Posted on 03/12/2007 6:58:28 PM PDT by TADSLOS
For some American troops in Iraq, the “surge” has meant quickly finding — and securing — new bases from which to operate in urban areas.
Under the plan announced by President Bush in early January, scores of American combat units are taking up bases in the hearts of cities scarred by the insurgency. In the Baghdad district of Rustamiyah, for example, troops from Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division found themselves living in their Humvees in a palm grove.
That temporary camp was replaced when the troops found a more permanent home in an abandoned building in Rustamiyah, southeast of Sadr City.
“It was a difficult sell to the soldiers, where, on [Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah] they are relatively safe, to come out here, where they always have to keep their guard up,” Capt. Joseph Rosen, the company commander, was quoted as saying in a military news release.
The new operating base for Company C turned out to be a former snack packaging plant that had been used as a base for insurgents, officials said. When the insurgents abandoned the building they burned most of it; some of the building was still on fire when the U.S. troops moved in, soldiers said.
(Excerpt) Read more at estripes.com ...
Real grunts love it
So what else is new?
This is a good thing. The Iraqi people want the U.S. and Iraqi troops among them. For the last month when the "surge kicked off, our soldiers and Marines have been living side by side with the people. It is paying off with better intel, leading to the elimination or capture of alot of jihadis. This is what will turn the tide.
Wow, is the Stars and Stripes (the newspaper) trying to imply that soldiers are enduring hardships? Ok, and the point is? As a soldier who has been to Iraq and Afghanistan, I know what it's like to "rough" it. We did it for the first few months in Iraq with little to no electricity, no phone, no walls to hide behind. It made us better soldiers. No complacency. Try spending 6 nights in the mountains of Afghanistan after being dropped off in Chinooks with only a C-130 dropping you supplies. No vehicles, just boots. My point is, this is exactly what is expected of us soldiers. WWI and WWII, Vietnam, and Korea vets did it, so why can't we be expected to do it. I wish all media outlets (including pro-War on Terror) would stop treating soldiers as if we need cupcakes and air conditioning. We don't. We do, however need to get the job done, and that's what these hardships will help accomplish. God Bless America!!!
Hooah!
The stereotype is that if you want good treatment, join the USAF. Or join the Army if you don't mind having crappy conditions. I don't know, that was a major reason why I joined Army and not Air Force (not disrespect intended).
The stereotype is that if you want good treatment, join the USAF. Or join the Army if you don't mind having crappy conditions. I don't know, that was a major reason why I joined Army and not Air Force (not disrespect intended).
The stereotype is that if you want good treatment, join the USAF. Or join the Army if you don't mind having crappy conditions. I don't know, that was a major reason why I joined Army and not Air Force (not disrespect intended).
In any story on the Iraq war, any time a writer refers to the surge as a "surge", in quotes, I consider that as permission to refer to him/her as a "reporter" practicing "journalism".
Oh please, after a week nobody loves that crap.
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