U.S. Colonel Killed in Iraq -- On a Treadmill in the Green Zone

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Posted April 10, 2008 | 05:46 PM (EST)



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For years, the deaths of U.S. military personnel in Iraq have often been reported to the press and public by the Pentagon on extremely sketchy ways, while remaining "under investigation." These are often cases, it turns out, involving death by illness or accident or suicide. Often, the efforts of local newspapers bring out the truth while the lengthy investigations go on and on.

Yesterday, The Huntsville (Ala.) Times revealed that Col. Stephen Scott, 54, had died on Saturday while working out on a treadmill in the U.S. Embassy in the Green Zone after it was rocketed by insurgents earlier this week, according to his sister. He was only the ninth officer at his level killed in the war to date. The treadmill symbolism is painfully apt, of course.

Another officer, Maj. Stuart Wolfer, 36, who leaves behind a wife and three young children, died in the same place at the same time while exercising. He had been serving in the Army Reserves when called to duty. His name was invoked by Rep. Robert Wexler in questioning Gen. David Petraeus in Washington, D.C. yesterday.

The Associated Press earlier this week carried an item, based on the Pentagon's offiical release, which stated only that "two soldiers have died in Iraq of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with indirect fire."

Rep. Wexler said that he had talked to Len Wolfer of Boca Raton, Fla., the night before and asked what he wanted to ask Petraeus. That family was relieved that their son "was in the Green Zone, for they hoped he would be safe there. He was not." Wexler said the father wanted to know: "For what? For what had he lost his son?"

Wexler urged Petraeus not to simply say it had been "to remove a brutal dictator."

"That's not good enough," Wexler said. "There are many dictators in the world. For what did Stuart Wolfer and the other 4,024 sons and daughters (killed in Iraq) die for? And how do we define victory so we can bring this never-ending war to a close?"

Petraeus told Wexler and members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee that "what we are fighting for is the national interest....Ambassador Crocker and I, for what it's worth, have typically seen ourselves as minimalists, we're not after the Holy Grail in Iraq and we're not after Jeffersonian Democracy."

*
Greg Mitchell's new book is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq. It includes a preface by Bruce Springsteen and foreword by Joe Galloway, and has been hailed by our own Arianna, Bill Moyers, Glenn Greenwald and others.

 
 

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Once a war starts, every criticism of leadership is unpatriotic. Proves one is a liberal ( a four letter word, equated with, Draft dodgers, marijuana smoker, anti American, for civil rights for all ( how dare thee ), big government lover, anti defence ( a decrease in defense budget is blasphemy ) , atheist, catholic, Liberal newyork jew , a friend of the Black Caucus ( a lying bunch of blacks who are always crying foul and looking for hand outs ), NAACP member, loves murderers on death row, is involved in keeping god out of school, a university professor with Tenure, proabortion, flag hater, pornogaphy lover, amoral, child killer ( fetus is a child ) , for amnesty of illegal immigrants, for bilingual educaton, against free economy, a communist sympethiser, a promoter of free loaders, somehow part of the conspirator group, that is trying to destroy america, by wasting our resources on, inner city schools ( which we know are in terrible shape inspite of being flush with money ) , welfare moms and social security, gun control proponent, trial lawer hater, union love, ( they are bad, for they are unreasonable, and make us non campetitive, in the world ) , hollywood elite member bent on taking unfair advantage of our freedoms, a CNN lover opposed to getting a fair and balanced overage from FOX .

Did i understand all the terrible attributes of a liberal or did i miss a few ?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:05 AM on 04/14/2008

Every death in this war is a sad death. This Colonel could have been one of the best guys you ever had a beer with, but no one except his closest friends will every know.

So far as taking sides in a Civil War, we just dont learn. We interfered in Viet Nam... We are interfering in Colombia where the anti government forces FARC have become cocaine guerillas to counteract the money the US govt is sending to the anti democratic government there.

We interfered in Saddam's war on Kuwait where he claimed Kuwait was a part of Iraq. He was right. The Brits gave Kuwait to a piss ant minor sheik so they could control the oil distribution in the Gulf. The Kuwaitis dont even like us. Most of them cheered the 9-11 bombings.

We interfered in Lebanon when our mentally challenged president, against the advice of EVERYONE, decided the Christian Militia deserved our support. This opened up the US to Muslim hatred.

America's greatest asset is as a mediator. We have lost that and we will be paying for the Neo Con mistakes until we become a Third World nation like we were a hundred years ago.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:24 PM on 04/12/2008

It seems that the bottom line is this. We can end our occupation when Iraq has a strong central government that is anti Iran and a strong bulwark against terrorism, one that can eliminate Al Quada in Iraq. We will then have achieved victory. In short, we want Iraq to be like it was before we invaded it. Unfortunately we killed Saddam and we cannot seem to find a replacement. Do I have it right ???

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:51 PM on 04/11/2008

We are backing the people in the country who are pro Iran and demonizing the people who are Iraq nationalists that are against Iranian influence.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:55 PM on 04/11/2008

The one word no one dares utter - Oil.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:18 PM on 04/11/2008

It's actually a few more words: Israel, oil, regional power, Russia.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:32 PM on 04/11/2008

If Patreaus is so goddamned great how come he can't win this thing? Why won't someone ask him that?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:14 AM on 04/11/2008

Because it's unwinnable. But there are still elections to be won, war profits to be made, fear to be mongered, oil prices to be raised, Iran to be attacked, our own infrastructure to be destroyed. Bush 1 was smart enough to realize the only way to control an artifically created country consisting of 3 nations was only by brute force. that's why didn't take out Saddam in 91. His imbecile son, playing into the neocons, the crafters of the " Plan for the New American Century", had to outdo his Daddy.
That's why

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:29 AM on 04/11/2008

So when a terrorist launches a rocket into a US embassy, it's George Bush's fault that someone dies in the attack?

Does that go for every other embassy around the world as well? If someone lobs a hand grenade into the US Embassy in Canada, is it George Bush's fault?

Somehow liberals hate their own country so much that they have no problem excusing these attacks on diplomatic buildings. They expect the US to extend every possible right and privilege to terrorists under international accords that they themselves refuse to abide, while excusing the most base and egregious attacks on civilian and diplomatic buildings that are held sacrosanct by every treaty ever signed.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:29 AM on 04/11/2008

dude,

Iraqis are not "terrorists," but Bush would like Americans to believe that"s true. Reading only news stories in the American MSM, you will never get the full truth. The Bush administration controls the news we get from that region; they are bullshitting you about who's doing what to whom over there. Allow me to paraphrase an article written by Muriel Mirak-Weissbach (referenced below.)

"... with the assistance of the U.S. military... the al-Maliki government [the Iraqi forces]¦ launched a massive [preemptive] attack against the militias [Mahdi Army] of Shi'ite leader Moqtadar al-Sadr in the southern city of Basra, [which in turn provoked] the response of [al-Sadr's] allies in the Shi'ite quarter of Baghdad, known as Sadr City, and many other locations."

Al-Sadr called for the cease-fire after a week of fighting, not al-Maliki as Gen. Petraeus reported to Congress this week. Al-Sadr is a threat to Bush because he supports all Iraqis and the sovereignty of Iraq. If Iraq were to become united, Bush would have no further excuse to increase American troop levels, or bomb Iran. In fact, Bush is blaming Iran for the attack on the Green Zone! This is absolutely false!

Educate yourself, dude!

Source: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8502 "Iraq War. Failure of the US Sponsored Assault: Learn The Lessons of Basra," by Muriel Mirak-Weissbach.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:57 PM on 04/11/2008

Conservatives hate their country so much that they will destroy the military ,killing other peoples innocent children so they can rack up profits in no bid contracts.Their deregulation policies ( another road to profit ) has brought us the housing crisis,the S& L crisis, Enron and deadly pharmaceuticals.
Conservatives have no concern about America, they have only one measure- whats in it for me.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:37 PM on 04/11/2008

Morondude, Why do you why do you and other trolls keep spouting that fallacy that liberals are America haters? How does criticism of a corrupt intellectually bankrupt leadership equate to hating all America?

We were lied into this war for a half-assed attempt at strategic geopolitical engineering. It had little to do with WMD or terrorists; it was an ill advised opportunistic attempt at a pipe dream; and even if you believe in the dream you have to fail BushCo on execution alone. Bush and his chicken-hawks are now hiding behind a general in a cynical attempt to limit the damage in the November election. The conduct of this war has all too often had more to do with the elections here than the facts on the ground there. People are dying to protect the Republicans election prospects. Who are the REAL America haters?

They inability or unwillingness to see things as they are promotes both gullibility and charlatanism --Eric Hoffer

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:25 PM on 04/11/2008

Of course you say this because you have worn the uniform and did your duty in Iraq correct? Because if you didn't ,beside other things that others might call you I would say that coward chickenhawk comes to mind. For what its worth I'm a moderate US Army veteran with three kids on duty in the Army , two who have pulled tours in Iraq one wounded and by the way they along with everyone in their units think pretty much the same thing Bush and his war in Iraq is total bullshit just like all those who support him and his war. So please take your apple pie and your made in China flag and shove it, fake patriots are as bad as the traitor who now sits in the white House.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:50 AM on 04/11/2008

Thank you for this comment

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:33 PM on 04/11/2008

Do you condemn this rocket attack on an Embassy? Apparently not.

Why do you excuse such a cowardly act by placing the blame for it on another person instead of the coward that did it and those who celebrate i t?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:23 PM on 04/11/2008

Mormondude, you are such a coward that you didn't even answer Wolf58's questions.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:08 AM on 04/12/2008

What would you do if someone occupied your country when you had done nothing to them. Then proceeded to pull people off the street and torture and sexually degrade them and insult your religion. Wouldn't it be understandable that you might want to lob a few rockets into their compounds. Or do think that everybody in the world has to bow down to your country and help you as you loot their resources.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:38 PM on 04/11/2008

We don't hate this country, we hate people like you who have led us into this quagmire and refuse to admit you made a mistake for the profits of the few and the pain of many. And yes it is Goerge Bush's fault every time a soldier dies in Iraq, he is the one who sent them there, it wasn't the big bad liberals.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:55 AM on 04/11/2008

The 'big, bad liberals' as you call them played their part in it magnificently.

But it's not about blaming Bush versus blaming Democrats. It's about blaming an American soldier for being in an embassy versus blaming the terrorist that launched a rocket into it. For some strange reason you blame the US first and only, while those committing this cowardly war crime of launching a rocket into a diplomatic building are completely absolved of any responsibility in your mind.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:27 PM on 04/11/2008

Nobody blamed the soldier. Learn to read.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:10 AM on 04/12/2008

Bravo! Took the words right out of my mouth. Yes, it is bush's fault, from day one and from now on.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:09 PM on 04/11/2008

"...ninth officer at his level killed in the war to date" By my calculations, of the 4,030 dead, officers (col and over) make up .2% of the deaths in Iraq. In this story, the officers were working out in a gym. Is it possible our officers no longer go out on patrols or see action? Or, am I being naive?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:23 AM on 04/11/2008

VERY naive.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:47 PM on 04/11/2008

Col. Stephen Scott was a full colonel. That is, one rank above a Lt. Colonel. As far as I know there have been no generals killed in this war and occupation. Brigader General ( one * ) is the next rank up from full colonel.

Do you know how many generals there are in the U.S. Army?

There are currently more than 300 on active duty.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:14 AM on 04/11/2008

I think the army has 10 divisions. That's 30 generals per division. Is that top heavy? It that typical historically?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:37 PM on 04/11/2008

Have you ever hear of a Staff Officer?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:26 AM on 04/11/2008

Nice that officers can work out at a gym. I wonder what kind of leisure resources are available to the grunts?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:08 AM on 04/11/2008

Moral of the troops is a priority in all the services.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:52 PM on 04/11/2008

What's so nice about it. Jeez.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:35 PM on 04/11/2008

Same as the officers. Moral Welfare and Recreation facilities are not segregated in the military now days.

The green zone houses staff and support troops, not combat units. Anyone in there is going to work under the same conditions.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:27 AM on 04/11/2008

We never hear about fragging in Iraq. We all know there was a fair amount of that in Viet Nam, so I would suspect there should be plenty in an even dumber war, don'tcha think?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:18 AM on 04/11/2008

Look under "friendly fire"

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:38 PM on 04/11/2008

I don't see it.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:48 PM on 04/11/2008

No.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:28 AM on 04/11/2008

iCasualties.org is the one site where daily information is given on what is going on in Iraq, it also keeps current count of the dead and wounded and how, where, what happened. It is a one stop site to get all information on both conflicts. Well someone or something who do not want the public to know whats going on has attacked the site. It started the day before the hearings. The question must be asked who does not want the public to be informed? Gee I wonder....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:47 AM on 04/11/2008

Yeah, I have to wonder where the attack came from as well on the site. It's an invaluable resource.

I don't know who did it and I wouldn't want to speculate. As for happening a day before the hearings, it has had a lot more damaging information at other times to the government's position that things are going well in Iraq.

For those who aren't aware, the violence in Iraq hit a low in December that approximates the lull after Mission Accomplished, but has been increasing steadily for the first three months of this year and looks to be on track to increase yet again in April.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:43 PM on 04/11/2008

Sean Hannity was stomped on today when a caller challenged him on his income compared to his listeners and how Mr. Sean Hannity always generalizes by saying "do not vote for Democrats because they will raise our Taxes". S.H. stumbled so bad he went to a commercial. Kudos to that caller for pointing out S.H. benefits from Bush tax cuts and the majority of his listeners do not.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:49 PM on 04/10/2008

good for Sean I hope he makes millions, he deserves it.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:20 AM on 04/11/2008

Yup he played the right wing for saps, stole their money while telling them lies

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:01 AM on 04/11/2008

Hannity is a right wing hate monger and deserves only the contempt of people who can actually think. People who have no intelligence, education or compassion listen to Hannity. They just don't know any better.