I'm not surprised that Halliburton would fire someone like the gentleman referenced above. Neither am I surprised that they would want to cover it up. And it is certainly not surprising if Halliburton provided vehicles without any real protection against small arms.

Nor does it surprise me that with this story, as like so many in the media, we can say, "this, too, shall pass." We live in an age where the life span of a media story is measured in minutes. We get outraged about abuses, such as Halliburton's, but then, we're soon off to new outrage, about a new event, forgetting Halliburton, or anyone else, for that matter.

I'm wondering what would have happened around the Watergate break-in had it occurred in 2006. Would the media and the public hound the story until the truth was determined? Or, would it have faded quickly into the background as "newer" and "fresher" stories were released?

Disgusting company, isn't it.

I can't download Macroplayer on my work computer (hint, hint to ABC) so what does the tape show and when will it air on TV?

How were the trucks disabled? If just shot at, they should have kept on going even with flat tires, etc. even plowing through or around obstacles if present. I am surprised that Halliburton did not at least arm the drivers if they weren't going to provide armed escorts of their own.

Could the lead APC even see the action behind them to stop? I do wonder why there was not military or Halliburton security at least fore and aft. Any military folks want to jump in and explain typical convoy procedures....at least those that won't violate Operational Security?

How did this mystery filmer survive while others were shot point blank? Inquiring minds want more info!!

What a lying, cheating, thieving, and immoral corporation. Hey, didn't Cheney once run Halliburton? That explains a few things about what's happened to this country in the past 5 years.

Watching the train wreck of America's rapid decline on 24 hour news channels is just tragic. Nobody's throwing on the breaks and it seems we're just heading faster and faster for that cliff.

RIP America. May those who killed you one day be brought to justice.

Terrorist murdering people is a terrible thing. I am not excusing it, but contractors, soldiers, journalists, everyone going over there does so knowing the risks. It is not more terrible that a private contractor, who went over to get the very high "hazard" pay (verus our soldiers who fight for our freedom for, mostly, bigger reasons than money), was murdered versus a soldier or Iraqi. It is a horrendous thing when ANY innocent life is taken by these bastards. I don't understand from the video or article why the troops or Halliburton are being blamed, anymore than why our troops would be held accountable for an Iraqi being killed by terrorists. It is the terrorists who pulled the trigger and the contractors went over willingly, for high pay, knowing the chance they were taking.

I'm not surprise that Haliburton would fire the driver. Haliburton is in Iraq for the money. They don't want to pay anymore compensation than they have too.

What the driver said about the protection, the bullet proof car windows, etc, etc would cost money and reduce profit for Haliburton. Haliburton work enviroment in Iraq is not for safety but for maximize profit and good returns for Dick Cheney and Company.

I am amazed that our troops would leave our citizens in danger like that without any protection for them. If it is true that the Commander made a mistake and took the wrong route then he should he held accountable for these innocent peoples deaths. I am truly shocked, definately there should be an investigation on both the parts of Halliburton and the Virgina National Guard. I wonder if the National Guard would have abandoned those people if they had been any of their relatives in that truck instead of total strangers.

I haven't seen the video and can only imagine what really happened. Haliburton is a sleazy company (Cheney did run it and probably still does under the table) and no doubt promised bullet proof glass and protection. These guys are paid top dollar for doing what they are doing our soldiers and Marines get very little pay for putting themselves on the line 24/7, however, like my son who is a Marine says some of the rewards are worth more than any amount of money. Most Marines do not consider themselves heroes, my son said he is just doing his job for about $18,000 a year. We must also realize that our Marines and soldiers cannot return fire unless given permission from a higher officer. My son was shot at and all he could do was jump in a ditch with the rest of his platoon. I would say consider all the sources and don't rely on information that is not confirmed.
Marilyn PMM Sgt Steven

If anyone wants to watch the video go to Orgish.com. then to the Iraq Section, about three quarters down, click "US convoy attacked in Samarra-april 7 2006" Here you can watch the Glass on Wheelers truck get shattered as an Ak47 round hits his arm. His vehicle stalls, as he pleads with the departing gun trucks (which were directly in front of him)on a radio to help. "we have to go" is how they respond. I did not know it was a Haliburton truck until the ABC artcile. That explains a unarmed driver in unarmored vehicle in a combat zone.

Truth be said, the military guys (Virginia National Guard) wimped out of the fight! They should have immediately strafed the neighborhood from where the ambush was staged. Unless the US troops make it very costly on the immediate neighborhoods for attacks to be staged on them, this kind of thing will continue to happen. Big Carrots and a Very Very Big Stick is what is need from the military. Construct first world class facilities for cooperating areas and be very very lethal towards non-cooperating areas is the way to go.
Tim.

The Watergate analogy is a bit silly. There were ongoing investigations into Watergate by the FBI, a grand jury and Congress that were pushing to discover the facts and launch appropriate prosecutions. All Woodward and Bernstein did was steal that information, essentially depriving Nixon of his right to a fair trial. It's one of the seedier moments in journalistic history.

And what the mainstream press would do today would depend on the party involved. Trite stuff by Republicans would get blown all over the front page. Serious sins by Democrats (think Bill and Hillary) would be minimized.

Compare Clarence Thomas, accused of little more than talking dirty with very credible accusations of rape against Bill Clinton by a woman in Arkansas. Claiming the mainstream press has double standards is a bit like claiming that Hitler was a "little bit anti-Semitic."

Any company that has anything to do with Dick Cheney is going to lie, cheat, and steel every dime from the contracts it can and if that means cutting employees protection, benefits etc., they will do it. It's all about the bottom line and profits. As far as the military goes, someone needs to explain why these men were left to be killed and without protection, good luck getting a straight answer out of them either, the generals on down march lock step with what Rummy/Bush and Cheney say. It's a mess all the way around and these bumbling idiots should be sent out in trucks on a highway without a map, nor weapons or protection and told if you make it back alive well then we will support your war! Thanks

You can bash Haliburton (KBR) all you want but as former military contracting officer who spent 2003 in Kuwait & Iraq, I have first had knowledge that KBR's contract with the Army pledged that the military would provide all necessary security and only ask the civilian contractors to drive on secured routes. Early on it was my own military that withdrew necessary convoy security siting the lack of available troops. As contractors started getting shot and the KBRs questioned whether or not to stay on the job it was local Army commanders the questioned out loud the truck driver's patriotism. I heard 2 star generals tell the leader of the truck drivers that if they didn't drive the troops would be without food. I thought the position the military took - withdrawing security and demanding more - was shameful. I look at the KBR employees as some of the unsung heros of operation Iraqi Freedom. The could have simply quick and gone home to their stateside jobs. When I hear the President say that his military commanders have all the troops they need, I believe he is quoting some POLITICAL COWARDS that happen to be wearing a Generals Uniform.

I thought that it was considered discrimination to fire someone who was 'disabled'. That's all beside the point.
The point is that if there were 'Troops' there to protect them they should have done their job. It seems like there should be some charges leveled.

I am a supporter of the war in Iraq. And President Bush. However,if it is true what the above marine's mother says about our soilders not being allowed to fire back when attacked without receiving an ok from a superior officer then this handcuffing is like it was in Vietnam. War is hell. We need to fight to win. Democrat President Lyndon Johnson and his Defense Secretary Robert McNamara kept our troops in Vietnam 2 years after the real war was over(if one wants to call a war where we didn't go to win a "real" war). Our soldiers in Vietnam couldn't go after the enemy to win. We don't need that happening in Iraq. If we are going to undermine our soldiers in the field we just need to bring them home.

Someone asked the question about why there wasn't Haliburton security. As a retired military LTC and contracting officer who spent time in Operation Iraqi Freedom, unless the rules have changed (and I doubt they have) Haliburton is forbidden by their contract from providing their own security on these convoys. Think about the implications... If we could just "HIRE" an Army why would use our own troops?

It's time to break up Halliburton and cancel their government contracts.

While we're at it, let's end corporate welfare once and for all. No-bid contracts, fat-cat lobbyists, grotesque bonuses for entrenched management and CEOs ... it's all gotta go. These companies have corrupted our political process.

Are you serious.... this is a stupid story.... Why dont you guys stop bashing our troops and report the good stuff they do. ABC has no respect for our soldiers. Instead you force your propaganda into the heads of the enemy.... stop emboldening terrorists.
The only people that should leave iraq is the press.

I have a friend that is an master electrican. Every year he goes to Iraq for Halliburton. He knows that he may not come back but he knows the risks.

That being said, is there a point where Republican Congressional leaders say, "enough is enough": step up and do what is best for all. There is a new scientific poll out that says 71% of Iraq citizens wants us out.

Why do Senator Frist, Speaker H., other Republican leaders finally say we are fighting the way the terroists want us to. We need to go with something that works.

I urgently hope it is very soon.
BTW, if we need to find someone to blame for this mess, look in the mirror. Somebody elected these guys.

Having watched the ABC posted video of this ambush nearly a dozen times, it's totally unfair to claim U.S. troops abandoned the other vehicles. And what does the sound reveal, if there is any sound, such as small arms fire that might make it impossible for US forces to stop?

The point I am making is that we are all rushing to a conclusion. First, if you haven't been there, make absolutely no comment about soldiers, sailors, airmen, or marines wimping out. Second, wait until all the facts are in. Third, remember the truth usually lies someplace in the middle.

where are all the republican defending bloggers when stuff like this goes down- i guess stuff that can be divided partisin they just keep quiet on.

very easy for you to sa tim... and i do believe that this lets shot everything that moves attitude is what got us in trouble over... oh and the fact that this is a war based on lies.... look deep within yourself...

Same incident..
Loren Bradshaw told CTV Newsnet late Thursday that while three of five gunner humvees sped away from the ambush, two of them travelling behind Wheeler's stalled truck stayed and fought. If they hadn't, Bradshaw said he believes all the drivers may have been killed.

FYI the trucks they drive stall it takes 3-5 min for the systems to reset b-4 you can restart the truck....

The way to go is to get the h--- out and let the other countries of the region deal with the crap Bush created. You people who think we are the only ones to solve the world problems have way too big of egos. The world did not fall to communism after we ran out in Viet Nam! Wake up we are spending our childrens money over there for what? WMDs Freedom my hat, it's a joke and so are those who bought the Bush line.

I find it amazing that so many are so "knowledgeable" about this incident just from this one report. The fact is, you don't know all the facts. You don't KNOW that Halliburton or its subsidiaries are "sleazy" or poorly run, or just in it for the money. What I DO know is that we have civilians over there doing a job that most people won't (i.e., YOU all who are here complaining), and they are getting paid extremely well for it. They are told about the hazards, risks, and are giving in-depth training and safety gear, etc. prior to going over. They are there serving our soldiers who are serving YOU who are busy griping and whining. Get off of your high horses people and learn the TRUTH.

I have complete sympathy for anyone
killed or injured in Iraq but US
military should not be put in the position of providing security for
private companies that are lining their pockets at the expense of the
American taxpayers. Their no-bid
contracts should afford them ample
money to provide their own security
and armament on their vehicles.

I was a machine gunner on an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) during the Vietnam war. My unit escorted convoys near and around the Black Virgin mountain. When ambushed you are to get out of the kill zone as quickly as possible then regroup and go back to rescue or flank the bad guys. The APC in question did no wrong by driving out of the ambush. Though they should have gone back in or done something to extract any survivors. The drivers should have had armed guards in the cab.

Iraq, what a @#%$$^ mess!

MikeVet

How we all like to place blame on others when things don't go the way we want them to. Are any of yall in their position? You think you know so much. Put yourself in there position and then speak.
Our military is fighting for our freedom and Halliburton is a fine company that is working for the good of our country and Iraq. Unless you have been there and have experienced it, speak words of encouragement to all our men and women of the military, and those who are over there trying to make more money so life will be easier for their own families here at home. Our Military joined knowing the risk involved and those who went to work over there to earn extra also know the risk they face over there as well. Stop the blame game and lift up our country and our men and women who are TRYING to do what is right.

First and foremost, my heart goes out to these people who died so tragically.

I am not surprised at the Halliburton. They are in for the money only just like good old Dick Cheney and his “boy” George Bush. As of today there are only 846 days until a new and real President is sworn into office. From what a recall in my Politics class, the definition of “politician” is one what is in office to benefit the citizens. This was never the case since day one when the “good old boys” took office on 1/20/2000. I cannot wait for a real President to take office on 2009. The want OIL, OIL, OIL………

I JUST CAME BACK FROM IRAQ AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A SOLDIER RUNNING FROM THE ENEMY IN AN APC UNDER FIRE. NO I JUST DON'T BELIEVE IT. LOUIS

I have to agree that the soldiers wimped out. They should have at least grabbed the drivers then fled. Haliburton is a company reaping large amounts of cash from the citizens and sending others to their deaths. If I was President they would be fired and banned from doing government business for 15 years.
Steve

Not amazing at all that Americans don't see that this is the logical outcome of driving enemy trucks through neighborhoods.

Imagine we've been invaded by another country, China for instance, and you see chinese big rigs coming down your alley....you waving them by or shooting them?

The use of "these guys" and murderers is more proof that Americans can't handle the reality of their assault on Iraq. It wouldn't be the same song if it were on YOUR territory would it?

The contractors' lives are as valuable as anyone's, but they shouldn't be there trying to rake in money while walking on the blood trails of this failed war.

Don't want to get shot? Don't put yourself in a position to get shot.

We needs laws in place that even a security person from Halliburton or anyone else in the company at any level that even suggests destroying video or anything of this nature serves jail time if it is proven.
These people need to have some serious fear ingrained into them and not assume there is not a price to be paid. Heck with fines, hard prison time.

We don't know what kind of force they were up against. Had they just turned around and shot everything that moved there could have been a lot more dead soldiers and civilians. This is why essential military functions should not be done by private companies.

The U.S. military is a far cry from what it use to be. In Nam, they wouldn't have left those men to die. The soldiers there were cowards, the likes of which I've never seen. What have you learned, Dorothy?

I am a soldier in Iraq and I have never read about this incident. If the Striker in the front of the convoy took off it was because of SOP. There is a rally point or regroup point. They get out of danger and call in for air support. Once they have confirmation of support from QRF or air support they will go back in to engage the enemy. This is how it is done. If you just stay there then you could get blown up by an IED or RPG fire and what would that prove. Two or three civilians were killed what do you expect it’s a war zone, but the rest of the convoy was saved. Compared to other wars our country has been involved in we have done an outstanding job in keeping the death toll to a minimum. Either civilian or military personal. Compare this to WWI, WWII, Vietnam, or the Korean wars. In these conflicts tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians lost their lives. Lets keep this war in perspective. This war has made history in warfare and combat controlled fighting.
As for KBR. When I first read about the company before I was deployed I also had serious questions on how this company operated. Now I have first had experience of KBR and their operations. If we did not have KBR here our quality of life would be hell. Complete hell... This company does everything for us so we can concentrate on the job at hand. Keeping the country of Iraq safe. This is not an easy task. Guerrilla warfare is the hardest type of warfare to fight against. The enemy looks like the local people and we have a very difficult time in separating the two.
God bless our troops and our country.

I was in Iraq for 11 months as a Infantry soilder, conduction many missions wich included convoy escorts. My Company never left a civilian alone, especially during an ambush. It is unfair to judge the soilders when none of you people were there. I'm not defending what the soilders did because if they did leave the civilians to die, shame on their comander, not the soilders.

Further more all civilian contractors know they could be killed at any moment. Wether it be by friendly fire or the enemy. I personally think they need to be carring some form of weapons and vests.

ONCE AGAIN I POST THIS FROM ANOTEHR INTERVIEW WITH A CANADIAN CONTRACTOR THERE...

Loren Bradshaw told CTV Newsnet late Thursday that while three of five gunner humvees sped away from the ambush, two of them travelling behind Wheeler's stalled truck stayed and fought. If they hadn't, Bradshaw said he believes all the drivers may have been killed.

THEY DID NOT ALL LEAVE..2 MILITARY VEHICLES STAYED TO FIGHT!

I have never seen anything so cowardly in my life. Trained soldiers leaving defenceless men to die. This is not a war, this is a farce, ran by a bunch of incompetent has been's. Is there ever going come a time when our boys are going to fight and die but taking the heart along they need to win!! And as for Haliburton firing the truck driver, go figure, Cheney, you and your wanna be's are the disease allowing good people to die for what? Just to loose again! What ever happened to heart, courage, and the belief in what you were putting your life on the line for, had purpose! Because they simply don't believe in what they are doing! If they did, the ememy would be afraid to fight. Our good men would kick ass. Instead, once again, another Vietnam! Never learned a thing from that farse! And the citizens of the countries fighting over there should feel safe in your hands. What a joke!

I applaud you for having the courage to air the difficult story "Exclusive: U.S. Troops Abandoned Me, Says Convoy Driver" as your opening piece today on the evening news.

We need more voices to speak up to help to get the USA out of this miserable situation in Iraq.

I just saw the news report, and it felt like someone punched me in the stomach. I want to know if this is it? IS THIS IT???? Is this all that we will ever know about this horrible, horrible incident. What about the Virginia National Guard? IS THERE GOING TO BE MORE OF A FOLLOW UP???
How in the world could our soldiers just drive off and leave unarmed Americans?? This is a horrible, horrible outrage that makes me very sad to be an American that once believed in this cause.
Shame on us all. Shame on us all. I'm writing my congressmen next and then the President. Shame on us all.

This video is an outrage. Our goverment last let this situation get out of control. They started a war for no real reason, and we're all paying for it. If George Bush and Dick Cheney were real men, then they would put their own children in harms way. Like their asking us to do. But, I'm sure that's out of the question. Their kids are just too important, let the dreggs of society go die!

This story does not surprise me at all. The reason it is coming out a year later is because of a bogus contract KBR makes you sign saying you cannot have any contact with the press or you can be sued.I did not sign any contract though so I am talking.KBR outrages me. This is not the only incident that has occured. I am sooo glad it is coming out. The truth needs to be told. My family has been directly affected by KBR. Nobody says you have to run around in unarmored trucks without a gun or protection until you get there. Then the truth gets let out of the bag.

The military should have strafed the community? Why so that the Liberal Left could put them on trial for murdering innocents? What a civilian thing to say! Those contractors make 2 to 3 times more per annum than those National Guardsmen make, they knew what they were getting paid for and Haliburton is only responsible for the lies they told if they in fact lied. Remember this gentleman was fired he could be looking to make some money on his own!
But I must say the idea that they "wimped out of a fight" is the most ignorant thing that could be said! The world is full of Arm Chair Quarterbacks and everyone one of them out there could have done it better than the people actually being shot at. Go play your XBOX 360, I think I hear SOCOM calling for you! Leave the real stuff to the heros! And please lets always remember and hold him accountable for eveything that Haliburton did or does or may think about doing, Cheney is always going to be blamed! You people are starting to sound like my ex husband!

To the commander in charge of that particular convoy, You will never please the public, so just keep protecting the guys doing the fighting and stay the course, this American is behind you and yours!

If your not asleep at the wheel you will notice that most Americans are not even aware of what they agreements they make, let us call this autodomesticated animal syndrome, we just agree and continue with more gossip and poison. Truth about politics and the U.S. Military, heirarchy and rear end kissing, the good ole boy network. It is not always those that deserve to be leaders that are. America home of the brave, indigenous holocost and home to the slave. We need to remove the wool covering our eyes to observe where our hard earned pay is going. We spend more on war and space projects when we do not even know the ground we stand on. Starving people vs. Greed, Health care, Social security, underpaid teachers who make the doctors and lawyers who use class as a barrier to push out those in need,they just manipulate us to the side once the good green has gone to the head. Smoke an insurgent for me with that nice clean M16, I paid for it. The real hero is the truck driver who took two burning bullets to the arm with a video camera absorbing the light of truth reflected from a horrific scence. The poor man just needed to get some money for his family and this is now burned in his mind.

KBR are not allowed weapons at all, even a standard knife which you can by at the PX on Anaconda or speicher or any PX. (Believe me, the KBR truckers who hauled fuel to FOB Danger, which is closed, all carried knifes) Plus, that's a bad spot to be ambushed at, our normal SOP for contact wouldn't have allowed us to do what we were taught. As for why the lead hummer left, if the command to "Blow Through" was give then the lead front of the convoy would have left. Plus, don't call the gunners wimps, you don't know what thier SOP was, nor till you sit in a turret in a hummer or 5 ton. Try standing in a turret for the whole convoy looking at every little item on the ground wondering if it's an IED or every car that is around you thinking, holy shit, is that a VBIED coming at us? I am sorry for the loss of the KBR workers, those guys and gals do alot with little and always seem to get the short end of the stick. We won't ever know what was going on in the Convoy commanders hummer or through his mind when they were attacked.

Angry Alpha 50th MSB 42nd ID
OIF 3

For all of you accusing the Halliburton drivers/workers of being in it just to make good money are ignorant. Many feel the need to do something for our military and our country instead of sitting back and complaining about everything that is going wrong (like many people on this page). As for the comment about our military shouldn't have to provide security for a private company, learn the facts before you talk about it. KBR hauls supplies for the military's troops, so why is it so absurd to think the military could provide a little security for the people transporting their supplies from base to base? The Halliburton drivers and the rest of the contractors are doing the jobs that no one else will. So before you all go saying the men killed shouldn't have put themselves in a position to get shot if they didn't want to be shot, perhaps think about giving them a little credit for serving our military and keeping the military functioning. I give all my support to the military AND the forgotten drivers/workers of Halliburton.

Why has it taken so long for this person to talk? If I cared as much as it sounds like Preston Wheeler cares right now, you wouldn't have been able to shut me up, especially with a video. Not months later, right away. It feels like someone went looking for him. It is election time you know.

You mean because soldiers are so much better at identifying bad guys in civilian clothes than private military contractors?

Oh, yeah--it's all Bush's fault. And Cheney, too.

Well, when the US goes and invades a foreign country that posed no threat to it, you're gonna get what you deserve. Just like the Soviets were trying to 'save' Afghanistan and Mussolini was trying to 'civilize' them poor Ethiopians, so too the USA is spreading lies faster than most cows could put it out.
I would feel sorry for this poor fellow, but he's just supporting what amounts to a military occupation that has spawned a civil war. How many tens of thousands of Iraqi children have been murdered without the benefit of appearing on ABC World News Tonight?
What a sorry spectacle the US has become.

And Bruce, you're the "keeper" of the truth, eh?

Saw the footage on the news. Hummer, not APC, with 18-wheelers took a wrong turn and had to make a U-turn to return the same route out. Kind of the same thing that happened to our military guys early on in OIF when that one WV female soldier was captured.

I don't dispute that LTC Scott knows the deal in Iraq when he said contractors could not provide their own security. But I'm somewhat surprised because back in Dec while doing some work in CA, I spoke with a group of retired Marines who had just returned from Iraq and spoke of being paid to provide security for a convoy....and getting in a firefight where they prevailed. What is the downside in paying our retired warfighters to continue the job as contractors in specialized applications such as this?

And you guys that bash Halliburton don't realize that only a handful of corporations have the capability to provide the kind of broad contract support required in support of our military.

Please don't bash Cheney for having civil CEO experience. It sure beats having career bureaucrat civil servants and politicians making all the decisions.

My condolences to the families of the victims...who should also be considered heroes just like our military guys.

Thomas: I guess Cheney pulled the video from Orgish.com

I think that is important that we remember and honor all of the Americans who have lost their lives in Irqa. We tally our military but forget that our civilians are fighting to stay alive as well. Sept. 20, 2005 changed the life of my family and we will never forget!

I spent a year at Camp Anaconda where this convoy ran fom and knew all three guys that were killed. I worked flatbeds also just a different foreman than Preston and this crew. I left about 3 weeks before this convoy was hit.

KBR never promised me or the group I was in orientation with that we would have bullet proof glass or armored vehicles. KBR goes out of its way to try and let everyone know this is a dangerous assignment and does not require you to pay your own way home if you quit the assignment early, like most companies over there. And certainly you cannot hold KBR accountable for military cowardice and direliction of duty. This was not the first convoy the military deserted and will not be the last. I was on a convoy when memembers of a South Carolina Guard unit refused to exit their vehicles and pull security while we were stopped in a Iraqi town along the Tigris in 2004. The Army had wholesale rebellions on their hands several times over their when unit elements would refuse to exit on convoy duty. The Reserve and Guard units often performed very poorly. These units did perform better after they had been in country for a while though.

Maps: KBR Security did provide anyone a map that asked for it. And would brief anyone about the routes. Unless you were ex-military however reading military maps are not a skil a KBR driver would have. The military uses a GPS system to guide them through these towns. This system is problematic and I know that many convoys I was on were kept on the right roads by the KBR Convoy Commander who is in communication with the military CC and the lead military truck. It just comes down to folks who had been their for awhile and knew their way around.

KBR procedure was for drivers in a downed truck to be picked up by trailing trucks, trailing guntrucks and lastly by the recovery truck. If this convoy had 12 platforms and 5 gun trucks Preston should have gotten picked up by someone behind him. I think he was in the #5 truck. Neither Preston or ABC have gotten the facts straight on this attack.

The REAL shame is that Bush and his gang, by lying to get us into Iraq, might just as well have shot and killed our 3,000+ soldiers THEMSELVES-for allintents and purposes.

Our boys THOUGHT they were volunteering to fight Al Queda in Iraq (nope)
Paying back Saddam for 911 (nope again.)
Looking for the tons of WMDs that never existed. (Bwahahahaha!)

Now of course they are pulling the same old cr*p-but instead of it being
"IRAQ has WMDs" it is now been changed to
"IRAN has WMDs"-when will people learn that the politicaiins in Washington are LIARS.

This is one of the most shameful incidents of any war we have been in. The military escort OIC/NCOIC should be courtmartialed for abandoning his post under fire.
This was not a Sunday drive through the "Hood" This was a life and death situation where unarmed American civilians depended on our military. That reliance cost some of them their lives. What unadulterated B.S.!

there are 20 people a month killed by elephants! it must be George Bush's fault.

What a story ABC...what an unfortunate portrayal of the facts. I was in the Battle TOC..Balad,Iraq when the incident took place. I've been back in the U.S. since Feb. but that video brought me back to the day that incident took place. There is so much preperation that goes into the convoys that travel on an ever changing battle field. Those men did what they were trained to do and saved many of the KBR drivers that day. Guys that sit behind a news desk and guys like Tim, Edwards that added his comments have no idea the pressures and constraints placed upon those who drive the dangerous roads of Iraq everyday. My heartfelt prayers go out to those men and women still serving in Iraq.
SSG Shell

I remember what my Daddy Joe told me about the remote hill villages in his native Tennessee at the turn of the 20th century - "Don't go where you aren't welcome but if you have to go there, show proper respect - don't kick their dogs or sass their wives." No disrespect to the Mesopotamian civilization, but it wouldn't hurt for us to think of Iraqis as a variant of Tennessee hillbillies and just leave them alone. They did not invite the US to invade their homeland so they have plenty reason to get riled up. As for Halliburton-KBR (Knudson-Brown-Root), they are the biggest bunch of war-profiteers this country has seen since the Civil War. One should look up their sordid history of contracts in Vietnam and how they got rich and fat off of that slaughter house! Some rats never go away.

As a mother of a young child, I don't appreciate the use of profanity on tonight's Halliburton story. The story would have lost no meaning by leaving out those words used by the truck driver. ABC news needs to think of all of its "family audiences" before airing such vulgarity.

The irony is we want to leave Iraq and the Iraqis are fighting against us so that we leave Iraq. But until the Iraqis stop fighting us so that we leave Iraq, we won't leave Iraq. We will only leave Iraq after the Iraqis agree to let us stay..and only then will we leave!

I saw this on the air tonight, and well I can honestly say that it struck a nerve with me. I have a very dear friend who has submitted an application with Haliiburton to go to Iraq and drive truck. I definatly told him of the story, but I know that not everyone has someone to pass this story on to them. So I hope that this stroy gets to the ones that it needs to get to.

I personally knew the 3 men who died in that ambush. Thsy were on my crew. I drove in Iraq "outside the wire" for 1 year. The trucks, mil. and civilian in front of Wheeler truck did the right thing and tried to get out of the kill zone. If everybody stops in the kill zone then the chances of more deaths greatly increases. Those troop that stayed behind did their jobs and fought. The ones that went forward did their jobs and protected the rest of the convoy. Often convoys would get ambushed a second time up ahead. As far as KBR being a scumbag co. and having no corporate morals that is right on the money. I saw civilians get shot and KBR would not let them see military drs. because it would look bad, and then the men would have to fight to go home. KBR upper manaagement should think about not asking any man to do something they wouldn't do themselves. Mark Overcash

God bless our troops and may they disregard the crap from Americans and others who are so quick to believe a one-sided story from a one-sided press.

"Bush lied" - get real! America is about 1) defending our homeland and 2) defending others. We don't run and hide. We don't pass the buck. We are in Iraq, and the people of Iraq are better off because Saddam is no longer in power, but SO ARE WE because Saddam is not there to become an ally of the terrorists who are trying 24/7 to find ways to KILL US, including that lunatic in Iran. If you don't believe they are still trying to come up with round 2 of 9/11, you are deluding yourself.

Our troops are fighting a war in a CIVIL manner - that's right, we have to play by the rules even when the bad guys don't - and doing SO much more for us and the Iraqis than you and I know, so for the love of God, don't believe everything you read or see on TV. Our troops deserve at least as much of the "innocent until proven guilty" philsophy as the millions of Americans they are protecting every day!

This is another example of the poor performance of Army Reserve and National Guard units. The performance of these units should be a clear indication that their training is inadequate, and we need more active duty units that are ready to fight.

An ambush involving an unarmed moving vehicle is one of the most intimidating and scary actions anyone can be in. The military vehicle that kept going followed procedures. The best action to take is to get out of the killing zone as quickly as possible. I'm so very sorry that people were killed. This conflict isn't a Sunday afternoon in the park. There are 2 basic rules to WAR. 1)It's hell and 2) people get killed. That vehicle commander made a decision based on his training and his on the spot assessment. How does one vehicle (it didn't look like an APC to me. It did look like a HUMVEE) go up against an enemy force of unknown size, in tight terrain, with unknown types of weapons and expect to win. More lives would have been lost. Should additional protection be made available, in hindsight, most likely. But I trust the person in charge, on the ground and learned a long time ago not to be an armchair quarterback like so many talking heads hear in the States. They sit in their warm, comfortable homes and make judgements. Get off your butts. Go to Iraq or Afganistan. Make a difference then come home and tell the people here that you'd have made a different decision. I dare you!

A follow up:

Folks realize that most convoy duty is done by reserve/guard units in Iraq. Rarely did we get a active duty military for convoy movements. When we did you could tell the difference.

The guard units and reserves are only as good as the training and experiences they received.

This was a really bad incident and should have been investigated fully by the Army. But the lessons we are learning in Iraq and Afghanistan are we need are larger active duty Army. Currently at 10 divisions, down from 18 during the cold war, the Congress needs to take the Army back up to 14 or so divisions. And yes we need civilian base workers in these conflicts. You should not have uniforms working the dining facilities, keep the base clean, laundries, MWR facilities etc when they are better utilized to fight.

That being said I was proud of the Army I served in during the 80's and proud of the military AND KBR guys I served with during OIF. We have really good people over there and all the B/S about contractors is political in origin.

That driver was not abandoned. I drove with that crew. I personally knew the 3 men who were killed. They got killed 3 days after I got home from Iraq after spending 1 year driving outside the wire. The guntrucks that were ahead of him did what they were supposed to do and got the hell out of the kill zone. They also had to pull security for the civ. trucks that got thru. The gun trucks that were behind him stayed and fought. As far as KBR being a scumbag co. that is right on the money. My group was told all the trucks were up armored and that we would have a shooter in every 3rd. truck. This happened 1 time right after I got there in Sept. 04. I n Oct. 04 the mil said our trucks were not protected with armor enough for the troops to ride in so they stopped putting shooters in the trucks. We have good troops over there they are being strangled by rules of engagement. The insurgents will shoot out of a crowd and our guys can't just mow down women and children to try and get a guy with an AK. Mark Overcash

Still the question remains, do you stay and fight for your fellow American or run? Why did they leave? Following command? Why even were they there? To protect the supply convoy or not? If not then those contractors should have been givin guns to protect themself, maybe then the guy in #3 wouldn't have been pulled from his truck and shot in the
back of the head, he could of defended himself and wouldn't have to rely on the missing military........