Female Troops Face Hostile Fire in Iraq
Female Troops Face Hostile Fire in Iraq
Lethal Ambush in Fallujah Underscores Hardships of Keeping Women Away From Front Lines Combat
By FRANK GRIFFITHS Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq Jun 25, 2005 — The lethal ambush of a convoy carrying female U.S. troops in Fallujah underscored the difficulties of keeping women away from the front lines in a war where such boundaries are far from clear-cut. The suicide car bomb and ensuing small-arms fire killed at least two Marines and four others were missing and presumed dead. At least one woman was killed and 11 of 13 wounded were female.
The ambush late Thursday also suggested Iraqi insurgents may have regained a foothold in Fallujah, which has been occupied by U.S. and Iraqi forces since they regained control of the restive city from insurgents seven months ago.
The women were part of a team of Marines assigned to various checkpoints around Fallujah. The Marines use females at the checkpoints to search Muslim women "in order to be respectful of Iraqi cultural sensitivities," a military statement said. It is considered insulting for men to search female Muslims. >>>continued
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=880895&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
Lethal Ambush in Fallujah Underscores Hardships of Keeping Women Away From Front Lines Combat
By FRANK GRIFFITHS Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq Jun 25, 2005 — The lethal ambush of a convoy carrying female U.S. troops in Fallujah underscored the difficulties of keeping women away from the front lines in a war where such boundaries are far from clear-cut. The suicide car bomb and ensuing small-arms fire killed at least two Marines and four others were missing and presumed dead. At least one woman was killed and 11 of 13 wounded were female.
The ambush late Thursday also suggested Iraqi insurgents may have regained a foothold in Fallujah, which has been occupied by U.S. and Iraqi forces since they regained control of the restive city from insurgents seven months ago.
The women were part of a team of Marines assigned to various checkpoints around Fallujah. The Marines use females at the checkpoints to search Muslim women "in order to be respectful of Iraqi cultural sensitivities," a military statement said. It is considered insulting for men to search female Muslims. >>>continued
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=880895&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
posted by Kangaroo Brisbane Australia at 5:03 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home