Washington Times

07/28/05

U.S. Army soldiers have used 'excessive' and 'unauthorized deadly force' in Iraq to defend supply convoys because they did not have the proper weapons, according to a commander's secret internal memorandum. The memo says soldiers need precision-guided pistols, in addition to heavy-fire machine guns, to ensure that innocent people are not killed. The memo was written by Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves, who commands an Army National Guard brigade that performs the perilous job of guarding convoys that move in and out of Camp Anaconda, a sprawling logistics base near Balad, north of Baghdad. Such convoys have been the targets of numerous attacks by terrorists using suicide car bombs and other types of ambushes. In the March 15 memo, Gen. Chaves tells top commanders in Baghdad that he does not have the right mix of weapons to fire from the turrets of armored Humvees and other vehicles that guard supply trucks...

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050727-115941-2568r.htm


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp