[Skunk]

1. The convoy was AMBUSHED -- by and entire town. It had no real route to "back out" as you mention.

It is a basic tactic that, when ambushed, you do not stay put but bring the battle to the enemy and thus seize the initiative. Bearing in mind that they were in the middle of a sandstorm, they had perfect cover for such an offensive.
This was a supply column and as such, an ambush was the only way that they were ever likely to see combat - for them to have not been trained in how to deal with such a situation is, to my mind, criminal negligence on the part of the high command.

2. Saying the SEALs and Special Forces get as much training as the regular British soldier is just plain rude. Our special forces are some of the best in the world, and you know good and well they are more comparable to Mossad, SAS, etc.

I apologise - the remark was too strong.

Let me be more clear in what I think. The US army has highly trained troops (special forces) and relatively poorly trained troops, like this supply column and the tank commander that fired into the hotel.
There seems to be only extremes.

3. Jessica Lynch *did* go down fighting, and though she drove a desk she did have basic military training. I forget how many she killed before she got hit, but it was more than 2 or 3.

This story came out before any of her colleagues were freed - which makes it both unconfirmed and suspect. Secondly, training should include more than simply being a good shot. There is more to the training of a soldier than being able to clean your weapon and fire it accurately.

It was Skunk who brought the British troops into the discussion

No, it was the original article that brought British troops into the discussion.

Skunk - {sigh}I try to avoid responding to your posts because you often have a very condescending tone towards America in general and our troops specifically.

Then I wish you had pointed this out earlier. I will try to adjust my tone accordingly, and I apologise if my tone caused offense.

so I didn't realize you were still privy to the opinions of virtually every British officer.

I'm privy to the media in which they are quoted - and there is a constant stream of articles by British officers and troops who are complaining about the inappropriate use "firepower".

Not unsurprisingly, I imagine that very few of them ever reach the United States.