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Iraq
U.S. convoys struggle to adjust to policy change
2007-12-21
Struggle, eh? The article is published by McClatchy, which also mourned the slow employment for Baghdad's gravediggers when The Surge started to work.
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — In the first month that they were in Iraq, someone threatened, shot at or tried to blow up the soldiers of the Kentucky National Guard's B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery 12 times. Last month, there were only three such incidents.

But confirmation that the roads have become safer came a few weeks ago when a flier went up in the 2-138's office at this base 20 miles north of Baghdad. "Effective immediately," it read, "assume all civilian vehicles are friendly."
Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC

#9  If the jihadis choose to make their final push against the convoys instead of New York City, Chicago and Las Vegas, I can live with that, JosephM.

We were at the local pub last night, because my sister is visiting, and the band leader pulled a young man up on the stage, announcing he was a Marine deploying to Iraq in five days. The place erupted in cheers and whistles, and the Marine drank for free the rest of the evening. :-)
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-12-21 22:37  

#8  RUSSIA is being geopol aggressive while a RIAN article infers that IRAN considers Russ new BUSHESHR NUKE FUEL DELIVERY(S) AS SEPARATE ISSUE FROM ITS NUCPROGS.

Dubya had made it clear times again that he will NOT accept Radical Iran having nuke weapons nor the ability to dev one, while Moud had made it clear Iran will not give up enrichment nor its nuke rights.

LULL BEFORE A [NEW] STORM - US military history suggests that, for the most part, a MAJOR ESCALATORY OR INTENSIVE EVENT(S) must occur before the USA will initiate any military action. I STILL HOLD THAT RADICAL SIALM WILL WAGE ONE MORE "FINAL/DECISIVE BATTLE-CAMPAIGN" FOR CONTROL OF IRAQ BEFORE SHIFTING FOCII TO DEFENSE/CONTROL OF IRAN - CONVOYS will likely be among the first targets for the Islamists and aligned once they decide to kick off their final campaign for Iraq.

* GUAM PDN > REPORT: WEAPONS GRADE ENRICHED URANIUM [traces/elements] FOUND IN NORTH KOREAN TUBING? IRONICALLY, the TUBING WAS GIVEN TO US-INTERN INSPECTORS AS EVIDENCE BY NK THAT NK WAS NOT ENGAGED IN DEV OF NUKE WEAPONS.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2007-12-21 19:21  

#7  "He volunteered to drive Gun One, the lead vehicle. His fiancee almost killed him when she found out, he said. His mother told him it was just like him. Patton drove far ahead of the others, the first in line for an ambush or an IED. "I was falling asleep at the wheel in Gun Four. If something's going to happen, it's going to happen whether I'm in Gun One, Gun Four or Gun Six," Patton said. "Hell, I'm here. I might as well have fun doing it."

Sounds like the attitude my father had in WWII. He wanted to be the first one out of the Landing Craft during beach assaults. He figured that he could make it out and into the water before the enemy had the Landing Craft opening zeroed in with their machine guns and rifles, while the rest of the guys were still queing out of the Landing Craft and into the water.
Posted by: www   2007-12-21 19:10  

#6  a parachute grenade (?)-described as a potato masher with a drag chute.

Sounds like a RGD 2 or RGD 5 Soviet, WW II era anti-tank grenade.(NOT a RPG!-- There is a big differnece. trust me.) Guess somebody found it in a closet somewhere.
Posted by: N guard   2007-12-21 18:44  

#5  USN, ret. - I have a good buddy in the 731 KANG with, as I understand it, the same: no fatalities though they have been in combat (buddy had his hummvee rpg out from under him, passengers dinged but no fatality). They engaged some jihadis and found they were using something call a parachute grenade (?)-described as a potato masher with a drag chute. The gray lining is that they are wearing out their supply of dominos.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2007-12-21 17:31  

#4  Related to the convoy story: Spousal Unit has a co-worker that just came back from a tour in Iraq (Navy Corpsman) with an Army convoy unit that completed their entire deployment w/out having any fatalities. She (the HM)believed that was a first. I don't see any gray lining in this cloud.
Posted by: USN,Ret.   2007-12-21 15:40  

#3  Gloomy, indeed. And can't somebody do something about all this damn sand?
Posted by: SteveS   2007-12-21 15:33  

#2  And the reason for making this public is what ?
Posted by: wxjames   2007-12-21 15:31  

#1  While the WaPo had two positive editorals today, both in Opinion, McClatchy still finds nothing but bad news. Their Iraq Headlines:

· UNICEF: War has taken a toll on Iraq's children
· Bitterness apparent as U.S. releases Iraqi prisoners
· U.S. convoys struggle to adjust to policy change
· 3rd top official departs State Dept. under criticism
· Palestinian refugees from Iraq stranded in desert camp

Boy. I sure feel gloomy, now!
Posted by: Bobby   2007-12-21 15:25  

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