Alpha Company 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion

Has officially entered the Global War on Terror.
Today at 1130 the order was read to mobilize Alpha Company 323rd MI Bn.

Their mission is to monitor activities in and around the Iraqi Theater of Operations for the purpose of providing a safe environment for all citizens and military personnel.

It is now 400 and a wake-up for the men and women of Alpha Company.

Stay safe, be strong, come home and listen to the vets.

Thank you for your service and thank you for allowing me the honor of attending your mobilization/deployment ceremony.

God protect our men and women in harm's way.

Please place Your hand upon them and grant them safe passage home.

Freepers In Iraq

You'll have to click this link to read the whole thing.

5 years of struggle has paid off. Say what you will about "why". There is no doubt that our military has done what the anti-Bush, BDS, VLWM, whining, mewling, dhimmis said could not be done. They freed a country; they provided security; they eliminated the threat whenever and wherever it raised it's ugly, perverse, civilian murdering serpent covered head.

Godspeed INDEED!!!!!!!!!

And now, the peace is evident. I have worked contracting, procurement and expediting functions on the construction of coalition camps, Iraqi Army camps and police stations, I have worked with the Ministry of Interior, mentoring and assisting the transition for their Contracting Directorate and I am now directly involved in the infrastructure reconstruction effort, which is moving along at a good clip now that the terrorists aren’t bombing everything in sight.
In less than two weeks, the Iraqis will vote again.
And that desolate airport I arrived in five years ago is a bright, bustling hive of activity, with shops, cafes and restaurants, clean restrooms and comfortable gate waiting areas.
Another 17 daily flights were recently added and more airlines are signing contracts to fly in and out of Baghdad. In just a few months, there will be direct flights to Europe by major carriers, soon to be followed by direct flights to the US.
Godspeed, Iraq and may you continue to go forward and embrace the bright light of liberty and peace.

The Truth Unpoliticized About Troop Withdrawls

Never Forget Who Started This!!!!

From my friend CJ via email this morning.

General Petraeus and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have recommended that we move forward with additional troop reductions over the next several months – continuing our policy of "return on success." With this reduction in forces, the President also announced additional troop deployments to Afghanistan.
Ø Eight thousand troops will come home from Iraq without replacement. The reduction of forces will include 3,400 combat support troops over the next several months, 1,200 Marines serving in Anbar Province, and another Army combat brigade of about 3,400 troops in early 2009. In addition, troop deployments to Iraq have been reduced to 12-month tours instead of 15. If progress continues in Iraq, General Petraeus believes that further reductions are possible in the first half of 2009.
Ø Successes in Iraq and increasing capability of Iraqi forces have allowed for a reduction in coalition troops. Many coalition partners have now completed their mission in Iraq, and more will be able to conclude their deployments this year. More than 140,000 troops from 41 countries have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and troops from Australia, Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and Ukraine have given their lives in this fight.
Ø A Marine battalion will deploy to Afghanistan in November followed by an Army combat brigade of about 3,400 troops in January 2009. During the past year, the United Kingdom, France, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Australia, Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and others have sent additional forces to support the NATO mission in Afghanistan. U.S. forces serving in Afghanistan now total 31,000, up from about 21,000 two years ago. Additionally, there are 31,000 coalition troops, an increase of about 11,000 over the past two years.
Ø The United States, Afghanistan, and our allies will nearly double the size of the Afghan National Army over the next five years. This new initiative is an international effort to help the Afghan government mobilize more forces of its own and further enable Afghan security forces to take a leading role in building a democratic Afghanistan.
The Success Of The Surge And Increased Capability Of Iraqi Security Forces Is Undeniable
Ø Anbar Province, once considered "lost," has now been reclaimed by the Iraqi people. Iraq's largest province has a mayor and functioning municipal council in almost every city. U.S.-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams are assisting local leaders in creating jobs and economic opportunities.
Ø Attacks in Anbar Province are down more than 90 percent from October 2006. The success in Anbar is a credit to Iraqi Security Forces, the local tribes, and American troops who together dismantled al Qaida's safe haven.
Ø Across Iraq, violence is at its lowest point since spring of 2004, and civilian deaths, sectarian killings, and suicide bombings are all down. Successful operations led by Iraqi Security Forces against Shia extremist groups have been conducted in Basra, Baghdad, and al-Amarah, capturing hundreds of Al Qaida fighters and extremists.
Ø Normal life is returning to Iraq, and political reconciliation is moving forward. Markets are open and full of commerce, restaurants once again can stay open late, and hundreds of doctors who fled the violence have returned to Iraq to serve the people of their country. The United States will continue working on the Strategic Framework Agreement and Status of Forces Agreement to establish bilateral relations with Iraq like those we have with dozens of other countries and to authorize multinational forces for security support.
Ø We are on the offensive in Iraq, and Iraqi Security Forces are increasingly capable. Current Iraqi-led operations are being conducted in the northern city of Mosul and in Diyala Province where al Qaida seeks refuge. While the progress in Iraq is still fragile and reversible, General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker report that there now appears to be a "degree of durability" to the gains we have made.

The Taliban And Al Qaida Will Not Be Allowed To Return To Power In Afghanistan
Ø Troop increases have made a difference in Afghanistan. Improved security is the foundation for peace as well as political and economic success in Afghanistan. The increases in the Afghan National Army, NATO, and U.S. forces will help restore basic security, which is the key to restoring the confidence of the Afghan people.
Ø America has committed over $10 billion in 2008 and 2009 for political and economic development. Unlike Iraq, there are few natural resources in Afghanistan. Its underdeveloped infrastructure, fragile democratic institutions, and ruthless attacks from the Taliban and al Qaida present huge challenges. New personnel from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the State Department's Foreign Service office will increase our civilian presence. Provincial Reconstruction Teams and Agriculture Development Teams will help Afghans fight corruption, improve governance, feed their people, and jump start their economy.
Ø Pakistan has an interest in and responsibility for defeating the Taliban and al Qaida. The Taliban and al Qaida fighters who hide in Pakistan's remote border regions pose a threat to Pakistan's future as they have recently stepped up their attacks in the region. Pakistan's new democratically elected leaders have a responsibility to govern their territory and prevent establishment of a staging ground for extremists to plot and carry out terrorist attacks.
Ø NATO and the United States are committed to working with Pakistan to fight al Qaida and the Taliban. The same terrorists who take refuge Pakistan's remote border regions and target and kill innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan are also plotting new attacks against Europe and America.
Success In Iraq And Afghanistan Is In The Interests Of The United States And Our Allies
Ø The situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is difficult. All three countries have seen violence and terror used to impose an ideology on their people. There is another way forward in the broader Middle East – freedom.
Ø Defeating our enemies requires success on both the military and ideological fronts. The courage of our Armed Forces, coalition partners, government civilians, and the Iraqi and Afghan people ensures we will prevail in the battle against the al Qaida, the Taliban, and the extremists that support and fight alongside them.
Ø America will stand by brave elected leaders, determined reformers, and millions of people who seek liberty, justice, and tolerance. There will be difficult times in the work ahead, but we can transform nations that once harbored terrorists into allies in the war on terror.

Ruminations from around the web

Courtesy of Blackfive:

First, is this piece from a UK publication on n0bama's visit to Iraq from Uncle Jimbo. The comments on Blackfive should be read.

Second, Laughing Wolf has been keeping up with Georgia and has tons of links on this post.

Third, Matt says Michael J Totten has slipped into Georgia and advises us to keep an eye on MJ's blog.

Fourth, Frontline is looking for video from Afghanistan, specifically from the 173DABN for a documentary.

More Marines Doing Good Things

From my brother Marine Major Pain, currently somewhere in Iraq:

Weapons Company 2/24 is more than "Motorized Mayhem"
Story by Sgt Benjamin Pepich

HABBANIYAH, Iraq (May 12, 2008) -- Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1 of Waukegan, Ill., helped bridge a gap in the Iraqi logistical system to provide compensation for local prospective policeman and civil operations in the North of the Al Anbar Province, May 12. Mobile Assault Platoon 3 (MAP 3) is the Iraqi Police transition team for Weapons Company. Their duties include going on partnered patrols with the emerging security forces in the area, helping them establish logistical and operational readiness, and providing them with a beacon of professionalism to emulate.

The platoon lives in a joint combat operations post with the security forces and conducts numerous trips throughout the week to the local police station to ensure that it is in good, working condition and the policemen manning the station have no reasonable qualms. MAP 3 has been tasked with this mission because their Marines and leadership have the maturity and tactical experience that is required of a partnered unit.

Today was a day that everyone enjoys, payday. The police officers have been working tenaciously for their area without pay or due compensation. They have manned posts on traffic control points, completed mounted and dismounted patrols, and most importantly kept their homes and area safe from insurgent attacks and intimidation without knowing when they were going to get paid.

However, today was a good day for the police officers because MAP 3 went through the channels of bureaucracy and locked on payment for these warriors. MAP 3 spent the day paying jubilant policemen and providing them with funding for the further protection of their station. Additionally, MAP 3 met with the local sheik and provided him with compensation for water deliveries in the area and protection of the local government center from foreign threats.

All in all, it was an extremely productive day for MAP 3. They solidified the working relationship with the local security officials and built upon their strong bond with the local political leader through providing necessary reimbursement for civil projects.

Having a platoon capable of working with the local forces and excelling at it is every commander's dream in this austere environment. MAP 3 has done an exceptional job with this task and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. The country of Iraq needs a functional and completely operational security force for the protection of their people and infrastructure. MAP 3 is the tip of the spear with this effort in Weapons Company.

Shoulda Posted This Earlier

I follow a few vox sites run by military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 1st Marine RCT 1 is in Fallajuh. They're doing good work.

This post is about the work they're doing training the women of Iraq to help defend their country.

Sisters of Fallajuh

Progress in Iraq;Water Treatment Plant Opens

More news stories of U.S. armed forces making great strides in Iraq (via: CENTCOM):

On March 26, 2008 a a ribbon-cutting ceramony marked the opening of a newly improved water treatment plant. The Mushada water treatment plant (north of Mahmudiyah, Iraq) went online to provide fresh potable water, and non-potable water, for over 60,000 Iraqis in that area.

The project was funded by the "Commander's Emergency Response Program" and was overseen by the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, of the 101st Airborne (Air Assault.)

Some statistics on the completed 5 week project:

*can produce 2.7 millions gallons of potable water.
*3.5 million galons of non-potable water.
*has built-in fuel capacity to run the station for 6 months.

There's lots more about the facility at the link above, including a surprising comparison of the water produced at Mushada as compared to the water produced in Bagdad.

I know I have said before that the main mission IS and SHOULD BE to kill the enemy and break the enemies toys, but I am also glad that we can bring some relief to a group of people who, after years of oppression from Saddam and embargos on needed supplies, surely deserves it.
May they use it in peace and good health.

Things like this make me proud of our Armed Forces, proud to be a veteran of those same forces, and angry at the people who derride and decry our young people in uniform as baby killers and murderers.

Army Proud!

Thank You 4,000

My good friend CJ, at A SoldiersPerspective has some words of wisdom on the so-called milestone we hit over the weekend. Take a look. We have 4,000 reasons to win this thing.
I stole his title. But it's OK.

The SDS is calling for increased attacks on Recruiting Centers. This is skirting the line on conspiracy to commit domestic terrorism. Too bad the assclown doesn't have guts to use his real name. Time for a real investigation, by real people.