TEMPO DOWN AS DESERT SCORPION CONTINUES

United States Central Command ^ | 21 June 2003 | Operations Staff

[45Auto]

The high level of activity of recent days reduced as Coalition forces continue Operation Desert Scorpion.

Scorpion Combat Operations are:

The 1st Armored Division executed offensive actions in Baghdad conducting six raids and detaining 22 individuals. The unit seized nine rifles, eight pistols, three knives, two boxes of grenades, one bomb and three 127mm rounds.

The 4th Infantry Division operating in an area ranging from Kirkuk in the north to Taji in the south conducted three raids and detained three individuals. The unit seized three AK-47s, one mortar site and one Dragonov night site.

Among humanitarian assistance delivered June 20 was:

The 101st Airborne Division continue work rebuilding drainage ditches and renovating the Mayor’s office in Makhmur, along with rebuilding at kindergarten schools.

The 4th Infantry Division placed a contract for playground equipment and a retaining wall for a school in their area, assisted a general hospital with $1,000 drug and supply purchase and purchased an ambulance.

The 3rd Infantry Division coordinated a trash collection service and removed 64 loads of trash from Fallujah. They continue to work with the municipality to re-establish a waste collection system.

The 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment passed out school supplies to the local schools in the eastern part of Iraq.

Operation Desert Scorpion was created to neutralize non-compliant influences in order to create a secure environment and concurrently provide support to the local government and assist with the economic growth.

[45Auto]

Seems to me that some of this crap can be done by the Iraqis themselves; why the hell does the US taxpayer have to foot the bill so crack troops from the 101st have to be deployed building a kindergarten? And just how is it that the 3rd Infantry Division are now trash collectors???? A hell of a waste of combat troops, in my opinion.

[demlosers]

To win the hearts and minds. Help create a stable Iraq. Time to send in the peace corp.

[Old Sarge]

Auto, I've spoken with a few of the guys who got back not long ago.

These folks literally have nothing! Barter economy, food for stuff. The troops were trading MRE's for things on the local economy. The Iraqis are grateful for every blessed thing we've brought with us. Including a chance for freedom.

SOme of our guys are probably happy to make a trash run than doing a blind-search through a building...

[Rennes Templar]

I saw a piece on the news the other day where Iraqis were standing around, arms folded, while US troops cleaned up debris and garbage near a school so the children could return. These people are so dependent upon the former regime its going to take a long time for them to learn to be self-sufficient.

[templar]

The 1st Armored Division executed offensive actions in Baghdad conducting six raids and detaining 22 individuals. The unit seized nine rifles, eight pistols, three knives, two boxes of grenades, one bomb and three 127mm rounds.

The 4th Infantry Division operating in an area ranging from Kirkuk in the north to Taji in the south conducted three raids and detained three individuals. The unit seized three AK-47s, one mortar site and one Dragonov night site.

Wonder what a sweep of D.C would turn up, for comparison.

BTW, to make sense of the statement, I'm assuming that "site" should be "sight".

[MEG33]

God bless our troops in all they must tackle.

[blam]

"I saw a piece on the news the other day where Iraqis were standing around, arms folded, while US troops cleaned up debris and garbage near a school so the children could return. "

Go downtown in most major US cities and you'll see the same thing. I've read that in the 'projects' in Chicago, the tenents are paid to take the garbage/trash out of their own apartments. They refused do it otherwise.

[blam]

I'm reminded of a story told by a WW2 grunt, one of the few who made the treck up Italy, across France and into Germany.
He said that as they cleared each German city, with fighting still in the distance, the German people were already out in the streets sweeping and reparing things while the French and Italians were still hanging around waiting for 'help' to arrive.

Sounds like there are some cultural diferences everywhere.

[zarf]

I wa thinking the same thing. The inner cities of America are probably more dangerous than anything in Iraq .