Iraq: Arrowhead 'Ripper' and 2 Compassionate Soldiers

Cross-posted at Rosemary's Thoughts.

These are two great articles. First, we have the ISF (Iraq Security Forces) working along side the Coalition Forces (CF) to put pressure on any al Qaida still left in the neighborhood.

BAQOUBA, Iraq - Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) teamed with Task Force Lightning units, Thursday, to clear Baqouba and surrounding areas as Operation Arrowhead Ripper continued.

“We are shoulder-to-shoulder with Iraqi Security Forces in this fight,” said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek, deputy commanding general, operations, and commander of Operation Arrowhead Ripper. “Specifically the 5th Iraqi Army Division led by Maj. Gen. Saleem Kariem Ali Alotbei, along with the provincial director of police, Maj. Gen. Ganim, have provided the Iraqi security forces to the fight.

The weeks ahead are absolutely key in not only holding and retaining the ground that is cleared in partnership with Coalition Forces (CF), but also in building trust and confidence with the citizens of Diyala.” [Continue reading.]

There is also a picture that comes with both of these articles. Well, all of them today, actually. Wait until you read how many AQ they killed! :)

This next article is very moving. Two soldiers who were only doing their job turned the mind of one man (who could in turn change the minds of others) when they took notice of the needs of his son.

KIRKUK, Iraq - The nine-year old boy would most certainly lose his leg. Given the prohibitive cost of medical care and his family’s lack of resources, amputation and a life of pain and dependence seemed inevitable. The Iraqi boy’s father was resigned to that conclusion.

Then two soldiers got involved and hope arrived along with them.

Sgt. Donald R. Campbell and Capt. Geoffrey Dutton, both Georgia natives, brought coalition and Iraqi resources together to give an Iraqi boy hope after a chance encounter during a routine patrol in Kirkuk, Iraq. [Continue reading.]

These guys are very special. It makes me so proud to be an American. Thank you for your service, stay safe, and God bless you.

IAG Supports the Feature Performance

This article is similiar to the one below it, only this one goes into better theatrics. (It is very well written.) It is about the Iraq Assistence Group and the Personal Security Platoon. The hair on my...?...the skin on my...?...I get the chills thinking about these guys. It is a great read. Have a great weekend, and stay safe!

Romanian soldiers stand United with Americans in Iraq

There are many cultural differences, but the similarities are what's more important to these men.

“I don’t see boundaries between Americans and Romanians,” Constantin said. Their efforts have gained the respect of many U.S. soldiers, who provide additional equipment and training to the unit stationed at Logistical Support Area Adder.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael E. Proctor of Jacksonville, Fla., a senior maintenance adviser with the 546th Maintenance Company, said he enjoyed working with the Romanians when he recently taught Humvee maintenance to more than 50 of them.

“I’m pretty impressed with them,” Proctor said, noting the Romanians were eager students who constantly asked questions about the unfamiliar vehicle. The southeastern European country has participated in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom since their beginnings. Currently, there are nearly 600 Romanian soldiers serving throughout Iraq, with a majority of those at the Tallil base, according to their spokesman, Lt. Dorian Constantin Balan. [Continue reading.]

There are many more similarities and friendships. I have heard the same things being said of the Romanians over yonder in Afghanistan. They sound like a great ally. Godspeed to us all.

Sustained U.S. Presence critical to security, Iraqi spokesman says

While this looks good on the surface, all you have to do is peel the onion to get your eyes to burn. There may be some good news here on the slide.

Despite a desire for U.S. forces to ultimately leave Iraq, Iraqi leaders recognize the need for international support until their military is capable of operating independently, the Iraqi government’s official spokesman said today.

“The fight is beyond the capacity of the Iraqi troops,” Ali Aldabbagh told “bloggers” and online journalists during a conference call today.
[...]
“We do need a regional effort,” he added, but until that coalesces, he said, the presence of the U.S. military is crucial.

On the subject of regional cooperation, Aldabbagh said current efforts by the United States to engage Iran in talks on Iraq are a step in the right direction. Dialogue with Iran will benefit the United States, Iran, Iraq and the entire region, he said.

The history of conflict between the U.S. and Iran “makes Iran more powerful,” he noted. “(The) conflict policy with Iran, it didn’t get us any positive things. We have to try another way of dealing with Iran.”

Iraq must develop ties to a country with which it shares a border over 900 miles long, Aldabbagh said. “Do we need to have a good relation(ship) with Iran? Definitely, they are our neighbors.”

By the same token, he said, the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki must engage all of the country’s political factions, including that of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. [Continue reading.]

I just pray we're not building them up to take us down...

Military News: 15 May 2007

There are some difficult articles and some really good articles in today's report. Let's start with a reconstruction in Basra article.

Basrah Public Works Initiative Complements Provincial Reconstruction Teams.

BASRAH, Iraq – Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) began as a concept in Afghanistan, developed by then U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad. They proved to be so successful that when Khalilzad was named Ambassador to Iraq in June 2005, he decided PRTs would be a good way to develop capacity in that country as well. PRTs are now being established in each Iraqi province. [Continue reading.]

This is the story I want everyone to put their hearts and prayers into. This is about the three men missing in action in Iraq.

General Cites ‘Massive Effort’ Under Way to Find Missing Soldiers

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2007 – The U.S. military, coalition partners and Iraqi security forces are making a “massive effort” to find three American soldiers missing in Iraq since May 12, a senior U.S. military officer said today.

“We are using every asset and resource available to the United States and our Iraqi allies in these efforts,” Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, said during a videotaped release broadcast on the Pentagon Channel today. [Continue reading.]

Here is a story of a man who found himself in a different kind of war and himself.

Former Infantryman Finds Calling in Civil Affairs.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GHAZNI, Afghanistan — It was clear to Army Sgt. Drew Pylant as his convoy pulled up to the district center, framed against the snow-capped mountains of eastern Afghanistan, that he wasn’t fighting in the same kind of war that his father and grandfather fought in.

On an icy February morning in Ghazni Province, many years ago, he pulled up his neck gaiter to try and fight off the penetrating cold as he sat behind his M-249 squad automatic weapon. Even though he spent years running and training with this same weapon, he doubted his skills with it would come in use that day, or ever, because his mission had changed. [Continue reading.]

This is a wonderful article about the first Muslim to be in command of an Aviation Squadron!

First Muslim to Take Command of Aviation Squadron.

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea – Cmdr. Muhammad Muzzafar F. Khan relieved Cmdr. Timothy Langdon as commanding officer of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 31 during a ceremony held at sea aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) May 13.

Khan is the first Muslim to take command of an operational aviation squadron in the U.S. Navy.

The “Topcats” of VS 31 are assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, embarked aboard Stennis, and currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO). [Continue reading.]

That is quite a mixture of stories. I just wish our media was willing to supply us with such diversity...