Will someone please explain how these "pretend US military officials" got a hold of Humvees?

Question

Aren't Humvees under military protection?

KARBALA, Iraq (CNN)
January 22, 2007
-- Attackers who killed five U.S. troops at a government building in Karbala posed as U.S. military officials to get past Iraqi guards, a Karbala police spokesman said.
.The attack happened Saturday as the U.S. military convened a meeting to discuss security for Ashura, the upcoming Shiite pilgrimage to Karbala.

About 30 gunmen traveling in a convoy of at least seven SUVs with tinted windows -- similar to the vehicles used by top U.S. military officials -- drove up to the Karbala Provincial Joint Coordination Center wearing uniforms similar to those worn by the U.S. military.

Around 5:45 p.m., the gunmen cleared an Iraqi police checkpoint outside the center by flashing fake identification badges and speaking some English, al-Mishawi said.The attackers went through three checkpoints to enter the center, he said. The assailants targeted only U.S. soldiers, al-Mishawi said, add

You are absolutely correct. The article is correct also. They were traveling in SUV's, not Humvees. My error...but it is still rather odd.....a convoy of 7 SUV's going through 3 checkpoints.

Answer 1

The Iraqi army and police are full of infiltrators that belong to militias that are committing the sectarian violence and targeting US troops. It's not too difficult to check some vehicles out of the motor pool, bribe some Iraqi guards or have a confederate on duty inside, steal or make some American uniforms, forge some documents (if Iraqis are on guard duty ... its not too difficult to fool them ... most can not read English).

These guys most likely abandoned the SUVs, shed their uniforms, deserted their units and went underground after the attack. They probably enlisted under phoney names and dodgy documents to begin with, so it's difficult to track them down.

Answer 2

yo say in your question "About 30 gunmen traveling in a convoy of at least seven SUVs with tinted windows -- similar to the vehicles used by top U.S. military officials" Those are not Humvees, and anyone who knows anything about top U.S. officials knows when traveling in groups they don't ever choose to ride in Humvees unless it is a photo op, or a last resort. Otherwise it sounds like the checkpoint boys made a few mistakes.

Answer 3

Nobody said these insurgents weren't tricky! This was obviously an intell operation of the highest level. Hopefully part of GWB plan is to retaliate ten fold for these kind of acts. The man has got to learn to get down and dirty with this slime, because that's how you win.

You mention the insurgents were driving Humvees in your question, yet when you described the incident you mentioned SUV'S with tinted windows. Now, which is it because there would be a whole lot of concern if these bastards were able to confiscate these kinds of assets. Your question or your facts are misleading!

Answer 4

That doesn't say they were in Hummers. The big brass over there travel in armored Tahoes, or Suburbans. American SUVs aren't hard to get. U.S. military gear is easy to come by, too. Just go to the nearest surplus store. They probably had some of their sympathizers over here ship them the uniforms. Or, they just came and bought the uniforms themselves. Sometimes they stuff at surplus stores still have patches and stripes on them. The patches are supposed to be removed before the sale, but we all know that never happens.

Answer 5

Uniforms of US troops are easily available to insurgents. My friend had two of her uniforms come up missing after taking them to be washed by the laundry service, which she said was run by mainly Iraqi and Indian persons...so obviously somebody wanted them. This happens all the time I guess and for the most part, nobody checks on why they come up missing from what she told me. And vehicles are just as easy to come by in Iraq as they are in the States.

Answer 6

incompetent trickle down from the high office of the bush government down to the military generals who run his war in Iraq total incompetent