News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
In their own words:
Sergeant Grumpy: Ghost of Babylon, part Wahed - The story of how I hurt my shoulder, the reason for my still being on active duty, starts with an attempt on an Iraqi General's life. The commander of our Iraqi partner force had been putting pressure on JAM (aka Mahdi Militia, Mahdi Army) and other militias in the Province we operated in, and doing it in a very public way. This commander was very conscious of his public profile and was often able to get his unit featured on the local Iraqi media. Of course, being a General means having a large ego, and so the media coverage often centered on him. This earned him the respect of our PA people, but the disdain of some of his officers, but it particularly made him a symbolic target of JAM. The General, our Commander called him “Omar Sharif”, had been the target of several assassination attempts, including one EFP attack against his convoy blamed on shithead “A”, who live in a small, isolated, hard to access village south of the city. (READ MORE)
Rocinante's Burdens: Day 55. Shamania - Lots of interesting things going one here. None of them violent. First, as the title suggests, the celebration of shamania is going on. This is a religious observance by Shi-it Moslems. When the 12th Imam died ( a long time ago), he was buried in the town of Karbala. His admirers walked many miles to be there for the funeral. Every year since then, they have done the same thing. The roads every year are crowded with people walking for days to get to Karbala, say a few prayers and then take the bus home. The height of the celebration, if you can call walking all day in the hot sun a celebration, is still a few days away. Donkeys. This little guy refuses to be tamed. Or perhaps he is protesting the American occupation of his country. In any case, he seems to be taking a break from his normal activities. This is what happens when your camera focuses on the dirt on the windshield instead of the donkey. The heavy lifting is done mostly by horse. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Taliban leader in Bajaur rumored killed in Pakistani strikes - Thirty two Taliban fighters have been reported killed during the latest round of fighting in the extremist-controlled Pakistani tribal agency of Bajaur. The Pakistani military speculated that Faqir Mohammed, the Taliban emir, or leader in Bajaur and the deputy leader of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, was killed in the fighting. Faqir is thought to have been killed or wounded while riding in a convoy that was transporting explosives near the town of Khar. Pakistani Army Cobra helicopter gunships targeted the convoy and killed between 10 and 12 Taliban fighters. The Pakistani military could not confirm his death, while Taliban spokesman Mullah Omar denied Faqir was killed. (READ MORE)
Bill Murray: Diyala governor survives potential coup d’état, suicide bomber - BAQUBAH, IRAQ: Governor Ra’ad Rashid al Tamini didn’t seem in an overly jovial mood on Wednesday, even if his aides all agreed on his high spirits. An outsider may say his face displayed more relief than joy, which is no surprise: firing your militant police chief, then surviving an assassination attempt and a coup d’état in a two-day period can wind even the most talented of political athletes. Observers hope events this week in Diyala may portend for larger gains for civil society in Iraq, where demonstrations of civilian authority over security and military affairs can be rare. Indeed, implementing civil authority in Iraq has been the crux of the political adventure here since 2003, which is the reason successful military actions by Iraq’s central government against Shia militants in Basra and Sadr City in April and May were interpreted as political watersheds for the country’s leadership. (READ MORE)
Matel-in-Iraq: Awkward in Hadithah - An awkward moment came when Hadithah Mayor Hakim announced that he hoped the Republicans would win in the fall elections. He obfuscated a little when the Democratic Codel leader reminded him that three out of the four members of the visiting Codel were Democrats, but he didn’t back down. His point was that he wanted America to stay in Iraq until the country was secure and he was spooked by the talk of precipitous withdrawal he heard from the U.S. Back in the MRAP a colleague clarified what had happened. He recalled that when he traveled in the Balkans in the late 1990s, he found that many people favored the Democrats because they feared the Republicans would cut support. In general, they fear a change in the American policy that has protected them - in some cases literally saved their lives - and they remember the opposition to the surge came mostly from Democrats. (READ MORE)
Fobbits need ice cream too: Stuck in limbo - Been stuck up north since my last entry due to a lack of empty trucks to take back down. It's sad though, when you enjoy a shithole FOB in the middle of Iraq over your own base in Kuwait. The only benefit to Kuwait is that we can wear civilian clothes; the disadvantages are numerous. The 1SG is almost always there which means breastmilk formations and remedial training. It's a lot hotter and there is really nothing to do but sit in your tent; it's a transient base for people coming/going into Iraq and Afghanistan and they are usually all over the MWR and USO. I don't want to take a computer or phone away from someone just getting here or making plans upon arrival back home and I certainly don't want to wait 2 hours to do it. For clarification on why breastmilk is offensive; no one knows. The first formation we had, the 1SG mentioned that it was rude to write something like that on a care package from someone's family and that it would not go unpunished. (READ MORE)
Fearless 1st Marines’ blog: Staying fit for combat - CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq– What better place to prepare for the Marine Corps’ new combat fitness test requirements than in a combat zone? According to Marine Corps Order 6100.13, which was recently signed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, every Marine must be physically fit regardless of age, grade, or duty assignment. The order outlines the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Program and emphasizes the requirement for all Marines to adopt a healthy lifestyle and a lifelong commitment to fitness. Marines deployed with Headquarters Company, Regimental Combat Team 1, are frequently seen spending time exercising in between hectic schedules in a makeshift gym set up just outside their offices at Camp Fallujah, Iraq. (READ MORE)
Paul Fanning: Helping the Afghan people - Last Thursday, I went along on with a team from Camp Phoenix on a Civilian Medical Assistance operation to a nearby village. We refer to these missions in typical military form as a CMA. These are different from Humanitarian Assistance visits - often referred to as HA drops - which we also do to hand out school supplies and clothing. The mission of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix is to train and mentor the Afghan National Security Forces - the Army and Police - so that they can provide the essential security for the country, support the rule of law and governance and ultimately establish conditions for Afghanistan to grow and prosper. We operate from bases that are all over the country, and Camp Phoenix is one of the most secure, with probably the best living conditions to be found here. (READ MORE)
48th Combat Support Hospital FOB Salerno: Khowst, Afghanistan: And life goes on... - Day by day we continue to find ourselves going through our daily routine and marking off another day on our calendars. I realize its been a couple of weeks since my last post. I'm shooting for one per week but it doesn't always work out that way. Internets too slow, working too much, don't feel like it....whatever the case may be, there are times that I just don't get on here. However, I am glad to report that while we have continued to remain busy, we are safe and sound here at Salerno. I hope this post finds all of you doing well also. Another reason that I don't post on here more is because of the sensorship that is involved. Sometimes there are things that I would love to tell you, but operational security prohibits me from posting such things on the internet. (READ MORE)
Ben Hayden: Interview with an Iraqi Translator - Iraqis feel for the position of the United States. In an interview with an interpreter for the U.S. Marine unit, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, one Iraqi says that the US is in a “bad situation, no matter what route they take.” Nick, the name the interpreter uses because he doesn’t want the terrorist to know his real name, tells a different story about Iraq. “If the US stays, the Americans will hate their own government. If the US leaves, they (the terrorist) will kill us.” As he works for the US, he builds vacation time, just like most jobs in America. But he can’t take his vacations to go back to his home in Bagdad, because he will be killed. “If I drive to Bagdad, the bad guys, they will stop me at a check point to check my Id. When they see that I’m not one of them, boom. I’m dead”. He says that he loves being an interpreter for the Marines because he is helping his country and the Marines are fun people. (READ MORE)
Pete Hegseth: Arsenal for Iraq-racy - Samarra, Iraq — It’s another sunny day, and as I walk with a few soldiers away from the Golden Mosque, turning the corner to enter the adjacent Bank Street market, we encounter the stout and gruff-looking Iraqi National Police officer in charge of security at the mosque. He tells us that over 20,000 Shia pilgrims have visited the shrine in the past ten days, bringing badly needed business back to the market. After two years of delays, the security situation has improved sufficiently to allow mosque reconstruction to begin, and pilgrims to return. The shops along this market, and industries throughout Samarra, are slowly coming back to life. In 2007, al-Qaeda strong-armed businesses into closing, even firing indiscriminately into markets to deter their existence. This brutal bravado is a thing of the past, but deeper civic problems remain, severely curtailing Samarra’s ability to fully rebuild. (READ MORE)
Collabman's Thoughts: Long Days... - Afternoon... Our warriors from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment continue to work long hours hunting insurgents and taking care of business in the Diyala province. Chris indicated the other day in the virtual world that he had just finished 26 straight hours. Another parent shared today that their warrior had just finished 30 hours straight. All while wearing full combat gear in oppressive heat...can you say wow? I can and did... After hearing all of this, no more complaining from me when I work a 10 or 12 hour day...I have it soooo easy. We take so much for granted. Ms. Andrea Comas, an embedded photographer with the 2nd SCR, continues to provide us insight to the work and play of the 2nd SCR in and around Baquba. It is just a glimpse but it is better than nothing... (READ MORE)
Notes from Tommie: More time lost… - 14 Well once again I’ve missed time with family, this time it was Cameron’s birthday on the 10th. To my surprise when I called to say happy birthday I found out that I was the first family member to actually call. If nothing else this deployment has taught me to better appreciate home and family. As depressing as it is to think about how much I’m missing back home it’s that same thing that keeps me going. To think about where we would be if brave men and women hadn’t served before me. On that back tat idea for my brother, just incase you hadn’t checked my myspace pictures here it is: Another piece of information is that my platoon finally got some credit for everything that we’ve done so far with this deployment. 98% of the time whenever we try to put in for an award of any kind we get responded to with “they’re just doing there jobs.” (READ MORE)
Back and still writing:
Bouhammer: Facing off against the demons - This, is a great story about CPT Nate Self. Nate played a major roll in the famous battle of March 2002 knows as Roberts Ridge or the Battle of Anaconda. If you have ever read the book Robert’s Ridge or Not a Good Day to Die (I have done book reviews on both in this blog), then you will probably recognize Nate’s name. He was a platoon leader in the 75th Ranger Regiment and led his platoon to the top of Takur Ghar. I saw Takur Ghar many times and I used to stare at it an try to imagine how they fought up there. Anyway, this article is about how a brave, decorated and hooah Ranger officer faced off against and fought in the greatest battle of this life, the battle against the demons of PTSD. I will be adding his book to my reading list and will be sure to do a book review on it. (READ MORE)
Greyhawk: Getting Our Money’s Worth in Iraq - So let’s re-write it for them: “Government security contracts in the Iraq theater have cost taxpayers at least $3 billion dollars since the war began, but offer substantial taxpayer savings, according to a report released Tuesday.” Of course, had they actually written that — it would be news. So what are all these other “contractors” doing? Here’s where I can help a little. Having spent much of last year in Baghdad I got to interact with them on a daily basis. And now you can spend a day in Iraq with me. (READ MORE)
News from the Front:
Iraq:
Coalition operations hit bombing networks (Baghdad) - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces detained eight suspected terrorists in central and northern Iraq Friday while targeting operatives involved in al-Qaeda in Iraq bombing networks. Coalition forces in Baghdad captured a wanted man with suspected ties to several AQI networks, including foreign terrorist facilitation and bombing cells. He is also believed to associate with longtime AQI leaders, some of whom were detained in 2006. (READ MORE)
ISF discover ordnance, MND-B Soldiers detain suspected AQI in Rashid - BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers removed unexploded ordnance and detained a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq member Aug. 13 in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad. At approximately 5:45 p.m., IA soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 24th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, found a 155 mm artillery round and a 105 mm artillery round during clearing operations in the Saydiyah community. (READ MORE)
Tips lead MND-N Soldiers to four suspected terrorists - TIKRIT, Iraq – Acting on intelligence tips from local citizens, Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment detained four suspected terrorist cell leaders south of Salah ad Din during search operations. The suspects were wanted for failing to meet the obligations directed upon them during their reconciliation process. (READ MORE)
SVEST attack kills 18, wounds 75 in Iskandiriyah - BAGHDAD – A female suicide bomber detonated herself south of Baghdad Aug. 14 killing an Iraqi Policeman and 17 local nationals, and wounding 75 local nationals. The incident occurred outside a residential area between the towns of Iskandariyah and Musayyib. Iraqi Army soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 32nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division immediately secured the site and assisted in the evacuation of casualties to local medical treatment facilities. (READ MORE)
Tikrit, ad Dwar see reconciliation numbers reach 600 - TIKRIT, Iraq – The number of individuals seeking to clear their names and reconcile with Iraqi Security and Coalition forces in the greater-Tikrit area has reached over 600 as of Aug. 13. The people from the areas of ad Dwar, al Alam and other small towns and villages near the Salah ad Din provincial capital of Tikrit, have contributed to the large numbers of persons reconciled. (READ MORE)
Plans May Put H2O Back in Rio Lobo - COMBAT OUTPOST RIO LOBO — The most important natural resource for Iraqi citizens and Coalition forces in Iraq is water. Combat engineers with Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 1st Marine Logistics Group, recently teamed up with the leaders of Regimental Combat Team 5’s 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and Iraq’s Ministry of Water to facilitate the building of a new combat outpost here. (READ MORE)
Iraqi School Reopens After Renovations - CAMP STRIKER — The Uthman School in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, officially reopened last week after extensive renovations. “I have spent 12 years working at this school, and this is by far the best condition it has ever been in,” said Wahab Fadel, boys’ manager for the Uthman School. “Other school managers are also very impressed, and many are looking to have renovations done to their schools now, as well.” (READ MORE)
Detainees Return Home Accompanied by Their Families - BAGHDAD — The families of 21 detainees entered Victory Base Complex to visit their family member Aug. 9 – and bring them home. The detainees had been determined to no longer be security threats and were released after a brief ceremony led by Iraqi officials. (READ MORE)
Resident tips IA on cache location in Sadr City - BAGHDAD – Soldiers with the Iraqi Army’s 3rd Battalion, 42nd Brigade, 11th Division, discovered a significant cache in the Sadr City district of Baghdad Aug. 14. A concerned resident’s tip led the IA soldiers to an abandoned building where the cache was found hidden behind a false wall.. (READ MORE)
Afghanistan:
A private battle made public - After surviving one of the most vicious firefights in the war in Afghanistan, Capt. Nate Self knew he had to write about it. Self led a Ranger platoon in a daylong battle on Takur Ghar mountain that claimed the lives of seven U.S. servicemen on March 4, 2002. Self said that “as soon as we came off the mountain,” he felt there was a message he had to spread. “There was kind of a personal side of the story and what the Rangers had experienced leading up to it that needed to be told,” he said in an interview with Army Times. (READ MORE)
Field Artillery Soldiers man the gun line - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (August 07, 2008) — From a distance the barrels of the howitzers can be seen above the barriers surrounding Forward Operating Base Kala Gush. The weapons are ready to fire at a second’s notice, providing fire support to the immediate area. (READ MORE)
Three Coalition service members killed in explosion - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (Aug. 14, 2008) — Three Coalition service members were killed in an explosion while on a dismounted patrol in southern Afghanistan today. The names and nationalities of the service members are being withheld until next-of-kin notification is complete. (READ MORE)
Coalition forces detain militants in Paktika province - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (August 10, 2008) – Three militants were detained during a Coalition forces’ operation to disrupt militant networks in Paktika province, Saturday. The force searched compounds in Urgun District targeting a militant responsible for rocket attacks against Coalition forces. (READ MORE)
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