Convoy To Hit Insurgents

On January 26, 2005, military intelligence believes insurgent leaders are holed up nine miles south of the dam, in Hoklinya (ph) in a building in a mosque. At three in the morning, the combat engineers join a convoy of a dozen vehicles, 77 Marines preparing for what they call a hard hit.
 

Arrive To An Empty House

They were sent into the heart of a small town at night, the supposed enemy wasn't there, but on the way out they had to fight through ten city blocks of ambushes. The lead vehicle going out was hit by a remote control shape charge.

The Next Day

There are four dead and countless wounded.

Start With The Commander

Who in their right mind would send a engineering battalion ten miles from base, in the middle of the night, into a remote village.

There is a risk-reward ratio here. 77 marines sent into this for supposedly 10 ingurgents.

Nine Miles South Is Al-Asad  

You have the giant Al-Asad US air base, the second largest in Iraq. There are squadrons of attack helicopters. 

What Should Of Happened

Your convoy sits outside of town till dawn, a recon global hawk surveys the town, the marines move in with helicopters as back up.

 

What Really Did happen

Bush has thousands of Israelis floating around Iraq, and they are embedded with our troops. Col Shem Pinski advises Col Martin Blake USMC that his Shin Bet undercover have found this insurgent hideout. Col Blake acts on it, realizes he has been set up, but also is told this loose talk could jeopardize our ever faithful ally, Israel.

Israelis Bring A Lot To The Table

Military command says their knowledge of Jihad tactics is invaluable. Their Shin Bet undercover agents are out into the Iraqi Arab population, and are privy to insurgent's plans.