Possible Fragging in Iraq?

Among the many hints that the US Army in Iraq may be on the brink of disintegration, we now have this.  (Found on Cathy from Canada for 11 June 2005--scroll down.  Yes, the month is incorrect:  They seem to have substituted "July" for "June.")  

BAGHDAD, July 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. army has opened a criminal investigation into a blast that killed two soldiers at a base in Iraq after discovering it was not caused by an insurgent mortar attack, a military statement said on Friday.

It said Captain Phillip Esposito and 1st Lieutenant Louis Allen were killed on Tuesday in an explosion at Forward Operating Base Danger near Saddam Hussein's hometown, Tikrit.

"The initial investigation by responders and military police indicated that a mortar round struck the window on the side of the building where Esposito and Allen were located at the time," the statement said.

"Upon further examination of the scene by explosive ordnance personnel, it was determined the blast pattern was inconsistent with a mortar attack."

The military said the soldiers killed were New York National Guard troops assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 42nd Infantry Division. Esposito was company commander and Allen was an operations officer.

Many Kossians will remember that fragging incidents marked the end of Army effectiveness during the Vietnam War:  Commanders soon found they could not order their units into dangerous missions without risking being killed by their own men.  

It may be happening in Iraq.  This will be a trend to watch.