkey have said there has to be a stronger U.N. mandate first. One formula being discussed is a U.N. multinational force under U.S. command.
"We understand that is needed to make things more legitimate in the view of the outside world," said Lieutenant Israel Guzman, from Texas. "But the world must understand we cannot only take U.S. troops to do this. Fighting terrorism and nation-building is an international responsibility."
The 26,000-strong 4th Infantry Division, based at one of Saddam's former palaces on the banks of the river Tigris in Tikrit, knows only too well the perils of occupation.
Their patrols come under daily attack from Iraqi guerrillas in a zone traditionally supportive of Saddam and now a focus of anti-American resistance.
Rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and mortars often come fizzing into the base, including several overnight on Wednesday.
Soldiers based here shunned suggestions they would not want to relinquish any control and work alongside non-Americans.
"We were here the first time, side-by-side with the French," said Evans, also from Texas, recalling the 1991 Gulf War. "They were great to work with, and as funny as hell. Some of their tactics were like 'wow, I would never have done it that way' but we learned from each other."
The Americans' favorites to work with are the British, and not just because of language and cultural affinities. "They're aggressive, they come to fight, they're well-equipped," said Guzman.
Evans said his fellow soldiers, many of whom have experience of multilateral operations elsewhere, were surprised to be still leading the occupation of Iraq.
"We all thought we would be seeing those blue goofy helmets everywhere long ago."
Updated 5:54 AM ET September 3, 2003
By Andrew Cawthorne
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - American soldiers struggling to keep a lid on violence in Iraq and concerned by near-daily fatalities yearn to see more troops from other nations share the work of occupation.
"It's getting crazy out there, and we can't be everywhere at the same time," said Tikrit-based Sergeant Michael Evans, referring to Iraq's recent string of bomb blasts and guerrilla attacks on the U.S.-led force in Iraq.
"It's time the rest of the world gave us a little reinforcement. We're paying for too much of this. I think we should scale down and let others come in."
Around 150,000 American troops are stationed in Iraq, supported by 21,000 from other nations, 11,000 of them British.
As the human and financial costs mount, Washington is anxious for U.N. involvement to get more non-American soldiers in and perhaps allow some of its troops home.
President Bush on Tuesday directed Secretary of State Colin Powell to open talks at the U.N. Security Council on a resolution aimed at building a wider, multinational force.
"I think we would have lost less people if the U.N. had been with us earlier," Sergeant Rob Summerfield, from Ohio, said on Wednesday at the U.S. military base in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home town north of Baghdad.
Sixty-seven U.S. and 11 British soldiers have been killed in attacks since Bush declared major combat over on May 1.
"I think a lot of people want to come over here and help us but they can't," Summerfield added. "For political reasons, their country is not sending them."
WHERE ARE THE "GOOFY BLUE HELMETS?"
Wary of serving under a U.S.-led occupation, nations such as India, Pakistan and Turkey have said there has to be a stronger U.N. mandate first. One formula being discussed is a U.N. multinational force under U.S. command.
"We understand that is needed to make things more legitimate in the view of the outside world," said Lieutenant Israel Guzman, from Texas. "But the world must understand we cannot only take U.S. troops to do this. Fighting terrorism and nation-building is an international responsibility."
The 26,000-strong 4th Infantry Division, based at one of Saddam's former palaces on the banks of the river Tigris in Tikrit, knows only too well the perils of occupation.
Their patrols come under daily attack from Iraqi guerrillas in a zone traditionally supportive of Saddam and now a focus of anti-American resistance.
Rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and mortars often come fizzing into the base, including several overnight on Wednesday.
Soldiers based here shunned suggestions they would not want to relinquish any control and work alongside non-Americans.
"We were here the first time, side-by-side with the French," said Evans, also from Texas, recalling the 1991 Gulf War. "They were great to work with, and as funny as hell. Some of their tactics were like 'wow, I would never have done it that way' but we learned from each other."
The Americans' favorites to work with are the British, and not just because of language and cultural affinities. "They're aggressive, they come to fight, they're well-equipped," said Guzman.
Evans said his fellow soldiers, many of whom have experience of multilateral operations elsewhere, were surprised to be still leading the occupation of Iraq.
"We all thought we would be seeing those blue goofy helmets everywhere long ago."