A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.
In the News: (Registration may be required to read some stories)
On the Web:
The Belmont Club: Max Boot versus Andrew Sullivan - The debate between Max Boot and Andrew Sullivan over America’s postwar relationship with Iraq really captures what the Times Online has asserted in a recent article: “the evidence is now overwhelming that on all fronts, despite inevitable losses from time to time, it is we who are advancing and the enemy who is in retreat. The current mood on both sides of the Atlantic, in fact, represents a kind of curious inversion of the great French soldier’s dictum: ‘Success against the Taleban. Enemy giving way in Iraq. Al-Qaeda on the run. Situation dire. Let’s retreat!’ ” While not everyone is unreservedly optimistic, Max Boot rightly points out that the West has been in Middle East for a long time. The French and British in especial will remember that. But even the US has had a long military involvement in the region, much of it spurred by the 1990s requirement to “contain” Saddam Hussein. Time did not begin with Operation Iraq Freedom. Boot writes: (READ MORE)
Information Dissemination: Exploring the Israel-Iran Option - Seymour Hersh has a new article out in the New Yorker called "Preparing the Battlefield," and after going through all seven pages twice, we are still left wondering what all the hype is about. Essentially the article suggests that the US is operating in Iran to collect intelligence, and appears to attempt to shame Democrats for supporting the gathering of intelligence in Iran by funding intelligence gathering. The implication is that because Bush hasn't brought the intelligence gathered back to Congress there is a problem, but speaking from experience, if Bush never brings the intelligence back to Congress, that is probably a good thing for the country. The record there hasn't been pretty, and we prefer he keeps that stuff to himself where it is unlikely to be used to make the case for war. (READ MORE)
Dr. iRack: Abu Abed Falls -- Will the SoIs Follow? (Updated) - Very interesting piece by Ned Parker in the LAT on the rise and fall of Sons of Iraq (SoI) superstar Abu Abed (the guy on the far right in the picture above). Abu Abed came to prominence by creating a group of Sunni security volunteers (the "Knights in the Land of the Two Rivers") to join with U.S. forces to fight AQI in the turbulent Baghdad neighborhood of Amiriya. His group, and groups like it, came to be known as Concerned Local Citizen (CLCs) but are now called SoIs. There are now approximately 100,000 SoIs; 80 percent are Sunnis. Some saw Abu Abed as a hero who fought AQI terrorists; other saw him as a would-be warlord with a very dark side and a proclivity toward brutal methods. Regardless, Abu Abed became the poster child for the expansion of the Sunni Awakening (and "bottom-up" reconciliation) from its origins among the tribes in Anbar to include many "reconcilable" Sunni militants in greater Baghdad and nearby provinces... (READ MORE)
This Ain't Hell: Guantanamo Protest in DC - Today in Washington, DC, Amnesty International and the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition, staged events protesting Guantanamo. I learned that they were in town from reading VanHelsing at Moonbattery, so I took the Blogger Urban Reconnaissance Vehicle (BURV) and headed downtown. The first thing I found was the Amnesty International’s Guantanamo Cell Tour 2008. A child who really needed to get a sandwich or two was handing out fliers to passers-by; Then there was the cell itself; The woman who was conducting the tour told me that it’s not representative of normal cells, but those of “Class V” prisoners. But according to Fox News, that’s not true; (READ MORE)
Jay Tea: Blank Like Me - Last Friday, Charles Krauthammer wrote a column that pre-empted a lot of a piece that I was kicking around -- Senator Barack Obama's recent sudden reversals on many positions he'd been holding for some time. Krauthammer outlines Obama's change of heart on the North American Free Trade Agreement and the granting legal immunity to the telecommunications companies that cooperated with the federal government on wiretaps. Krauthammer also touches on Obama's change of heart on public financing for the general election, but I want to look at it a bit more closely. Obama's rationalization for forgoing $85 million from the federal government contained several elements. The first one -- that he needed to be able to counter the expenditures of 527 groups that will be out to sink his campaign -- I demolished yesterday. (READ MORE)
Westhawk: Taliban threat to Peshawar imperils Afghan mission - In a distressing story from today’s New York Times, Taliban groups are suddenly threatening Peshawar with encirclement, if not outright capture. Taliban control of the Peshawar area (their physical control of the city is not necessary) would cut the main supply route into Afghanistan supplying much of the American and NATO effort there. One wonders how Coalition and Afghan securities forces would be able to maintain offensive operations with the widespread use of vehicles and helicopters without the fuel supplied through Peshawar and the Khyber Pass. I have long been concerned about the logistical vulnerability of the American-ISAF operation in Pakistan (most recently expressed here). There was a time back in late 2001 when the U.S. was reluctant to insert a U.S. Army Ranger battalion into the remote Tora Bora mountains to cut off bin Laden’s escape out of fear of repeating the Soviet Union’s disastrous big footprint strategy. (READ MORE)
Cassandra: Elucidating the Obvious - One of the things I have tried to do, over the many years I've been writing, is not to post in anger. There are times when that is not easy, especially when I feel as strongly as I do about what I have to say today. Pent up emotions tend to increase rather than decrease in intensity, and each time an opportunity to respond is declined only makes the next time more difficult. Over the years there have been quite a few times when I have reluctantly decided not to weigh in at all on stories that interested me. I have done so primarily when I didn't think I could distance myself sufficiently from the subject to give it what (according to my own standards, if not in always in the judgment of others) amounted to fair treatment. Let me begin by noting that in an era where so many time-honored traditions have fallen by the wayside, the military has consistently remained the most respected institution in American life. But why is this so? (READ MORE)
Warner Todd Huston: Boston Globe: Obama Afraid of Muslims Because of New ‘Red Scare’ - Derrick Z. Jackson of the Boston Globe has done it again. Now, usually Z is one of those columnists that is sure every white American is a racist and many of his columns are based on that assumption, but it looks like he is branching out from his normal black/white identity politics angle and adding a new twist to his column. You see, Z has just discovered that whites don’t hate only blacks, they hate Muslims too. How inclusive, eh? Even more ridiculously, Z imagines that white Muslim haters in “red states” are forcing Barack Obama to distance himself from his Muslim background. In fact, according to Z, Islam is the victim of white America’s newest “red scare” and Obama is feeling the heat because of that undue hatred. (READ MORE)
Sense of Events: Weather Report - Well, summer's here and the time is right--but, in this part of the world that means seriously hot times. Despite the relative calm in the last several weeks, by the end of last week, Israelis were taking a long hard view eastward to Iran. Over there, work continues unfettered on a nuclear weapon that most Israelis believe will be completed and will be used on Tel Aviv. When Iranians say they intend to use their weapon to eradicate Israel, Israelis believe them. There is no room for error here--as in a "they would never do that" policy. By the end of last week, Israelis were talking about the lastest lull in hostilities with Hamastan (time to increase arms for a possible chance to redeem captives), about the increased weapons practice in the Golan, and the incredibly open airshows all over the north--airborne refueling exercises and "heads-up" levels. There was even one exercise where large numbers of IAF jets scrambled to sea towards Cyprus. (READ MORE)
ROFASix: America's War on Business - As you travel around the world, you can often tell which countries impose confiscatory tax burdens on their citizens by the number of ex-pats living and raising families elsewhere. The OpEd “Monsieur Obama’s Tax Rates” noted that when President Sarkozy of France visited London (France’s 7th largest city), he realized the huge French population there was because of France’s tax rates. It is but aspect of the long Global War on Business that has been underway since the onset of the 20th Century in the West. It is no secret that when you drive out your most productive members of the country, the moochers and takers who remain will never benefit from the innovation, creativity, and investment the émigré’s take with them. When Barack Obama occupies the White House, it will be interesting to see where Americans begin to “squirt to” in order to avoid the confiscatory taxes Obama and his Democratic Congress have promised. (READ MORE)
Right Wing Nut House: HONESTLY, IS JOHN ARAVOSIS A PIECE OF EXCREMENT OR WHAT? - This piece on McCain by Aravosis may be the most inelegant political attack I’ve ever seen. Not only is it a vile, worthless, mindlessly idiotic recounting of this Peeping Tom’s idea of McCain’s military service but the obliviousness of Aravosis to the upchucking irony in his calling anyone out for making propaganda is outrageously, hysterically inappropriate. First, let’s “quell a question” shall we? QUESTION: Why did John McCain make a propaganda film for the enemy? ANSWER: Because if you didn’t, the enemy would torture you until you died. Those “agrarian reformers” and “peace loving socialists” that Aravosis’ ideological brethren were calling the the North Vietnamese back then were not very nice people. Every single prisoner who fell into their hands endured unspeakable degradation and torture until they cooperated. (READ MORE)
McQ: Hope and Change - Jennifer Rubin, at Contentions, points out that Paul Krugman, like David Brooks, is confused as to whether "Obama is more like Ronald Reagan (an ideological, transformative politician) or Bill Clinton ( a poll-driven pragmatist)." As I mentioned in the past: [Obama] hopes to let voters define what "hope" and "change" mean to them and then hang that on his candidacy. They define it, he pretends to agree with it by talking in glittering generalities, he gets elected and then the political bill comes due. Rubin goes one step better and finds Obama saying precisely that in prologue of "The Audacity of Hope": “Obama has told us there is no there, there. In his book he wrote: ‘I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.’ So perhaps searching for Obama's ‘core’ is a fool's errand. He is glib and clever and seized upon a clever formulation (Agent of Change) to attract young and idealistic people longing for meaning. But perhaps that is all there is.” (READ MORE)
Scott Johnson: From Keith Ellison to Barack Obama - Watching the emergence of Barack Obama this year I have experienced at least a slight sense of déjà vu. With modifications and variations, the Obama phenomenon this year was anticipated by the rise of Minnesota Fifth District (Minneapolis) Rep. Keith Ellison in 2006. I didn't know anything about Ellison when he won the endorsement of the DFL Fifth District convention in May 2006. The endorsement kicked off a competitive three-way primary battle that Ellison won by a plurality of the vote in September 2006. Minneapolis and the Fifth District being one-party territory, Ellison's primary win more or less guaranteed Ellison's election to Congress in November 2006. After I first posted an item or two about Ellison in June on Power Line, writing about him as carefully as I could, I started getting calls from prominent Democrats and other knowledgeable sources with first-hand knowledge of Ellison. (READ MORE)
Neptunus Lex: The company you keep - I believe I am well within the fairway - in the purely naval sense - to remark that military enthusiasts of General Wesley Clark are notable by their scarcity. Nevertheless, no doubt banking on the fact that the public understands less of how the good general found his way to the top - nor, significantly, how he found himself nudged off stage - he appears to be using his military service as platform from whence to denigrate John McCain’s military service. Playing beard, if you will, for the Obama campaign. Out of pure, disinterested conviction, I’m sure. “Clark said that McCain lacked the executive experience necessary to be president, calling him ‘untested and untried’ on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation.’ And in saying so, he took a few swipes at McCain’s military service. ‘I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.’” (READ MORE)
Lawhawk: Depraved Audacity - The people pushing attacks on Senator John McCain's military record and experience are nothing less than depraved audacity. They demean not only McCain's military record, but attack all those in uniform. McCain served honorably in the US Navy as a fighter pilot, and was shot down after his 23rd mission over Hanoi. He was a POW for nearly five years and was repeatedly tortured. Yet, Wesley Clark and others have the audacity to claim that McCain doesn't have military experience or the record on which to become President? Clark made the following nonsensical statement which got Bob Schieffer to do a double take. (READ MORE)
Dafydd: So Why Do We Need Gitmo? Let Me Count the Ways... - When we capture prisoners of war (POWs), we don't imprison them for punishment; we take them out of commission "for the duration" of the war. That is why they shouldn't get a trial: They're not in the same category as regular "criminals," who can be released without too much damage if the government cannot amass enough evidence for a judge or jury to find them guilty. POWs -- or in al-Qaeda's case, unlawful enemy combatants -- cannot be released as long as they're likely to attack us again; just like ordinary POWs, terrorists are not held in punishment... they're held to keep them from returning to the fight against us, or at least to be available for a prisoner swap, if the Commander in Chief decides that's in our best interest. (READ MORE)
Ace of Spades: Obama Gives Speech On Patriotism - It's being billed as a major speech but listening to it now, it's pretty much about Obama and how "I will never question the patriotism of others in this campaign. And I will not stand idly by when people question mine.” Now he's into the 'American can be made better' is really patriotism stuff. Fearless prediction...Andrew Sullivan will LOVE this speech. He does have a lapel pin on. I can't tell if it's one of those false patriotism flag pins or not. He's broken it down to 3 elements...a 'gut love of country', a willingness to speak up when the government is wrong and sacrifice/service. (READ MORE)
Ed Morrissey: (Video) Bush gets bipartisan in signing the war-funding bill - There was a time, not so long ago, that we assumed a Democratic majority would cause enormous problems in getting funding for the war efforts in Iraq and, to a lesser extent, in Afghanistan. If one wanted to see how well the surge has really worked, all the proof can be found in the quiet, mostly bipartisan manner in which the latest supplemental funding bill passed through Congress this month. Instead of crowing over the demolition of Democratic opposition it represents, President Bush took the gracious path of acknowledging the bipartisanship: Despite the conciliatory tones of all the administration officials in today’s announcement, the Democrats are privately annoyed at having lost yet another battle to George Bush during his supposed lame-duck year. (READ MORE)
Mary Anastasia O'Grady: Markets for the Poor in Mexico - Helping the poor may be virtuous, but when the poverty industry starts losing "clients" because the market is performing good works, watch out. Compartamos Banco knows what it's like to have a tarnished halo. The Mexican bank specializes in microfinancing for low-income entrepreneurs in a country that never used to have a financial industry serving the poor. Compartamos not only figured out how to meet the needs of this excluded population, but also how to make money at it. As a result, the bank has been growing fast. With an average loan size of only $450, it now has more than 900,000 clients – 15 times as many as it had in 2000. This strong growth suggests that the bank's for-profit model makes both borrowers and lenders better off. (READ MORE)
L. Gordon Crovitz: Common Sense on Punitive Damages - One of the disconnects of the Information Age is that we expect perfection in the operating systems that make technology function smoothly, but we have low expectations for the predictability and reliability of the operating system for people known as the law. This is surprising, because the law is itself an information system whose aims include telling people as clearly as possible what they can and can't do, and establishing fair and reliable rules, procedures and penalties. Out-of-control jury awards and frivolous litigation are signs of a legal regime that sometimes is less a system than a series of random results. So it's a pleasure to see the Supreme Court grapple with a big failure in the system, in a rare case in which circumstances left the justices free to commit common sense. (READ MORE)
Zachary Karabell: There Is No 'The Economy' - It used to be said that the two things not to discuss at a dinner party were religion and politics. Today, those pose less risk of flying food or guests storming out than the subject of "the economy." One side decries the sorry state of affairs, and the other grumpily rebuts the claims of doom. The public debate is being won by those who say that the economy is in bad shape and getting worse. The consumer confidence report just released by the Conference Board registered one of the lowest readings on record, based on pessimism about food and fuel prices, slack labor markets and plummeting home prices. Democrats, recognizing a potent election-year issue, emphasize economic problems whenever possible. Republicans can hardly gild the lily given much of the data, but they point out that all is not grim. Retail sales and consumer spending were up decently in May, in spite of worsening confidence. Exports have been solid, and GDP figures have yet to register a contraction. (READ MORE)
John R. Bolton: The Tragic End of Bush's North Korea Policy - Maskirovka – the Soviet dark art of denial, deception and disguise – is alive and well in Pyongyang, years after the Soviet Union disappeared. Unfortunately, the Bush administration appears not to have gotten the word. With much fanfare and choreography, but little substance, the administration has accepted a North Korean "declaration" about its nuclear program that is narrowly limited, incomplete and almost certainly dishonest in material respects. In exchange, President Bush personally declared that North Korea is no longer a state sponsor of terrorism or an enemy of the United States. In a final flourish, North Korea has undertaken a reverse Potemkin Village act, destroying the antiquated cooling tower of the antiquated Yongbyon reactor. In the waning days of American presidencies, this theater is the stuff of legacy. (READ MORE)
Michael R. Bloomberg & Thomas A Menino: Some Gun Rules We Can All Agree On - Finally. After decades of ideological debates over the meaning of every word and comma contained in the U.S. Constitution's one-sentence Second Amendment, the Supreme Court has issued a ruling that should largely settle the matter. In District of Columbia v. Heller, the court found that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to bear arms, while also affirming the constitutionality of reasonable restrictions aimed at preserving public safety and deterring criminals from acquiring and using firearms. Now it's time for all elected officials to start working together to enact creative new solutions to violent crime. For years, shouting matches over the Second Amendment drowned out reasoned discussion of any middle ground. One side argued for a handgun ban, the other for repeal of an assault-weapons ban. (READ MORE)
Dinesh D'Souza: Michelle Obama's Inferiority Complex - Now that Barack Obama has pretty much wrapped up the nomination, it's time to raise a question that lots of people have been talking about privately but not publicly. Is it possible that Michelle Obama is the force behind Barack Obama's refusal to embrace traditional patriotic symbols? Could Obama's wife be largely responsible for the candidate's damaging associations with crackpot race-baiters like the Reverend Jeremiah Wright and the Reverend Michael Pfleger? In sum, could Obama's wife be a large part of his political problem? Obama himself seems, at least on the surface, relatively free of the kind of corrosive racial resentment that is so common among African American activists of our day. This resentment is especially puzzling as it often comes from people who, far from being victims, have actually enjoyed benefits and privileges that they would probably never get if they happened to be white. (READ MORE)
Robert D. Novak: Scalia Saving Obama - WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After months of claiming insufficient information to express an opinion on the District of Columbia gun law, Barack Obama noted with apparent approval Thursday that the Supreme Court ruled the 32-year ban on handguns "went too far." But what would he have said had the high court's five-to-four majority gone the other way and affirmed the law? Obama's strategists can only thank swing Justice Anthony Kennedy for enabling Justice Antonin Scalia's majority opinion to take the Democratic presidential candidate off the hook. Such relief is typified by a vigorous supporter of Obama who advised Al Gore in his 2000 presidential campaign. Believing Gore's gun-control advocacy lost him West Virginia and the presidency, this prominent Democrat told me: "I don't want that to happen with Obama -- to be defeated on an issue that is not important to us and is not a political winner for us." (READ MORE)
Peter J. Wirs: Same-Sex What? - Maybe I took too long a nap. But did America’s conservatives suddenly approve of same-sex marriage? Or are conservatives too busy beating on up on John McCain (you know, the same John McCain who has vigorously fought pork barrel earmarks for years on end). Conservatives, including my brethren Townhall columnists, bemoan the Supreme Court’s recent habeas decision in Boumediene v. Bush, a technically correct decision as it pertains to separation of powers. Habeas corpus, as old as the Magna Carta, challenges the legality of detention. Arguing Boumediene impacts military decision-making is merely a strawman. If detention of enemy war combatants is legal, why be fearful of a habeas challenge? To the contrary, conservatives are always circumspect of unchallenged executive authority. Yet, I hear no outcry over the California Supreme Court’s May 15, 2008 ruling legitimizing "same-sex" marriages. (READ MORE)
Paul Greenberg: Profoundly Superficial - Barack Obama now has cited the Nuremberg trials after the Second World War as a model of the way Osama bin Laden should be tried in the (unlikely) event he’s ever taken alive. He recommends Nuremberg as an example to follow because, he says, those trials embodied universal legal principles. The Nuremberg trials a model of international law? Those stone-faced judges in Red Army uniforms peering down from the bench at Nuremberg, shoulder boards in place and guilty verdicts at the ready, must have been there as representatives of Comrade Stalin’s well-known devotion to universally accepted legal principles. This is not to say that the judges at Nuremberg couldn’t demonstrate exquisite tact. For example, not a one noted the Soviets’ responsibility for the Katyn Massacre, a war crime none dared accuse them of at the time. (READ MORE)
Have an interesting post or know of a "must read?" Then send a trackback here and let us all know about it. Or you can send me an email with a link to the post and I'll update the Recon.
Trackbacked / Linked by:
Integrated Missile Defense From the Sea from Steeljaw Scribe
June 30, 2008
From the Front: 06/30/2008
News and Personal dispatches from the front lines.
In their own words:
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd): ‘Purple Foxes’ add fourth deployment to squadron history books - AT-TAQADDUM, Iraq (June 13, 2008) – Currently on their fourth deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), provides important services to Marines and service members throughout the Anbar Province. As the only CH-46 Sea Knight squadron operating in country, the “Purple Foxes” provide key support functions such as command leader transports, troop inserts and extractions and cargo transport. “On previous deployments the squadron has been the primary means for casualty evacuations, but we’re not doing that anymore,” said Sgt. Brian Dinning, a CH-46 crew chief with HMM-364. (READ MORE)
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd): ‘Say hello to my little friend’; Scarface assets keep Baghdad streets safe - BAGHDAD, Iraq (June 10, 2008) – Soaring hundreds of feet above the capital city of Iraq, Marine attack helicopters poise ready to respond at a moments notice. Directly supporting U.S. and Iraqi Army units, the UH-1N Huey and AH-1W Super Cobra circle the Baghdad sky, keeping a watchful eye on ground operations on the streets below. Armed with a variety of weapon systems, this security detail is a frequent mission for Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). (READ MORE)
A Major's Perspective: Pakistan and its Anti-Taliban Actions - For the past few weeks I have been writing about insurgencies and what they need to be successful and to grow and prosper. Within the Taliban and Al-Qaeda movement in Afghanistan the absolute decisive point of their operation is to be able to move back and forth across the border regions with Pakistan and enjoy a safe haven there within Pakistan. This safe haven within Pakistan gives them the opportunity to rest, to train more fighters, to recruit, to receive weapons and equipment and to broadcast their message of hate and intolerance to the world. President Karzai and numerous other leaders have made this a point in the past about this issue with the ill-managed Federally Administered Tribal Areas and North West Province of Pakistan. It seems that Pakistan may finally be taking steps in the right direction to dealing with this issue though. (READ MORE)
Paul Fanning: Remembering the fallen - A memorial ceremony was held Friday for eight U.S. service members assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix who were killed last week as a result of combat operations in Afghanistan. “These young men are soldiers, sailors and Marines in the finest military tradition,” said Col. Brian K. Balfe, commander of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, to nearly 300 U.S. and coalition service members and distinguished guests in attendance. “All volunteered for their own reasons. The Army, the Navy and the Marine Corps each lost true warriors. All served. All sacrificed,” (READ MORE)
Courage Without Fear: Sand is an equalizer - Sand is an equalizer. When there are storms, none of us can see. Good guys, bad guys and other guys. The local peoples are used to the sand. It's part of them. Their clothing, their homes, their animals, their possessions are all "sand-proofed" in a way that makes it easier to deal with the sand storms. I hesitate to say "easier." But compared to us and all our technology, machinery and moisture-wicking-flame-resistant-high-speed-low-drag-clothing, the Kuwaitis and Iraqis have it easier when dealing with the weather. We always worry that when we're not moving, troops aren't getting the supplies they need and the bad guys are getting time to plot against us. But no, not so much. (READ MORE)
Doc in the Box: Running on Fumes - One thing that is good about being out at war is that I don't have to fork over a large pile of money to fill up my gas tank. That's all going to change before too long and I'll be back in the land of pumping gold into that tank. In fact, I'll be paying more then most because I drive a diesel. I remember back in the early 90's, if I wanted to make a weekend road trip to Arizona, 20 bucks worth of gas would get me there and I would have enough gas to drive around for most of the weekend. Even being an E-3, it wasn't a strain on my budget, my biggest bill was the cost of insurance. Fast forward to now, with the current gas prices, the same trip one way at 25 miles per gallon costs 68 dollars. (READ MORE)
Fearless 1st Marines’ blog: Ramadi rebuilds as region recovers from violence - RAMADI, Iraq (June 19, 2008) – Ramadi was regarded by many to be one of the most violent cities in Iraq for much of the last five years. The thought of rebuilding the troubled city during that time was improbable, the risks were too high. Now, Ramadi is much safer and rebuilding the city is no longer just an impossible idea but an everyday reality in the recovering region. The country is now transitioning from violence and fighting, to healing and freedom. The focus in Ramadi, and all of al-Anbar Province, is no longer on warfare but on reconstructing the region’s damaged infrastructure. “Ramadi is at the point now to where it’s secure enough to rebuild,” said Staff Sgt. Earl Lucas, a platoon sergeant with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1. (READ MORE)
IN-iraq: Band of brothers in Samarra - In the Infantry your brother understands you. He might be your squad leader, your bunkmate, the guy you went to basic with. He's the guy you’ve been through the most with, the one who you sometimes feel closer to than your family. He sees what you see, does what you do. He is the one you trust your life with. Brett Slaughter, 20, of Sullivan IN, shrugs when I ask him why he joined the infantry. He figured it would be the best way to be right up there in person. “It sounds cheesy,” he said, “but I always knew I wanted to come here (to the 101st Airborne) after watching Band of Brothers.” (READ MORE)
Mohammed and Omar Fadhil: Where is the Middle East heading? - It’s probably one of the most difficult questions to answer. One of the main factors that make it very difficult to understand the Middle East especially for Westerners is that the region has been moving on an opposite course to that of Europe when it comes to socio-political evolution. Europe’s evolution took it from religious monarchies to nationalism-based states through socialism until it finally became the secular democratic mass that it is today. But the Middle East moved from constitutional monarchies a century ago to communism then to nationalism and now the growing trend appears to have been religion. What makes it very difficult to understand and predict the future stops of this backwards movement is that change from one system to another was virtually never a genuine change from within, but largely a result of influence from without. (READ MORE)
IraqPundit: The Iran Question - Middle Easterners are wondering about the possiblity of an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear installations. When John Bolton said that Israel might strike after the U.S. elections in November, few knew what to think about Bolton's comments. Now the Economist magazine says an Israeli strike is more likely than we thought. People in the region are beginning to worry seriously. And that concern will probably spread. Israel, who might act in place of the U.S., has been conducting exercises. That has the leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Mohammad Ali Jaafari, threatening to interfere with oil shipments in the Straight of Hormuz. And Gulf states such as Bahrain and Qatar are seeking assurances from the United States. They know that if Iran is attacked, they will be hit in response. (READ MORE)
James Aalan Bernsen: "I'm leaving...And I'm taking the rat with me!" - Finally, at long last, the end came. It took a while though. My last few days seemed to slow to a crawl. My work had been parcelled out to my colleagues and I was shifted from the night shift to days. My boss told me he only needed to see me once a day to prove I was alive, and outside of that, I was free. Free? What does that word mean? At least in Iraq, it really means little. There are precious few things you can do to enjoy your freedom, and since all your friends are still tied to work, you're not really free to do anything but wander around the base alone and think. And with the weather topping off around 120 degrees, wandering around just isn't a good idea. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Pakistani military advances in Khyber - The military operation in Pakistan's tribal agency of Khyber completed its second day. The military said the operation is limited in scope, while the Taliban have again threatened to attack the Pakistani government. The Pakistani paramilitary Frontier Corps are reported to have cleared a region run by the Lashkar-e-Islam. Paramilitary forces occupied the high ground and cleared the sub-district of Bara, a stronghold of Lashkar-e-Islam and Haji Namdar's radical Islamist group. One commander of the Lashkar-e-Islam was reported killed. The operation is said to be directly targeting the Ansar-ul-Islam, Lashkar-e-Islam, and Namdar's forces. The government has refused to name the specific targets of the operation, but Ansar-ul-Islam, Lashkar-e-Islam, and Namdar's group have been officially banned by the government. (READ MORE)
Bill Murray: Relative peace in Baghdad remains fragile as troops carry out counterinsurgency plan - BAGHDAD, IRAQ: It’s near noon on a Friday in Northeast Baghdad and the neighborhoods the U.S. military calls Muhallahs 535 and 734 are quiet. It’s the weekend, and many adults are at the local mosques for worship, leaving the streets filled with dozens of adolescent boys, yelling, kicking and raising minor havoc on bicycles, soccer balls and the unlucky stray dog. As U.S. Army Specialist Luis Garza and 2nd Lieutenant Jonathon Logan patrol the neighborhoods, they remember these streets during a less docile time. Both men nearly died near here in the past two months, and the possibility of violence erupting in these environs remains in the front of their minds. (READ MORE)
Matel-in-Iraq: Water, Water Everywhere but Not a Pipe to Link - Below are solar street lights in Rutbah, a CF project. They work okay, but are not, IMO, aesthetically pleasing. The Regional Engineer of Rutbah is a modern man with little patience for religious extremists or excessive tribalism. He hates what Saddam Hussein did to his country. He told me that in some towns essentially no new schools were built between the end of the 1970s and the liberation, despite big population growth. As an engineer, he decries the general lack of maintenance. Instead of building infrastructure, Saddam bought in expensive weapons systems from the Soviets, French & Chinese. The fruits of big buying spree litter the deserts around here, MiGs that never fired a shot in anger, tanks that never went anywhere. They decided it was better to abandon them than to fight a real enemy. (READ MORE)
Dale Manry: Makhmur Police Headquarters Visit - Today I visited one of our current projects rebuilding the police headquarters near the town of Makhmur. The original site was devasted by an SVBIED (car bomb) in May 2007. The project includes two buildings, the police headquarters building and a traffic police station building. The project is managed out of the Erbil Resident Office, where Gary York is the Resident Engineer running the office. Gary has been with USACE in Erbil since March 2005. We farewelled Tiffany in Mosul on Friday night. I sent out a picture of Tiffany with her embroidered Engineer flag, our standard departure gift. Gary replied to the email saying he liked the flag and that he was jealous. I told him he could get one of his own if he ever actually left Iraq! (READ MORE)
Major John: Stonehenge - When living at Basrah COB (Contingency Operating Base) one sleeps in a "Stonehenge". The Brits took so much rocket fire at this base, even the beds are surrounded by brick and steel and sandbags... And yeah, it can be disconcerting to sit up in the middle of the night and whack your head against a steel plate...And, yes, I did go around quoting This is Spinal Tap. (READ MORE)
One Marine's View: “Its HOT, you don’t understand!!!" - This picture is what 117 degrees looks like when you glance straight up at the sun (kids, dont try this at home). It reminds me back in Afghanistan when a Lt and I were talking about a particular tactic on a mountain side and he knelt down on one knee in the heat, donning full battle gear as we shot the shit. He began to wipe his sweat covered head. You ok Lt. I asked as he scrunched down and folded up like a bug. He said, yes Sir, I’m just trying to get into my own shade. We laughed but in all reality, that’s what he was really trying to do. That’s what 117 degrees is like. “Its HOT, you don’t understand!!!" We departed our friendly lines early. It was still warm. Those in Arizona know how we feel in the morning and it’s in the high 90s. Its warm, you are a bit uncomfortable but like we all have been “warm” before, you ignore it until you make a comment like “For the love of God it’s hot” and you go inside to get cooled off with a nice cold drink. (READ MORE)
Something on the staff: Leave - After much waiting and worrying, I went on leave. The Army sends all Soldiers away from Iraq for 15-18 days, depending on the length of their tour in Iraq. We can go just about anywhere, so long as we have a passport. I left my lovely patrol base and waited at Baghdad International Air Port for a flight to Kuwait. There was a great deal of ‘manifesting,’ which means showing up for a roll call, and then learning that we have to show up for another roll call in three hours. I had numerous formations into the wee hours of the morning, ending with an early morning C-17 flight to Kuwait. Kuwait is as I remember it. There’s nothing there but sand and prefabricated buildings. We’ve heard fairy tales about “Kuwaitis,” natives to the sandy country. I’ve seen plenty of Pakistanis and Americans, but never a “Kuwaiti.” The entire country is a giant sand dune with oil pipelines. (READ MORE)
Up Country Iraq: Baquba - This is from early June. Hello everyone, I have spent several days at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Warhorse, which is in the city of Baquba. Baquba is located northeast of Baghdad in Diyala province. Diyala is one of those provinces in the north that is still somewhat volatile. Having said that, just about 18 months ago, Diyala was more than just volatile – it was a massive killing field. As the US surge began, Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) began heading north out of Baghdad. As they moved north, they set up slaughter houses all throughout Diyala. Diyala is a mixed Shiite/Sunni province, and it is split with about 50% of each sect living there. Baquba is the largest city in the province, and it is also split evenly between Shia and Sunni. AQI was obviously targeting Shiite victims, and the Shiites began to go after Sunnis in return. Over 100 people per week were being murdered in Diyala during parts of 2006 and 2007. (READ MORE)
Big Tobacco: You Do A Little Dance And Then You Drink A Little Water - I did not smoke while composing this. Why am I standing here with my eyes on fire? Oh, that’s right. Change of mission. We are infantry, but not infantry. We are pressed into service to do one of the most critical jobs in Iraq today. My company won’t be on The Road after all. “Open your eyes,” the instructor says. I open them. It’s not that bad- SHIT! A gust of wind blows a handful of sand in my eyes. I promptly squeeze them shut. “Open your eyes!” “I think I got sand in them.” “No, you’ve got sand in your pussy!” The instructor said, using the pejorative for soldiers who were acting like wimps. “You’re fine; it’s just the pepper spray. Open your eyes!” (READ MORE)
Back and still writing:
LT. Nixon: Iraq News (30 June) - The Good: The security responsibility of Diwaniyah province is set to be turned over today from Coalition Forces to the Iraqis, which will make it the tenth. The security has been mostly provided by the Poles and other members of the coalition, and has seen some level of Shi'ite extremist activity from the Mahdi Army. Interesting story about a chaplain at FOB Falcon in Baghdad at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ambassador Crocker is saying that more talks are possible with Iran, now that much of the illicit militia activity has subsided. The Bad: A truck bomb has killed 7 north of Baghdad. (READ MORE)
News from the Front:
Iraq:
Iraqi Security Forces Five Year Plan: An updated projection - In August 2007, the Projected Iraqi Security Forces Five Year Plan (end-2012), a rough estimate of the end-state for Iraqi forces, was published. Additional information and details have since become available to clarify Iraqi Security Force (ISF) development and probable plans, however, the same rule applies: What follows is heavy on speculation, estimation, and extrapolations. If sixty percent proves accurate, the estimate will be considered good. Many of the decisions that affect what is being projected here have not been made yet. Changes from previous factors and basic assumptions are underlined in this portion and should be kept in mind when reviewing this update: (READ MORE)
Widespread operations strike al-Qaeda networks - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed six al-Qaeda terrorists and detained 22 suspects during operations targeting various networks within the terrorist group in Iraq Sunday and Monday. Using information from an operation May 21, Coalition forces conducted several operations Sunday targeting members of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell that operates in the Tigris River Valley. During one operation near Balad, Coalition forces identified two terrorists in a vehicle. The driver ignored Coalition forces’ warnings to stop, including warning shots. Coalition forces perceived hostile intent and engaged the vehicle’s occupants, killing both. Inside, they found a weapon and military-style assault vest. (READ MORE)
National Police seize nearly 200 weapons (New Baghdad) - BAGHDAD – Iraqi National Police seized nearly 200 weapons during search operations in the New Baghdad security district of eastern Baghdad, June 29. At 11:30 a.m., police from the 4th Brigade, 1st National Police Division reported confiscating about 150 weapons during a clearance operation of Muhalla 733 in the Mashtal area of New Baghdad. The weapons included 133 AK-47 rifles, four AK-22 rifles, three SKS rifles, a bolt-action rifle, two air-gun rifles, an MP-5 sub-machinegun, an RPK machinegun and six pistols. (READ MORE)
Iraqi forces detain AQI member, prevent attacks (Udaim) - BALAD, Iraq – Baqubah Emergency Response Force detained a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq member in Udaim, approximately 112 kilometers north of Baghdad, during an operation in which two structures rigged with explosives were destroyed, June 28. ERF conducted the operation to disrupt AQI’s movement and decrease their intimidation attacks on the local Iraqis in the Udaim River Valley area. They detained the suspected terrorist, because he is believed to be part of a mortar and rocket cell that targets Iraqi Security and Coalition forces, and local citizens. (READ MORE)
British, Iraqi Army Soldiers build camaraderie through soccer (Basra) - BASRA, Iraq – Members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and members of the 4 Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland teamed up to take on Iraqi soldiers from the 14th Iraqi Army Division in a friendly soccer game in Basra, Iraq June 26. The soldiers spend most of their days sweating it out in vehicles or on checkpoints in various parts of Basra, but the game gave them a chance to sweat it out in a less stressful environment and have some fun together. The event drew a large crowd of spectators made up of officers and enlisted soldiers from both forces. (READ MORE)
MNF-I CG visits, recognizes outstanding warfighters in MND-N - TIKRIT, Iraq – Gen. David Petraeus, the commanding general of Multi-National Force-Iraq, visited Mosul, Iraq, June 28. During his visit, Petraeus personally recognized the tremendous work done by 18 servicemembers stationed at Forward Operating Base Marez and Diamondback. He presented each with one of his commander’s coins. “Today, the honor is to give you my coin, with my thanks, which reads; ‘not just for excellence, but for excellence in combat,’ because that is what you have all demonstrated,” the general said. (READ MORE)
NPs, SoI, MND-B Soldiers seize weapons, munitions in Baghdad - BAGHDAD – Iraqi National Police, Sons of Iraq, and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized a series of weapons and munitions in Baghdad June 28. Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers with the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, seized 13 hand grenades, M-4 magazines, and 5.56 mm tracer rounds and armor-piercing ammunition in Adhamiyah at approximately 1 p.m. after the cache was reported by a SoI member. (READ MORE)
Coalition forces destroy Al-Qaeda in Iraq safe haven, financing - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces destroyed an al-Qaeda in Iraq safe haven when they seized money, destroyed weapons and detained nine suspected terrorists during two operations in the Tigris River Valley ending June 26. Reporting indicates al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives used the area to build car bombs, facilitate foreign terrorists and provide safe haven for key leaders. During patrols near Tikrit, about 160 kilometers north of Baghdad, Coalition forces discovered a weapons cache that included firearms, more than 3,500 rounds of ammunition and bomb components. (READ MORE)
Al-Qaeda’s propaganda network thwarted - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces battered the terrorist propaganda network in Baghdad Saturday and Sunday, killing two terrorists and detaining 15 suspects while targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq associates around the country. Coalition forces surrounded a location in Baghdad Saturday targeting a leader of an al-Qaeda in Iraq propaganda cell. Coalition forces engaged and killed one man who drew a weapon when they entered the target building. They engaged and killed another suspected terrorist when they perceived hostile intent from his failure to follow Coalition forces’ instructions. (READ MORE)
ISF arrest seven suspected IED bombers - BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces arrested four suspected Special Groups criminals and three other suspected criminals around central Iraq, June 24-26. The 6th Iraqi Army Division arrested two suspected Special Groups criminals in the Hurriyah area of Baghdad, June 24. The criminals are believed to be Iranian surrogates responsible for improvised explosive device, explosively formed projectile and indirect fire attacks against Iraqi Security and Coalition forces. One of the criminals is said to be an expert IED builder responsible for killing Sunnis. The other suspect is an Iranian-trained sniper and weapons facilitator for the Special Groups. (READ MORE)
Iraqi forces detain AQI member, prevent attacks - BALAD – Baqubah Emergency Response Force detained a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq member in Udaim, approximately 112 kilometers north of Baghdad, during an operation in which two structures rigged with explosives were destroyed, June 28. ERF conducted the operation to disrupt AQI’s movement and decrease their intimidation attacks on the local Iraqis in the Udaim River Valley area. They detained the suspected terrorist, because he is believed to be part of a mortar and rocket cell that targets Iraqi Security and Coalition forces, and local citizens. (READ MORE)
National Police find weapons cache in Rashid - BAGHDAD – Police from the 5th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, uncovered a weapons cache June 28 in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad. At approximately 2 a.m., the police found six rockets, 10 boxes of plastic explosives, three improvised explosive devices, 40 AK-47 assault rifles, approximately 5,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, one 120 mm mortar round, two rocket propelled grenades, a PKC machinegun and a sniper rifle. (READ MORE)
'Team Metallica’ Helps Rebuild Rusafa - FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY — Although, they are not who most people would call average war fighters, their mission is just as vital for survival. They conduct patrols, but their primary mission is not combat related. “Team Metallica” is charged with assisting local governance to provide for the welfare of Iraqi citizens throughout the Rusafa security district of eastern Baghdad. The team consists of 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Soldiers specifically selected to handle reconstruction efforts. (READ MORE)
Task Force Gold Brings Golden Opportunity - BAGHDAD — Task Force Gold, considered a turning point for Operation Iraqi Freedom, focuses its efforts to revitalize the war torn and impoverished neighborhoods of the Sadr City District in northern Baghdad. Beginning in May, the mission of Task Force Gold is to bring peace to the Sadr City District and improve the quality of life for its residents. In only a few short weeks Task Force Gold has achieved astounding results. (READ MORE)
Afghanistan:
Marine receives Bronze Star for bravery - In a ceremony Friday at Camp Pendleton, Marine Cpl. Francisco J. Valles received the Bronze Star for bravery and leadership during an attack by Iraqi insurgents Aug. 2. When his patrol was ambushed, Valles helped pull a wounded Marine to safety, provided emergency aid to several others, and killed a suicide-bomber who was dashing toward the Marines. ''I shot him in the chest and he blew up," Valles said matter-of-factly. On his wrist, Valles wears a bracelet with the name of his best friend, Lance Cpl. Christian Vasquez, who was killed in the attack. "He was with me that day, he'll always be with me," he said. (READ MORE)
New PRT program provides needed ANP training - KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (June 28, 2008) – Sixty Afghan men were trained by the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team recently to become part of the Afghan National Auxiliary Police force in Kunar province, Afghanistan. The Police Training and Advisory Team program was developed as a training-and-mentoring program for the ANAP. The three-week course conducted at Camp Wright, near Asadabad, is the only one of its kind in Kunar province. The trainees come from every district in the province and are housed at the Asadabad Police Headquarters during their training. “Many of the police trainees arrive at the ANAP course with poor discipline.” said Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos A. Ramirez, Kunar PRT. (READ MORE)
Ag. Center provides unique type of security in Herat province - SHINDAND AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) – U.S. Special Operations warriors serving in western Afghanistan’s volatile Herat province have a unique security-enhancing capability in their own backyard and it involves neither bullets nor bombs. The Shindand Agricultural Experiment Station, which is located within the perimeter of the Shindand Air Field, is an attempt to provide desperately-needed agricultural skills to Afghans and an effort to jumpstart agricultural production in the Shindand District. “The agricultural center has many positive effects for the both the troops and the local population,” said a U.S. Special Forces Civil Affairs team leader. “This allows us to build a rapport with the villagers through education and employment; therefore, they are given a reason to think twice about allowing the anti-Afghan forces to step in and influence their lives in a negative way. (READ MORE)
Coalition forces provide aid, medical care to village in Oruzgan province - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 23, 2008) – Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces provided medical care and humanitarian aid to Afghan villagers in Tarin Kowt District, Uruzgan province, June 27. ANSF and Coalition forces spoke with village elders after a stop during a reconnaissance patrol. The elders requested medical assistance and humanitarian aid for their community. ANSF and Coalition medical personnel treated approximately 60 people for various ailments and also distributed food and school supplies. (READ MORE)
32 Insurgents killed in Khas Oruzgan - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 28, 2008) – A total of 32 militants were killed by Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces in two separate engagements in the Khas Oruzgan District, Oruzgan province, June 26. The first engagement occurred when the combined element was on a security patrol and received small arms fire and RPGs from insurgents in a heavily vegetated area. The ANSF and Coalition soldiers returned fire and moved to an area from which they could direct air strikes, killing three militants. Soon after, the militants again attacked the patrol using small arms and RPGs. ANSF and Coalition forces defeated the attack, killing 29 insurgents. (READ MORE)
ISAF base targeted in cross-border attack - FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) – Extremists fired rockets from locations in both Pakistan and Afghanistan on an International Security Assistance Force base in Paktika province earlier this morning. Four rockets landed in the vicinity of the base. ISAF responded in self defense by firing artillery at the launch site, which was determined to be approximately 400 meters inside Pakistan. An airstrike was carried out on the launch site identified in Afghanistan. The engagement started at approximately 3 a.m. local and the Pakistan military was notified when ISAF forces came under fire. No ISAF casualties were reported. (READ MORE)
Two civilians killed, 11 wounded in Kunar province - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) — Two civilians were killed and 11 others wounded in two separate attacks in Kunar province Friday. In the first attack, one round of in-direct fire struck an International Security and Assistance Force base in the Asmar District, while the majority of the other rounds struck a village nearby resulting in the death of one civilian and wounding seven others. A second attack attempted on an ISAF base in the Asadabad District when three rockets were fired at the base and missed, hitting a civilian populated area instead. One civilian was killed and four others were wounded in the attack. Three of the wounded were moved to the Asadabad hospital for medical treatment. (READ MORE)
Munitions found in village in Zabul province - KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) – An Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and Coalition forces joint patrol found a cache of munitions in a village in the Mizan District, Zabul province Tuesday. Surveillance of the village and a local bazaar revealed suspicious activity prompting further investigation by the patrol. The joint patrol confiscated six 82-mm mortar heads and numerous sharpened Soviet-style bayonets during a search of the village and its outlying compounds. (READ MORE)
In their own words:
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd): ‘Purple Foxes’ add fourth deployment to squadron history books - AT-TAQADDUM, Iraq (June 13, 2008) – Currently on their fourth deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), provides important services to Marines and service members throughout the Anbar Province. As the only CH-46 Sea Knight squadron operating in country, the “Purple Foxes” provide key support functions such as command leader transports, troop inserts and extractions and cargo transport. “On previous deployments the squadron has been the primary means for casualty evacuations, but we’re not doing that anymore,” said Sgt. Brian Dinning, a CH-46 crew chief with HMM-364. (READ MORE)
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd): ‘Say hello to my little friend’; Scarface assets keep Baghdad streets safe - BAGHDAD, Iraq (June 10, 2008) – Soaring hundreds of feet above the capital city of Iraq, Marine attack helicopters poise ready to respond at a moments notice. Directly supporting U.S. and Iraqi Army units, the UH-1N Huey and AH-1W Super Cobra circle the Baghdad sky, keeping a watchful eye on ground operations on the streets below. Armed with a variety of weapon systems, this security detail is a frequent mission for Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). (READ MORE)
A Major's Perspective: Pakistan and its Anti-Taliban Actions - For the past few weeks I have been writing about insurgencies and what they need to be successful and to grow and prosper. Within the Taliban and Al-Qaeda movement in Afghanistan the absolute decisive point of their operation is to be able to move back and forth across the border regions with Pakistan and enjoy a safe haven there within Pakistan. This safe haven within Pakistan gives them the opportunity to rest, to train more fighters, to recruit, to receive weapons and equipment and to broadcast their message of hate and intolerance to the world. President Karzai and numerous other leaders have made this a point in the past about this issue with the ill-managed Federally Administered Tribal Areas and North West Province of Pakistan. It seems that Pakistan may finally be taking steps in the right direction to dealing with this issue though. (READ MORE)
Paul Fanning: Remembering the fallen - A memorial ceremony was held Friday for eight U.S. service members assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix who were killed last week as a result of combat operations in Afghanistan. “These young men are soldiers, sailors and Marines in the finest military tradition,” said Col. Brian K. Balfe, commander of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, to nearly 300 U.S. and coalition service members and distinguished guests in attendance. “All volunteered for their own reasons. The Army, the Navy and the Marine Corps each lost true warriors. All served. All sacrificed,” (READ MORE)
Courage Without Fear: Sand is an equalizer - Sand is an equalizer. When there are storms, none of us can see. Good guys, bad guys and other guys. The local peoples are used to the sand. It's part of them. Their clothing, their homes, their animals, their possessions are all "sand-proofed" in a way that makes it easier to deal with the sand storms. I hesitate to say "easier." But compared to us and all our technology, machinery and moisture-wicking-flame-resistant-high-speed-low-drag-clothing, the Kuwaitis and Iraqis have it easier when dealing with the weather. We always worry that when we're not moving, troops aren't getting the supplies they need and the bad guys are getting time to plot against us. But no, not so much. (READ MORE)
Doc in the Box: Running on Fumes - One thing that is good about being out at war is that I don't have to fork over a large pile of money to fill up my gas tank. That's all going to change before too long and I'll be back in the land of pumping gold into that tank. In fact, I'll be paying more then most because I drive a diesel. I remember back in the early 90's, if I wanted to make a weekend road trip to Arizona, 20 bucks worth of gas would get me there and I would have enough gas to drive around for most of the weekend. Even being an E-3, it wasn't a strain on my budget, my biggest bill was the cost of insurance. Fast forward to now, with the current gas prices, the same trip one way at 25 miles per gallon costs 68 dollars. (READ MORE)
Fearless 1st Marines’ blog: Ramadi rebuilds as region recovers from violence - RAMADI, Iraq (June 19, 2008) – Ramadi was regarded by many to be one of the most violent cities in Iraq for much of the last five years. The thought of rebuilding the troubled city during that time was improbable, the risks were too high. Now, Ramadi is much safer and rebuilding the city is no longer just an impossible idea but an everyday reality in the recovering region. The country is now transitioning from violence and fighting, to healing and freedom. The focus in Ramadi, and all of al-Anbar Province, is no longer on warfare but on reconstructing the region’s damaged infrastructure. “Ramadi is at the point now to where it’s secure enough to rebuild,” said Staff Sgt. Earl Lucas, a platoon sergeant with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1. (READ MORE)
IN-iraq: Band of brothers in Samarra - In the Infantry your brother understands you. He might be your squad leader, your bunkmate, the guy you went to basic with. He's the guy you’ve been through the most with, the one who you sometimes feel closer to than your family. He sees what you see, does what you do. He is the one you trust your life with. Brett Slaughter, 20, of Sullivan IN, shrugs when I ask him why he joined the infantry. He figured it would be the best way to be right up there in person. “It sounds cheesy,” he said, “but I always knew I wanted to come here (to the 101st Airborne) after watching Band of Brothers.” (READ MORE)
Mohammed and Omar Fadhil: Where is the Middle East heading? - It’s probably one of the most difficult questions to answer. One of the main factors that make it very difficult to understand the Middle East especially for Westerners is that the region has been moving on an opposite course to that of Europe when it comes to socio-political evolution. Europe’s evolution took it from religious monarchies to nationalism-based states through socialism until it finally became the secular democratic mass that it is today. But the Middle East moved from constitutional monarchies a century ago to communism then to nationalism and now the growing trend appears to have been religion. What makes it very difficult to understand and predict the future stops of this backwards movement is that change from one system to another was virtually never a genuine change from within, but largely a result of influence from without. (READ MORE)
IraqPundit: The Iran Question - Middle Easterners are wondering about the possiblity of an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear installations. When John Bolton said that Israel might strike after the U.S. elections in November, few knew what to think about Bolton's comments. Now the Economist magazine says an Israeli strike is more likely than we thought. People in the region are beginning to worry seriously. And that concern will probably spread. Israel, who might act in place of the U.S., has been conducting exercises. That has the leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Mohammad Ali Jaafari, threatening to interfere with oil shipments in the Straight of Hormuz. And Gulf states such as Bahrain and Qatar are seeking assurances from the United States. They know that if Iran is attacked, they will be hit in response. (READ MORE)
James Aalan Bernsen: "I'm leaving...And I'm taking the rat with me!" - Finally, at long last, the end came. It took a while though. My last few days seemed to slow to a crawl. My work had been parcelled out to my colleagues and I was shifted from the night shift to days. My boss told me he only needed to see me once a day to prove I was alive, and outside of that, I was free. Free? What does that word mean? At least in Iraq, it really means little. There are precious few things you can do to enjoy your freedom, and since all your friends are still tied to work, you're not really free to do anything but wander around the base alone and think. And with the weather topping off around 120 degrees, wandering around just isn't a good idea. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Pakistani military advances in Khyber - The military operation in Pakistan's tribal agency of Khyber completed its second day. The military said the operation is limited in scope, while the Taliban have again threatened to attack the Pakistani government. The Pakistani paramilitary Frontier Corps are reported to have cleared a region run by the Lashkar-e-Islam. Paramilitary forces occupied the high ground and cleared the sub-district of Bara, a stronghold of Lashkar-e-Islam and Haji Namdar's radical Islamist group. One commander of the Lashkar-e-Islam was reported killed. The operation is said to be directly targeting the Ansar-ul-Islam, Lashkar-e-Islam, and Namdar's forces. The government has refused to name the specific targets of the operation, but Ansar-ul-Islam, Lashkar-e-Islam, and Namdar's group have been officially banned by the government. (READ MORE)
Bill Murray: Relative peace in Baghdad remains fragile as troops carry out counterinsurgency plan - BAGHDAD, IRAQ: It’s near noon on a Friday in Northeast Baghdad and the neighborhoods the U.S. military calls Muhallahs 535 and 734 are quiet. It’s the weekend, and many adults are at the local mosques for worship, leaving the streets filled with dozens of adolescent boys, yelling, kicking and raising minor havoc on bicycles, soccer balls and the unlucky stray dog. As U.S. Army Specialist Luis Garza and 2nd Lieutenant Jonathon Logan patrol the neighborhoods, they remember these streets during a less docile time. Both men nearly died near here in the past two months, and the possibility of violence erupting in these environs remains in the front of their minds. (READ MORE)
Matel-in-Iraq: Water, Water Everywhere but Not a Pipe to Link - Below are solar street lights in Rutbah, a CF project. They work okay, but are not, IMO, aesthetically pleasing. The Regional Engineer of Rutbah is a modern man with little patience for religious extremists or excessive tribalism. He hates what Saddam Hussein did to his country. He told me that in some towns essentially no new schools were built between the end of the 1970s and the liberation, despite big population growth. As an engineer, he decries the general lack of maintenance. Instead of building infrastructure, Saddam bought in expensive weapons systems from the Soviets, French & Chinese. The fruits of big buying spree litter the deserts around here, MiGs that never fired a shot in anger, tanks that never went anywhere. They decided it was better to abandon them than to fight a real enemy. (READ MORE)
Dale Manry: Makhmur Police Headquarters Visit - Today I visited one of our current projects rebuilding the police headquarters near the town of Makhmur. The original site was devasted by an SVBIED (car bomb) in May 2007. The project includes two buildings, the police headquarters building and a traffic police station building. The project is managed out of the Erbil Resident Office, where Gary York is the Resident Engineer running the office. Gary has been with USACE in Erbil since March 2005. We farewelled Tiffany in Mosul on Friday night. I sent out a picture of Tiffany with her embroidered Engineer flag, our standard departure gift. Gary replied to the email saying he liked the flag and that he was jealous. I told him he could get one of his own if he ever actually left Iraq! (READ MORE)
Major John: Stonehenge - When living at Basrah COB (Contingency Operating Base) one sleeps in a "Stonehenge". The Brits took so much rocket fire at this base, even the beds are surrounded by brick and steel and sandbags... And yeah, it can be disconcerting to sit up in the middle of the night and whack your head against a steel plate...And, yes, I did go around quoting This is Spinal Tap. (READ MORE)
One Marine's View: “Its HOT, you don’t understand!!!" - This picture is what 117 degrees looks like when you glance straight up at the sun (kids, dont try this at home). It reminds me back in Afghanistan when a Lt and I were talking about a particular tactic on a mountain side and he knelt down on one knee in the heat, donning full battle gear as we shot the shit. He began to wipe his sweat covered head. You ok Lt. I asked as he scrunched down and folded up like a bug. He said, yes Sir, I’m just trying to get into my own shade. We laughed but in all reality, that’s what he was really trying to do. That’s what 117 degrees is like. “Its HOT, you don’t understand!!!" We departed our friendly lines early. It was still warm. Those in Arizona know how we feel in the morning and it’s in the high 90s. Its warm, you are a bit uncomfortable but like we all have been “warm” before, you ignore it until you make a comment like “For the love of God it’s hot” and you go inside to get cooled off with a nice cold drink. (READ MORE)
Something on the staff: Leave - After much waiting and worrying, I went on leave. The Army sends all Soldiers away from Iraq for 15-18 days, depending on the length of their tour in Iraq. We can go just about anywhere, so long as we have a passport. I left my lovely patrol base and waited at Baghdad International Air Port for a flight to Kuwait. There was a great deal of ‘manifesting,’ which means showing up for a roll call, and then learning that we have to show up for another roll call in three hours. I had numerous formations into the wee hours of the morning, ending with an early morning C-17 flight to Kuwait. Kuwait is as I remember it. There’s nothing there but sand and prefabricated buildings. We’ve heard fairy tales about “Kuwaitis,” natives to the sandy country. I’ve seen plenty of Pakistanis and Americans, but never a “Kuwaiti.” The entire country is a giant sand dune with oil pipelines. (READ MORE)
Up Country Iraq: Baquba - This is from early June. Hello everyone, I have spent several days at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Warhorse, which is in the city of Baquba. Baquba is located northeast of Baghdad in Diyala province. Diyala is one of those provinces in the north that is still somewhat volatile. Having said that, just about 18 months ago, Diyala was more than just volatile – it was a massive killing field. As the US surge began, Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) began heading north out of Baghdad. As they moved north, they set up slaughter houses all throughout Diyala. Diyala is a mixed Shiite/Sunni province, and it is split with about 50% of each sect living there. Baquba is the largest city in the province, and it is also split evenly between Shia and Sunni. AQI was obviously targeting Shiite victims, and the Shiites began to go after Sunnis in return. Over 100 people per week were being murdered in Diyala during parts of 2006 and 2007. (READ MORE)
Big Tobacco: You Do A Little Dance And Then You Drink A Little Water - I did not smoke while composing this. Why am I standing here with my eyes on fire? Oh, that’s right. Change of mission. We are infantry, but not infantry. We are pressed into service to do one of the most critical jobs in Iraq today. My company won’t be on The Road after all. “Open your eyes,” the instructor says. I open them. It’s not that bad- SHIT! A gust of wind blows a handful of sand in my eyes. I promptly squeeze them shut. “Open your eyes!” “I think I got sand in them.” “No, you’ve got sand in your pussy!” The instructor said, using the pejorative for soldiers who were acting like wimps. “You’re fine; it’s just the pepper spray. Open your eyes!” (READ MORE)
Back and still writing:
LT. Nixon: Iraq News (30 June) - The Good: The security responsibility of Diwaniyah province is set to be turned over today from Coalition Forces to the Iraqis, which will make it the tenth. The security has been mostly provided by the Poles and other members of the coalition, and has seen some level of Shi'ite extremist activity from the Mahdi Army. Interesting story about a chaplain at FOB Falcon in Baghdad at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ambassador Crocker is saying that more talks are possible with Iran, now that much of the illicit militia activity has subsided. The Bad: A truck bomb has killed 7 north of Baghdad. (READ MORE)
News from the Front:
Iraq:
Iraqi Security Forces Five Year Plan: An updated projection - In August 2007, the Projected Iraqi Security Forces Five Year Plan (end-2012), a rough estimate of the end-state for Iraqi forces, was published. Additional information and details have since become available to clarify Iraqi Security Force (ISF) development and probable plans, however, the same rule applies: What follows is heavy on speculation, estimation, and extrapolations. If sixty percent proves accurate, the estimate will be considered good. Many of the decisions that affect what is being projected here have not been made yet. Changes from previous factors and basic assumptions are underlined in this portion and should be kept in mind when reviewing this update: (READ MORE)
Widespread operations strike al-Qaeda networks - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed six al-Qaeda terrorists and detained 22 suspects during operations targeting various networks within the terrorist group in Iraq Sunday and Monday. Using information from an operation May 21, Coalition forces conducted several operations Sunday targeting members of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell that operates in the Tigris River Valley. During one operation near Balad, Coalition forces identified two terrorists in a vehicle. The driver ignored Coalition forces’ warnings to stop, including warning shots. Coalition forces perceived hostile intent and engaged the vehicle’s occupants, killing both. Inside, they found a weapon and military-style assault vest. (READ MORE)
National Police seize nearly 200 weapons (New Baghdad) - BAGHDAD – Iraqi National Police seized nearly 200 weapons during search operations in the New Baghdad security district of eastern Baghdad, June 29. At 11:30 a.m., police from the 4th Brigade, 1st National Police Division reported confiscating about 150 weapons during a clearance operation of Muhalla 733 in the Mashtal area of New Baghdad. The weapons included 133 AK-47 rifles, four AK-22 rifles, three SKS rifles, a bolt-action rifle, two air-gun rifles, an MP-5 sub-machinegun, an RPK machinegun and six pistols. (READ MORE)
Iraqi forces detain AQI member, prevent attacks (Udaim) - BALAD, Iraq – Baqubah Emergency Response Force detained a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq member in Udaim, approximately 112 kilometers north of Baghdad, during an operation in which two structures rigged with explosives were destroyed, June 28. ERF conducted the operation to disrupt AQI’s movement and decrease their intimidation attacks on the local Iraqis in the Udaim River Valley area. They detained the suspected terrorist, because he is believed to be part of a mortar and rocket cell that targets Iraqi Security and Coalition forces, and local citizens. (READ MORE)
British, Iraqi Army Soldiers build camaraderie through soccer (Basra) - BASRA, Iraq – Members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and members of the 4 Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland teamed up to take on Iraqi soldiers from the 14th Iraqi Army Division in a friendly soccer game in Basra, Iraq June 26. The soldiers spend most of their days sweating it out in vehicles or on checkpoints in various parts of Basra, but the game gave them a chance to sweat it out in a less stressful environment and have some fun together. The event drew a large crowd of spectators made up of officers and enlisted soldiers from both forces. (READ MORE)
MNF-I CG visits, recognizes outstanding warfighters in MND-N - TIKRIT, Iraq – Gen. David Petraeus, the commanding general of Multi-National Force-Iraq, visited Mosul, Iraq, June 28. During his visit, Petraeus personally recognized the tremendous work done by 18 servicemembers stationed at Forward Operating Base Marez and Diamondback. He presented each with one of his commander’s coins. “Today, the honor is to give you my coin, with my thanks, which reads; ‘not just for excellence, but for excellence in combat,’ because that is what you have all demonstrated,” the general said. (READ MORE)
NPs, SoI, MND-B Soldiers seize weapons, munitions in Baghdad - BAGHDAD – Iraqi National Police, Sons of Iraq, and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized a series of weapons and munitions in Baghdad June 28. Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers with the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, seized 13 hand grenades, M-4 magazines, and 5.56 mm tracer rounds and armor-piercing ammunition in Adhamiyah at approximately 1 p.m. after the cache was reported by a SoI member. (READ MORE)
Coalition forces destroy Al-Qaeda in Iraq safe haven, financing - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces destroyed an al-Qaeda in Iraq safe haven when they seized money, destroyed weapons and detained nine suspected terrorists during two operations in the Tigris River Valley ending June 26. Reporting indicates al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives used the area to build car bombs, facilitate foreign terrorists and provide safe haven for key leaders. During patrols near Tikrit, about 160 kilometers north of Baghdad, Coalition forces discovered a weapons cache that included firearms, more than 3,500 rounds of ammunition and bomb components. (READ MORE)
Al-Qaeda’s propaganda network thwarted - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces battered the terrorist propaganda network in Baghdad Saturday and Sunday, killing two terrorists and detaining 15 suspects while targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq associates around the country. Coalition forces surrounded a location in Baghdad Saturday targeting a leader of an al-Qaeda in Iraq propaganda cell. Coalition forces engaged and killed one man who drew a weapon when they entered the target building. They engaged and killed another suspected terrorist when they perceived hostile intent from his failure to follow Coalition forces’ instructions. (READ MORE)
ISF arrest seven suspected IED bombers - BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces arrested four suspected Special Groups criminals and three other suspected criminals around central Iraq, June 24-26. The 6th Iraqi Army Division arrested two suspected Special Groups criminals in the Hurriyah area of Baghdad, June 24. The criminals are believed to be Iranian surrogates responsible for improvised explosive device, explosively formed projectile and indirect fire attacks against Iraqi Security and Coalition forces. One of the criminals is said to be an expert IED builder responsible for killing Sunnis. The other suspect is an Iranian-trained sniper and weapons facilitator for the Special Groups. (READ MORE)
Iraqi forces detain AQI member, prevent attacks - BALAD – Baqubah Emergency Response Force detained a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq member in Udaim, approximately 112 kilometers north of Baghdad, during an operation in which two structures rigged with explosives were destroyed, June 28. ERF conducted the operation to disrupt AQI’s movement and decrease their intimidation attacks on the local Iraqis in the Udaim River Valley area. They detained the suspected terrorist, because he is believed to be part of a mortar and rocket cell that targets Iraqi Security and Coalition forces, and local citizens. (READ MORE)
National Police find weapons cache in Rashid - BAGHDAD – Police from the 5th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, uncovered a weapons cache June 28 in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad. At approximately 2 a.m., the police found six rockets, 10 boxes of plastic explosives, three improvised explosive devices, 40 AK-47 assault rifles, approximately 5,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, one 120 mm mortar round, two rocket propelled grenades, a PKC machinegun and a sniper rifle. (READ MORE)
'Team Metallica’ Helps Rebuild Rusafa - FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY — Although, they are not who most people would call average war fighters, their mission is just as vital for survival. They conduct patrols, but their primary mission is not combat related. “Team Metallica” is charged with assisting local governance to provide for the welfare of Iraqi citizens throughout the Rusafa security district of eastern Baghdad. The team consists of 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Soldiers specifically selected to handle reconstruction efforts. (READ MORE)
Task Force Gold Brings Golden Opportunity - BAGHDAD — Task Force Gold, considered a turning point for Operation Iraqi Freedom, focuses its efforts to revitalize the war torn and impoverished neighborhoods of the Sadr City District in northern Baghdad. Beginning in May, the mission of Task Force Gold is to bring peace to the Sadr City District and improve the quality of life for its residents. In only a few short weeks Task Force Gold has achieved astounding results. (READ MORE)
Afghanistan:
Marine receives Bronze Star for bravery - In a ceremony Friday at Camp Pendleton, Marine Cpl. Francisco J. Valles received the Bronze Star for bravery and leadership during an attack by Iraqi insurgents Aug. 2. When his patrol was ambushed, Valles helped pull a wounded Marine to safety, provided emergency aid to several others, and killed a suicide-bomber who was dashing toward the Marines. ''I shot him in the chest and he blew up," Valles said matter-of-factly. On his wrist, Valles wears a bracelet with the name of his best friend, Lance Cpl. Christian Vasquez, who was killed in the attack. "He was with me that day, he'll always be with me," he said. (READ MORE)
New PRT program provides needed ANP training - KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (June 28, 2008) – Sixty Afghan men were trained by the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team recently to become part of the Afghan National Auxiliary Police force in Kunar province, Afghanistan. The Police Training and Advisory Team program was developed as a training-and-mentoring program for the ANAP. The three-week course conducted at Camp Wright, near Asadabad, is the only one of its kind in Kunar province. The trainees come from every district in the province and are housed at the Asadabad Police Headquarters during their training. “Many of the police trainees arrive at the ANAP course with poor discipline.” said Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos A. Ramirez, Kunar PRT. (READ MORE)
Ag. Center provides unique type of security in Herat province - SHINDAND AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) – U.S. Special Operations warriors serving in western Afghanistan’s volatile Herat province have a unique security-enhancing capability in their own backyard and it involves neither bullets nor bombs. The Shindand Agricultural Experiment Station, which is located within the perimeter of the Shindand Air Field, is an attempt to provide desperately-needed agricultural skills to Afghans and an effort to jumpstart agricultural production in the Shindand District. “The agricultural center has many positive effects for the both the troops and the local population,” said a U.S. Special Forces Civil Affairs team leader. “This allows us to build a rapport with the villagers through education and employment; therefore, they are given a reason to think twice about allowing the anti-Afghan forces to step in and influence their lives in a negative way. (READ MORE)
Coalition forces provide aid, medical care to village in Oruzgan province - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 23, 2008) – Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces provided medical care and humanitarian aid to Afghan villagers in Tarin Kowt District, Uruzgan province, June 27. ANSF and Coalition forces spoke with village elders after a stop during a reconnaissance patrol. The elders requested medical assistance and humanitarian aid for their community. ANSF and Coalition medical personnel treated approximately 60 people for various ailments and also distributed food and school supplies. (READ MORE)
32 Insurgents killed in Khas Oruzgan - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 28, 2008) – A total of 32 militants were killed by Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces in two separate engagements in the Khas Oruzgan District, Oruzgan province, June 26. The first engagement occurred when the combined element was on a security patrol and received small arms fire and RPGs from insurgents in a heavily vegetated area. The ANSF and Coalition soldiers returned fire and moved to an area from which they could direct air strikes, killing three militants. Soon after, the militants again attacked the patrol using small arms and RPGs. ANSF and Coalition forces defeated the attack, killing 29 insurgents. (READ MORE)
ISAF base targeted in cross-border attack - FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) – Extremists fired rockets from locations in both Pakistan and Afghanistan on an International Security Assistance Force base in Paktika province earlier this morning. Four rockets landed in the vicinity of the base. ISAF responded in self defense by firing artillery at the launch site, which was determined to be approximately 400 meters inside Pakistan. An airstrike was carried out on the launch site identified in Afghanistan. The engagement started at approximately 3 a.m. local and the Pakistan military was notified when ISAF forces came under fire. No ISAF casualties were reported. (READ MORE)
Two civilians killed, 11 wounded in Kunar province - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) — Two civilians were killed and 11 others wounded in two separate attacks in Kunar province Friday. In the first attack, one round of in-direct fire struck an International Security and Assistance Force base in the Asmar District, while the majority of the other rounds struck a village nearby resulting in the death of one civilian and wounding seven others. A second attack attempted on an ISAF base in the Asadabad District when three rockets were fired at the base and missed, hitting a civilian populated area instead. One civilian was killed and four others were wounded in the attack. Three of the wounded were moved to the Asadabad hospital for medical treatment. (READ MORE)
Munitions found in village in Zabul province - KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) – An Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and Coalition forces joint patrol found a cache of munitions in a village in the Mizan District, Zabul province Tuesday. Surveillance of the village and a local bazaar revealed suspicious activity prompting further investigation by the patrol. The joint patrol confiscated six 82-mm mortar heads and numerous sharpened Soviet-style bayonets during a search of the village and its outlying compounds. (READ MORE)
June 27, 2008
From the Front: 06/27/2008
News and Personal dispatches from the front lines.
In their own words:
Kaboom: A Soldier's War Journal: A Tactical Pause - Due to a rash posting on my part, and decisions made above my pay-grade, I have been ordered to stop posting on Kaboom, effective immediately. Though I committed no OPSEC violations, due to a series of extenuating circumstances – the least of which was me being on leave – my “The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage” post on May 28 did not go through the normal vetting channels. It’s totally on me, as it was too much unfiltered truth. I’m a soldier first, and orders are orders. So it is. If you think, please think of us. If you pray, please pray for us. The second half of our deployment will be just as challenging and dangerous as the first half. Thank you for caring. Agree or disagree with the war, if you’re reading this, you are engaged and aware. As long as that is still occurring in a free society, there is something worth the fighting for. (READ MORE)
1st Marine Logistics Group: Corpsmen teach combat casualty care to visiting Iraqi medical team - CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (June 20, 2008) – Service members at Camp Taqaddum are partnering with the Iraqis to show them their medical know-how and teach them the uses of their new equipment. Five Iraqi Army medical officers from Camp Habbaniyah visited Camp Taqaddum Surgical, 1st Supply Battalion (-) (Reinforced), 1st Marine Logistics Group, June 20 to discuss a partnership and tour the building. A new hospital has been constructed at Camp Habbaniyah, but the facility needs a properly trained staff to operate in the new building with an understanding of the equipment they will use. (READ MORE)
A Majors Perspective: Media and the War - About a month ago I wrote a post, Wheres the News, discussing the serious decline in news coverage of the war. A couple days ago this same sentiment was echoed by reporters in an article from the NY Times. (Link to NY Times Article) Within the article there was some very fascinating quantitative facts about the coverage amounts: “According to data compiled by Andrew Tyndall, a television consultant who monitors the three network evening newscasts, coverage of Iraq has been ‘massively scaled back this year.’ Almost halfway into 2008, the three newscasts have shown 181 weekday minutes of Iraq coverage, compared with 1,157 minutes for all of 2007. The ‘CBS Evening News’ has devoted the fewest minutes to Iraq, 51, versus 55 minutes on ABC’s ‘World News’ and 74 minutes on ‘NBC Nightly News.’” (READ MORE)
From the 'Stan: More stories and photos - A few of you have posted this link, or e-mailed it to me, but I wanted to make sure everyone gets a chance to read the story and go through the photo gallery (there are a bunch of photos — with faces!) Click to read the story from the East Hampton Star For the 2/7 folks, just saw this blog entry by a guy who talked to Lt. Col. Hall. Also, here is the full text of that Wall Street Journal article from yesterday. I would still recommend searching for “24th Marine Expeditionary Unit” in google news and clicking on the WSJ link there to see the photos. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get a link that will actually take you to the full article. (The links I posted and other people posted keep bringing non-subscribers to the page with three paragraphs). (READ MORE)
IraqPundit: Withdrawal is not that simple - Some see the recent killings in Iraq as a reason for the Americans to pack up and go home. It's far away and it's Bush's war anyway, right? It's sad that terrorists kill civilians. But it's Bush's responsiblity, and he's on his way out. If only it were that simple. Yesterday murderers, maybe al-Qaeda, attacked a politician in Mosul. They missed him, but killed at least 18 civilians and injured 80. I realize it's hard to persuade non-Iraqis that civilians don't deserve this. I also know that plenty of people argue that if the U.S. were to withdraw, al-Qaeda and Shiite militias would stop killing civilians. Does anyone really believe murderers will change their ways? U.S. troops in Iraq know better. (READ MORE)
Fearless 1st Marines’ blog: Cache Sweeps to Street sweeps, Ramadi missions change gears - RAMADI, Iraq (June 18, 2008) – Ramadi, the Jewel of the Anbar Province, bears along it streets and on the walls of the pockmarked buildings the scars of war. The faces of its citizens show the memory of a historic city brought to near destruction by the vicious battles that have taken place in its streets for almost half a decade. However, with recent security developments and cooperation between the Iraqi government, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces, the city is returning to its proud status as the capital of al Anbar. The Iraqi people continue to progress forward and take the lead in fighting terrorists and rebuilding Ramadi. They are patching up the bullet holes, repaving war-torn streets, and the citizens are walking proudly with the look of hope in their eyes; the city is theirs again. (READ MORE)
IN-iraq: Do you expect them to learn forgiveness? -Tribal reconciliation in Balad - Balad, Iraq - In a city that has become known across the province for more than 500 reconciliations of local men with U.S. and Iraqi Security Forces, a broader reconciliation has been ongoing between Shia tribes who dominate the city and Sunni tribes who ring the outlying towns. Balad was infamous for sectarian bloodshed in 2006. More than 57 people were killed when Sunni insurgents killed at least 14 Shiite farmworkers. Shias killed scores of Sunni in reprisals. U.S. forces were accused of not intervening soon enough to stop the killings. The Iraqi Army was finally sent to step in. Iraqi reporters, who Tuesday went to Balad to cover reconciliation progress, know first hand about the terrible rifts caused by sectarianism. Mustafa, an Iraqi TV reporter from Baghdad, told a story of a young man who witnessed two brothers killed in front of a third brother. The man said to the killers, what do you expect him to learn, forgiveness? (READ MORE)
James Aalan Bernsen: A Visit to Camp Slayer - I took a trip recently over to Camp Slayer, another massive base on the same complex as Victory. Like Victory, Slayer is built on a former Ba'ath Party playground - a resort that looks more like a water park than the home of an oppressive regime. There are palm groves everywhere here. They're really quite beautiful, except that beneath the trees and the reeds is just more and more of that almost sickly Baghdad sand. I seriously think we should import several tons of Astroturf to Iraq so that they can put it down and pretend they have grass. I think there's a direct relationship to the amount of grass a country has to how violent and repressive they are. I mean, look at England. They've got tons of grass, and they haven't launched a war in a century. The lake, like that at Camp Victory proper, is surrounded by Palaces and offices of the Ba'ath Party. When Gen. Tommy Franks referred to the "Oil for Food" program as "Oil for Palaces," he wasn't kidding. (READ MORE)
James Aalan Bernsen: Two days and a Wake-up - That's the unique expression folks use around here to keep track of their time. The "wake-up", of course, being the day of your flight out. This place reminds everybody of a prison. One in which the inmates are armed. When I arrived, I had 300 days, give or take, and a wake-up. Now, that time has dwindled down to less than 1 percent, and it's hard to imagine that I'll soon be going home. In a lot of ways, I've become accustomed to this place. Never enjoyed it, just used to it. Kind of like the old baseball glove you've had since little-league, which doesn't fit, was never comfortable, but you just kept using it and can't imagine ever throwing it away. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: US names al Qaeda emir of Mosul killed during raid - The US military has identified al Qaeda's leader of Mosul who was killed during a targeted raid in the northern city on June 24. Multinational Forces Iraq named Abu Khalaf as al Qaeda's emir, or leader, of Mosul who was killed during a raid by Task Force 88, the hunter-killer teams assigned to disrupt terrorist command networks in Iraq and elsewhere. Khalaf was killed by US forces as he reached for a gun and his associate attempted to detonate his vest. Khalaf "rose through the ranks to become the overall emir of Mosul," the US military stated. He served as al Qaeda's military commander in Mosul during the rule of former al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Mahdi Army decimated during recent fighting - The Mahdi Army has suffered a significant blow during fighting against Iraqi and Coalition forces this year, according to an Iraq intelligence report. The heavy casualties sustained by the Mahdi Army have forced Muqtada al Sadr, the leader of the Mahdi Army and the Sadrist political movement, to change his tactics and disband the Mahdi Army in favor of a small, secretive fighting force. "More than 2,000 cadres from the Mahdi Army leaders were killed recently," an Iraqi intelligence official told Gulf News. "This led to the almost complete collapse of the army," the official said. An estimated 1,300 Mahdi Army fighters "escaped to safe houses in Iran." Muqtada al Sadr currently resides in Qom, Iran, under the protection of Iran's Qods Force. (READ MORE)
Matel-in-Iraq: Mad Dogs & Englishmen - The picture below is a fort built by the British in sometime around 1927. The British ran Iraq as a League of Nations Mandate until 1932, when Iraq became an independent monarchy under King Faisal, of Lawrence of Arabia fame. Even after independence, the British maintained bases here. I don't know if this was among them. In fact, most people don't think much re this fort, but it is still in use as a police HQ. The British built to last. When the fort was built there was nothing around it but desert. Rutbah's claim to significance is that it is a "wet spot" that gets around 4.5 inches of rain a year, and it had a well. The Fort guarded the road that connected Amman with Baghdad and the oil pipeline. (READ MORE)
The Satirist at War: A CANDID ASSESSMENT - Popped down to the bazaar yesterday for one of my last patrols (if not the last patrol), and when I got back, the FOB* was abuzz with rumors of an impending visit from G1*, to inspect living conditions. This on the heels of a visit from IG* that had been prompted by someone who, according to rumor, had described living conditions on various FOBs and COPs* in our AO* as "deplorable," or something like that. The first thing I'd like to point out is that I've seen deplorable living conditions a few times during my sojourn in the Army, and those instances have all had the following in common: (READ MORE)
Zen Traveler: It's Not Just Sandwiches - My Scottish partner mistakenly left his sandwich and a bottled Starbucks iced-coffee in the car after returning from a task this afternoon. He went back a few minutes later to look for it and it was gone, obviously taken from the car by our Arab security drivers who are tasked with cleaning out the vehicles. Upon questioning the two drivers he got a resounding, “We haven’t seen your lunch nor the coffee”. A lecture ensued about the importance for westerners to be able to get the truth when asking questions. This certainly isn't the first time the drivers heard this. Soon after, one of the drivers showed up with the missing the lunch and coffee stating that he found them in the Driver’s Room. “Dun’no they it got there.” The “take away” here is that two 40+ year old men have to play this little kindergarten game about telling the truth while at the same time saving face. (READ MORE)
Back and still writing:
LT Nixon: Iraq News (27 June) - The Good: Major General Hertling has said that Al-Qaeda is defeated in northern Iraq, and U.S. forces are pursuing remaining elements into small towns and villages. This comes after news that the emir of the Islamic State of Iraq in Mosul has been killed in a U.S. airstrike. Long War Journal reports that the Mahdi Army has been decimated, while many young men in Sadr City (known to be the home base of JAM) are employed in the neighborhood guard to provide security. These employment opportunities are seen as crucial to provide alternatives to joining the militia, much like the Sons of Iraq program has kept many young Sunni men from joining the insurgency. (READ MORE)
Eighty Deuce on the Loose in Iraq: BEING HOME - ...is great! It is the most amazing feeling in the world to be back in the States after so long in Iraq. While over there, it seemed like this day would never come, but finally it did. The flight back was full of anticipation as we all just wanted to end our long journey and be back with the ones we love and care about. For myself, from the time I was last walking around the streets of Baghdad until I landed back in the United States was only four days. Mind blowing, really. Once we arrived at Ft Bragg, there were so many friends and family there, that it was a HUGE crowd. We formed up and marched in while everyone was screaming and cheering, and it was so hard to not break out with a huge smile across my face. The shivers ran throughout my body, and even a little bit right now just thinking about it. It was amazing and I couldn't have asked for much more. (READ MORE)
News from the Front:
Iraq:
Al-Qaeda in Iraq networks suffer losses - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained eight suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives Thursday and Friday while targeting terrorist networks in central and northwest Iraq. Coalition forces targeted a man believed to be associated with a bomb cell leader Thursday in Sharqat, about 90 kilometers south of Mosul. When an armed man at the target location refused to comply with Coalition forces’ instructions, the force perceived hostile intent, engaged and killed the armed man. (READ MORE)
Al-Qaeda “emir” of Mosul identified - AGHDAD – A terrorist killed during an operation June 24 in Mosul has been positively identified as al-Qaeda in Iraq leader of Mosul, Abu Khalaf. Coalition forces killed the al-Qaeda in Iraq “emir” of Mosul as they continued to disrupt terrorist operations there. When they reached the target building, they engaged and killed one terrorist who was reaching for a pistol, one terrorist wearing a suicide vest, and one woman who tried to detonate the dead terrorist’s suicide vest. (READ MORE)
Al-Qaeda networks keep decaying - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed two terrorists, including an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader, during operations that netted 15 suspected terrorists in central and northern Iraq Thursday. Coalition forces killed an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader near Sharqat, about 90 kilometers south of Mosul. Upon their arrival, Coalition forces observed two suspected terrorists from one targeted building move into another building. The force surrounded the building and called for them to come out, but the terrorists refused to comply with Coalition forces’ instructions. (READ MORE)
Coalition forces celebrate transfer of 1,000 humvees to Iraqi Security Forces - TAJI, Iraq – Senior Iraqi and Coalition force leaders celebrated the transfer of 1,000 M-1114 up-armored humvees to the Iraqi Security Forces here, June 26. Iraqi National Security Advisor, Dr. Rubaie thanked U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, Multi-National Forces-Iraq commanding general, and the Coalition forces for their contributions. He said this is just another step to enable Iraq to be self-defending and self-reliant. (READ MORE)
MND-B Soldiers detain 3 suspected criminals in overnight operations - BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers detained three suspected criminals June 25-26 in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad. At approximately 9:45 p.m., June 25, Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, detained a suspected Special Groups criminal cell leader in the Shurta neighborhood. At approximately 1:15 a.m., June 26, 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers detained a suspected Sunni criminal in the same neighborhood. (READ MORE)
Electrical sub-station powers up in Basra - BASRA – A new electrical substation that will provide additional power to the citizens of Basra is scheduled to go online next month. Iraqi electrical workers are installing new lines, inspecting transformers and making final checks throughout the substation in preparation to bring it online in early July. The Government of Iraq is making efforts to bring basic services to Iraqis living in Basra as quickly as possible. (READ MORE)
Largest public works substation in Baghdad opens - BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces, civic leaders, local townsmen and Coalition forces gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony in the Ameriyah community in the Mansour district of Baghdad to acknowledge the opening of the biggest public works substation in Baghdad June 25. Public works substations provide essential services to local communities such as trash pickup, street cleaning and other services necessary for proper community maintenance. (READ MORE)
IA finds weapons cache in Diyala Province - TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Army Soldiers found a weapons cache in the Diyala Province, June 26. The cache contained more than 1,000 pounds of homemade explosives, three improvised explosive devices, 10 anti-tank mines, four rockets and various IED-making items. “This was a cache found by the Iraqi Army, independently,” said Capt. Kevin Ryan, a spokesman with 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. “We assisted with security. This is a great example of the capabilities of the Iraqi Army. They are able to operate on their own.” (READ MORE)
MND-B Soldiers, INPs confiscate weapons caches in Baghdad - BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers and Iraqi National Police seized weapons caches in Baghdad June 26. At approximately 6:30 a.m., Soldiers with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, seized a weapons cache northwest of Baghdad consisting of three 82 mm mortar rounds, two base plates, a rocket propelled grenade, a surface-to-air missile, a rocket head, blasting caps, three anti-tank mines and rocket propellant. (READ MORE)
MND-B Soldiers seize cache in Ameriyah following tip - BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized a cache in the Ameriyah neighborhood in west Baghdad during a patrol at approximately 12:30 p.m. June 26. Acting on a tip from an Iraqi civilian, Soldiers from the 10th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, seized 122 mortar rounds, 17 rocket propelled grenades, eight rockets, three sniper rifles, a machinegun, three TNT sticks, five mortar tubes, 100 blasting caps, five tank rounds and miscellaneous detonation cord, fuses and homemade explosives. (READ MORE)
ISF continue to clear Amarah of munitions - BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces discovered numerous munitions during Operation Basha'er as Salaam in Amarah. The caches, found in homes, businesses and public areas throughout the city from June 19-22 totaled more than 1,700 mortar rounds, 873 mines, 445 artillery rounds, 347 rocket propelled grenades, 267 rockets, 227 missile launchers, 109 improvised explosive devices, 74 grenades; 35, 122 mm rounds; 27 explosively formed projectiles and 14 missiles. (READ MORE)
Iraqi Army, Coalition Troops Provide Medical Care at School - FOB ISKAN — More than 200 adults and 80 children received medical care recently during a combined medical engagement at the Al Herea School in Farisiyah. Eight Iraqi medics from 33rd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, and surgeons and medics from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, hosted the event for residents of Farisiyah and Jurf as Sahkr. “It always puts a smile on my face to see people in need receive proper care,” said Army Staff Sgt. Luke Henry, a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3-7th Infantry Regiment. (READ MORE)
U.S. Airmen Train Iraqi Maintainers - KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE — While Iraqi Air Force pilots continue flying sorties to aid stability in their nation, Iraqi maintainers on the ground here have achieved important benchmarks to keep their fleet in the air. Airmen with the Iraqi Air Force's 3rd Squadron took over a wide variety of maintenance duties on the unit's Cessna 208 Caravan fleet that's used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, a task formerly performed by U.S. contractors. "The 3rd Squadron was recently asked to transition from contracted maintenance to full Iraqi support," said Air Force Capt. Gordon Beran, 870th Expeditionary Air Advisory Squadron combat aviation advisor. (READ MORE)
Soldiers Say Goodbye to Macedonian Friends - CAMP TAJI — The Soldiers of 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team “Warrior,” 25th Infantry Division, bade farewell to their Macedonian partners and welcomed two new Macedonian platoons during a Transfer of Authority Ceremony at the Sgt. John M. Schoolcraft III Pavilion June 23. After six months of partnership with Multi-National Division – Baghdad’s 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment “Golden Dragons,” and 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, “On Time,” both from 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., the Macedonian soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade and a Ranger platoon, are going home. (READ MORE)
Afghanistan:
SOF forces train new Afghan Commandos - SHINDAND AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) – The dedication in his eyes is evident as the American Special Operations warrior attentively moves up and down the row of Afghan Commandos on the firing range. He rewards a particularly good shot with an approving tap on the helmet. He seems unaware of the sweltering heat or the weight on his shoulders from the massive amount of equipment he is wearing. His only concern is for the men before him and the mission they have accepted. Afghanistan’s security and stability partially rests in the hands of the Commandos on this range. All are committed to honing the skills and capabilities that are vital to their mission. (READ MORE)
New clinic offers place of healing, caring, hope - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) – The people of the Shindand District, Heart province, Afghanistan, had reason to rejoice June 23, as a new medical clinic opened in their district. Immediately after the celebratory ribbon was cut, the doors to the clinic were opened and over 450 villagers, mostly women and children, poured inside to seek treatment and medication from both Afghan and Coalition medical care providers. “My baby has been sick for at least three days now and I’ve been able to do nothing but pray,” said one local mother, who brought her three-month-old daughter to the clinic. (READ MORE)
CA projects helps rebuild Kohe Safi - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) -- The Kapisa and Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team civil affairs leader visited a few local villages in the Kohe Safi District and met with Community Development Council representatives, June 24. The CDC, a body of elected villagers, is given special training to learn how to allocate funds and pick projects that are needed in each village. Projects are funded through the National Solidarity Program, which works through the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development. (READ MORE)
Coalition patrol attacked in Wardak province; four dead - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 26, 2008) – Three service members and a local-national interpreter are dead following an attack on a Coalition convoy this morning in Wardak province. The attack took place in Sayed Abad District, destroying one vehicle. Severe blast and fire damage was inflicted on the vehicle; two of the deceased were recovered at the site while two sets of remains were located in a nearby field. The remains are pending identification. Coalition forces and Afghan National Security Forces secured the scene and are searching for the attackers. (READ MORE)
Several militants killed in Zabul province - KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces killed several militants June 22 while on patrol in the Shinkay District, Zabul province. Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces encountered an enemy observation site with the armed militants on a ridgeline. While maintaining positive identification, the patrol engaged with small-arms fire and killed the militants. Four AK-47s, one rocket-propelled grenade launcher and five RPG rounds were recovered from the militants. (READ MORE)
Four Taliban detained in Paktika province - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Four militants were detained during a Coalition forces operation to disrupt Taliban activities in Paktika province, Wednesday. Coalition forces searched multiple compounds in Sar Hawza District targeting a Taliban Haqqani network leader known to conduct financing operations in the area. The leader was detained in the operation. (READ MORE)
Several militants killed in Kandahar province - KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security and Coalition forces killed several insurgents June 25 while on patrol in Maywand District, Kandahar province. Insurgents attacked the combined security patrol with small-arms fire, RPGs and indirect fire. The patrol returned small-arms fire and maintained positive identification until Coalition aircraft arrived. The insurgents were killed with several precision airstrikes. No ANSF or Coalition forces were injured in the attack. (READ MORE)
Trackbacked / Linked by:
A serious media relations mistake from Pros and Cons
In their own words:
Kaboom: A Soldier's War Journal: A Tactical Pause - Due to a rash posting on my part, and decisions made above my pay-grade, I have been ordered to stop posting on Kaboom, effective immediately. Though I committed no OPSEC violations, due to a series of extenuating circumstances – the least of which was me being on leave – my “The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage” post on May 28 did not go through the normal vetting channels. It’s totally on me, as it was too much unfiltered truth. I’m a soldier first, and orders are orders. So it is. If you think, please think of us. If you pray, please pray for us. The second half of our deployment will be just as challenging and dangerous as the first half. Thank you for caring. Agree or disagree with the war, if you’re reading this, you are engaged and aware. As long as that is still occurring in a free society, there is something worth the fighting for. (READ MORE)
1st Marine Logistics Group: Corpsmen teach combat casualty care to visiting Iraqi medical team - CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (June 20, 2008) – Service members at Camp Taqaddum are partnering with the Iraqis to show them their medical know-how and teach them the uses of their new equipment. Five Iraqi Army medical officers from Camp Habbaniyah visited Camp Taqaddum Surgical, 1st Supply Battalion (-) (Reinforced), 1st Marine Logistics Group, June 20 to discuss a partnership and tour the building. A new hospital has been constructed at Camp Habbaniyah, but the facility needs a properly trained staff to operate in the new building with an understanding of the equipment they will use. (READ MORE)
A Majors Perspective: Media and the War - About a month ago I wrote a post, Wheres the News, discussing the serious decline in news coverage of the war. A couple days ago this same sentiment was echoed by reporters in an article from the NY Times. (Link to NY Times Article) Within the article there was some very fascinating quantitative facts about the coverage amounts: “According to data compiled by Andrew Tyndall, a television consultant who monitors the three network evening newscasts, coverage of Iraq has been ‘massively scaled back this year.’ Almost halfway into 2008, the three newscasts have shown 181 weekday minutes of Iraq coverage, compared with 1,157 minutes for all of 2007. The ‘CBS Evening News’ has devoted the fewest minutes to Iraq, 51, versus 55 minutes on ABC’s ‘World News’ and 74 minutes on ‘NBC Nightly News.’” (READ MORE)
From the 'Stan: More stories and photos - A few of you have posted this link, or e-mailed it to me, but I wanted to make sure everyone gets a chance to read the story and go through the photo gallery (there are a bunch of photos — with faces!) Click to read the story from the East Hampton Star For the 2/7 folks, just saw this blog entry by a guy who talked to Lt. Col. Hall. Also, here is the full text of that Wall Street Journal article from yesterday. I would still recommend searching for “24th Marine Expeditionary Unit” in google news and clicking on the WSJ link there to see the photos. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get a link that will actually take you to the full article. (The links I posted and other people posted keep bringing non-subscribers to the page with three paragraphs). (READ MORE)
IraqPundit: Withdrawal is not that simple - Some see the recent killings in Iraq as a reason for the Americans to pack up and go home. It's far away and it's Bush's war anyway, right? It's sad that terrorists kill civilians. But it's Bush's responsiblity, and he's on his way out. If only it were that simple. Yesterday murderers, maybe al-Qaeda, attacked a politician in Mosul. They missed him, but killed at least 18 civilians and injured 80. I realize it's hard to persuade non-Iraqis that civilians don't deserve this. I also know that plenty of people argue that if the U.S. were to withdraw, al-Qaeda and Shiite militias would stop killing civilians. Does anyone really believe murderers will change their ways? U.S. troops in Iraq know better. (READ MORE)
Fearless 1st Marines’ blog: Cache Sweeps to Street sweeps, Ramadi missions change gears - RAMADI, Iraq (June 18, 2008) – Ramadi, the Jewel of the Anbar Province, bears along it streets and on the walls of the pockmarked buildings the scars of war. The faces of its citizens show the memory of a historic city brought to near destruction by the vicious battles that have taken place in its streets for almost half a decade. However, with recent security developments and cooperation between the Iraqi government, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces, the city is returning to its proud status as the capital of al Anbar. The Iraqi people continue to progress forward and take the lead in fighting terrorists and rebuilding Ramadi. They are patching up the bullet holes, repaving war-torn streets, and the citizens are walking proudly with the look of hope in their eyes; the city is theirs again. (READ MORE)
IN-iraq: Do you expect them to learn forgiveness? -Tribal reconciliation in Balad - Balad, Iraq - In a city that has become known across the province for more than 500 reconciliations of local men with U.S. and Iraqi Security Forces, a broader reconciliation has been ongoing between Shia tribes who dominate the city and Sunni tribes who ring the outlying towns. Balad was infamous for sectarian bloodshed in 2006. More than 57 people were killed when Sunni insurgents killed at least 14 Shiite farmworkers. Shias killed scores of Sunni in reprisals. U.S. forces were accused of not intervening soon enough to stop the killings. The Iraqi Army was finally sent to step in. Iraqi reporters, who Tuesday went to Balad to cover reconciliation progress, know first hand about the terrible rifts caused by sectarianism. Mustafa, an Iraqi TV reporter from Baghdad, told a story of a young man who witnessed two brothers killed in front of a third brother. The man said to the killers, what do you expect him to learn, forgiveness? (READ MORE)
James Aalan Bernsen: A Visit to Camp Slayer - I took a trip recently over to Camp Slayer, another massive base on the same complex as Victory. Like Victory, Slayer is built on a former Ba'ath Party playground - a resort that looks more like a water park than the home of an oppressive regime. There are palm groves everywhere here. They're really quite beautiful, except that beneath the trees and the reeds is just more and more of that almost sickly Baghdad sand. I seriously think we should import several tons of Astroturf to Iraq so that they can put it down and pretend they have grass. I think there's a direct relationship to the amount of grass a country has to how violent and repressive they are. I mean, look at England. They've got tons of grass, and they haven't launched a war in a century. The lake, like that at Camp Victory proper, is surrounded by Palaces and offices of the Ba'ath Party. When Gen. Tommy Franks referred to the "Oil for Food" program as "Oil for Palaces," he wasn't kidding. (READ MORE)
James Aalan Bernsen: Two days and a Wake-up - That's the unique expression folks use around here to keep track of their time. The "wake-up", of course, being the day of your flight out. This place reminds everybody of a prison. One in which the inmates are armed. When I arrived, I had 300 days, give or take, and a wake-up. Now, that time has dwindled down to less than 1 percent, and it's hard to imagine that I'll soon be going home. In a lot of ways, I've become accustomed to this place. Never enjoyed it, just used to it. Kind of like the old baseball glove you've had since little-league, which doesn't fit, was never comfortable, but you just kept using it and can't imagine ever throwing it away. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: US names al Qaeda emir of Mosul killed during raid - The US military has identified al Qaeda's leader of Mosul who was killed during a targeted raid in the northern city on June 24. Multinational Forces Iraq named Abu Khalaf as al Qaeda's emir, or leader, of Mosul who was killed during a raid by Task Force 88, the hunter-killer teams assigned to disrupt terrorist command networks in Iraq and elsewhere. Khalaf was killed by US forces as he reached for a gun and his associate attempted to detonate his vest. Khalaf "rose through the ranks to become the overall emir of Mosul," the US military stated. He served as al Qaeda's military commander in Mosul during the rule of former al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi. (READ MORE)
Bill Roggio: Mahdi Army decimated during recent fighting - The Mahdi Army has suffered a significant blow during fighting against Iraqi and Coalition forces this year, according to an Iraq intelligence report. The heavy casualties sustained by the Mahdi Army have forced Muqtada al Sadr, the leader of the Mahdi Army and the Sadrist political movement, to change his tactics and disband the Mahdi Army in favor of a small, secretive fighting force. "More than 2,000 cadres from the Mahdi Army leaders were killed recently," an Iraqi intelligence official told Gulf News. "This led to the almost complete collapse of the army," the official said. An estimated 1,300 Mahdi Army fighters "escaped to safe houses in Iran." Muqtada al Sadr currently resides in Qom, Iran, under the protection of Iran's Qods Force. (READ MORE)
Matel-in-Iraq: Mad Dogs & Englishmen - The picture below is a fort built by the British in sometime around 1927. The British ran Iraq as a League of Nations Mandate until 1932, when Iraq became an independent monarchy under King Faisal, of Lawrence of Arabia fame. Even after independence, the British maintained bases here. I don't know if this was among them. In fact, most people don't think much re this fort, but it is still in use as a police HQ. The British built to last. When the fort was built there was nothing around it but desert. Rutbah's claim to significance is that it is a "wet spot" that gets around 4.5 inches of rain a year, and it had a well. The Fort guarded the road that connected Amman with Baghdad and the oil pipeline. (READ MORE)
The Satirist at War: A CANDID ASSESSMENT - Popped down to the bazaar yesterday for one of my last patrols (if not the last patrol), and when I got back, the FOB* was abuzz with rumors of an impending visit from G1*, to inspect living conditions. This on the heels of a visit from IG* that had been prompted by someone who, according to rumor, had described living conditions on various FOBs and COPs* in our AO* as "deplorable," or something like that. The first thing I'd like to point out is that I've seen deplorable living conditions a few times during my sojourn in the Army, and those instances have all had the following in common: (READ MORE)
Zen Traveler: It's Not Just Sandwiches - My Scottish partner mistakenly left his sandwich and a bottled Starbucks iced-coffee in the car after returning from a task this afternoon. He went back a few minutes later to look for it and it was gone, obviously taken from the car by our Arab security drivers who are tasked with cleaning out the vehicles. Upon questioning the two drivers he got a resounding, “We haven’t seen your lunch nor the coffee”. A lecture ensued about the importance for westerners to be able to get the truth when asking questions. This certainly isn't the first time the drivers heard this. Soon after, one of the drivers showed up with the missing the lunch and coffee stating that he found them in the Driver’s Room. “Dun’no they it got there.” The “take away” here is that two 40+ year old men have to play this little kindergarten game about telling the truth while at the same time saving face. (READ MORE)
Back and still writing:
LT Nixon: Iraq News (27 June) - The Good: Major General Hertling has said that Al-Qaeda is defeated in northern Iraq, and U.S. forces are pursuing remaining elements into small towns and villages. This comes after news that the emir of the Islamic State of Iraq in Mosul has been killed in a U.S. airstrike. Long War Journal reports that the Mahdi Army has been decimated, while many young men in Sadr City (known to be the home base of JAM) are employed in the neighborhood guard to provide security. These employment opportunities are seen as crucial to provide alternatives to joining the militia, much like the Sons of Iraq program has kept many young Sunni men from joining the insurgency. (READ MORE)
Eighty Deuce on the Loose in Iraq: BEING HOME - ...is great! It is the most amazing feeling in the world to be back in the States after so long in Iraq. While over there, it seemed like this day would never come, but finally it did. The flight back was full of anticipation as we all just wanted to end our long journey and be back with the ones we love and care about. For myself, from the time I was last walking around the streets of Baghdad until I landed back in the United States was only four days. Mind blowing, really. Once we arrived at Ft Bragg, there were so many friends and family there, that it was a HUGE crowd. We formed up and marched in while everyone was screaming and cheering, and it was so hard to not break out with a huge smile across my face. The shivers ran throughout my body, and even a little bit right now just thinking about it. It was amazing and I couldn't have asked for much more. (READ MORE)
News from the Front:
Iraq:
Al-Qaeda in Iraq networks suffer losses - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained eight suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives Thursday and Friday while targeting terrorist networks in central and northwest Iraq. Coalition forces targeted a man believed to be associated with a bomb cell leader Thursday in Sharqat, about 90 kilometers south of Mosul. When an armed man at the target location refused to comply with Coalition forces’ instructions, the force perceived hostile intent, engaged and killed the armed man. (READ MORE)
Al-Qaeda “emir” of Mosul identified - AGHDAD – A terrorist killed during an operation June 24 in Mosul has been positively identified as al-Qaeda in Iraq leader of Mosul, Abu Khalaf. Coalition forces killed the al-Qaeda in Iraq “emir” of Mosul as they continued to disrupt terrorist operations there. When they reached the target building, they engaged and killed one terrorist who was reaching for a pistol, one terrorist wearing a suicide vest, and one woman who tried to detonate the dead terrorist’s suicide vest. (READ MORE)
Al-Qaeda networks keep decaying - BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed two terrorists, including an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader, during operations that netted 15 suspected terrorists in central and northern Iraq Thursday. Coalition forces killed an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader near Sharqat, about 90 kilometers south of Mosul. Upon their arrival, Coalition forces observed two suspected terrorists from one targeted building move into another building. The force surrounded the building and called for them to come out, but the terrorists refused to comply with Coalition forces’ instructions. (READ MORE)
Coalition forces celebrate transfer of 1,000 humvees to Iraqi Security Forces - TAJI, Iraq – Senior Iraqi and Coalition force leaders celebrated the transfer of 1,000 M-1114 up-armored humvees to the Iraqi Security Forces here, June 26. Iraqi National Security Advisor, Dr. Rubaie thanked U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, Multi-National Forces-Iraq commanding general, and the Coalition forces for their contributions. He said this is just another step to enable Iraq to be self-defending and self-reliant. (READ MORE)
MND-B Soldiers detain 3 suspected criminals in overnight operations - BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers detained three suspected criminals June 25-26 in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad. At approximately 9:45 p.m., June 25, Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, detained a suspected Special Groups criminal cell leader in the Shurta neighborhood. At approximately 1:15 a.m., June 26, 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers detained a suspected Sunni criminal in the same neighborhood. (READ MORE)
Electrical sub-station powers up in Basra - BASRA – A new electrical substation that will provide additional power to the citizens of Basra is scheduled to go online next month. Iraqi electrical workers are installing new lines, inspecting transformers and making final checks throughout the substation in preparation to bring it online in early July. The Government of Iraq is making efforts to bring basic services to Iraqis living in Basra as quickly as possible. (READ MORE)
Largest public works substation in Baghdad opens - BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces, civic leaders, local townsmen and Coalition forces gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony in the Ameriyah community in the Mansour district of Baghdad to acknowledge the opening of the biggest public works substation in Baghdad June 25. Public works substations provide essential services to local communities such as trash pickup, street cleaning and other services necessary for proper community maintenance. (READ MORE)
IA finds weapons cache in Diyala Province - TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Army Soldiers found a weapons cache in the Diyala Province, June 26. The cache contained more than 1,000 pounds of homemade explosives, three improvised explosive devices, 10 anti-tank mines, four rockets and various IED-making items. “This was a cache found by the Iraqi Army, independently,” said Capt. Kevin Ryan, a spokesman with 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. “We assisted with security. This is a great example of the capabilities of the Iraqi Army. They are able to operate on their own.” (READ MORE)
MND-B Soldiers, INPs confiscate weapons caches in Baghdad - BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers and Iraqi National Police seized weapons caches in Baghdad June 26. At approximately 6:30 a.m., Soldiers with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, seized a weapons cache northwest of Baghdad consisting of three 82 mm mortar rounds, two base plates, a rocket propelled grenade, a surface-to-air missile, a rocket head, blasting caps, three anti-tank mines and rocket propellant. (READ MORE)
MND-B Soldiers seize cache in Ameriyah following tip - BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized a cache in the Ameriyah neighborhood in west Baghdad during a patrol at approximately 12:30 p.m. June 26. Acting on a tip from an Iraqi civilian, Soldiers from the 10th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, seized 122 mortar rounds, 17 rocket propelled grenades, eight rockets, three sniper rifles, a machinegun, three TNT sticks, five mortar tubes, 100 blasting caps, five tank rounds and miscellaneous detonation cord, fuses and homemade explosives. (READ MORE)
ISF continue to clear Amarah of munitions - BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces discovered numerous munitions during Operation Basha'er as Salaam in Amarah. The caches, found in homes, businesses and public areas throughout the city from June 19-22 totaled more than 1,700 mortar rounds, 873 mines, 445 artillery rounds, 347 rocket propelled grenades, 267 rockets, 227 missile launchers, 109 improvised explosive devices, 74 grenades; 35, 122 mm rounds; 27 explosively formed projectiles and 14 missiles. (READ MORE)
Iraqi Army, Coalition Troops Provide Medical Care at School - FOB ISKAN — More than 200 adults and 80 children received medical care recently during a combined medical engagement at the Al Herea School in Farisiyah. Eight Iraqi medics from 33rd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, and surgeons and medics from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, hosted the event for residents of Farisiyah and Jurf as Sahkr. “It always puts a smile on my face to see people in need receive proper care,” said Army Staff Sgt. Luke Henry, a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3-7th Infantry Regiment. (READ MORE)
U.S. Airmen Train Iraqi Maintainers - KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE — While Iraqi Air Force pilots continue flying sorties to aid stability in their nation, Iraqi maintainers on the ground here have achieved important benchmarks to keep their fleet in the air. Airmen with the Iraqi Air Force's 3rd Squadron took over a wide variety of maintenance duties on the unit's Cessna 208 Caravan fleet that's used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, a task formerly performed by U.S. contractors. "The 3rd Squadron was recently asked to transition from contracted maintenance to full Iraqi support," said Air Force Capt. Gordon Beran, 870th Expeditionary Air Advisory Squadron combat aviation advisor. (READ MORE)
Soldiers Say Goodbye to Macedonian Friends - CAMP TAJI — The Soldiers of 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team “Warrior,” 25th Infantry Division, bade farewell to their Macedonian partners and welcomed two new Macedonian platoons during a Transfer of Authority Ceremony at the Sgt. John M. Schoolcraft III Pavilion June 23. After six months of partnership with Multi-National Division – Baghdad’s 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment “Golden Dragons,” and 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, “On Time,” both from 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., the Macedonian soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade and a Ranger platoon, are going home. (READ MORE)
Afghanistan:
SOF forces train new Afghan Commandos - SHINDAND AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) – The dedication in his eyes is evident as the American Special Operations warrior attentively moves up and down the row of Afghan Commandos on the firing range. He rewards a particularly good shot with an approving tap on the helmet. He seems unaware of the sweltering heat or the weight on his shoulders from the massive amount of equipment he is wearing. His only concern is for the men before him and the mission they have accepted. Afghanistan’s security and stability partially rests in the hands of the Commandos on this range. All are committed to honing the skills and capabilities that are vital to their mission. (READ MORE)
New clinic offers place of healing, caring, hope - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) – The people of the Shindand District, Heart province, Afghanistan, had reason to rejoice June 23, as a new medical clinic opened in their district. Immediately after the celebratory ribbon was cut, the doors to the clinic were opened and over 450 villagers, mostly women and children, poured inside to seek treatment and medication from both Afghan and Coalition medical care providers. “My baby has been sick for at least three days now and I’ve been able to do nothing but pray,” said one local mother, who brought her three-month-old daughter to the clinic. (READ MORE)
CA projects helps rebuild Kohe Safi - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 27, 2008) -- The Kapisa and Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team civil affairs leader visited a few local villages in the Kohe Safi District and met with Community Development Council representatives, June 24. The CDC, a body of elected villagers, is given special training to learn how to allocate funds and pick projects that are needed in each village. Projects are funded through the National Solidarity Program, which works through the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development. (READ MORE)
Coalition patrol attacked in Wardak province; four dead - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 26, 2008) – Three service members and a local-national interpreter are dead following an attack on a Coalition convoy this morning in Wardak province. The attack took place in Sayed Abad District, destroying one vehicle. Severe blast and fire damage was inflicted on the vehicle; two of the deceased were recovered at the site while two sets of remains were located in a nearby field. The remains are pending identification. Coalition forces and Afghan National Security Forces secured the scene and are searching for the attackers. (READ MORE)
Several militants killed in Zabul province - KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces killed several militants June 22 while on patrol in the Shinkay District, Zabul province. Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces encountered an enemy observation site with the armed militants on a ridgeline. While maintaining positive identification, the patrol engaged with small-arms fire and killed the militants. Four AK-47s, one rocket-propelled grenade launcher and five RPG rounds were recovered from the militants. (READ MORE)
Four Taliban detained in Paktika province - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Four militants were detained during a Coalition forces operation to disrupt Taliban activities in Paktika province, Wednesday. Coalition forces searched multiple compounds in Sar Hawza District targeting a Taliban Haqqani network leader known to conduct financing operations in the area. The leader was detained in the operation. (READ MORE)
Several militants killed in Kandahar province - KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security and Coalition forces killed several insurgents June 25 while on patrol in Maywand District, Kandahar province. Insurgents attacked the combined security patrol with small-arms fire, RPGs and indirect fire. The patrol returned small-arms fire and maintained positive identification until Coalition aircraft arrived. The insurgents were killed with several precision airstrikes. No ANSF or Coalition forces were injured in the attack. (READ MORE)
Trackbacked / Linked by:
A serious media relations mistake from Pros and Cons
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)