The next posting from Michael J. Totten
Michael J. Totten is back with another post about the transition going on in Iraq. Again a good article with some very good insight.
Below are a few blurbs from his article… again a good read I would suggest for all
The United States military plans to formally hand over Anbar Province to the Iraqis this spring because the insurgency truly is finished in that part of the country. Most Americans have heard about the success in this province by now, but few seem to be aware that the cities of Anbar were the scenes of the most ferocious fighting: Ramadi, Haditha, and – worst of all – Fallujah.
“We’ve already seen a pretty significant difference,” Specialist Brian Henderson said. “When we first got here and went on patrols with the guys from the Dubat station they were just looking around. Now they’re trying to work on their intervals, their staggers, the stuff that we’ve taught them. They’re putting this stuff into play more and more.”
“That’s one of the things we do here,” Specialist Alan Martin said. “This station is pretty well-established. Someone takes account of all their weapons. They had problems with Iraqi Police giving their weapons away to family members because they thought they were gifts. Same with vehicles and stuff like that. Now they’re keeping a count of them and making them sign for them, letting them know they’re accountable.”
The food at these stations in terrible. You’re lucky if you can scrounge up a microwaved hot pocket or pizza. Usually we were stuck with tasteless and over-cooked “chow” that spent months or even years in cardboard boxes stacked in the pantry. Steaks are cooked in boiling water. Corn is canned, of course. The macaroni and cheese is so bland it doesn’t even work as plausible comfort food. Barbecued ribs are all bone. Meals in Iraq prepared by Marines at small stations gave me a real appreciation for food served in the gigantic D-FACs (dining facilities) at Camp Fallujah. And food at Camp Fallujah’s D-FACs makes dinner at Denny’s sound awesome.
Embedding with the military in Baghdad and Fallujah has given me a deeper appreciation for the comforts of modern civilization than I would have thought possible when I was younger.
Also he has posted a story about Moammar Qaddafi’s son Seif al-Islam and a link to an old photo tour of Lybia, and if you think that they are on our side you are wrong…
Just a couple of stories that we need to keep our eyes on ….
February 5th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I agree that Libya is not on our side, but now they are not actively and intentionally against us. Right now, they’re mostly just seething and steaming, and wishing they could go against us.
We need to show the Iranians why the Libyans feel this way, and prove to them that it is their best course as well.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:29 am
The photos were awesome.
He is a good writer also. Thanks for posting.