Posted on 02/18/2006 12:28:16 AM PST by neverdem
TALL AFAR, Iraq — The last time the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment served in Iraq, in 2003-04, it was distinguished by a series of abuse cases growing out of its tour of duty in Anbar province.
But its second tour in Iraq has been very different, according to specialists in the difficult art of conducting a counterinsurgency campaign — fighting a guerrilla war but also trying to win over the population and elements of the enemy.
In the past nine months, the regiment has focused on breaking the insurgents' hold on Tall Afar, a town of 290,000.
U.S. military experts conducting an internal review of the three dozen major U.S. brigades, battalions and similar units operating in Iraq in 2005 privately concluded that of all those units, the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment performed the best at counterinsurgency, according to a source familiar with the review's findings.
The regiment's campaign began in Colorado in June 2004, when Col. H. R. McMaster took command and began to train the unit to return to Iraq.
Understanding that the key to counterinsurgency is focusing on the people, not the enemy, he said, he changed the standing orders of the regiment to state that all soldiers would "treat detainees professionally." During the unit's previous tour, a detainee was beaten to death during questioning and a unit commander carried a baseball bat that he called his "Iraqi beater."
"Every time you treat an Iraqi disrespectfully, you are working for the enemy," McMaster said he told every soldier in his command. He ordered his soldiers to stop using the term hajji as a slang term for all Iraqis, because he saw it as inaccurate and disrespectful. It means someone who has made the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
This guy is 'General' material.
Thanks for the link and comment, respectively.
'Aussie' Abrams tanks roll off line
If you want to know what that thing on the barrel is, see comment 59 of the last link.
From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
Thanks for the ping.
Does this story go with the moving thank you letter from the mayor?
it's a Bore Evacuator that vents gas outside before opening the breach and having't them all vent inside the tank.
From: Mayor of Tall ‘Afar, Ninewa, Iraq
In the Name of God the Compassionate and Merciful
To the Courageous Men and Women of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who have changed the city of Tall’ Afar from a ghost town, in which terrorists spread death and destruction, to a secure city flourishing
with life.
To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the grasp of terrorists
who were beheading men, women and children in the streets for many
months.
To those who spread smiles on the faces of our children, and gave us
restored hope, through their personal sacrifice and brave fighting, and
gavenew life to the city after hopelessness darkened our days, and
stole our confidence in our ability to reestablish our city.
Our city was the main base of operations for Abu Mousab Al Zarqawi. The city was completely held hostage in the hands of his henchmen. Our
schools, governmental services, businesses and offices were closed. Our streets were silent, and no one dared to walk them. Our people were
barricaded in their homes out of fear; death awaited them around every
corner. Terrorists occupied and controlled the only hospital in the
city. Their savagery reached such a level that they stuffed the corpses
of children with explosives and tossed them into the streets in order
to kill grieving parents attempting to retrieve the bodies of their
young. This was the situation of our city until God prepared and
delivered unto them the courageous soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry
Regiment, who liberated this city, ridding it of Zarqawi’s followers
after harsh fighting, kiling many terrorists, and forcing the
remaining butchers to flee the city like rats to the surrounding areas,
where the bravery of other 3d ACR soldiers in Sinjar, Rabiah, Zumar and
Avgani finally destroyed them.
I have met many soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment; they are
not only courageous men and women, but avenging angels sent by The God Himself to fight the evil of terrorism.
The leaders of this Regiment; COL McMaster, COL Armstrong, LTC Hickey, LTC Gibson, and LTC Reilly embody courage, strength, vision and wisdom.
Officers and soldiers alike bristle with the confidence and character
of knights in a bygone era. The mission they have accomplished, by
means of a unique military operation, stands among the finest military
feats to date in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and truly deserves to be
studied in military science. This military operation was clean, with
little collateral damage, despite the ferocity of the enemy. With the
skill and precision f surgeons they dealt with the terrorist cancers
in the city without causing unnecessary damage.
God bless this brave Regiment; God bless the families who dedicated
these brave men and women. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the families. They have given us something we will never forget. To the
families of those who have given their holy blood for our land, we all
bow to you in reverence and to the souls of your loved ones. Their
sacrifice was not in vain. They are not dead, but alive, and their
souls hovering around us every second of every minute. They will never
be forgotten for giving their precious lives. They have sacrificed that
which is most valuable. We see them in the smile of every child, and in
every flower growing in this land. Let America, their families, and the
world be proud of their sacrifice for humanity and life.
Finally, no matter how much I write or speak about this brave Regiment,
I haven’t the words to describe the courageof its officers and
soldiers. I pray to God to grant happiness and health to these
legendary heroes and their brave families.
NAJIM ABDULLAH ABID
AL-JIBOURI
Mayor of Tall ‘Afar,
Ninewa, Iraq
That letter deserves it's own thread. Thank you for posting it.
Here's a couple...in no parrticular order
Saluting the 3rd ACR
Mudville Gazette ^ | 2/13/06 | Grayhawk
Posted on 02/13/2006 8:30:14 PM CST by bnelson44
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1577960/posts
Letter from Iraq you won't find in the MSM
February 15, 2006 | Mayor of Tall ‘Afar, NAJIM ABDULLAH ABID
Posted on 02/15/2006 1:33:30 PM CST by PlainOleAmerican
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1579166/posts
American Troops Praised by Iraqi Mayor
Red State Org ^ | 2006 | Najim Abdullah Abid Al-Jibouri
Posted on 02/17/2006 1:41:02 PM CST by bornacatholic
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1580677/posts
Saluting the 3rd ACR (Update)
Mudville Gazette ^ | 2/15/06 | Mudville Gazette
Posted on 02/15/2006 7:30:50 PM CST by bnelson44
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1579400/posts
There have been a couple of favorable articles in MSM lately. Why? What is coming down? Do they fear being trapped in an obviously untenable position?
Why do I have to read this amazing letter on FR? Why not in the N.Y. Times or Wash. Post? (har)
Why is it that when I read your comments you always come across as a dem?
You have to have me mixed up with someone else. Go look at my comments and show me one, just one, where I sound like a Dem. This particular one that I made to you was a truth about how too many FReepers won't like the good news of this article, because they say the only way to win this war is to bomb everyone to smithereens and treat detainees like dirt. I disagree with those people. And I disagree with the stupid Leftist Dems and I roast them all of the time in my comments.
Dynamite! If you can, please get the date and edit out that Javascript. Post it on its own thread, please!
Thanks for the ping!
the giant mudslide of Saddam WMD files starting to roll down the mountain at the MSM like a small Filipino village.
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