News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
In their own words:
Free Range International: Traveling in the West of Afghanistan - The security situation in the western provinces of Afghanistan has deteriorated significantly over the last year. The first five years after the allied invasion in 2001 in the west were a time of peace and hope. The city of Herat is out west, and Herat has 24/7 electricity from nearby Iran, functioning modern infrastructure, and showed much promise early on as Afghans raised in other lands came back to invest and build businesses there. But bad news started filtering out in late 2006. Stories about businessmen unable to operate or turn a profit due to the graft, corruption and incompetence of the Afghan government appeared in the press. Now Armed Opposition Groups (AOG) fighters are active in Herat, Ghor and Badghis provinces and the brief flame of hope that Herat once represented is dying slowly but surely. Active AOG units attract the attention of ISAF, which means fighting: (READ MORE)
Bill T @ Argghhh!: Passing the torch - Okay, I didn’t get whacked by a rocket, but I *did* get roped into some extra work. Y’see, I’m the only instructor here who can teach both starched-wing *and* fling-wing stuff, but when the starched-wing guys go on mujas, then I'm the *only* academics instructor, period, end of sentence. Ooops -- mujas is the Iraqi word for “vacation”. Or “leave”. Or “git outta Dodge.” Anyhoo, the new flight student class (the fourth one) got here just as was leaving, and the two starched-wing guys went on mujas the day *before* I got back upcountry. Hence, I got tagged to cover their classes. Did I mention we’ve got four classes of Iraqi cadets here, now? Plus the Instructor Pilot candidates? However, today (okay, yesterday, by the time you read this), I got a break from teaching the new kids the mysterious ways in which airplanes manage to get into the air in 30-knot crosswinds. The First Class of the new Iraqi Air Force Flight School graduated today: (READ MORE)
Scott Kesterson: Unity of Command - In July 2006 I filmed the operations of 1PPCLI from Edmonton, Canada as part of Operation Mountain Thrust. During a course of three weeks of fighting, under the leadership of LTC Hope, Taliban strong holds were disrupted or destroyed, while key elements of Taliban command and control, disrupted. A large part of the success of the Canadian’s operations were based LTC Hope’s ability to integrate the doctrine of unity of command within the battle space he controlled. In short, unity of command dictates a singular leader rather than multiple leaders or command structures competing for the same thing. Afghanistan today is a myriad of military command structures. There is CSTC-A, CJTF-VI, ISAF / NATO, CJTF-101, and CJSOTF, all acronyms for what is otherwise an alphabet soup of jurisdiction. In short, there lacks a single “supreme commander” for operations in Afghanistan. (READ MORE)
Fearless 1st Marines’ blog: Legendary Marine battalion completes Iraq deployment - RAMADI, IRAQ (October 5, 2008) – Just over seven months ago, service members with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, packed their bags and traveled halfway across the world to Iraq, marking the unit’s first battalion-sized deployment since its reactivation in late 2005. The battalion, also known as “The Walking Dead” because of an extremely high mortality rate (above 90 percent) it suffered during the Vietnam War, has completed its tour in Ramadi and is now making its way back to its home station in Camp Lejeune, N.C. Marines and sailors serving with the battalion have spent the last seven months securing a nearly 800-square-mile battle space (almost the size of Rhode Island), which was the first and largest Mega-Area of Operations in the country assigned to a single battalion. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Taliban mock West for calling Afghanistan unwinnable - The Taliban have seized on what US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates described as "defeatist" comments made by Western officials on the ability to succeed in Afghanistan to score a propaganda victory. In a press release issued on Oct. 10 at Voice of Jehad, the Taliban's official website, the group described the recent statements that that war in Afghanistan is unwinnable as “a hue and cry” and reiterated their terms of peace are complete and unconditional withdrawal. "The Islamic Emirate wants to make it clear that the only solution and the most successful path for resolving the Afghanistan problem is for the foreign forces to leave Afghanistan unconditionally and to respect Afghanistan's national independence and Islamic faith," the statement, issued in English, read. "Surely it is only then that peace, stability and prosperity would return to Afghanistan, otherwise all hue and cry and slogans will be empty, fruitless and ineffective." (READ MORE)
Major (P) John: Over Tigris, in the Night. A (Rough) First Draft - In a quiet waiting line / of Soldiers at the twilight. / Stirring when we hear / the rotor whine of / blades come near. / The crew chief waves us o’er / to his waiting craft. / Armored, belted, locked we sit / near each open door / on the frame – we lift! / Over groves of date palm / and scattered farms we streak. / Turning to follow Tigris’ path along, / our rotors sound an airborne Psalm. / A turbine-soul, given song. / Baghdad’s lights catch me / with a dazzling flash. / So low flew our mission / o’er Tigris’ flow, it seemed we / slipped into a dream-like vision... (READ MORE)
Photography, Software, and Sand: Just finished moving - We moved out of the old office this morning and into our old HR office. HR, ops, finance, and the local national program moved into a building that was just opened up. Logistics moved into the old finance office and the old logistics office became a dormitory for male staff. Force protection is moving into our old office and the force protection office is becoming an MWR (Morale Recreation and Welfare) room. You get all that? Good. The photo above is one of the driving greens set up on the roof of Al-Faw Palace. Its a platform with a small green on it. The sign says: Thornal's Range Rules: Ensure you clear range of all personnel and vehicles below prior to hitting - Individuals in IBA (Individual Body Armor) or Up Armored Vehicles are fair game! - Enjoy yourself and hit 'em straight! (READ MORE)
Zen Traveller: Babylon Buddhist - I had a run-in with one of our Iraqi staff yesterday. He lied to me. It wasn't even a good lie, and when I called him on it, he made up another one on the spot. I was furious and chose to walk away, informing his supervisor along the way. I'm at the very end of my deployment and have no patience for this cultural tendency towards lying. I understand that the anger and rage that I felt was mine, and mine alone. I had to deal with it, accept it, chide my ego for entertaining it, and then just let it go. At times Iraq and the Arab culture can be a wonderful place for a Buddhist :) (READ MORE)
Back and still writing:
Armed and Curious: A thoughtful silence - Its been a couple of weeks since I posted. I have actually seen a few great stories come and go that I felt compelled to write about. From the hand over of the Awakening Movement to the Iraqi Government to some incredibly encouraging pieces on the return of some semblance of normalcy to most of Iraq. Yet, I couldn't write. There is a phase I always go through upon returning from Iraq where I am watching events with a distant detachment. Its like having to let go of a lover in many ways. For the first few weeks and months you want to just can't seem to move on. You pick up the phone and hang up. You take the long way home from work to see if her lights are on still. You wonder if she is thinking of you. But, then you have to give it up. (READ MORE)
News from the Front:
Iraq:
BREAKING: Al-Qaeda in Iraq’s number two leader killed - BAGHDAD, Iraq – A terrorist killed by Coalition forces during an operation in Mosul on Oct. 5 has been positively identified as Abu Qaswarah. Abu Qaswarah, also known as Abu Sara, was the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader of northern Iraq. A Moroccan native, Abu Qaswarah had historic ties to AQI founder Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and senior al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Abu Qaswarah took the role of the senior AQI emir of northern Iraq in June 2007. He was al-Qaeda in Iraq’s second in command and AQI Emir Abu Ayyub al-Masri’s senior operational leader. (READ MORE)
NaTT and Iraqi Navy celebrate arrival of new Defender Class Fast Small Boats - UMM QASR, Iraq -- On Oct. 8, a cargo ship from the United Arab Emirates came alongside South Port, Umm Qasr, with six Defender Class Fast Small Boats (FSB) in her hold. The Iraqi Navy and the UK-led Naval Training Team, both based at the port, have eagerly awaited the arrival of these vessels. Along with twenty others due to be delivered over a period of several months, these FSBs will greatly improve the ability of the Iraqi Navy to transition to full operational capability. (READ MORE)
NATO Battle Staff to train Iraqi Army at Kirkuk Regional Training Center - KIRKUK, Iraq – In a recent visit to the Iraqi Army Regional Training Center in Kirkuk, NATO Battle Staff members met with Iraqi Army instructors to coordinate a leadership course in the Military Decision Making Process. The IA RTC instructors train other Iraqi Army brigade and battalion leaders. The intent of the course is to make sure the IA staff properly trains their students to train others. It’s a concept familiar to Coalition forces called ‘Train the Trainer’. (READ MORE)
Governor discusses plans for Diyala - DIYALA, Iraq – The Diyala governor held a press conference to discuss new plans of improving Diyala during a media opportunity held at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Diyala, Iraq, Oct. 13. Gov. Ra’ad al Tamimi reiterated the need for the improvement of hospitals, roads, and training for Sons of Iraq and improved security for the people of Diyala. (READ MORE)
IA takes over SoI program - FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq – The Government of Iraq and Iraqi Army officially took over the Sons of Iraq program during a ceremony in the Mahmudiyah Qada Oct. 12. “The villages are safer now than they have been in a long time which makes this the best possible time to progress in the rebuilding process of our country,” said Shaykh Khalaf Salos Salom Al-Zoba’I, Yusifiyah area SoI leader. (READ MORE)
Trifecta Iraqi Police station validation - SALAH AH DIN, Iraq – Three Iraqi Police stations were validated to operate independent of Coalition forces Oct. 12. The Ad Dawr 911, Abu Dalif, and Mujamma IP stations were acknowledged for their ability to stand on their own in Ad Dwar, Iraq. This marked the third time in Salah ah Din that CF have given responsibility of IP stations to the Iraqi Police. Since September, six IP stations have been turned over in the province. (READ MORE)
GoI invests in eduction - CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers from 1st Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, along with member of the embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team –Baghdad 5, attached to 2nd SBCT, toured three schools and helped open another in Tarmiyah, northwest of Baghdad, Oct. 9. The schools were in various stages of progress; from the very beginning phases to a completed building, which is ready for children to learn. (READ MORE)
Al-Rasheed water pipeline officially opens - FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq – Government of Iraq officials and Coalition forces attended a ceremony marking the official opening of the al-Rasheed water pipeline Oct. 9. “Bringing a consistent supply of water to Mahmudiyah was one of my top priorities coming into office,” said Mahmudiyah Qada Mayor Jabbar Farraj Mullah al-Chalabi. “This is a visual example of giving the people exactly what they are in need of.” (READ MORE)
SWAT, ISOF captures 5 suspected terrorists, criminals in central Iraq - BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces captured two suspected terrorists and three suspected criminals in separate operations throughout central Iraq, Oct. 9-11. On Oct. 11, al Hillah Special Weapons and Tactics arrested two suspected criminals in Hashimaiyah on Ministry of Interior warrants. The individuals are said to be responsible for conducting attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces. In another operation, al Hillah SWAT arrested two suspected al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists on MoI warrants in al Lakhsaf on Oct. 10. (READ MORE)
Afghanistan:
U.S. Forces - Afghanistan provides medical assistance to a wounded child - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (October 8, 2008) –U.S. Forces – Afghanistan provided medical attention to a local national child who came to a Forward Operating Base in the Khogyani district of the Nangarhar province in northeastern Afghanistan. At approximately 4:30 p.m. a child was brought to the gate of a Forward Operating Base for medical attention for a gunshot wound. It is unclear how the child was shot; however, prior to him being brought to the FOB the Afghan National Army was conducting a live-fire rifle range on the base, practicing with numerous kinds of weapons. (READ MORE)
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