News and Personal dispatches from the front lines.
In their own words:
Michael Totten: Now They Have Turned to the Tribes - Sheikh Sattar Abu Risha, leader of the Iraq’s Anbar Salvation Council before he was murdered by a car bomb in front of his house in late 2007, summed up the Anbar Awakening movement in a few concise sentences to Johns Hopkins University Professor Fouad Ajami. “Our American friends had not understood us when they came,” he said. “They were proud, stubborn people and so were we. They worked with the opportunists, now they have turned to the tribes, and this is as it should be. The tribes hate religious parties and religious fakers.” The tribal system in Anbar Province is ancient. Attempts to overthrow it are not wise. Both Americans and Al Qaeda learned that the hard way. (READ MORE)
Yellowhammering Afghanistan: Last meal - As we prepare to leave Ghazni, some of our friends are insisting we break bread with them one last time. The sub-governor of Deh Yak recently took us out to eat in a restaurant in downtown Ghazni. We feasted on goat kabobs, rice, naan and other good food. I walked out on the balcony and surveyed the city that has been my home for nearly a year now. There were women in burqas walking children home from school. There were school girls heading home. Others were working or shopping in the city's shops. (READ MORE)
Major John: So, what did I do today - Lets see...I helped the Scots move a radio antenna, set up my own satellite antenna, worked with an Iraqi G-4 on some supply and transportation situations, had an Arabic lesson from our interpreter, ate three dinners (normal one at 5, accepted an invitation from the G-4 for another at 7 and finally one of the G-1 officers at 8 - Centurion, bring me a feather!) tried to help the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Air Force coordinate some moves, work with a G-3 officer on two upcoming operations. (READ MORE)
Iraq: The Purgatorium: What A Dipshit - I perked up in the tower when I saw my platoon rolling back into the gate. I waved at the first truck, waved at the second one, waiting until I was out of their view, then proceeded to give the third truck both middle fingers. Then I turned around and stood in the doorway to the tower so I could flip the rear air guards off. "Fuuuuuuuck yooooooou, buddy!" I yelled, demonstrating my ability to signal in traffic. A hand reaches under the camo net of the Stryker and lifts it up to reveal none other than my First Sergeant. He points directly at me. "Yeah, I got you now! I GOT you!" (READ MORE)
LT Nixon: Iraq News (17 April) - The Good: Prime Minister Maliki is schmoozing with the EU to get their help building oil infrastructure so that Europe can get their gas somewhere other than Russia. Could be a huge windfall for the Iraqi government, and whether or not they will use the revenue to improve their country remains to be seen. A press conference was held yesterday detailing the recent kills/captures of bad dudes in AQI. Long War Journal has some details, and a seized document from a US raid near Baghdad indicates Al-Qaeda's plans of striking infrastructure to disrupt the Iraqi economy, inciting sectarian violence, etc. etc. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Targeting al Qaeda in Iraq’s network, March-April 2008 - As Coalition and Iraqi security forces work to dismantle al Qaeda in Iraq’s network nationwide, al Qaeda is attempting to re-establish operations in its former stronghold in Baghdad as well as in the northern city of Mosul. Al Qaeda’s ability to conduct large-scale, coordinated attacks has diminished since the fall of 2007 as the security situation improved. But as yesterday’s suicide attacks in Baqubah, Mosul, Ramadi, and Baghdad show, al Qaeda still maintains some capacity to coordinate operations and target civilians. (READ MORE)
IN - Iraq: Soldiers’ camaraderie spans cramped spaces, grinding mission - Sweating inside a dirty Humvee. The air-conditioning tepid. Left knee throbbing. Helmet, ear phones, eye protection, vest- an armored oven. “One minute ‘til detonation,” comes the announcement through the static of our headsets. Another convoy had found what they believed to be a buried improvised explosive along the road ahead of us. They’ve been waiting two hours for the bomb team to come to dispose of it. (READ MORE)
Fearless 1st Marines’ blog: 3rd Bn., 6th Marines return to familiar territory in Iraq - CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq (April 12, 2008) – The seasoned infantry unit, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, recently joined Regimental Combat Team 1 in al-Anbar Province for their third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion takes over the area from 3rd Bn., 5th Marines, and a newly evolved mission that has changed with the times in Iraq. For the next seven months, the Teufel Hunden battalion will aid the rebuilding country and help establish its governance, security, economy and infrastructure. (READ MORE)
Back Stateside but still writing:
Voices From the War: Green thumb? - Those first beautiful sunshine filled days of spring are finally here. God they're beautiful! As the sun starts to arc higher in the sky and the ground warms up, everything starts to bud-out and turn green. Unfortunately, the trees and grass don't have exclusivity here. The weeds grow, well like weeds and the shrubs look like they're sporting Bob-Marley dreads. The beds carry the overburden of last year's fall leaves that are half composted just waiting to host some new airborne chlorophyl based life form. All this stuff needs to be cleaned and tended to before the house looks like Blithering Heights. (READ MORE)
News from the Front:
Iraq:
Work completed on North Hargawi water treatment facility (Mahmudiyah) - BAGHDAD – In ongoing efforts to restore essential services throughout the Mahmudiyah Qada, a water treatment facility project was completed in North Hargawi April 13. In addition to supplying potable water to Iraqis who live in the area, the project also provided temporary employment for former Sons of Iraq who refurbished the facility. (READ MORE)
Criminal rocket attack kills 1 civilian, wounds 10 (Baghdad) - BAGHDAD – Criminals in Sadr City launched two rockets attempting to target a Coalition forces facility April 16. The rockets struck near a mosque in Rusafa, killing one innocent civilian and wounding 10 other civilians. A house within the neighborhood was also damaged during the attack. “These criminal elements who insist on ignoring the rule of Iraqi (READ MORE)
Iraqi Army finds weapons cache in vehicle (Haw al-Askery) - BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division uncovered a weapons cache during a patrol in Haw al-Askery April 15. A tip from a local resident led the Soldiers to the cache in the trunk of a car containing 24 60 mm anti-personnel improvised explosive devices, six rocketpropelled grenades and two AK-47 magazines. (READ MORE)
Iraqi Army discovers IED materials during clearing operations (Mahmudiyah) - BAGHDAD – During a clearing operation in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, in support of Operation Marne Piledriver, Iraqi Army soldiers from 25th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division uncovered five weapons caches April 15. The caches contained two 155 mm artillery rounds, one oxygen tank rigged as an improvised explosive device, a Katusha rocket launcher, two oxygen tanks, two 82 mm mortar tubes, a 3-foot tube of homemade explosives and multiple pressure strips. (READ MORE)
Iraqi Army takes lead in Marne Piledriver - BAGHDAD – Operation Marne Piledriver launched in the Mahmudiyah area April 15 as Iraqi Army and Multi-National Division – Center Soldiers conducted joint operations. Soldiers with 1st and 2nd Battalions, 25th Brigade, 6th IA Division and 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) combined to conduct dismounted patrols and an air assault. (READ MORE)
Sons of Iraq lead MND-C Soldiers to weapons cache (Tameem) - BAGHDAD – Sons of Iraq led Multi-National Division – Center Soldiers from Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, and Iraqi Policemen with 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division to a large weapons cache in Tameem, a town east of Baghdad, April 14. The cache was buried approximately 500 meters from the NPheadquarters in Tameem. (READ MORE)
Afghanistan:
Targeted militants detained in Khowst, Nimroz Provinces - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Two targeted militants and 10 suspected militants were detained during two separate operations April 16 in the Khowst and Nimroz provinces. In the district of Tani in Khowst province, Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces detained two targeted militants linked to foreign fighters and Improvised Explosive Device operations after searching multiple compounds. Five of their associates, also suspected of having links to foreign fighters and IED operations, were detained. Several weapons, ammunition, an ammunition vest and IED components were confiscated and destroyed on-site. (READ MORE)
Taliban commander detained in Zabul province - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Coalition forces detained a Taliban commander and a suspected militant Tuesday during an operation to disrupt Taliban operations in Zabul province. Coalition forces conducted a search of compounds in the Qalat District targeting a Taliban commander linked to financial, foreign fighter and Improvised Explosive Device facilitation operations. During the course of their search, Coalition forces detained the targeted Taliban commander and a suspected associate linked to Taliban operations. (READ MORE)
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Cables, dispatches and memoranda from Peace Like A River
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