The unifying theme to the first Winter Soldier panel this morning was that the Rules of Engagement in Iraq — that is, the circumstances justifying the use of force by U.S. troops — do not long survive sustained contact with the realities of occupying a foreign country. It is a charge as intuitive as it is incendiary.
Steve Mortillo went to Iraq for a year in 2004-2005 with the 1st Infantry Division. He described the use of what he described as excessive and indiscriminate suppressive force — firepower used to overwhelm an enemy who fires first — as a frequent occurrence during his deployment. Often, he said “we were weapons-free,” meaning “it’s in your discretion to pacify the situation” with whatever force deemed to be necessary. It springs from an emotion that every human being who has ever experienced stress can understand.
“In urban areas [we] repeatedly used 25-milimeter, 120-milimeter rounds to suppress the area,” Mortillo said. “Like I said, it’s…” He started again. “You keep getting hit. All these little potshot attacks. You just wish people would just stand and fight. You want so badly to avenge [your friends]. You get hit you want to hit back ten times as hard.”
He continued, “I don’t think any people of paper can make war — can make this war… I mean, I’m at a loss for words. People say, ‘Did you follow the [Rules of Engagement]? You really think I’m gonna pull out the card and say ‘Kif,’ [Arabic for] ‘Stop’ before people do that?… Definitely, looking back on it now, at the time you get so wrapped up, you get out there and say ‘This one’s for so-and-so who died in my platoon. You stop caring because you’re so fixed on who got hurt in your unit, and you just want everyone to come home alive. It’s difficult when we’re put in situations with explosives, potshots, sniper-shots — situations in urban, civilian-occupied areas. It’s gonna be pretty ugly. Especially given the weapons we used, and the weapons we were given. Things definitely degenerate over time. And that’s all I have to say at this point.”
