Team Sergeant
11-11-2004, 13:29
While in Kuwait I was tasked to assist the State Dept Dip Security guys guard the American Ambassador. We went everywhere, the mission was going well and then one of the Dip Security guys informs me that a “CODEL” was on the way to our location. So I asked “What’s a CODEL?” He replied; “That would be an abbreviation for a “Congressional Delegation”, a bunch of US Senators, Congressmen/women and a mix of VIP’s. They’re coming to have a look see for themselves.” “OK” I answered.
CODEL arrives, 50-75 senators, congressmen, VIP’s etc. The Ambassador takes them to see raging oil well fires, a couple of Iraqi torture houses and the “Highway of Death”.
All goes well until we arrive at the highway. The Ambassador is on the first bus speaking with the politicians, we arrived a few minutes ahead of them.
As they come to a stop on the highway all were told:
“DO NOT LEAVE THE HARDTOP, there is unexploded ordinance laying everywhere!!!”
The idiots leave the bus and head directly for the first Iraqi tank they see, which is off the hardtop. We now have 90% of these dickheads walking around in the sand with loaded enemy weapons lying all over the place, hand grenades, mines, mortar shells, charge bags, etc. The only thing that was picked up before the CODEL arrived was the dead bodies.
I’m standing at the entrance to the bus, staying close to the Ambassador when this congress woman steps off the bus, walks over to me, points to the side of the road and asks;
“Soldier, are those Bombs? (Stupid question, see picture)
“Yes Ma’am, those would be what you would consider “Bombs.”
“Soldier, if one of those were to explode right now what do you think would happen?
“Well ma’am, depending on just which one exploded I’d say that everything within 30 meters would be dead and most within 50m would be gravely injured and that if just one were to explode. Given the close proximity of the shells and what looks to be fuses on some of the artillery shells I’d guess if one were to detonate that it would cause a sympathetic detonation of a few other shells close by and ensuing explosion would kill everything within 200 meters of this location.”
She didn’t say a word, she turned and got back on the bus.
TS
CODEL arrives, 50-75 senators, congressmen, VIP’s etc. The Ambassador takes them to see raging oil well fires, a couple of Iraqi torture houses and the “Highway of Death”.
All goes well until we arrive at the highway. The Ambassador is on the first bus speaking with the politicians, we arrived a few minutes ahead of them.
As they come to a stop on the highway all were told:
“DO NOT LEAVE THE HARDTOP, there is unexploded ordinance laying everywhere!!!”
The idiots leave the bus and head directly for the first Iraqi tank they see, which is off the hardtop. We now have 90% of these dickheads walking around in the sand with loaded enemy weapons lying all over the place, hand grenades, mines, mortar shells, charge bags, etc. The only thing that was picked up before the CODEL arrived was the dead bodies.
I’m standing at the entrance to the bus, staying close to the Ambassador when this congress woman steps off the bus, walks over to me, points to the side of the road and asks;
“Soldier, are those Bombs? (Stupid question, see picture)
“Yes Ma’am, those would be what you would consider “Bombs.”
“Soldier, if one of those were to explode right now what do you think would happen?
“Well ma’am, depending on just which one exploded I’d say that everything within 30 meters would be dead and most within 50m would be gravely injured and that if just one were to explode. Given the close proximity of the shells and what looks to be fuses on some of the artillery shells I’d guess if one were to detonate that it would cause a sympathetic detonation of a few other shells close by and ensuing explosion would kill everything within 200 meters of this location.”
She didn’t say a word, she turned and got back on the bus.
TS