News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
In their own words:
Fobbits need ice cream too: The shits - R&R has been better than expected. Two days ago we went to the Persian Gulf to go to the beach at a private resort. We were throughly grilled on wearing long pants, long sleeves, and not eating/drinking/smoking during daylight. The R&R staff turns us over to our Qatari drivers (Qatari tourism company) and we hop into the SUVs. Our driver, Azmg, is eating a bagel and drinking coffee. It's 0900, the sun has been up for hours. I am the only one that laughs out loud at the absurdity. I point to his bagel and ask "no Ramadan?" He grins and says "not practical, this is the desert." So it turns out despite the 10 or so briefings we've had since we've been here, that Qataris are just as secular as Iraqis and not the fascist wahhabis I'd made them out to be. (READ MORE)
Lt. Col. Paul Fanning: More awards - Twenty-five New York Army National Guard soldiers assigned to a Security Force company of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix received awards during a ceremonies at Camp Phoenix in Kabul on Saturday. The awards were presented as the soldiers prepare to leave after a 10-month tour of duty. 1st Lt. Christopher Culpepper of Salisbury and Spec. Steven Bogardus of Heuvelton were awarded Bronze Stars for their service in training and improving Afghan national security forces. The Bronze Star is awarded for bravery, acts of merit or meritorious service in a combat zone. Sgts. Lloyd Barregar of Rome, Elias Kougemitros of Cortlandt Manor, Travis Smithers of Watertown and Steven Campbell of Waterford all received Meritorious Service Medals for exceptional service. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Pakistani military fires on US helicopters at border - The Pakistani military fired on US helicopters as they attempted to cross the border in Pakistan's Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan, according to reports from the region. The latest US incursion comes just two days after a suicide bombing destroyed the Marriott Hotel in the heart of Islamabad. A little-known terror group took credit for the strike. The US incursion occurred near the village of Lwara Mundi, a region dominated by the powerful Haqqani family in North Waziristan. Pakistani regular Army and Frontier Corps units opened fire during two separate incidents, anonymous intelligence sources told AFP. "Pakistani forces fired at two US gunships which violated Pakistan's airspace and forced them to return to Afghanistan," one source told the news agency. "The helicopters flew back after our troops fired shots at them." (READ MORE)
DJ Elliott: Iraqi Security Forces develop logistics capabilities - There is a reason that "amateurs talk tactics and professionals talk logistics." Logistics isn't sexy, tends to be boring, and is always necessary. Without the beans, bullets, and boots, the only tactical options are surrender and/or death. This article addresses the Iraqi Security Forces logistical organization and development. The Iraqi Security Forces supply systems are based on three models. Modified forms of the US pre-modular, US modular, and the decentralized provincial police system. The major modification to the two US-based formats is that the US forces are expeditionary, while Iraqi forces are not. Iraqi Support elements are built around static supply bases and do not have the extra mobility elements that US forces have. Iraqi forces do not require those extra elements. (READ MORE)
Soldier's Home: Criticizing Obama, Iraq Vet Helps McCain Online - A young Iraq veteran's unofficial video letter to Barack Obama criticizing the candidate for his Iraq policy now ranks fourth in the number of online videos watched in the past 30 days, as compiled by Viral Video Chart. The message of 23-year-old Joe Cook's two minute address is simple: he repeatedly states that the invasion of Iraq was not a mistake, and to call it such dishonors the memories of those who've died. Cook says: “Do you rescue a fireman just as he's about to save a child? When you call the Iraqi war a mistake, you disrespect the service and the sacrifice of everyone who has died promoting freedom. Freedom carries with it a price. Because you do not understand nor appreciate these principles, sir, I am supporting Senator John McCain for president. He, too, made a huge sacrifice promoting freedom, because he understands the fundamental truth, freedom is always worth the price.” (READ MORE)
Two Brothers, Two Countries, One Army: Special Request! - Hello all!! I can't say enough about how I appreciate all the support we're getting from people ALL over the U.S!! WOW!! My brother set up a tracker that logs what state people are from that click on our blog. And I must say that I think there has been someone in EVERY state check us out at least once. WOW!! THANK YOU!!! There was a backup in our mail...WOW!! The guys that get our mail from the post office have not been too happy with me...because of all the care packages I've been getting. THANK YOU!! But not only do I thank you, there are Soldiers across Iraq that are thanking you. Through your support, I've been able to help wounded Soldiers at TWO Hospitals, one MiTT team, and two other Platoons on two other bases!! I'm not sure if there is a number to people I am reaching BECAUSE of people that send me items. THANK YOU!!! (READ MORE)
Big Tobacco: The Matrix of Incompetence - I wrote this while smoking one of my beloved CAO Brazilias. It's 0600. My first sergeant and I are on the drill floor stretching out on the mats. We are preparing for a four mile run through the cold February air. My first sergeant is a former Airborne Ranger, tough as nails; a man who had broken many knuckles with his nose and had the DUIs to back up the stories. I was an enigma to this first sergeant, a little 160 pound staff sergeant who wrote computer software in real life yet could keep up with him on the runs around our large National Guard armory complex. My first sergeant didn't exactly like me, his background was airborne and mine was mechanized or "leg" infantry as he liked to remind me. He regarded mechanized soldiers as minor curiosities that were to be tolerated for those occasions when all of a Ranger's HOOAH could not stop a T-72. (READ MORE)
Back and still writing:
Bill and Bob's Excellent Adventure: To Prove A Lie; But Why? - Much has been written of late about the ambush of the French near Surobi on August 18th, 2008 which cost the French ten dead and eighteen wounded, effectively destroying a thirty man platoon. A Globe and Mail story detailing the facts, but not the conclusions, of a French AAR (After Action Review) has received a good deal of attention. Michael Yon, who read the report, described as secret, referenced the newspaper story in three of his latest posts. Comments on Yon’s site have encouraged him to continue in an investigative vein. Not to suppress the truth, but I respectfully disagree; with the comments, that is. To his credit, Mr. Yon did not break the news after reading the French AAR, while he did describe the Globe and Mail story as accurate in its depiction of the facts. There is no sense in denying the factuality once it has been leaked. I have nothing but respect for Michael Yon. (READ MORE)
News from the Front:
Iraq:
Tip leads MND-B Soldiers to weapons cache in the Baghdad area - Information from a Sons of Iraq (led Soldiers serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, to a cache north of Baghdad at approximately 1:45 p.m. The munitions included a 120 mm mortar round, six 57 mm projectiles, two improvised explosive devices, seven blasting caps, a hand grenade, a jug of unknown bulk explosives with detonation cord, a propane tank, four blocks of Russian-manufactured TNT and other bomb-making material. (READ MORE)
Coalition forces strike against al Qaeda operatives throughout Iraq - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces detained three wanted men and four additional suspects during operations targeting al Qaeda in Iraq operatives throughout the country Monday and Tuesday. Coalition forces captured one suspected terrorist during an operation in Baghdad Monday. The wanted man is believed to be a long-time member of the city’s car bombing network. (READ MORE)
MND-B Soldiers, capture suspected criminals, seize cache in Baghdad’s Rashid district - FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Multi-National Division –Baghdad Soldiers detained seven suspected criminals and discovered hidden weapons caches Sept. 21-22 in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad. t approximately 10 a.m., an Iraqi citizen approached Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, attached to the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, MND-B, about an improvised explosive device in his yard in the Zubaida community. Sept. 21. (READ MORE)
Child’s bicycle laden with explosives found by SoI - Riyadh, Iraq – Sons of Iraq members and Iraqi Police in Riyadh thwarted an attempt by terrorists to place a bicycle laden with explosives near a busy market area Sept. 21. SoI and IP, at a nearby checkpoint, observed a truck whose occupants unloaded a bicycle then left it as they departed the area at a high-rate of speed. Upon further investigation, they noticed a suspicious white bag attached to the bicycle’s frame: (READ MORE)
Explosions kills 2, wounds 15 in Baghdad - BAGHDAD – Two local nationals were killed and 15 were wounded in an unknown explosion in Baghdad’s Rusafa district at approximately noon Sept. 22. The Iraqi citizens injured in the explosion were transported to local hospitals. Eight vehicles and several buildings in the area surrounding the site were damaged. (READ MORE)
Rockets strike school in Diyala Province - DIYALA, Iraq – A school was hit by a rocket during an indirect fire attack in Balad Ruz in the Diyala Province on Sept. 21. An additional rocket was fired, but did not explode upon impact. No one was killed or injured in the attack. (READ MORE)
Seven suspects detained in Salah ad Din - TIKRIT, Iraq – Seven suspected members of al Qaida in Iraq were detained in Salah ad Din province Sept. 21. cting on a tip from a Sons of Iraq group leader, Iraqi Police detained a suspected member of a vehicle-born-improvised-explosive-device cell in Sharqat. The IP handed over custody of the detainee to a Joint Security Station. On the same day in a separate operation southeast of Balad city, CF detained five suspected members of AQI. (READ MORE)
Ashraf Training Center Graduates 704 New Iraqi Police - DIYALA — Jubilant Iraqi Police graduates jumped with joy as they graduated from the Ashraf training center here, Sept. 17. There were 704 graduates, including 21 females who were the first women to graduate from the Ashraf facility and join the Iraqi Police. “They were incredibly happy, jumping and singing about Diyala,” said Scott Johnson of AFN, who helped cover the ceremony. (READ MORE)
Sons, Daughters of Iraq Registration Wraps Up in Adhamiyah - The last of nearly 2,900 members of the Sons of Iraq (SOI) and Daughters of Iraq (DOI) were officially registered with the Government of Iraq in Adhamiyah District of northern Baghdad, Sept. 20. The SOI, and most recently, the DOI, are volunteer citizen groups similar to the Neighborhood Watch Program in the United States. They have been instrumental in decreasing attacks and have aided Iraqi and Coalition forces with actionable intelligence. (READ MORE)
Police Stations Set to Open Across Salah Ad Din - TIKRIT — Iraqi security in the Salah ad Din province got a shot in the arm Sept. 16, as the first in a series of local police stations here opened its doors to join the fight to secure Iraq’s streets. Dozens gathered in the midst of a dust storm, as an Iraqi police station validation ceremony marked the opening of the al Answar Police Station in the town of al Secour, which is part of the Tikrit Police District. (READ MORE)
Afghanistan:
Marine colonel says Pakistani military copter helped Taliban - The Pakistani military flew helicopter missions into Afghanistan to help the Taliban during a firefight with U.S. Marines in 2007, according to a story in DefenseNews. The story quotes Marine Lt. Col. Chris Nash, who led a U.S. team embedded with Afghan forces in the Tora Bora region on the Afghan-Pakistan border, where Al Qaida and Taliban forces are thought to be hiding. (READ MORE)
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