US DoD contractors fighting to hold their position in Balad, Iraq

LTC Yinon Weiss — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:08:42 -0400

If this story is true, it looks like a very tough situation for a couple of hundred US DoD contractors under siege in Balad.

I think a lot of people expected the Iraqi Army to have challenges, but it seems they just drop their weapons and run away at the first sign of any conflict. Even untrained people would be expected to put up a better defense.

http://www.special-ops.org/200-u-s-contractors-surrounded-jihadists-iraq/

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jun 14 at 2014 2:35 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:35:43 -0400

I just hope there is no scene in Baghdad like this image (fall of Saigon at end of Vietnam War).

As each former US military strong is being overrun and looted, I can't help but to think of every American that served there, and those that never came back.

I also think of our positions in Afghanistan, and what will happen to them.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2014 3:03 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 15:03:03 -0400

It's an unfortunate situation but also a part of the reality we live in today. The world is not committed to seeing true change come about. True change takes decades to establish, to re-educate an entire culture that has deep rooted philosophical and ideological issues (as compared to the rest of the world anyways).

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2014 4:42 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 16:42:11 -0400

This is what I've been afraid of. We need to get our men/women out now and let this religious war go.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Jun 14 at 2014 4:53 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 16:53:19 -0400

How can we say no boots on the ground when we have the worlds largest Embassy there? Are we not going to defend that Embassy?

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Jun 14 at 2014 5:07 PM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 17:07:07 -0400

As frustrating as this is from the perspective that these are Americans... At the same time, they are also mercenaries paid to work for a mercenary organization that is gambling on America stepping into to cover responsibilities to its employees that should have been part of the contract to begin with.
So, which Americans are we more obligated to bail out, those who walk away like PFC Bergdahl, or those who sold out like the contractors in Iraq...
Don't get me wrong, as a former Intelligence Warrant, I have friends and former companions that are serving in many of those contractor positions as "Intelligence Analysts" and do not want to see anything happen to them... But they did know the risks associated with working in a for profit arrangement with the corporations that hired them.

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made Jun 14 at 2014 5:21 PM

SFC Christopher Perry — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 17:21:18 -0400

We cannot sit on the fence on this situation, or any similar situations in this region. We either are, or we are not. If we choose to use contractors for the sake of appearances, then we have to realize that these Americans are acting as requested. American boots on the ground can come in many forms these days. Either we are going to be there, which means not turning your back on anyone. Or we pull out everyone. There can be no play in the grey!

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Jun 14 at 2014 5:34 PM

SSG V. Michelle Woods — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 17:34:26 -0400

It actually makes me proud to know that while the Iraqi Army may have ran quickly, it didn't take much for our American good 'ol boys to pick up weapons and get ready to fight.

I understand these contractors knew the risk they signed up for but we can't leave our own behind. Which one of you service members can honestly say you wouldn't risk your life to save our fellow Americans from the same enemy who stole the lives of so many of our young brothers and sisters in arms?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2014 7:14 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 19:14:31 -0400

All,

As of this morning, it appears that the contractors were being evacuated by the Iraqi Air Force/

http://www.special-ops.org/iraqi-air-force-evacuating-besieged-u-s-contractors/

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2014 4:32 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 16:32:38 -0400

A lot of the contractors are prior service. DoD contractors like picking up vets who already have active security clearances. Try getting a DoD contract job when your clearance has expired.

Unfortunately, I don't have faith that our current administration will do anything to protect them. God speed to those in harms way.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 12:04 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 00:04:21 -0400

Lets hope our Govt. doesn't "Benghazi" this one.

Response by Cpl Glynis Sakowicz made Jun 16 at 2014 1:08 PM

Cpl Glynis Sakowicz — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 13:08:05 -0400

This one hits close to home with me. After my husband was medically retired, he became a Govt Contractor, and spent two years at Balad, returning just a year ago.
The contractors there, are probably with DynCorp, or L3, and all they had on them were knives, though most of them stated they'd find a likely armed person, and wack them over the head to get their rifle or sidearm if the base was being overrun... Most are retired or prior military, so I'd say many of them are probably better able to handle the weapons than the Iraqi soldiers.
We know at least a dozen of the contractors over there, and we are sincerely praying for them to get out before this turns into a super-sized Bengazhi.

Response by LTC Barry Hull made Oct 16 at 2014 11:25 PM

LTC Barry Hull — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 23:25:59 -0400

It's not about training, its about heart.