June 30

Above, me, Staff Colonel Mohsen (my IA Brigade Commander), and LTC Jack Mellott, the Commander of 1st Battalion, 120th Combined Arms Battalion (North Carolina National Guard), the Coalition unit I am attached to, during a recent early morning neighborhood clearance operation.

The 30th of June was a big day for Iraq. It was the day that US forces were required to be out of the cities. Luckily for us, Mahmudiya doesn't really qualify as one of the bigger cities, so we still enjoy some freedom of movement. We do, however, make a conscious effort to adhere to the rules of the Status of Forces Agreement: All operations must be combined, which we have actually been doing for some time now.

The Iraqis are completely in the lead now, and they are doing a great job. The things you hear on the news are isolated spectacular attacks designed to scare people and disrupt the Government. (Editorial note: Northern Iraq is a different story. I can only tell you what it's like where I am.) Insurgents do get lucky from time to time. What the people are starting to get is that the insurgent movements don't have anything to offer the people, so they are not as easily swayed.

Tonight, the Iraqi soccer team defeated the Palestinian team 4-0 in Baghdad. It was a record crowd, as the stadium, built in 1966, had not been used for a big game since 2003. Admission was free tonight, and the Iraqi team victory may have been a symbol of Iraq's continuing progress. It is not always easy progress, and it is usually a bit on the ugly side, but at least it is moving forward.

Following our early morning operations, sometimes breakfast shows up. Here we are, getting fat (and sometimes mild dysentery). This is usually when we get our best mentoring and suggestions heard.

In my opinion, the 30 June mandate is what they needed, and it gives us license to empower the security forces.

The slightly unfortunate part is that some American units aren't quite ready to let go and give responsibility to the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). Some remember 2004-2005 when we tried it, and some remember the 21 soldiers killed in combat actions in and around Mahmudiya in 2006.

But I think it's time, at least for this area. We'll see.

Take care-

Ron

Hope you are well- take care.

Ron