News and Personal dispatches from the front lines.
In their own words:
One Marine's View: NSN-No Shit News - Local Sheiks in our area have continued to tell of stories about how life was with Al-Qaida present. The evil that existed and now, its not a new way of life, it’s a new era. Economy growing, shops opening, insurgents are now the outcast, not the shop owner, not the Iraqi Policeman, the insurgents. I remember how it was on my previous deployments; it was not a good way of life for any of the above, except for the enemy. Now things are back in the peoples hands. Why can’t some Americans see this? Why can’t they see the growth of the Iraq’s, their leadership taking steps, their cohesion? May be those that deny it see it but ignore it. The insurgents see this, and they hate it. Maybe a letter from one insurgent to another would read like this. (READ MORE)
IraqPundit: Obama: Bush in Reverse? - Barack Obama’s capture of his party’s presidential nomination is certainly historic. Congratulations are due him. The “post-racial” aspect of the event notwithstanding, however, there’s a notable political aspect to this event, too, one that is historic in its own way. As William Bennett has just observed, the Democrats are soon to nominate “a far left candidate in the tradition of George McGovern, albeit without McGovern’s military and political record. The Democratic party is about to nominate a far-left candidate in the tradition of Michael Dukakis, albeit without Dukakis’s executive experience as governor. The Democratic party is about to nominate a far left candidate in the tradition of John Kerry, albeit without Kerry’s record of years of service in the Senate. The Democratic party is about to nominate an unvetted candidate in the tradition of Jimmy Carter, albeit without Jimmy Carter’s religious integrity. . .” (READ MORE)
Mohammed: Can the US and Iraq Have a Long-Term Relationship? - The debate over immediate security conditions is taking a back seat in Iraq now as the debate over long-term fixes, particularly the U.S.-Iraq agreement, takes the lead. The national scope of this debate goes beyond the talk of politicians –who are trying to use their position on the agreement for electoral campaigning– and people’s talk in the streets to Friday prayer sermons. Interestingly, the issue has also attracted curiously broad attention from Arab and regional leaders and media. Most notably, in his first speech following a crisis that brought Lebanon to the brink of a new civil war and on a day no less than the anniversary of his “victory” in the south, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah dedicated a significant portion of his speech to the U.S.-Iraq agreement. (READ MORE)
Fearless 1st Marines’ blog: Sharp decrease in violence leaves Fallujah Surgical hallways empty - CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 18, 2008) The halls remain empty, the sirens are silent, the only thing collecting on the floor is dust from the staff walking in and out; boredom is consistent, and no one is complaining. This is the state of one of the U.S. forces most actively used hospitals in Iraq, Fallujah Surgical. Fallujah Surgical, once a frequent stop for combat casualties, is no longer treating many injured warriors in combat due to the sharp decrease in violence in al Anbar Province, but is instead a clinic treating common day-to-day injuries. The sign outside the emergency entrance, although minute, has big meaning… “No blood needed at this time.” (READ MORE)
Fearless 1st Marines’ blog: 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines participate in Operation Gravel Dump - KARMA, Iraq (May 29, 2008) – Along the road nicknamed Chicago, vehicles lined up for miles, each vehicle getting ready to be searched. But they are not going to be searched by Marines, but by local Iraqi Security Forces. Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, supported Iraqis with the Karma Iraqi Police and Iraqi Soldiers of 1st Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, participated in Operation Gravel Dump. “The Iraqi Army had (intelligence) that insurgents were smuggling weapons and explosives by hiding them in the gravel trucks,” said 2nd Lt. Adam Steele, platoon commander, 4th Platoon, Co. F, 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines. (READ MORE)
Capt. Judy Izard: No time for boredom - I have come to Afghanistan to work at a Troop Medical Clinic (TMC). I fill prescriptions for soldiers from many branches of the service - Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. I also prepare medications for sick or injured civilian contractors, foreign forces, and for Afghan residents. This two weeks has been very busy in the pharmacy. I am never bored! I find time, however, to visit some Afghan vendors who present their goods at the shops and bazaars nearby. I will be looking for souvenirs of my special trip to Afghanistan! This country has much to offer. The Afghans present fine gemstones, hand carved wood and lapis lazuli products, And beautiful rugs. (READ MORE)
IN-iraq: Indiana soldiers guard Iraq's biggest money maker #2 - Bayji Oil Refinery, Iraq Hard on families Wherever they go in Iraq, they still find time to talk about Indiana. The three Hoosiers who patrol Iraqi’s largest oil refinery- Specialist Kenneth Lee, 23, of Indianapolis, Sgt David Mendenhall, 23, of Mishawaka, and Sgt. Preston Hale, 26, of Angola, know where each is coming from, literally. All three of these guys were stationed in Haweja, Iraq during 2005-06, a time when the isolated Sunni town was know as the Wild West. There were no local security checkpoints yet. Getting hit by IEDs and direct fire was a daily occurance. But any soldier who joins active duty with the 101st ABN during a time of war has to know where he's going. (READ MORE)
From the 'stan: Mail, showers and toothbrushes - I have gotten a lot of questions and comments about sending packages, as well as issues related to some of the Marines being out in Garmsir longer than they had originally planned. I just wanted to address what I can. The overall issue is that the Marines packed their gear thinking they were going to be finished with the mission quickly, but because they have done so well and accomplished so much, they ended up staying longer than planned. This means that many of them did not have changes of clothes (or at least not as many as they would have liked) and other things they needed. The MEU sent 3,000 pairs of socks, 1,300 T-shirts and about 1,100 pounds of fruit (to augment the MREs they were eating), and set up a mobile PX out there so guys could get other stuff they needed. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Four Mahdi Army fighters killed in New Baghdad - The US military continues to target the Mahdi Army in Baghdad and the South as the Iraqi Army works to destroy Mahdi Army weapons caches inside Sadr City. US troops killed four Mahdi Army fighters in Baghdad while 39 Mahdi Army operatives were captured in Baghdad, Al Kut, Samawah, and Basrah. US soldiers killed four Mahdi Army fighters during two separate engagements in the New Baghdad district. Two of the Mahdi fighters were killed after attacking US soldiers in the Shawra Uldir neighborhood with small-arms fire. The other two were killed after attacking US forces with rocket propelled grenades in the same neighborhood. Fighting in the New Baghdad district has increased since the Sadrist movement negotiated a deal with the Iraqi government that allowed the Iraqi Army to move into Sadr City. (READ MORE)
News from the Front:
Iraq:
Wanted men captured, terrorist safe-houses destroyed - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces continued to batter the al-Qaeda in Iraq bombing and foreign terrorist facilitation networks Wednesday, detaining nine suspects in central and northwestern Iraq. In and around Baghdad, Coalition forces disrupted al-Qaeda in Iraq’s bombing networks by capturing two wanted men and detaining two additional suspected terrorists. One wanted man detained in Baghdad was reportedly involved in weapons distribution and car bombings. (READ MORE)
ISOF capture suspected AQI cell leader - BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Special Operations Forces captured a suspected cell leader for the al-Qaeda in Iraq in eastern Mosul June 2. The ISOF conducted an operation to capture a suspected terrorist who is believed to serve as an improvised explosive device cell leader for AQI. The man is suspected of numerous vehicle-borne IED attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces, which killed Iraqi soldiers. (READ MORE)
Coalition forces sustain pressure on al-Qaeda operatives in Iraq - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces discovered weapons, car bombs and a bed-down site during a series of operations north of Baghdad that wrapped up June 1 with 15 suspected terrorists in custody. The five days of operations spanned from the Diyala River near Khan Bani Sa’ad to the Tigris River near Balad and targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists huddled in the area. Coalition forces detained three suspects while targeting a terrorist leader suspected of facilitating suicide bomb attacks, kidnapping local Iraqis and attacking Iraqi Army and police personnel. (READ MORE)
Raider Bde. Soldiers detain wanted criminals, seize munitions - BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers detained two suspected criminals wanted by the Government of Iraq June 3 in the Doura neighborhood of the Rashid district in southern Baghdad. Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, MND-B, captured the two suspects at approximately 1:30 a.m. (READ MORE)
Released detainees encouraged to rebuild community, Iraq (Jisr Diyala) - BAGHDAD – “Not only has your family been waiting for you, but your country has been waiting for you. Go do good things and join in the rebuilding of Iraq,” said Turkey Sawady, a representative of the Jisr Diyala Nahia. This was the message given to 15 detainees as they were released to their families during a reintegration ceremony held outside the joint security station in Jisr Diyala May 29. (READ MORE)
Criminals kidnap 7-year-old Iraqi boy (Karadah) - FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Criminals kidnapped a 7-year-old Iraqi boy in the Karadah security district of eastern Baghdad, June 2. Iraqi Police officials reported four men in a white vehicle kidnapped the boy, who is a son of a guard for the Minister of Trade. (READ MORE)
IA Soldiers take weapons off streets in Sadr City - BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army Soldiers uncovered several weapons caches in the Sadr City district of Baghdad as they worked to increase safety in the area June 3. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st IA Division seized several weapons caches at approximately 7 a.m. The munitions included two PKC magazines with 50 rounds, five AK-47 magazines loaded with 40 7.62 mm rounds, two anti-tank rockets, two anti-personnel rockets, a missile, two grenades and nine initiation fuses. (READ MORE)
Iraqi Army Takes Command in Rashid - FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON — The Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Military Transition Team don’t collect weapons. The MiTT team assigned to the 43rd Bde., 11th Iraqi Army Div., did not deploy to the Rashid district in southern Baghdad to capture detainees either. Nor do they have to – thanks to the ongoing efforts of the Iraqi army and Iraqi security forces working with Multi-National Division – Baghdad.. (READ MORE)
Lithuanians Choose to Stay the Course - FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA — With only a week remaining in their six-month tour in Iraq, soldiers from Lithuanian Contingent 10, Iron Wolf Brigade, faced a difficult choice. Two options remained following the news that the Lithuanian government had voted to extend the unit’s tour for two more months: the soldiers could volunteer for the extension or continue their redeployment. (READ MORE)
Raiders, Dragoons Conclude Transition - FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARHORSE - The 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment took the reins of responsibility for the Diyala region from the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division during a Transition of Authority ceremony held in Sgt. 1st Class David J. Salie Fitness Center on Forward Operating Base Warhorse, June 1. “It’s a great day to be in the cavalry and a great day to be a Dragoon,” said Lt. Col. Bryan Denny, deputy commander, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. (READ MORE)
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