[Marxism] Soldiers who refused unsafe convoy will be punished

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Reuters.com

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Army investigators recommended disciplinary
action against about two dozen reservists who refused orders to deliver
fuel along a dangerous convoy route in Iraq, officials said on Tuesday.

Four or five members of the 343rd Quartermaster Company could face
courts-martial on unspecified criminal charges, said Army officials who
asked not to be identified. The rest were expected to get administrative
punishment, which could include demotion, loss of pay or a reprimand,
the officials said.

Members of the unit disobeyed orders to take their unarmored fuel
tankers on a supply run from Tallil in southeastern Iraq to the Baghdad
area on Oct. 13. They raised concerns about the safety and the condition
of their vehicles and whether the convoy was getting adequate
protection.

Maj. Richard Spiegel, an Army spokesman in Iraq, said in a statement
that a U.S. commander "has reviewed the initial findings of the
investigation into allegations that members of the 343rd Quartermaster
Company refused to participate in their assigned mission on Oct. 13."

"Certain administrative actions have been initiated as a result of this
review and more actions, including criminal charges, are possible in the
future," added Spiegel, who did not provide details.

Investigators recommended disciplinary action against the 18 soldiers
who refused to go on the fuel convoy, and about a half dozen other
members of the unit, based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, officials said.

Some relatives have said the soldiers believed they were delivering
contaminated helicopter fuel and that the convoy was not properly
protected.

The U.S. military runs about 250 convoys daily involving up to 3,000
vehicles to supply and equip its troops in Iraq. They often are targets
of attacks by insurgents.

The commander of the company was relieved of her duties after the
incident. Other soldiers carried out the Oct. 13 supply mission, the
military said.

The 343rd Quartermaster Company returned to full duty on Nov. 11,
Spiegel said.


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