For want of water

Was there any planning for the war in Iraq? Apparently US troops need water:

As part of ‘Operation We Love Our Soldiers,’ Hitz started building a supply of water to send over to thirsty service men.

…

Officials from the Utah National Guard say the shortage is because the U.S. government never expected one hundred and fifty thousand troops to still be in Iraq during the hot summer months.

Some soldiers report that heat indexes have reached one hundred and forty degrees. Many of the service men are only getting one or two bottles of water to drink each day.

And from a letter on Operation: We Love Our Soldiers (look for Dehydrating Soldiers):

Military protocol states that the troops are to be provided with 2 bottles of water daily, equalling 3 liters, and unlimited access to potable water in water buffaloes. Perhaps in theory this protocol may appear sufficient.. but in reality, our sons and daughters are suffering tremendously! Dehydration is rampant, as are dysentery, vomiting and diarrhea from ingesting the “purified” water in the buffaloes. It is reported this water is like “pool water”… is often quarantined due to problems with the purification process, and is not available in every platoon anyway.

All of this leads to the very startling fact that our soldiers are significantly under hydrated, and are at great risk for severe as well as life threatening health problems. In the excessive heat they are exposed to, and with their outdoor activities, the daily water consumption requirement ranges @ minimum 6 liters, ranging all the way to 25 liters!!

So if one did not want our country to go to war based on lies, and wants our troops to be safe by not dying in a corporate war, you are denounced as unpatriotic. But if one blindly supports a misleading government that sends troops on a unilateral invasion for profit motives while underplanning and underequipping them…

kherr @ 20:15 CDT | link | war