Police adviser: Snafu in Najaf

CNN.com - Police adviser: Snafu in Najaf - May 31, 2004: "BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- An American adviser said the U.S. Army 'dropped the ball' by providing inadequate accommodations for Iraqi police officers who were to begin joint patrols with coalition troops in Najaf on Sunday.
About 100 police officers arrived in Najaf on Saturday to help calm the Shiite Muslim holy city, which has been besieged by fighting between U.S. forces and a militia loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
But when coalition troops arrived the next day to begin the joint patrols, the Iraqis were gone.
The Iraqis left their posts because they felt they received second-class treatment when they arrived from Baghdad, the American adviser said Monday.
The U.S. adviser said no sleeping arrangements had been made for the Iraqis, they had no personal gear for their duties or changes of clothes, and they were given military rations for meals that included pork. Muslims are forbidden to eat pork.
'They were not even given a mattress to sleep on,' the adviser said. 'The U.S. Army really dropped the ball here.'


... we're getting to the "never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity" point