Mutiny?
 

A Mississippi reservist calls home for help. The platoon of 17 refuses to go on "suicide" mission and is put under arrest. Oh brother. Bad apples or bad equipment or bad leadership? maybe we'll learn more.

Clarion Ledger article

I've said it before on other threads, and I'll say it again: The soldiers whom I speak to who have just gotten back from Iraq to a man complain of inadequate supplies and equipment. I don't know where that $140 -$200 billion is going that we are spending on the war - maybe to line Halliburten's pockets - but not enough of it is going to support our guys. Ask any E3 just back from Iraq. :mad:

I believe this is the new URL as if 15 Oct in the evening:
Platoon defies orders in Iraq

Apparently that unit is now in Tallil - where Tobias was stationed.

From the news article:

"But Nadine Stratford of Rock Hill, S.C., said her godson Colin Durham, 20, has been happy with his time in Iraq. She has not heard from him since the platoon was detained.

'When I talked to him about a month ago, he was fine," Stratford said. "He said it was like being at home.'"

Remind me never to visit South Carolina! :eek:

Further info on this story from the AP:

"Staff Sgt. Christopher Stokes, a 37-year-old chemical engineer from Charlotte, N.C., went to Iraq with the 343rd but had to come home because of an injury. He said reservists were given inferior equipment and tensions in the company had been building since they were deployed in February.


"It wasn't really safe," he said. "The vehicles are not all that up to par anyway. The armor that they have is homemade. It's not really armor. It's like little steel rails."

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=170615

Imagine being told to jump out of an airplane while everyone above you in command knows the parachutes have gaping tears in them. Imagine being told either the tears are small and won't be a problem or to jump or else be thrown out of the plane. Imagine being the soldiers who actually see the tears and realize they're big enough for a man to walk through upright.

Sounds like these folks had strong attack of common sense. Someone better get on that case quick or the golem-mentality They've worked so hard to install might unravel.

Port Chicago Mutiny
 

I thought this all sounded familiar. I don't remember where I heard about this, but the Port Chicago Mutiny was a significant case during WWII.

I doubt that this case brings up the racial issues. However, the article on the Iraq case did mention that reservists believe that they are being treated differently from regular Army soliders.