a hell hath no scorn...

I was asleep for about 2 hours when i got the call- mission, report to the TOC (Tactical Operation Center). at 0015 hours in the middle of the night it takes you a while to get your chi going...

We got an intel report that i thought was rather shady, but after your 2 cents of objection/input, orders are orders... so we linked up with our Iraqi counterparts for the operation. after hearing the operations brief i felt even less "warm and fuzzy" about the mission... whatever- i could always use a little adrenaline rush.

I was team leader of a search team, teamed up with a commando iraqi squad, the iraqi LT was cool and a real professional, a nice change, and focusing on our mission of counter insurgency- being curtious and kind, but careful.

The mission- find a pissed off chick with a vest that goes boom... thats about as much as i can tell you but I can say that waking up families in the middle of the night is not a smart thing to do....

I got to vent to you, and i dont want to say that IT WAS POINTLESS!!!!!!, put us in danger on a mission that could only yield a 1 in a 1,000 chance of finding anything. but i go where I'm ordered.. despite my team chief retard decisions. It sucks that i can better paint the picture, but thanks for hearing the frustration.

One situation- actually pretty funny:
We entered one house and I told the female searcher (you have to have a female soldier search the females unless you what a revolt on your hands) to stay right behind me. She was pretty new, but did well, and hugged my 6 o'clock. anyway, when got into a house and we separate the males and females, but as we were about to search this one lady, she started screaming "Alla Akbar!!!!!!!" I dont know if you have seen many videos of the terrorist attacking us, but right before they push the detonator they always say "Alla Akbar" (God is Great). so we got this lady screaming this in the middle of her living room, and knowing what we were looking for.... my interpreter looked to me and said "oh S*&T its her!!!" I felt my blood get cold, and waited for the blast..... but it didnt happen.... it turned out that she was crazy and her husband explained that she was nuts and apologised. So on that note, I cleaned the poop out of my pants (jk) and we went on to the next house.

anyway- that is whats pop'n in my neck of the woods. If you are feeling patriotic and want to see a couple movies that can paint a pretty go picture of what is going on over here, check out "the Lucky ones" and "Hurt Locker" sorry, not sure about the rating. Of course there are Hollywood errors and drama, but it hits some real scenarios that we see a lot.

A Bitter-Sweet Day

Today was a big day. It was the first day that we put a massive dent in the war. cant go into much details, but lets just say that money feeds the beast and our team took away the pantery. It really was a day of mixed emotions. I sway that bc no later where we about to celibrate our victory back on the FOB when we heard the LTC was killed along with his entire security detail up in Mosul. Mom/Dad if you hear something on the news, be asured its not me, but we do mourn the loss of a leader. It can do a lot to the moral of a unit when their commander taken. what a shame. Cyle- my heart goes out to the loss of the CAV. He was a good man.

So it was a slap in the face and a shock back to reality from the thoughts of invisiblity. Driving around all suped up in our armor it is easy to feel like superman. To feel like you can stop bullets and have a personal forcefield around you is a common feeling. It does prove something I say over here, that if its your time, its your time. now days it is nearly impossible to see the IEDs and threats outside the wire.

It was a bitter sweet day. One step forward, and a step back.

half way mark....

Here are some pics from c-mas and my turbin that was given to me by my interpeters. The other one is when we went to the range with our iraqi counterparts. I shot one of their shot guns. The big statue is in Kurdistan in the city of Erbil. It always amazes me how we can go out street shopping in a combat zone.

The SOI or sons of iraq is a group of concerned citizens in groups of villages. So all of you that think that local iraqi dudes arent doing anything... well your still right. usually the motivation behind signing up for this duty is bc it pays better and more regular then setting up IEDs and a hell of a lot better then a sucide carbomb or vest. but the US Army is done paying them off and the iraqi army has promised to pick up the bill. Good right? Maybe. I have already told you of wasta system and most iraqi army commanders are ok with is payment transfer bc the then have another source of income to skim off of. Well, my job is to not let that happen. In-Shalla...

Have a couple of big missions coming up, should shake things up around here and add a couple of nails to the terrorist's coffen. Wish us luck.

I remember then last couple months of my mission and trying hard to not become "trunky" or think of what i would do when i return to the states. Well as i offically reach my half mark as of 2 days ago, all i have is leave in 2 months, then 2 months after that... so monterey cali i come......

Successful Elections?

Successful elections?

Well after an all day voting event I am happy to report that the elections went rather smoothly. I was located in the 7th BDE IA headquarters, acting as a liaison between coalition and Iraqi units in the south Nineveh providence. At first, when the polls opened their were some rumors of areas that security were denying voters. but it turned out to be a miscommunication. Throughout the day with minimal SIGACTS (term used to explain any IEDs/Car bombs/ect. in the area), it was deemed a success.

so why is there a question mark? Well what this means is that Iraqi security forces or the ISF have been able to prove that despite the faults, corruption, and overall weakness of the military system in their country, they were able to come together and execute a successful operation. The turn out of all parties of voters, Sunni, Shia, Kurd, marked the victory of freedom in this country. threats to vote by terrorist organizations were small and unheard. As far as my job here is concerned, we are a mission complete. the rest is just a draw down of forces.
But the question still remains, are the leaders that are put in office able to support the country's desire to be free from terror and a long insurgency? who knows the real intent of politicians...? It's in the hands of hero's within the ranks of the citizens of Iraq. The country must improve from the inside out, not by the hand of a forgein government or military. Our piece is done.

My buddy and i were discussing this very point yesterday during the elections and he said, "Clint, you and I weren't here when the war started, but we are here today when the war no longer needs us." I agreed.

Now there is still an insurgency and a successful election will be avenged by those who hate the glory of freedom. Vigilance to the end. That is the key.