News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
In their own words:
Army Poet: Looking Out My Backdoor... - Nothing like flying in a helicopter...Here is the view from the rear gunner.
On a clear day you can see off into the haze of the distance and wonder what you are doing here. (READ MORE)
Back to Iraq: Remember that Arab-Kurdish Feud? - Many observers have assumed the flashpoint for an Arab-Kurdish war over Iraq’s northern regions would be sparked by unrest in Kirkurk. But perhaps Mosul is the real problem. Actually, it seems the entire border zone of the Kurdish region is a problem, with intense personal animosity between Barzani and Maliki. There have been armed stand-offs between the Kurdish pesh merga and Iraqi Army units in Diyala, and Barzani has referred to the Iraqi prime minister as a new Saddam Hussein. It doesn’t help that Maliki is allying himself with Arabs from Mosul who have deep ties to the former regime, including the former general who led the invasion of Kuwait. He’s also been trying to purge the Army up there of its Kurdish leadership causing some officers to announce that their loyalty is to Kurdistan and not Iraq. If tensions do erupt up north, things could get worse all over. (READ MORE)
Eric Owles: Live Blogging an Embed: The Iraqi Police - FORWARD OPERATING BASE TASH, Iraq (8:54 p.m. Iraq time) — In the first Gulf War, Col. Muhammad Hassan Theiyap was a MIG-23 pilot in the Iraqi Air Force serving in Balad. His patriotism earned him the call sign “Baghdad.” He survived a dogfight with an American F-16 fighter jet patrol and today he is the commander of a police station that sits squarely in the middle of a Marine base south of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s western Anbar Province. After a lunch with other local Iraqi police commanders, the Marines sat down with the colonel and Col. Muhammad Ota Abu ‘Ali Jasim, the Shamiya precinct chief. We shared a dessert of Iraqi tea and M&M’s inside the Iraqi police station located in F.O.B. Tash, the base for E Company, First Regimental Combat Team, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines. (READ MORE)
Eric Owles: Live Blogging an Embed: Life of the ‘Terps’ - FORWARD OPERATING BASE TASH, Iraq (5:46 p.m. Iraq time) — I was finally able to see the home for E Company, First Regimental Combat Team, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines this morning in the light of day. The base seems smaller than I first thought it was last night when Captain Brian O’Shea gave me a tour in dark. F.O.B. Tash shoehorns around an Iraqi police station, and the Marines work closely with them on maintaining security in the area. The mud has cleared up today and I took the opportunity to walk around this morning and introduce myself to some of the Marines. I found some sergeants who agreed to let me bunk with them tonight, and I watched part of the movie “Blow” with some other enlisted men before they had run off to clean the showers. While hanging out near the smoking pit I met three of the eight bilingual Arabic-English speakers who work as interpreters for the Marines. (READ MORE)
Lt. Col. Paul Fanning: Trio of Guard soldiers earn medals - Three New York Army National Guard soldiers assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix received awards during a ceremony at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday. Spec. Adam Bryant of Buffalo, Spec. Nicholas Archibald of Tonawanda and Sgt. Russell G. Cole of Tupper Lake received Army Commendation Medals. The soldiers have been serving in the task force Civil Military Operations Office and have been reassigned to duties in embedded training teams with the Afghan National Army. “I am very proud of the work they have done in support of the mission,” said Lt. Col. Mike Hoblin of New City, whose section overseas humanitarian support and reconstruction projects in Afghan communities through the Commanders Emergency Response Program. “We were able to get a lot done for the Afghan people, and these soldiers made important contributions.” (READ MORE)
Fun With Hand Grenades: The State of Iraq - Two separate events have compelled me to write a short dissertation on the current state of affairs here in Iraq: a briefing I received and a message. As my second tour in Iraq draws to a close I feel it necessary to let the American public know what's going on. History will have to judge whether my opinions and subsequent conclusions are correct or not, however after two plus years spent in this country I believe I have earned the right to an opinion, and an educated one at that. For the record I spent a year in Iraq from 9/05 to 9/06 as a driver and gunner and from 9/07 to the present I've served as a fire team leader. My entire four years in the army have been spent in the infantry; boots on the ground in the most basic sense. During a redeployment briefing about two weeks ago we were informed it would be a good idea to develop a "thirty second answer" for the purpose of dealing with questions coming from civilians such as "what's it like over there?" and "what's going on in Iraq?" (READ MORE)
Jake's Life: Home, Sweet Home - Well, after a 31 hour ordeal getting from Kyrgyzstan to 29 Palms, I am currently sitting in Palm Springs with my parents and my older sister Sarah. It's hard to put into words how good it feels to be back in the States. Coming home this time around was a lot different then coming back from Iraq. I'm not sure if I just fooled myself into thinking I'm some kind of grizzled war vet, but it just seemed like another trip. About the only time I really came close to emotional during the return happened as we were pulling out of March Air Force base and were greeted on the road by about a dozen of the "Patriot Riders". That these guys would brave the cold and wait for us at 3 am just so they could escort us 2 hours back to 29 Palms on their motorcycles really touched me. (READ MORE)
The Left Captain: Quick Update - Things have slowed down in our part of the world, which is fine by me. I know it drives some of the Soldiers nuts. I enjoy the steady and quiet rhythm, the monotonous days. Ramadan (September) was active for the "enemies of peace" in eastern Afghanistan. I don't want to overstate this, because there is still a lot going on in certain places, it's just that our slice has been absent casualties for some time now, which I like very much. There is still a lot of indirect fire and IEDs, but my clinic numbers have dropped. I've also heard that the number of medevac flights have decreased significantly. I think the cooler weather, football season, the World Series, the approach of the holiday season and the end of 2008 has lifted morale to a degree. There is still a lot left to do here (for all of us) but the change of the seasons makes the passage of time more tangible. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Iraqi forces detain 180 "suspects" during Basrah raids - Iraqi security forces conducted a massive sweep throughout Basrah province Tuesday. Iraqi Army and police units detained 180 "suspects," including a Pakistani national, and found several large weapons caches, during the operations. Forty-four suspected insurgents were detained, including a Pakistani man, while entering Iraq "illegally through Safwan border road, 60 km west [of] Basrah," the Basrah media office told Voices of Iraq. Operations outside of Basrah netted additional 136 isuspects. The Pakistani man was likely an al Qaeda operative. Safwan is in southeastern Basrah, right on the border with Kuwait. While most al Qaeda operatives pass through Syria or Iran, the transit through Kuwait, while uncommon, does occur. (READ MORE)
Peace and War Times: First Day in Iraq - After being transported from Biap Airport in Baghdad to our accommodations, these became the most impressive concrete fortress I have ever seen. Yes, the whole base is surrounded by 12 feet tall walls in any direction you look at it. I have to maneuver through labyrinth of concrete walls, to get to a dusty tent. There was dust every where in that tent, I am surprise my allergies and sinus didn’t bather me after worth. Among the people on base, it was a mix of civilians and soldiers of different countries. During day and night, the machine guns and mortar can be heard in the distance, alone with black hawks’ helicopters flying over us, all day and night. Their dinner facilities were more impressive than the one I saw in Kuwait. Definitely, soldiers at here can’t go hungry but at the same time, it opens the opportunity to become fat if they don’t work out regularly. (READ MORE)
Something on the staff: Sons of Iraq - The most important issue of my fifteen month deployment was the Sons of Iraq. The Sons of Iraq had many names, to include Concerned Citizen Groups, Sahawa, Concerned Local Citizens and Citizens on Patrol (my personal favorite). Some Colonel somewhere earned himself a gold star when he decided to force everyone to call them the Sons of Iraq. The Iraqi Army hates the name “Sons of Iraq.” Our local Iraqi Army Major General likes to say, “If those guys are sons of Iraq, then what are we [the Iraqi Army]? Sons of bitches?” Whenever I talk to the Iraqi Army about the Sons of Iraq, I refer to them as the “volunteers.” To make it even more complicated, the Sons of Iraq will refer to themselves as “Sahawa,” which is Arabic for “awakening.” Any of the names are interchangeable in everyday Iraqi conversation. (READ MORE)
Two Brothers, Two Countries, One Army: Just hanging out... - Hello! WOW! Thank you to those who continue to show your support to my brother and I! THANK YOU!! Just hanging out...well, that's about it. That about sums up what I've been doing for the last week since I got back from R&R. Just hanging out. The one word we're not allowed to use over here is "quiet". It's like a curse or something...people say that we don't really do a whole lot over here...well, that's a good thing. When I have a 'lax' or 'lazy' day...it's a good thing. I am pretty surprised though with the elections coming up I kinda figured there would be a spike in the activity over here...now, understand that some areas are always busy and some people are always busy but for me....well, it's been pretty quiet. Ooops...I said it. Sorry. Sometimes I wish I had a more exciting job and that I got to do more...I guess that just comes with the job though. (READ MORE)
Back and still writing:
A Major's Perspective: Talking with the Taliban? - I heard this news today, and honestly my reaction was, well good. I was surprised at the talking heads on TV today though. Well, not really, I was surprised by Shepherd Smith's reaction at Fox News but that's another story. Here's why its a good idea though. First off, no-one has said they want to sit down and talk to the extreme hard liners of the Taliban that are in bed with Al Qaeda. Yes, I meant that pun, but anyway. This is an initiative aimed at the moderate elements within Afghanistan that can be swayed to putting down their weapons and joining the legitimate government. This would effectively eliminate a large percentage of the Taliban fighters, and bring them into the government where they could legitimately voice their opinions. I think I remember hearing this called democracy. The hard liners and Al Qaeda members who only want to inflict pain and suffering on the Afghan people and ourselves, well nothing changes there. (READ MORE)
Bill and Bob's Excellent Adventure: Closing Ranks -OR- When Bloggers Attack - The past week has been full of excitement in the Milblog community. There has been amazing closing of the ranks in the Afghanistan community and beyond. Nick Meo has attracted as much attention as a marauding bear in a hive of bees. Killer bees. I have to admit that I feel quite small in this community. I'm certainly not the best known of the bloggers, and as my Sitemeter will testify, I have not been visited by nearly as many people as the more established blogs. However, after this week, it will never feel the same to me. I don't feel nearly as isolated, and has been an awesome demonstration of the power of little guys. It's not the little blogger who really has the power. You do. You who are reading this right now have more power than you think. Many of you have written to the Telegraph and Nick Meo and have let them know of your displeasure at Meo's self-centered, lying, and insulting bit of "journalism." (READ MORE)
News from the Front:
Iraq:
Police Transition Teams start from scratch in Basra - BASRA –Combat Outpost Perry houses elements of the U.S. Army’s military police Soldiers from the 21st MP Company, the first U.S. military police unit in the area. The unit, which is primarily based out of nearby Contingency Operating Base Basra is deployed in the area to conduct mission support to the Iraqi Police by providing assessments, assistance, training and mentoring to aid in the transition of the Basra Iraqi Police force. (READ MORE)
INPs discover weapons cache in Ghartan - BAGHDAD – At approximately 10:30 a.m., Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, reported the 1st Battalion, 5th Bde., 2nd NP Div., found 10 60 mm mortar rounds, four 82 mm mortar rounds, three 120 mm mortar rounds, two 122 mm rockets, one 155 mm artillery round, one 60 mm mortar tube, two RKG3 rocket propelled grenades, four undisclosed rockets and two undisclosed artillery rounds while conducting a patrol in the Ghartan community. (READ MORE)
Four IP recruits murdered in Mosul - MOSUL, Iraq – Four Iraqi Police recruits were found murdered in the al-Amel neighborhood of Ninewah province in Mosul at approximately 7:45 a.m. Oct. 28. Five more IP recruits were also found wounded from this shooting. The injured were taken to Mosul General Hospital. (READ MORE)
2 Iraqis killed, 3 injured in blast - BAGHDAD – Two Iraqis were killed and three were injured by an explosion in central Baghdad at approximately 2:30 p.m., Oct. 28. Policemen from 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, and their transition team counterparts from Multi-National Division – Baghdad responded to an improvised explosive device attack that killed an Iraq Army warrant officer, a local citizen and wounded three civilians in a blast in the New Baghdad district of Baghdad. (READ MORE)
School reopens in West Adhamiyah - BAGHDAD – The Al Tajadud School in the Adhamiyah district of Baghdad was officially reopened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 26, after undergoing a two month long renovation. Omar Rahmani, vice chairman for the Adhamiyah District Advisory Council was on hand to cut the ribbon. (READ MORE)
10th IA produces new route clearance team - CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – The 10th Iraqi Army Division and the 14th Engineering Battalion celebrated the graduation of 15 new Iraqi route clearance specialists during a ceremony at Camp Dhi Qar Oct. 26. Iraqi Pvt. Hazim Karim, the honor graduate and ‘best Sapper,’ was among the first in IA to learn how to drive the mine-resistant, ambush protected Badger vehicle and its “Ferret” arm during the 14-day course. (READ MORE)
Reconstruction Improves Life in Iraqi City - CAMP TAJI — When students in Tarmiyah returned to school in September, they were welcomed by new classrooms full of new furniture and supplies. Their school, northwest of Baghdad, also had new electrical and sewer systems. After conducting a final assessment of improvements made to the Huda Teacher’s School on Oct. 20, Army 1st Lt. Erik Peterson, a native of Littleton Colo., met with the contractor, paid him the remaining funds for completion of his work and thanked him for a job well done. (READ MORE)
Camp Ur Graduates New Iraqi Officers, Enlisted Troops - COB ADDER — The Iraqi Army’s Regional Training Center at Camp Ur, near Contingency Operating Base Adder in southern Iraq, produced enough troops to fill a battalion during the Basic Enlisted Training and Officer Course graduations, Oct. 15. The two courses produced nearly 800 new Iraqi Soldiers, of which the majority were enlisted. The training center also produced its first class of officers. (READ MORE)
Corps of Engineers Helps Guide Iraq Infrastructure Progress - KIRKUK — Engineers with the Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are teaching and mentoring their Iraqi counterparts on every aspect of reconstruction project development, preparing them to continue building and managing Iraq’s infrastructure after the Coalition leaves. Army Lt. Col. Jack Hourguettes is an Army engineer assigned to the Kirkuk Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) -- a joint effort to integrate infrastructure projects in the province, training, coaching, advising, increasing engineering expertise and improving decision-making while balancing political and engineering requirements. (READ MORE)
Marines Reach Out to Iraqi Kids - RUTBAH — When people typically think of Marines on a combat patrol in Iraq, the last thing that comes to mind is the image of fluffy stuffed animals. However, with the help of a grass-roots organization in the United States, the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, spread American goodwill to the children here recently. (READ MORE)
Soldier Helps Iraqi Girl with Congenital Heart Condition - FOB KALSU — Rawan, a 5-year-old Iraqi girl, bounced on the couch and clapped her tiny hands, evoking laughter from those watching her. From the color of her blue lips, she looked as though she might have savored one grape-flavored lollipop too many. She sang as she bounced, but her voice came out as wisps of air, as if she were playing a joke on her grandparents to force them to listen closely. Her skin is pale compared to the rich skin color of her grandfather and grandmother, who visited with U.S. Soldiers here to talk about her condition. (READ MORE)
In their own words:
Army Poet: Looking Out My Backdoor... - Nothing like flying in a helicopter...Here is the view from the rear gunner.
On a clear day you can see off into the haze of the distance and wonder what you are doing here. (READ MORE)
Back to Iraq: Remember that Arab-Kurdish Feud? - Many observers have assumed the flashpoint for an Arab-Kurdish war over Iraq’s northern regions would be sparked by unrest in Kirkurk. But perhaps Mosul is the real problem. Actually, it seems the entire border zone of the Kurdish region is a problem, with intense personal animosity between Barzani and Maliki. There have been armed stand-offs between the Kurdish pesh merga and Iraqi Army units in Diyala, and Barzani has referred to the Iraqi prime minister as a new Saddam Hussein. It doesn’t help that Maliki is allying himself with Arabs from Mosul who have deep ties to the former regime, including the former general who led the invasion of Kuwait. He’s also been trying to purge the Army up there of its Kurdish leadership causing some officers to announce that their loyalty is to Kurdistan and not Iraq. If tensions do erupt up north, things could get worse all over. (READ MORE)
Eric Owles: Live Blogging an Embed: The Iraqi Police - FORWARD OPERATING BASE TASH, Iraq (8:54 p.m. Iraq time) — In the first Gulf War, Col. Muhammad Hassan Theiyap was a MIG-23 pilot in the Iraqi Air Force serving in Balad. His patriotism earned him the call sign “Baghdad.” He survived a dogfight with an American F-16 fighter jet patrol and today he is the commander of a police station that sits squarely in the middle of a Marine base south of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s western Anbar Province. After a lunch with other local Iraqi police commanders, the Marines sat down with the colonel and Col. Muhammad Ota Abu ‘Ali Jasim, the Shamiya precinct chief. We shared a dessert of Iraqi tea and M&M’s inside the Iraqi police station located in F.O.B. Tash, the base for E Company, First Regimental Combat Team, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines. (READ MORE)
Eric Owles: Live Blogging an Embed: Life of the ‘Terps’ - FORWARD OPERATING BASE TASH, Iraq (5:46 p.m. Iraq time) — I was finally able to see the home for E Company, First Regimental Combat Team, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines this morning in the light of day. The base seems smaller than I first thought it was last night when Captain Brian O’Shea gave me a tour in dark. F.O.B. Tash shoehorns around an Iraqi police station, and the Marines work closely with them on maintaining security in the area. The mud has cleared up today and I took the opportunity to walk around this morning and introduce myself to some of the Marines. I found some sergeants who agreed to let me bunk with them tonight, and I watched part of the movie “Blow” with some other enlisted men before they had run off to clean the showers. While hanging out near the smoking pit I met three of the eight bilingual Arabic-English speakers who work as interpreters for the Marines. (READ MORE)
Lt. Col. Paul Fanning: Trio of Guard soldiers earn medals - Three New York Army National Guard soldiers assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix received awards during a ceremony at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday. Spec. Adam Bryant of Buffalo, Spec. Nicholas Archibald of Tonawanda and Sgt. Russell G. Cole of Tupper Lake received Army Commendation Medals. The soldiers have been serving in the task force Civil Military Operations Office and have been reassigned to duties in embedded training teams with the Afghan National Army. “I am very proud of the work they have done in support of the mission,” said Lt. Col. Mike Hoblin of New City, whose section overseas humanitarian support and reconstruction projects in Afghan communities through the Commanders Emergency Response Program. “We were able to get a lot done for the Afghan people, and these soldiers made important contributions.” (READ MORE)
Fun With Hand Grenades: The State of Iraq - Two separate events have compelled me to write a short dissertation on the current state of affairs here in Iraq: a briefing I received and a message. As my second tour in Iraq draws to a close I feel it necessary to let the American public know what's going on. History will have to judge whether my opinions and subsequent conclusions are correct or not, however after two plus years spent in this country I believe I have earned the right to an opinion, and an educated one at that. For the record I spent a year in Iraq from 9/05 to 9/06 as a driver and gunner and from 9/07 to the present I've served as a fire team leader. My entire four years in the army have been spent in the infantry; boots on the ground in the most basic sense. During a redeployment briefing about two weeks ago we were informed it would be a good idea to develop a "thirty second answer" for the purpose of dealing with questions coming from civilians such as "what's it like over there?" and "what's going on in Iraq?" (READ MORE)
Jake's Life: Home, Sweet Home - Well, after a 31 hour ordeal getting from Kyrgyzstan to 29 Palms, I am currently sitting in Palm Springs with my parents and my older sister Sarah. It's hard to put into words how good it feels to be back in the States. Coming home this time around was a lot different then coming back from Iraq. I'm not sure if I just fooled myself into thinking I'm some kind of grizzled war vet, but it just seemed like another trip. About the only time I really came close to emotional during the return happened as we were pulling out of March Air Force base and were greeted on the road by about a dozen of the "Patriot Riders". That these guys would brave the cold and wait for us at 3 am just so they could escort us 2 hours back to 29 Palms on their motorcycles really touched me. (READ MORE)
The Left Captain: Quick Update - Things have slowed down in our part of the world, which is fine by me. I know it drives some of the Soldiers nuts. I enjoy the steady and quiet rhythm, the monotonous days. Ramadan (September) was active for the "enemies of peace" in eastern Afghanistan. I don't want to overstate this, because there is still a lot going on in certain places, it's just that our slice has been absent casualties for some time now, which I like very much. There is still a lot of indirect fire and IEDs, but my clinic numbers have dropped. I've also heard that the number of medevac flights have decreased significantly. I think the cooler weather, football season, the World Series, the approach of the holiday season and the end of 2008 has lifted morale to a degree. There is still a lot left to do here (for all of us) but the change of the seasons makes the passage of time more tangible. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Iraqi forces detain 180 "suspects" during Basrah raids - Iraqi security forces conducted a massive sweep throughout Basrah province Tuesday. Iraqi Army and police units detained 180 "suspects," including a Pakistani national, and found several large weapons caches, during the operations. Forty-four suspected insurgents were detained, including a Pakistani man, while entering Iraq "illegally through Safwan border road, 60 km west [of] Basrah," the Basrah media office told Voices of Iraq. Operations outside of Basrah netted additional 136 isuspects. The Pakistani man was likely an al Qaeda operative. Safwan is in southeastern Basrah, right on the border with Kuwait. While most al Qaeda operatives pass through Syria or Iran, the transit through Kuwait, while uncommon, does occur. (READ MORE)
Peace and War Times: First Day in Iraq - After being transported from Biap Airport in Baghdad to our accommodations, these became the most impressive concrete fortress I have ever seen. Yes, the whole base is surrounded by 12 feet tall walls in any direction you look at it. I have to maneuver through labyrinth of concrete walls, to get to a dusty tent. There was dust every where in that tent, I am surprise my allergies and sinus didn’t bather me after worth. Among the people on base, it was a mix of civilians and soldiers of different countries. During day and night, the machine guns and mortar can be heard in the distance, alone with black hawks’ helicopters flying over us, all day and night. Their dinner facilities were more impressive than the one I saw in Kuwait. Definitely, soldiers at here can’t go hungry but at the same time, it opens the opportunity to become fat if they don’t work out regularly. (READ MORE)
Something on the staff: Sons of Iraq - The most important issue of my fifteen month deployment was the Sons of Iraq. The Sons of Iraq had many names, to include Concerned Citizen Groups, Sahawa, Concerned Local Citizens and Citizens on Patrol (my personal favorite). Some Colonel somewhere earned himself a gold star when he decided to force everyone to call them the Sons of Iraq. The Iraqi Army hates the name “Sons of Iraq.” Our local Iraqi Army Major General likes to say, “If those guys are sons of Iraq, then what are we [the Iraqi Army]? Sons of bitches?” Whenever I talk to the Iraqi Army about the Sons of Iraq, I refer to them as the “volunteers.” To make it even more complicated, the Sons of Iraq will refer to themselves as “Sahawa,” which is Arabic for “awakening.” Any of the names are interchangeable in everyday Iraqi conversation. (READ MORE)
Two Brothers, Two Countries, One Army: Just hanging out... - Hello! WOW! Thank you to those who continue to show your support to my brother and I! THANK YOU!! Just hanging out...well, that's about it. That about sums up what I've been doing for the last week since I got back from R&R. Just hanging out. The one word we're not allowed to use over here is "quiet". It's like a curse or something...people say that we don't really do a whole lot over here...well, that's a good thing. When I have a 'lax' or 'lazy' day...it's a good thing. I am pretty surprised though with the elections coming up I kinda figured there would be a spike in the activity over here...now, understand that some areas are always busy and some people are always busy but for me....well, it's been pretty quiet. Ooops...I said it. Sorry. Sometimes I wish I had a more exciting job and that I got to do more...I guess that just comes with the job though. (READ MORE)
Back and still writing:
A Major's Perspective: Talking with the Taliban? - I heard this news today, and honestly my reaction was, well good. I was surprised at the talking heads on TV today though. Well, not really, I was surprised by Shepherd Smith's reaction at Fox News but that's another story. Here's why its a good idea though. First off, no-one has said they want to sit down and talk to the extreme hard liners of the Taliban that are in bed with Al Qaeda. Yes, I meant that pun, but anyway. This is an initiative aimed at the moderate elements within Afghanistan that can be swayed to putting down their weapons and joining the legitimate government. This would effectively eliminate a large percentage of the Taliban fighters, and bring them into the government where they could legitimately voice their opinions. I think I remember hearing this called democracy. The hard liners and Al Qaeda members who only want to inflict pain and suffering on the Afghan people and ourselves, well nothing changes there. (READ MORE)
Bill and Bob's Excellent Adventure: Closing Ranks -OR- When Bloggers Attack - The past week has been full of excitement in the Milblog community. There has been amazing closing of the ranks in the Afghanistan community and beyond. Nick Meo has attracted as much attention as a marauding bear in a hive of bees. Killer bees. I have to admit that I feel quite small in this community. I'm certainly not the best known of the bloggers, and as my Sitemeter will testify, I have not been visited by nearly as many people as the more established blogs. However, after this week, it will never feel the same to me. I don't feel nearly as isolated, and has been an awesome demonstration of the power of little guys. It's not the little blogger who really has the power. You do. You who are reading this right now have more power than you think. Many of you have written to the Telegraph and Nick Meo and have let them know of your displeasure at Meo's self-centered, lying, and insulting bit of "journalism." (READ MORE)
News from the Front:
Iraq:
Police Transition Teams start from scratch in Basra - BASRA –Combat Outpost Perry houses elements of the U.S. Army’s military police Soldiers from the 21st MP Company, the first U.S. military police unit in the area. The unit, which is primarily based out of nearby Contingency Operating Base Basra is deployed in the area to conduct mission support to the Iraqi Police by providing assessments, assistance, training and mentoring to aid in the transition of the Basra Iraqi Police force. (READ MORE)
INPs discover weapons cache in Ghartan - BAGHDAD – At approximately 10:30 a.m., Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, reported the 1st Battalion, 5th Bde., 2nd NP Div., found 10 60 mm mortar rounds, four 82 mm mortar rounds, three 120 mm mortar rounds, two 122 mm rockets, one 155 mm artillery round, one 60 mm mortar tube, two RKG3 rocket propelled grenades, four undisclosed rockets and two undisclosed artillery rounds while conducting a patrol in the Ghartan community. (READ MORE)
Four IP recruits murdered in Mosul - MOSUL, Iraq – Four Iraqi Police recruits were found murdered in the al-Amel neighborhood of Ninewah province in Mosul at approximately 7:45 a.m. Oct. 28. Five more IP recruits were also found wounded from this shooting. The injured were taken to Mosul General Hospital. (READ MORE)
2 Iraqis killed, 3 injured in blast - BAGHDAD – Two Iraqis were killed and three were injured by an explosion in central Baghdad at approximately 2:30 p.m., Oct. 28. Policemen from 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, and their transition team counterparts from Multi-National Division – Baghdad responded to an improvised explosive device attack that killed an Iraq Army warrant officer, a local citizen and wounded three civilians in a blast in the New Baghdad district of Baghdad. (READ MORE)
School reopens in West Adhamiyah - BAGHDAD – The Al Tajadud School in the Adhamiyah district of Baghdad was officially reopened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 26, after undergoing a two month long renovation. Omar Rahmani, vice chairman for the Adhamiyah District Advisory Council was on hand to cut the ribbon. (READ MORE)
10th IA produces new route clearance team - CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – The 10th Iraqi Army Division and the 14th Engineering Battalion celebrated the graduation of 15 new Iraqi route clearance specialists during a ceremony at Camp Dhi Qar Oct. 26. Iraqi Pvt. Hazim Karim, the honor graduate and ‘best Sapper,’ was among the first in IA to learn how to drive the mine-resistant, ambush protected Badger vehicle and its “Ferret” arm during the 14-day course. (READ MORE)
Reconstruction Improves Life in Iraqi City - CAMP TAJI — When students in Tarmiyah returned to school in September, they were welcomed by new classrooms full of new furniture and supplies. Their school, northwest of Baghdad, also had new electrical and sewer systems. After conducting a final assessment of improvements made to the Huda Teacher’s School on Oct. 20, Army 1st Lt. Erik Peterson, a native of Littleton Colo., met with the contractor, paid him the remaining funds for completion of his work and thanked him for a job well done. (READ MORE)
Camp Ur Graduates New Iraqi Officers, Enlisted Troops - COB ADDER — The Iraqi Army’s Regional Training Center at Camp Ur, near Contingency Operating Base Adder in southern Iraq, produced enough troops to fill a battalion during the Basic Enlisted Training and Officer Course graduations, Oct. 15. The two courses produced nearly 800 new Iraqi Soldiers, of which the majority were enlisted. The training center also produced its first class of officers. (READ MORE)
Corps of Engineers Helps Guide Iraq Infrastructure Progress - KIRKUK — Engineers with the Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are teaching and mentoring their Iraqi counterparts on every aspect of reconstruction project development, preparing them to continue building and managing Iraq’s infrastructure after the Coalition leaves. Army Lt. Col. Jack Hourguettes is an Army engineer assigned to the Kirkuk Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) -- a joint effort to integrate infrastructure projects in the province, training, coaching, advising, increasing engineering expertise and improving decision-making while balancing political and engineering requirements. (READ MORE)
Marines Reach Out to Iraqi Kids - RUTBAH — When people typically think of Marines on a combat patrol in Iraq, the last thing that comes to mind is the image of fluffy stuffed animals. However, with the help of a grass-roots organization in the United States, the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, spread American goodwill to the children here recently. (READ MORE)
Soldier Helps Iraqi Girl with Congenital Heart Condition - FOB KALSU — Rawan, a 5-year-old Iraqi girl, bounced on the couch and clapped her tiny hands, evoking laughter from those watching her. From the color of her blue lips, she looked as though she might have savored one grape-flavored lollipop too many. She sang as she bounced, but her voice came out as wisps of air, as if she were playing a joke on her grandparents to force them to listen closely. Her skin is pale compared to the rich skin color of her grandfather and grandmother, who visited with U.S. Soldiers here to talk about her condition. (READ MORE)
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