Operation Arrowhead Ripper: Day One

Michael Yon ^ | 6/21/07 | Michael Yon

[bnelson44]

The first day of operation Arrowhead Ripper was intense. The Army is giving full access to the battlefield, and while on base full access to the TOC (HQ) which means I see the raw truth on the ground, and as it feeds through the TOC. They are hiding nothing. Or if they are, it’s in plain view. (Special operations notwithstanding.) A reporter can see as much as he or she can stand.

Civilian casualties are occurring, despite much discretion being used on the firing. I saw three MLRS rockets hit targets downtown today (June 20) and more were fired. Watched the video feed from the TOC as some of them hit. The targeting was perfect. Our guys had cleared out the civilians, but the enemy starts shootouts using civilians as cover. American officers are trying to account for civilian casualties; media is asking and command is still unable to answer, which of course looks like a cover-up. From what I see on the ground, there is no cover-up. The number is unknown but certainly there must be some.

[bnelson44]

War reporting just doesn't get any better than this.

[pissant]

The Murtha wing of FR will be saddened.

[bnelson44]

The heat is intense for the enemy and for us. Soldiers, during any chance, would lay-down during the heat of day, and in complete body armor and helmets, fall asleep in the dirt. I took photos of course. Our guys are tough. The enemy in Baqubah is as good as any in Iraq, and better than most. That’s saying a lot. But our guys have been systematically trapping them, and have foiled some big traps set for our guys.

[bnelson44]

ping

[pissant]

God Bless them all.

[wastedyears]

There will always and forever be civilian casualties in war, for all time to come.

[Lurker]

FYI.

Stay safe.

L

[Lurker]

FYI.

Stay safe.

L

[jveritas]

Amen. Our total victory in Iraq is drawing near, six to nine months from now and we will achieve it.

[wastedyears]

Also, if I was ‘reporting’ over in Iraq, I’d certainly come out of an armory on a base, and attach a camera to the side of a rifle. It’ll be pretty much like watching somebody play Doom, but you would see it from a soldier’s point of view. Nothing else would open your eyes like that would.

[hsalaw]

Civilians are pointing out IEDs and enemy fighters

This is excellent. Local intel combined with the strength and intelligence of our military and the Iraqi Army. We pray for the safety of our troops, and for the success of their mission.

[tillacum]

Prayers for our fighting forces. Bless each one of them. The brave alqueda using civilians as shields, again. Thanks to Mike Yon for this great article.

[tillacum]

Prayers for our fighting forces. Bless each one of them. The brave alqueda using civilians as shields, again. Thanks to Mike Yon for this great article.

[tillacum]

Sorry for the double post.

[Joe 6-pack]

"There will always and forever be civilian casualties in war, for all time to come."

Of course you're right. All of our politicians and entirely too many of our military personnel have forgotten the lessons of the past. I seriously think a bad precedent was set when our War Department was renamed after WWII. We would do well to keep in mind the following observation, made well over 100 years ago:

"Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster."

- William T. Sherman

[LearsFool]

"...al Qaeda, unless they find a way to escape, are about to be slaughtered. Nobody is dropping leaflets asking them to surrender. Our guys want to kill them, and that’s the plan."

Outstanding! Get it on and get it settled.

[Marine_Uncle]

Prayers for our troops as well as those Iraqi that now realize the price of freedom is great. But in the end run beats having one's wife raped or worse.
I cannot help but think this operation may go on for many weeks or more. Then be proceeded by similiar operations once Intel does it's evaluations (often in real time).
We must always bear in mind there are a hell of a lot of Saddam Fedayeen and others, including some of the hard core Sunni groups that still will resists, and kill whenever they can arrange such actions.
The goal most likely here is to obviously wipe out as much of al Qaeda as one can in the shortest time frame, and continue to bolster the Iraqi forces up, e.g. nothing like success in trial by fire.
And if Maliki's government can show they will continue to approach all the factions where it makes sense to, perhaps more Iraqi still in the insurgent end may become neutral and or turn to the government side.
One cannot expect Iraqi that have been abandoned thus far to simply cross the line unless enough good will with follow up aid is provided.
But certainly I do not downplay the great gains we and the Iraqi military are now making. Al Qaeda is literally doomed in Iraq. Their real last strong hold. Iraq was to easy and fertile a ground for them to operate out of, where Iran and Syria and other Muslim nations could provide aid to the goons.
If they go down hard in Iraq, then more Arabs as well as Persians are going to wonder if continued resitance for an ideology that keeps them in the gutter is worth while.

[jazusamo]

Excellent article by Yon and very good news, especially that many Iraqi’s are giving intel. Enough praise for our troops cannot be given, bless them all.

Thanks for the ping, pissant.

[lilycicero]

I thank God each evening when I go to sleep in a bed. I try not to take anything for granted and hope that these dirt rests will end soon for our troops.

[RedRover]

Bump, j!