Traveler

Our last month of life on Adder was spent monitoring the security situation in our area-- things were quiet, and we were ok with that. Most of the Iranian-backed groups called off the attacks and the money flowing from Iran had stopped. Remaining groups- really there was only one- attempted some attacks but without funding or munitions, they were left to make do with that they had in country. In our area it was largely quiet, but north of us around Karbala seemed to be more active. Baghdad was still occasionally eventful, even though we had closed Victory Base on 2 December. I believe we could attribute some of the quietness to the local sheiks who kept a lid on things. All the efforts 2-82 FA did throughout the year working with them paid off.

Our chow hall closed on 20 November, a couple of days before Thanksgiving. We did this to allow the people who worked there (all third country national contractors hired through KBR) to get out and to get their equipment out. We also closed it early to help 'influence' the large US civilian contractor population on Adder to leave. It worked, and in about 20 days we went from a population of 11,000 to around 1000.

The final days resembled Zombieland or a scene from I Am Legend, where there were tons of empty buildings. If you needed something, you just grabbed it out of an empty building, to include vehicles. A base of 11,000 needed the support of around 900 civilian cars and trucks that were not going to be taken back to the states, and were going to be "FEPPed." FEPP stood for Foreign Excess Property Program, which was where we signed over equipment and facilities to the Government of Iraq, and it became a verb. We "FEPPed" a lot of stuff, but with good cause-- It would have cost the government more money to ship it back home or someplace else than to just leave it in place for the Government of Iraq, and most of it wasn't in that good of shape anyway. The fun part about being some of the last folks on Adder was that if you didn't like what you were driving, upgrades were free. By time the last day rolled around, I was driving a pretty spiffy like new 2010 Chevy 2500.

As we got closer to the 18th, the day we planned on leaving, we solidified our plan. The base was signed over to the Iraqis on the 16th with a caveat that they could not come on in force until we left. The Division we were with was flying its last personnel out on the night of the 17th, and the Air Force had a residual force of around 200 they had to keep around until the end. We had to maintain perimeter security of the airfield until they left, which proved a bit problematic when we found out another C-130 full of media would be a part of the final festivities as well. Also complicating our preparation was GEN Austin, who wanted to fly in and talk to the Soldiers doing the final convoy. I had no issue with him-- a) he's a pretty big general will do whatever he wants, and b) his purpose as the Commander of US Forces in Iraq gave him purpose to be there. I think he would have been fine without the media circus, which consisted of about 30 media personalities and crews on the C-130, but as this was a historic moment, it was necessary for them to document the occasion. They could have left Geraldo home, though. Several other generals arrived that night, all thinking they too needed to be a part of this last moment. Some had legitimate purpose, and some didn't. After a couple of hours of pageantry, we finally got all of them loaded up and on the way, except for the C17 carrying the Air Force-- seems they needed an additional hour and a half to take some final pictures with the two Air Force generals they flew in, which delayed our perimeter collapse. I read the Stars and Stripes article the next day touting how these were 'the last airmen in Iraq,' which was a false statement -Airman Holliday, one of our JTACs (Joint Termial Attack Controller- the Air Force guys on the ground who control attack aircraft) who drove out on the last serial was the last Airman in Iraq, not some General who flew out.

Finally they all left, and it was just the final convoy consisting of 129 vehicles and around 500 personnel, all consolidated in the southwest corner of Adder known as the Convoy Support Center (CSC). The mood was jovial, and most were relaxed but focused as they went about their final preparations and checks. Joining us were some embedded media, approximately 15 or so, including some notable personalities such as Greg Jaffe, Martha Radditz, Chris Engels, Jim Alelrod, Rebecca Santana, and Martin Savidge and my good buddy Geraldo (Note: The Geraldo part is sarcasm). Most of them were great; Martha Radditz wrote a book on the Brigade when it was in Sadr City in 2004, Greg Jaffe does a great job of telling the Soldier's story, and Jim Axelrod was good to deal with.

As the checks and interviews went on, the Iraqis went about consolidating their gains. The base was designated to go to the Iraqi Air Force, but this was a big base for the five or six prop planes that currently resided on Adder. There was a small Iraqi Air Force contingent that lived on the base, but it was dwarfed by the size of Adder. This small force wasted no time in sweeping up abandoned vehicles and grabbing furniture, water, fuel, and pretty much anything else that wasn't nailed down. Iraqis in general were very interested in our trash-- I have a good story on this, but I'll save it for another day.



The plan for the ride out was to move in five serials separated by time. We estimated the drive would take 4-5 hours, and we got a great deal of assistance with enablers as the last element left. To give you an idea, we were allocated nine Predator drones for our approximately 200km drive. I went all year starving for Predator coverage, and would sometimes get one for only a couple of hours, but here I was with nine. Our S2, FSO (Fire Support Officer) and ALO (Air Liaison Officer-- an Air Force pilot on the ground who chiefs the JTACs and controls air) days prior all put together a plan for how to manage airspace for attack aviation, surveillance aircraft, and drones. We had over 45 aircraft stacked from 600 feet to 31,000 feet, all watching us drive out. We asked for C2 aircraft (a set of UH60s specially configured with a slew of communications equipment) and got them. They even came with a whole bunch of guys from an unnamed national guard unit who all wanted to be a part of the last operation in Iraq.

We had a lot of help in getting out, and there was no shortage of assets or units offering assistance. The MacKay Logistics Planning Principle #1 did not apply (figure out what you need, then double it because you will get half); we asked for a lot and got everything we ever needed. I think I could have asked for the space shuttle and a company of Jawas and probably would have received them in Direct Support to us.



I rode out in a C2OTM (Command and Control On The Move). It was a specially configured MRAP with secure and unsecure computer networks, secure and unsecure phones, Blue Force Tracker (system allowing us to see who's where and send messages). With this network we could do everything-- phone, email, secure chat, all on the move-- allegedly. It worked great when parked, but I think they need to go back and relook the "on the move" part. In the truck with me was our ALO and another communications Soldier, plus a driver and TC (truck commander). One of our embedded photographers snapped this picture right before we closed the door.



At 0739 on 18 December the last US vehicle of 129 crossed the Iraq/Kuwait border and the code word "Traveler" was called over the net. With that, America's occupation of Iraq was over. We'd like to think we made a difference, I believe we meant well. While the reasoning to go to war was suspect and will be debated for years, we'd like to think we made a difference. In the big picture, US forces overthrew a brutal dictator who killed thousands of his own people, and we gave the Iraqi people a choice in deciding who is their leader. We spent $230 billion in reconstruction projects and infrastructure improvements, and you could say the "Arab Spring" of people demanding accountability from dictatorial governments in the mideast world was a by-product of the US intervention, in that it showed people could speak their mind.

Since I have been home, lots of people have asked "what do you think will happen?" I don't have a crystal ball, but I'll make a prediction. It's time for Iraq to grow into what it will become. Maliki will continue his consolidation of power largely unchecked. There will continue to be some Sunni-Shia violence, some of it spectacular, but I think most Iraqis are tired of large scale sectarian violence. I don't think it will return to 2006 levels of sectarianism, but certainly there will be some. Iraq's next big hurdle will be its next set of elections, and if it can get the oil flowing consistently enough to generate foreign investment and income, I think Iraq has tremendous potential. I think we'll be back there in five years in a training capacity (with other objectives as our proxy war with Iran continues). I don't know enough about northern Iraq to make a prediction. But I'm sure it will be as complicated as possible. I do know whatever evolves, I am certain I won't be a part of it.

Doing the blog has been a good way to keep things in perspective. Thanks for reading, and hope your 2012 will be great.

Ron

Lots of potential with this thing if it works.

Thanksgiving

A rare shot of the elusive Ronald of Arabia...

Thanksgiving was good. We actually had the big meal last Sunday, which was the last day our dining facility (DFAC) was open. For a bunch of contracted KBR subcontracted Pakistani dudes who have never seen a turkey, they blew it up pretty good. It was missing some key things, as we ran out of a bunch of stuff towards the end of the existence of the DFAC, as this was the last meal for our FOB. Somewhere they got a big ice sculpture, too.

For the actual day, we canceled our morning meetings and took a break. Since Sunday we've been on MREs and whatever food people had ratholed away from care packages (mail stopped in mid-October) and sundries people muled out of the chow hall when it was open. Today we did all get together for a UGR-E meal (Unit Ground Ration-E; I don't know what the E stands for-- expeditionary??). UGR-Es heat themselves and serve 10-12. They aren't bad, and the change of pace is nice. We've only got a few of these to tide us over before we leave to break up the MRE experience. Here's a picture of our First Sergeant serving us Thanksgiving "dinner." This is his 5th deployment since 2001.

We had a general come talk to us. Guess he thought the chow hall was going to be open and he was going to get to eat chow with us, but the joke was on him. He noted it stinks to spend a holiday away from family, but he asked us to think about what we did here. In eight years we overthrew a dictator and gave people an opporunity to decide for themselves. He also noted there are consequences to that decision, and that we certainly haven't done everything right, but at least the people have a voice and a chance to fix things themselves. Our commitment, made in June of 2008, was to leave by December 31st 2011, and we're on track to do just that. We've done it quietly, without fanfare, we've done it in contact, and we've done it as responsibly as we possibly can. He noted we've never done anything like this-- we're still in Germany, Japan, and Korea, and even Bosnia. When you put it in context, it's significant, although right now it feels like any other day, just less busy.

The words were interesting, and it makes you wonder what will happen. We'll see.

One thing I do want to see is Arkansas vs. LSU, and if everything goes well, we're going to watch it tomorrow night. WPS!!!!

Hope you and your families all had a good Thanksgiving. Take care-

Ron

Veterans Day

The Division we work for tasks units to provide an answer to the question "What Makes Me Strong?" They put the best answer on the Division home page. It's a take on the Army advertising campaign of "Army Strong." Some are inspiring, some are goofy, some are just plain dumb.

But Private First Class Gunn, one of the Soldiers who works in our Headquarters, hit one out of the park with this reflection on Veterans Day:

"Veterans make me strong. Knowing they have fought before me whether they volunteered or were drafted, seeing them stand and salute the flag just as I do makes me strong. It makes me feel honored that I have a right to follow in their footsteps. To have the ability to make sacrifices like them gives me strength. I am stronger when a veteran comes to me and tells me "thank you for your service" after shaking my hand, when all I want to do is shake their hand and thank them for their service. I vividly remember veterans marching down the field during my OSUT Graduation . The proud veterans walked, used canes, and some were in wheelchairs, but it didn't matter to me because watching them made me stronger. Watching them on that day, made me realize that you can do anything if you believe in yourself and believe in your country. It was visible on that day they were proud to have served their country, just as I am today. Now in support of Operation New Dawn, I fight for our country just as they did in previous wars. I know that they believe in me and it makes me strong. The Veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our country, give me strength and pride to carry on."

Guys like this make me love going to work.

Veterans Day is not about the 'Occupy 99%' wackers, or Kim Kardashian's train wreck stunt marriage, or Veterans Day sales at department stores, or Real Housewives of New Jersey, or a chance to make a fool of yourself at a bar or a club because you got a day off. It's not about NBA strikes, Terrell Owens' inability to find a football team that will put up with him, or The Martyr Tupac, or any other made up heroes. It's about humble men and women who answered a call to serve so others could enjoy a good life.

Veterans Day is about the real "Less Than 1%" who make a difference so we don't have to, so take a moment today to say thanks, appreciate the cost of their sacrifice, and then go do some good.

Cheers to those who have served-- It's been an honor to be alongside you.

Somebody figured it out

The past two weeks have been interesting in that we saw the end state of negotiations between the US Government and Iraq over an extended US Troop presence. The sticking point, as you may recall, was immunity for US Forces left, which Maliki balked at.


I don't blame him. He actually comes out looking pretty good here. He stood up to The Infidel by drawing his line in the sand, which made the Shiites in the south happy (and also Iran). Then he rounded up a whole bunch of former Sunni Ba'athists (Saddam's old party) and he continues to hold them on grounds that they were plotting to overthrow the government. Now the Sunnis out in Anbar are threatening to overthrow the government, or at least secede. I don't have a lot of visibility over what's happening in the north, but the Kurds are angry, and the Turkish Army occasionally raids into Iraq to clean up a Turks vs. Kurdish mess from time to time.


I love this country.




The messed up part is all along our higher headquarters seemed to think the Iraqis would ask us to stay, and all would be right with the world. Now that the Iraqi Government served up some humble pie and eviction orders, our higher headquarters is scrambling a bit, as they planned the easy course of action (stay) as opposed to the hard course of action (pack it up).


So how do you get eight years of stuff (MAN, we spent a lot of money here) out of a country really fast, and how do you cajole a contracting support element consisting of an almost 1:1 Soldier to contractor ratio to get out? Essentially we have to figure out how to get 12,000 people off of the base in 30 days. The Soldiers are the easy part-- cut some redeployment orders, order up a plane, and send them on the way. Not many complain. But lots of our civilian contractor-folks are learning the hard way that the Uncle Sugar contracting gravy train is over, but they hang on to the end as long as possible, jumping from FOB to FOB, trying to stay until the last month and get the last check. Some of the people walking around our base haven't been home since 2003 (and some of them look it). I often wonder who they are hiding from, who they owe money to, or what their story is. So the challenge becomes how do we get them to leave?


Back in a previous post, I suggested closing the dining facilities, canceling Salsa Night, and shutting down the PX so Mr. KBR Swole dude who spends 3+ hours in the gym a day can't get his supplements. It's come to that-- 1 November brought about the close of the PX, the gym is now run by Soldiers, and soon the days of four hot meals will turn into all of the MREs you can eat. The chow part alone, we figure, should thin the herd. We already lost incoming mail (thanks to the USPS for cutting the APO off two weeks early), and I expect the internet to go in a couple of weeks (gotta figure out a new RonaldofArabia strategy...).

Some say Obama is responsible for this. The people who bring up the Obama credit theory don't seem to like the fact that the security agreement was negotiated in 2008 which noted all US forces had to be out of Iraq by December 31, 2011, by the Bush Administration.


I'm not complaining. While some of our higher leadership thinks we should stay, I believe we have to leave in order to let Iraq become whatever it will become. I see lots of parallels to the US revolution and its subsequent struggles with forming and operating a government, and it's time for Iraq to figure it out. I don't know what it will look like, but initially I predict a hot mess, but as long as the oil continues to flow and the economy gets going, it might be ok.

Stay tuned-- we're getting ready to re-enact an episode of The Clampetts...

RM

Walks

I've taken some good walks so far in life, and lots of them had significant impacts on how I saw things, how I viewed future challenges, and how life impacted me.

I guess the high school graduation walk across the stage is a big deal, as is graduation from college, but bigger walks for me were the time I left home and got on a bus to go to Basic Training, and the time I walked down the sidewalk and took my first salute as an Officer from a good friend. Those meant more to me than a diploma, and those experiences came with their own educations not available in any classroom.

Walking in the front door of your new house is a good walk. Interesting to think of its newness, and you can't help but wonder what it will look like in 20 years, or what memories will come with it. We're on our third, and each has been a great home.

The Manchu Mile is a 25 mile roadmarch in Korea-- If you aren't going up, you are going down. Walked that one twice. I thought a lot about all those guys in Korea from 1950-1953 and how miserable that war must have been. Humbling what they went through so we could live a good life.

My Spur Ride. Don't know why they call it a ride, I walked an awful lot, and it was a fairly miserable experience. Crawled a good bit of it too. But it was neat to be 'in the club' after it was over with.

I walked through a swamp once, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Ick. I threw away my boots after that exercise, as they smelled so bad. Walked across a couple of deserts, too, in both hot and cold. I'd prefer to walk in the mountains, and someday I'm going to walk the Appalacian Trail. Even walked on a glacier once.

I walked up to a lady and presented the flag from her son's coffin to her and told her thanks for her son's service to the nation. Her son was the loader on my tank.

I ran most of the Austin Marathon in 2006. I did in fact see Jesus Christ at the corner of I think MLK and Congress, it was by the Bob Bullock Museum. I can say I ran a pretty good chunk of that one, but the cool part was when my at-the-time 9-year old daughter jumped out from the crowd and ran the last 200 meters with me. That part was pretty cool.

The last few steps through an airport or coming home from a deployment are pretty neat. Good chance to reflect on what you did, but there's some worries of how you'll be able to get back to normal. This one comes with its own anxieties, but you are happy to get home and restart whatever normal is. The hugs are always the best.

But probably the walk that most influenced me in the long term was one I didn't take, but watched instead, and that was the day Shannon walked down the aisle and married me, and she did it 15 years ago today (October 12th). Although I've only been home for about a third of it, and every marriage has its ups and downs, I'm sure glad she took that walk. I'm looking forward to talking a walk with her again soon, once this trip is done.

Happy anniversary to the wife-- thanks for sticking by me, for enduring some of the walks I wanted and needed to take, and thanks in advance for the walks we have ahead of us.

Love ya.

Ron

Progress

How do you define progress and what's the calendar measure that shows good enough is good enough?

Reflections in the media, intelligence from bad guys, theories by higher entities and discussions with peers all indicate progress:

**Helped the Iraqis get rid of an old Iraqi chemical rocket that was making people sick far north of here recently in Halabcha. The rocket was fired by Saddam's army against the Kurdish people in 1983 or so. The locals found it and they asked for help.

**Bad guys claim we are bringing poisonous snakes and alligators to southern Iraq. Cobras, in fact. They also allege we are attacking ourselves to create an artifical threat as an excuse to stay. Has it come to this? Is this the best insurgents have to offer now? What's next, momma jokes? Nope, sorry-- not us. We're packing up, unless you ask us to stay, but you have to ask. After all-- it's your country (which we helped you build, saved once from an ugly civil war, then gave back to you. Again.)

**For the month of August, Iraq pumped 68 million barrels of oil worth $7 billion. Money went to the Government. Provinces are passing budgets filled with civil works projects and stuff is getting built. Is there still corruption? Yep. But have you looked at our own campaign financing or our banking industry lately?

**Sadr and other insurgent groups spout hate against the US and disgruntlement against the Government of Iraq over the internet. Television and print media is also openly critical of the Government. Prior to the US invasion, comments against the government got you 'disappeared.' Today Sadr stokes the fire against the force that gave him the freedom and the mechanism to express discord against the government, and you could link the Arab Spring of grassroots revolutions to demand accountability of governments to events in Iraq. (Granted, it's a stretch.)

**When I took this job, everyone said 'don't get sucked into Maysan.' Maysan has a very strong Iranian influence, and lots of the accelerants that get used in Iraq come by way of Maysan. Provincial governor and police forces there are openly anti-US. We got sucked in anyway. And after a lot of swinging, influencing, and cajoling, we helped orchestrate bad things happening to bad people. The tide turned (with no doubt a lot of additional political haggling on a level I'll never understand). Our efforts there aren't by any means the sole reason for progerss there, but things are moving in a positive direction at the hands of Iraqis.

**Oh yeah- we got rid of a dictator who killed lots of people indiscriminately.

Don't get me wrong-- the place is still a dump full of crazy, and it has a long way to go. But it's a dump with potential. Extremism isn't dead-- but is it extremism or just political activism done the only way they know how? Sometimes our eye for progress is short sighted, and if this thing works, Iraq is on the road to be a major stakeholder in the next 10 years.

Will we stay or go? Dunno. But we're running out of time, and sometimes not making a decision is deciding.

The clock ticks on...

Ron

10 Years: On the Soap Box Again

Everyone easily remembers where they were that day and what happened. And today, 10 years later, we recall the event, attend ceremonies, and watch tributes on TV, sporting event tributes as well.

Tributes are nice, but I struggle with how to react to those. On one hand, it's nice folks take the time out of their busy Sunday at the football game, where they paid a lot of money to see a bunch of guys who get paid LOTS of money to play a game, and idolize them along the way. I stole a post about this a couple of months ago, about how we are paying tribute to the wrong heroes. Kids today aspire to be sports stars, reality TV 'heroes,' celebrities. My point is while these ceremonies are nice, they are still about us and our self-centeredness, highlighting how 'we' feel, as opposed to events or opportunities where people can truly do good and help each other, or make a difference.

Our security at local, state, and national level is outsourced. We expect fire, rescue, police, FEMA, "The Government," and national security elements to take care of us and be there all the time, and when they aren't, we immediately look for someone to blame. After all-- we are ENTITLED! We make ourselves feel better by telling the 1% of the nation who serve "thanks for your service," but when asked if they or their sons and daughters would ever consider joining the military they react adversely, "oh no, not my child-- they are too good for that/it's too dangerous/my child deserves bigger and better things/plenty of others will do it" (actual statements told to me by parents when I worked recruiting events as an ROTC instructor). While it's great to be appreciated, the nation needs people to step up on many levels for our society to truly be great. When local, state, and federal government fail to meet our expectations, our first instinct is to shirk personal responsibility as opposed to getting involved and attempting to fix the problem. "I don't have time-- Real Housewives of New Jersey is on..."

We can name the athletes on our our fantasy football team, Who's on the Hills, and who the last American Idol was, but most of America can't name one Medal of Honor recipient- dead or alive. Most don't know their US representation in congress-- we're ok with complaining about "them" but I'd argue most don't know who "them" are. They have nice pensions, though.

In the 10 years since the planes crashed, there have been lots of unknowns, busy days and nights, lots of time away from home and family. Some have given much more, including lives and body parts, and they continue to do so. In the end, efforts prevailed, and Osama is dead. Saying thanks is nice, but instead of just going to a ceremony, or taking a moment of silence, make an extra effort-- Donate to the USO, the Wounded Warrior Project, The Fischer House, or your local fire or police charity. Teach your kids to get involved in Government, and know what is going on, more than what's covered on CNN. A free society comes with responsibility.

While this is extreme, I am proud of my country, and I think people are genuinely good. I still get goosebumps at Taps, and I still get a tear at the hearing of the national anthem. If we could get America to do that, I think most of those who serve would tell you it would all truly be worth the sacrifices.

Cheers to those we lost that day, and those we have lost since then making it right.

Ron

3000

3000 is the number being tossed around in the media concerning a residual force to remain in Iraq past 31 December, at least as of yesterday. This is in contrast to statements made by Prime Minister Maliki, who has said zero means zero, and all US forces must leave.

It seems our National Command Authority has a communications problem, as today they were backpedalling and stated that wasn't the official number. Wonder if we asked the Iraqis.

Regardless, our limbo continues, although we think we have a pretty good idea what the future means for us. Just no one has told us for sure yet.

This link http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/world/middleeast/01iraq.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=michael%20schmidt&st=cse is a story about the month of August, where we didn't lose a single Soldier. It is moderately accurate. Granted, Ramadan helped us out, but we are seeing the positive effects of a couple of months of hard work. The bad guys helped out, too, but we'll take it. We are somewhat wondering what caused the switch, but we're ok with the results.

The 3000 number and the insistence to stay reminds me of a quote I think I mentioned earlier in the blog a couple of months ago. A Squadron Commander noted over dinner one night that Americans are great at starting things and getting things done. Americans fix things; it's in our nature to try to keep making things better. We are, however, horrible at stopping, and quite frankly we're not really good at figuring out what we want things to look like when we think we are done with them. We just keep fixing stuff.

Sorry for the lack of update. Should have some better stuff to write about as this thing winds down, at least for us.

Ron

Dear Congress, I'd like to talk to you about military retirement

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-rewrite-the-rules-for-military-retirement/2011/08/16/gIQAk1IMQJ_story.html

I have been contemplating a blog on the debate over changing the military's retirement system.

Betcha didn't know they were even thinking of changing it. But you knew Kim Kardashian was getting hitched this weekend (again), huh? Mr. Bacevitch (a veteran) raises some good, rational points. Most of my points are angrier, and laid out randomly with less structure, as I have an emotional attachment to the issue:

With less than 1% of the nation serving, and not everyone of this 1% stays for 20 years-- how much does it really cost? As much as a year's worth of foreign aid? We have blown more money in Iraq alone for the dumbest stuff. Example: We spent $230 million over eight years here in Iraq in a province where they hate us.

The thing that needs cutting is our bloated procurement system that is overloaded with pork projects, cost overruns, a lack of accountability, and wasted projects. The F-22 fighter has been grounded for four months because it doesn't work, yet nobody gets fired. Get rid of more Generals-- Secretary Gates was on the right track with this. Our 'life support systems' are quite robust over here. KBR is making a boat load off of the Government, and we have now created a dangerous expectation-- four large, hot meals a day, a giant dining facility, and an exported Garrison environment. It all started with Bosnia-- the war Bill Clinton got us in where he said we'd only be there a year (we are still there-- But you knew American Idol starts this week right?) And when the military tells Congress it wants to close a base, don't block it because it will pull jobs from your home district.

Most folks I talk to honestly join to serve, some start out for the opportunities it provides. Others do it because they are lost, and the military gives them a place where they feel like they belong, and they are loyal to it. The military doesn't attract the kind of guy who wants to sit around and suck up welfare, we tend to keep guys pretty busy. They could walk elsewhere and make more money, but lots of Soldiers stay first out of devotion to their fellow Trooper, for the concept of service, and the notion of the Professional Soldier.

We could always go back to the conscript army. Bring back selective service, and sign everyone up. Draft women too-- after all, we are a nation of equality.

I like what he says about first they will cut the retirement, next they will cut the medical-- all at a time when our government is trying to figure out a way to give universal health care to everyone in the nation.

If we are going to go to a civilian-based incentives system, does that mean I get other typical civilian "rights" like an 8 hour work day and an OSHA-sanctioned VBIED-free work environment? Guys on the line at GM don't get rocketed, and car bombs don't go off in the parking lot. At least not usually. Looking forward to checking into that.

My point is this-- Service members serve so others don't have to. The families sacrifice the most, so when you are paying retirement benefits to a Soldier, you are also paying them to a family that went months and years without being a family. Missed birthdays, Christmases, anniversaries, first days of school, missed births, and in some cases missed deaths of family members add up; you can't put a price on the missed events, but it's nice that the government makes a guesture and tries.

Yep, I'm a little mad, but that's a good sign-- it means I still care, it means I still enjoy serving, and it means I still care about the Soldiers I serve with. Things are going well for us, and another chapter is about to be written over here, which is exciting. I'm good; just a little upset with my Government.

Good leaders lead by example. I think I'll support it after Congress leads the way by shedding most of their benefits-- After all, it's an honor to serve, right?

Hope all's well.
Ron

"It so happens that the world is undergoing a transformation to which no change that has yet occurred can be compared, either in scope or rapidity."

Leave was a blast. Lots of good family time relaxation, and a chance to catch the breath and do some thinking. Iraq chugs on. We seem to be waiting on a decision- will we stay or go? A good chunk of forces are leaving, and we are setting the conditions for it, but we are to a point where we really need a decision to be made. Every day is a different opinion of what we should do and a different rumor of what we will do. There have been a series of articles in the paper about the future and pending votes and discussions (one is below) so at least we are now talking about it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/mullen-urges-iraq-to-decide-soon-on-troops-status/2011/08/02/gIQA5ri3oI_story.html?hpid=z4

Things were pretty busy for us in June and July but they have calmed down a bit. The Iraqis (mostly the Army, some of the Government) took some responsibility for a lot of bad things happening to the east of us but the Government stepped up and the security forces seem to have it in check in their own clown car way (and after some healthy prodding from the US: "hey, are you guys gonna do something about those guys launching rockets at us?"). While I was gone our partnered Iraqi Army unit in Maysan did several sustained operations to counter the Iranian influence, and they did a fairly good job, obtaining visible effects. They get better with each one. It also appears a combination of Ramadan and heat has slowed folks down in the good way (not as many visible and active shows of disapproval of US presence), which we don't object to, either. We'll see how long it lasts.

There are good points and bad points to leaving. Good points mean we get to go home, and close a chapter of American history. I think there has been a lot of good done here that most folks don't see-- no more fears of Saddam's henchmen showing up at night, people can speak their mind without fear of government reprisal, and a society that is learning it can stand up for itself. The economy is improving-- Basrah is active with foreign investment. And the world has shown Iran and other dictatorial countries in this part of the world that they are under watch and someone will act (cynical comment: if it is in our interests). The bad point to leaving is that this is still an unstable region, capable of being influenced by its neighbors. Iraq needs the catharsis, though, to become what it will become. It would be a shame for us to leave and the place crumbles, given the 5000 Soldiers who have fallen in pursuit of a stable Iraq.

Don't get me wrong-- I'm not calling it a success. But it's not a failure, either. Yet. The quote is from Charles De Gaulle.

Stay tuned.
Ron

GONE TO TEXAS

I'm off for a little bit of leave. Kinda nice the Army sends you home for two weeks during your tour, but it sure is a pain in the butt getting there. I left my office Wednesday morning, but I likely won't get home until 9 or 10pm on Friday night. And these clothes already stink...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/world/middleeast/15iraq.html?_r=2&hp

Attached is a good article about what's going on in Iraq, particularly southern Iraq, and our recent frustrations. Not sure if we will stay or go. I'm kind of fond of going myself, as I think our current force has done all it can do, and we have some other obligations to handle at home first. Just as America had to fumble into its current existence, so must Iraq. Iraq needs to become what it will be. One downside to us leaving the Iraqi security forces don't quite realize yet-- once we leave, and the Iranians stop shooting at us, they will start looking for someone else to shoot at, and the regional problems will then really begin to come into play.

Hope this finds you well, and if you are in Austin in the next two weeks, stop by for a visit.

Ron

Happy July 4th

Hope you have a good one. Raise a glass for us, we're still here, and now we can finally say it, the bad guys are Iran:



http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/07/03/iraq.us.militia.attacks/index.html?hpt=hp_t2







Here's another link about what we were working on the past couple of weeks-- getting the Iraqis to do something about the influence. The article is more or less accurate, but as with most Iraqi operations, the Iraqis got a vote in how it was going to happen, and what was envisioned by US forces was disconnected from what the Iraqis executed:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/world/middleeast/02iraq.html?_r=1&ref=michaelsschmidt







I think our Division Commander we are partnered with wants to do more, but politics are alive and well in Iraq. They are in a tough spot as everyone picks sides and chooses who to hitch their wagons to-- and it's clear here in southern Iraq the US is not the team to publicly go with.







On another note, we refined our drawdown plan for Iraq. I shouldn't post it here, but why not:

I think it's gonna work great.

Ron

Happy Fathers Day to my Dad

Being away for holidays sucks, but at the same time it helps you appreciate them. I got to talk to Dad today for a short bit, it was good to catch up with him.

My dad taught me through personal example. He was fairly short on words growing up, but he made up for it by showing my brother and me the right way to treat people, the right way to do things, and what's really important.

Dad showed us hard work is what is needed to be successful. No one is ever going to give you anything, and if you want something you have to apply yourself to get it. What you lack in talent you make up for in hustle and drive.

He showed us the right way to treat people is to talk to them and find a solution. There is a gray area in everything, and you find it by talking it out. Violence seldom solves much, but I am pretty sure in his youth it was an acceptable way to solve a problem if needed as a last resort.

He also told us to be wary in business dealings-- everyone has a motive, and not everyone should be trusted.

He showed us how to fix stuff, mostly by being patient, and working through the problem.

He taught us you can never have enough tools.

He taught us that service is important, that sometimes you need to drop everything to help a friend, and that family is everything.

He never drug us to church, or forced religion on us-- he gave us the opportunities and let us figure it out for ourselves, but showed us the right way through personal example.

Dad continues to live as an example to my brother and I every day. I don't talk to him much, but I often think of how he would handle certain situations.

Thanks for everything, Dad-- hope you have a good day.

Ron

The GREYWOLF Sunday

Sundays are a chance to catch your breath. Our kinder, gentler Army calls it "resiliency."

To give you an idea of the pace, a Brigade staff (minus the guys who work on the floor of the TOC or the 24 hour section coverage-- they are on shifts) runs for between 15 and 18 hours a day. Most days start at 8 as we churn through a 'battle rhhythm' of scheduled meetings and presentations. We produce a lot of products, but I'm not sure a Battalion has time to read or consume all of it. We also generate a slew of email, all which must be discussed, socialized, and followed up on. It's not enough to call a guy and talk about an issue-- you have to email a bunch of people, then call all of them to discuss your topic and sway decision. Somehow that makes us more efficient.

At night we get together and synch calendars. After that, then you can start to get your work done. Many of the primary staff checks out between 2300 and 0100, depending on the day. Then I go do PT, and crash. Lather, rinse, repeat.

It can be a grind, but if you are busy the time passes quickly. I have no idea where the time went, and I can't believe it's halfway through June already.

But Sundays you get a rest, we usually come in around 12. Some go to church, some sleep, and some just want to be left alone. I've been all three, sometimes all at once. They serve brunch in the chow hall from 8-ish until 1300 (war is hell) and there aren't any big meetings scheduled for Sunday. Sunday is when you clean your room and run an errand or two. For a couple of hours you get to relax a bit.

We usually gather every Sunday afternoon for a game of Staff Ultimate Football, temperature be damned. We used to play Field Grades (Majors and Lieutenant Colonels = old people) vs. Captains and Lieutenants, but we mix teams now because the old people kept skunking the younger generation (series was 3-0, so we switched for morale reasons). There's some concerns about the future generation... Last week's temp at kickoff was 117. But it was a dry heat... And a good chance to blow off steam.

Hope you enjoy your Sunday, and take care.

Ron

My past few posts have been negative, but for the most part we had a good week.

Thoughts on Memorial Day, Stolen from Another Friend's Blog

Been a rough couple of days, and I wasn't going to talk about Memorial Day, but I read the piece below on another friend's blog, so I stole it.

"I am a veteran. My three brothers are veterans. I am privileged to be in command of hundreds of other veterans. Gone is the innocence of Memorial Day Weekends of youth. It's no longer about beach, cookouts, green lawns, blue skies, and laughter. Indeed, I don't understand when folks say, "Happy Memorial Day." It has taken on new meaning, the real meaning. It's about memories, remembering friends who have gone down in the fight. Friends that you laughed with, went to school with, grew up with, and now lie peacefully in places like Arlington, VA and Columbus, WI. It's about hanging out last night with a widow and her two children as they honored their dad, and the simple tree planted in his name. So for me, I have only one wish this year. If you read this, and you are my friend, don't thank me for my service, don't give me 5% off my Starbucks, don't worry about yellow ribbons; rather, do me this one favor: tell your children that there is another calling out there. Tell them there is something more honorable than dreaming of being the next American Idol, or NFL star, or reality TV star, or stock broker, or hollywood star, or big law firm attorney. Talk to your kids about serving their country and their fellow citizens. Tell them of the sacrifice of those we remember today. It can't always be someone else's child that goes over there. It is an honor, a sacrifice, and a privilege to wear this uniform, I hope, when you talk to your children on this Memorial Day, you pass that on."

Cheers to Mike, and all of the fallen who we remember today.

Ron

Marketing

This big giant mural stands in front of the Brigade Headquarters. It took about five Soldiers 3 nights to complete. They had to redo it once because it didn't look good enough. They also had to move the T Walls to get them straighter. We also learned it is difficult to find the right kind of paint pens here in Iraq-- we had to go out of the way to get them.

Extravagant? Absolutely. Waste of Soldier's time and effort? Debatable.

But The Wall represents the Brigade. It is the backdrop for a lot of our Soldier recognition ceremonies. Every General that comes to visit (up to seven in one week) gets their picture made in front of it with our commander. Everyone who goes by it knows that the Third Brigade of the First Cavalry Division is here, and we want you to know that. It is important for us to send this message that we are here, we aren't going away, and we are operating in accordance with the Security Agreement signed back in 2008 between the Government of Iraq and the United States.

A lot of what we do here is pretty much like marketing. We highlight the efforts of our Iraqi Security Force (ISF) partners and denigrate the efforts of the various insurgents attempting to run amuck. We showcase the good things of the Iraqi Government, and speak the good virtues of a representative government. Our real war is about information and messaging, and in a conflict that is vying for the support of the people, a lot of what we do is sell our message and see how the bad guy's image sets with the people. It has really become a war of influence, and it's all about messaging. We have some of our smartest people on it, and it is a major line of effort. Unfortunately, even after eight years, we struggle at it, mostly because our stuff has to be true, as we get called on the carpet for it by international media.

While there is US vs. insurgent marketing, there is also marketing done by Iraq's neighboring states, which plays out in the international media. All the while there is internal lobbying and jockeying for power in both the Government and the tribes (a constant theme my last tour). Tribes seem to hold the power, but the Government is empowered to run the show. Surely you have heard of the recent musings and discussions of extending a US presence in Iraq, and there is marketing on all sides weighing in. Some hate us and want us to leave, some want us to stay.

All want our money.

If you thought politics in America were ugly and complex, you wouldn't believe Iraq.

The bad guy propaganda is very good. They can say whatever they want -and they do. It doesn't have to be true, and all they have to do is achieve unrest. Every attack has a cameraman, and it is on extremist websites in a matter of hours. Social media had a critical effect on Arab countries and their uprisings this Spring. Iraq's so called Day of Rage in February (reference previous zombie attack post earlier) was born of Facebook, but it didn't work out so good for Muqtada al Sadr, the Iranian-backed cleric, who has a heavy hand in Iraqi politics and thought he'd get a million people. He got significantly less than that, but he didn't let it stop him.
Never thought the media would be a weapon system, but it's the best one we have. We just need to figure out how to use it.

Hope all's well.

Ron

Maysan

From Wikipedia:

Maysan (Arabic: ميسان Maysān‎) is a governorate in south eastern Iraq, bordering Iran. The provincial capital, located beside the Tigris, is Al Amarah. The second settlement is Majar Al-Kabir. Prior to 1976 the province was known as Amara Province.
Maysan is a majority Shia province. Its population suffered greatly during the Iran–Iraq War, during which it was a major battlefield, and subsequently post the 1991 Shia Uprising. The governorate is traditionally home to many Marsh Arabs.
In 2003 it came under the control of the British Armed Forces after the invasion of Iraq, and an elected Provincial Council had now been formed. Some of this formation process has been described by Rory Stewart The Prince of the Marshes: And Other Occupational Hazards of a Year in Iraq. Majar Al-Kabir was the site of the death of six British Royal Military Policemen in 2003, and Al-Amarah became a well-publicised city in the British press when a rash of street fighting occurred in the summer of 2004, culminating in the siege of CIMIC-House.
A proposal to join Maysan with the neighbouring governorates of Basra and Dhi Qar to form a southeastern state in an eventual Iraqi federation is currently[update] in the talking stages.[1]
Since October 2006 the region of farmland and marshes has been a chokepoint for munitions and people entering Iraq from Iran. Political control has been fiercely contested by followers of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim and Muqtada al-Sadr. Sadr’s allies dominate the 42-member provincial council, and the governor is a former Mahdi Army commander. But the police chief is a former Badr Organization member, and many of his policemen pledge loyalty to that militia.[2] On April 18, 2007, the province became the fourth in Iraq where Iraqi troops have sole responsibility for security.
On Dec. 18, 2009, Iranian armed forces dug trenches in and around an oil field in the Maysan province, claiming it as Iranian soil, and in a statement released by the government of Iran on Dec. 19, 2009, Iran stated that: (they are)"on Iranian soil, as defined by known international borders."[3]

I'd say this is pretty accurate.

Maysan is one of the four provinces our Brigade operates in. From the outside, it is interesting to see it evolve and see it be manipulated from both internal and external forces. The writing is on the wall, we will be out of Iraq (maybe???) and Iraqis are picking sides and jockeying for power, and in some ways disassociating from the US.

Maysan is that neighborhood you don't like to drive through, or the house with the crazy people in it who live on your street, who just happen to live in front of the mailbox, so you can't avoid going there. You can't just ignore it, you have to go by there and occasionally have an awkward moment with the inhabitants. You smile and wave, but you know you aren't wild about them and they know they hate you and can't wait to leave.

Maysan is important to US forces, as it is an eastern province. We often joke that Maysan is Western Iran. Some say it actually is-- This swath of marsh, and its two towns of Amara and Majir al Kabir have gone back and forth in a land grab between Iraq and Iran. We have spent $230 million in Maysan in an effort to make it better since 2003. It has hosted smugglers for thousands of years, and no matter how much you try to stop it, bad blow up stuff and illegal commerce will continue to flow. (They simply call it trade.)

Maysan is important to Iran as well. It is almost exclusively Shia, and it is no secret that it is heavily influenced by Iran. It is also their gateway into Iraq for just about everything. It has a major power base for "Uncle Mookie" (Moqtada al Sadr) the Shiite nutjob cleric who is a thorn in the side of the Government.

So what happens to Maysan when we leave? I dunno. I often wonder why bother with the effort, and wonder what good we are doing there. My opinion of what happens when we leave: Maysan goes back to what it used to be before the conquerers of the US, the British in the 1920s, the Ottoman Empire, etc. etc., which is a bunch of tribes who live in the marshes and do what they do, and wait for the next attempted conquerer to roll in.

I guess we'll see what happens.

Osama

Me, on the way to Basrah.

On September 11, 2001, I had just finished PT, got showered and changed, and was in the chow hall when the plane hit. We were supposed to go to JRTC that month, and train with the 101st Airborne, but little did we know that act would send the entire Army and a couple of generations of Soldiers on a wild ride.

I am not sure his death will change much in the grand scheme. We will get a treasure trove of info, and the fellas that chase guys like him are in for a busy summer, fall, winter, spring, and probably summer. I don't think it ends the war in Afghanistan, and it's not going to get us out of Iraq any sooner.

I have mixed emotions. Happy that the guy responsible for me having to take off my shoes at the airport and then get searched by little more than a mall security guard got aced, happy for the families of 9-11, and happy that all of the sacrifices of all of the military for the past 10 years paid off. I am wowed by the audacity of the operation, as well as the thought to bring the body out. But I also wonder who's next? Al Qaeda has proven its resiliency over the decade, and at least with him at the top we knew who to go to. When does it end, when is good enough good enough? My experience with the muslim world tells me it will end when all of the extremists are dead, as they don't readily give up, even when their efforts are completely futile.

I'm sure the smart guys can figure it out. I'm also glad to see we learned something from the Uday/Qusay goof: Kill him, but respect the culture so as to not create 10 more Bin Ladens. Bury him at sea and feed him to the fishes to prevent another Mecca.

I am also a bit surprised at the public's reaction. I think it's great, and I hope their support continues, as it is very much appreciated.

Back to work. Thanks for reading.

Ron

Priorities

A check of the most recent headlines on most of the big news websites:


-Lindsay Lohan out on $75,000 bond after 5 hours in jail


-Marc Anthony wants JLo to gain weight


-Florida woman finds six foot alligator in house


-Sheen gets dumped by "Goddess" in text message


-The Royal Wedding is in full force too, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.





Nothing of the four Soldiers killed and 11 wounded in Afghanistan on 22 April.


Nothing on the two Troopers killed in Iraq three days ago either.


And nothing mentioned about the eight guys killed in Afghanistan on 16 April.

Over 160,000 Soldiers spent another Christian holiday in a muslim country. Hope you had a good Easter.

We have been in Afghanistan for 3,485 days. Operation New Dawn has been chugging for 234 days. (Did anyone even know we changed the name from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn?) Operation Iraqi Freedom lasted over seven years = over 2,555 days.

I'm neither a Bush or Obama fan or critic, but it sure seems like America's wars have been placed on the back burner since Obama came in. In his State of the Union address in January, Iraq wasn't mentioned, and Afghanistan was mentioned I think once.

Regardless of your opinion on the wars, we are still here, and we are still fighting it, we are still making the difference we can make, until someone tells us we are done. So say hi to a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine and tell them thanks. Get involved, give to the USO, or just be grateful to have what we have in the US because 1% continues to sacrifice for the benefit of the other 99%. Or, write your politician and express your opinion.

Just don't take it for granted.

Sorry, had to vent.

Put up or Shut Up

Most that have known me in my career know that I can be more than critical of my higher headquarters. Well, with the promotion came a big combo plate of "whatcha gonna do now that you are in charge?" My new position has me in charge of all of the operations for the Brigade, in a completely different section of the country. I am now "them" and "those guys."

Regionally I am more southern now, and I have never been to this part of the country. Add to the madness, I was the furthest removed from the Brigade's operations-- my old unit was detached and was working in Baghdad. So the irony is they took the guy who was most ignorant of everything going on in a four province area and told me to get busy. The joke's on me now.

It has been an interesting week, and I still struggle to understand the Brigade's unique problem set. Luckily the guy I am replacing is still around and walking me through it. I learn a little more each day the more I read and visit and talk to folks. The next month or so is going to be rough until I can figure things out.

The problem is different here. The part of the country we are in is extremely Shiite, and there is a good chunk of it to the east that really wants us to go home. Baghdad was in was more secular, and while there were people who didn't like us, it was about what you would expect for a big city. Stuff up there for the most part is going well, minus the occasional car bomb. Some places here are doing fine, investment is coming, and there is potential and progress. Most of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) are demonstrating more capability every day, and training, advising, and mentorship continue. US Soldiers continue to demonstrate the right way to do things through action every day, and it is beneficial. Some ISF, however, aren't ready. That is a complicated problem to explain that involves religion, tribes, outside influences, and a high level of animosity. But for the most part, the ISF is ready for us to take the hand off the bike seat.

Here, I think part of the problem is bitter hatred for anyone who isn't in the tribe or who hasn't lived here for at least 2000 years. Some say the violence is increasing, but I bet if we leave it will pretty much fix itself. There is a lot of foreign meddling on many different levels with different interests, and we may be a big part of the problem. If we left I am not sure the violence would be exported to other parts of the country due to the regionality of the people. I think Iraq is almost ready for it to become what it will become. We have to leave to let this happen, and we have to allow it to get ugly so it can get better. It will likely take a long time, which sucks for the Iraqi people. But much in the same way the US became what it is, warts and all (civil war, civil rights movement, great depression, government corruption, you get the idea) Iraq has to have its catharsis.

I hope we aren't around to see it.

Take care-
Ron

Lieutenant Colonel Ronald of Arabia

Last night I got promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. We did a small impromptu ceremony in the dark and I got a chance to say a few words after my Squadron Commander pinned rank on my Stetson, and my Brigade Commander stuck the rank on my chest.

My comments centered on an analogy of the three doctrinal elements in a raid, drawn from my formulative experience as a light infantryman. The three elements are Assault, Support, and Security. In a raid, nothing in the assaulting element is achieved without a good support element and a good base of fire. Everyone who has ever been a light guy knows the Support element usually gets hosed... They carry the heaviest stuff the furthest distance, occasionally they have to pull the assaulting element's bacon out of the fire, they rarely get any glory or appreciation for what they do, and they usually finish the raid as they started- cold and wet.

Throughout my career I have enjoyed three distinct groups who have made up my support by fire element. The first is my family. My parents gave me a foundation and let me do what I wanted to do. Somewhere along the way I met someone who I thought would be pretty neat to share life with- we got married, and then I established a history of leaving for extended periods of time. When I was home (defined as not deployed or at training) I was perpetually unable to tell her when I would be home each night. Our 13 year old daughter has sacrificed much more than the average kid, but I am amazed and inspired by how she handles diversity and turmoil. For some reason they stick around, and I am grateful they do, as they make it all worthwhile. I regret they were not able to see it in person, as all great achievements aren't worth much if you don't have someone to share them with.

The second group is a solid core of Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs). My Drill Sergeant (SFC Darrell Jordan) team leaders, squad leaders, and platoon sergeants (SGT Tanner, SSG Horner, SFCs Daily and Fasavalu) all gave me a solid foundation of what being a Soldier looked like. As a tank platoon leader, I had four platoon sergeants, all who kept me straight, and other NCOs in the platoon made me technically competent. As a Commander of two different organizations I had five First Sergeants, all were vital partners in the Command, all helped me negotiate difficult leadership and moral challenges, all who continually reminded me what we were there for. In every staff position I held, there was a strong NCO to keep me straight. And as the Squadron S3 and XO, I enjoyed fantastic First Sergeants and a superb Operations Sergeant Major as well as Command Sergeant Majors. They are the true backbone of the force.

The last group I had in my support by fire position was a crop of peers and senior leaders (Company Commanders, Squadron and Battalion Commanders, and a Brigade Commander or two) who mentored me along the way. They let me fail and learn the hard lessons when I needed it, but they didn't let me be a failure. They listened, gave tough love when it was needed, dispensed wisdom and clarity when I was fogged, put up with some pretty goofy ideas, and helped me achieve my potential, even when I was content to settle.

I am grateful to all. Now it's time to get to work.

Thanks for reading- take care.

LTC Ron

The Westboro Baptist Church, Wayne Sapp, Terry Jones, and the Guardians of Freedom

SSG Jesperson is married, and has been for six years. Unfortunately, in those six years of marriage, he has had three one year tours and one fifteen month tour in Iraq. In the small amount of time he spent home, he went to two six-month schools, and spent four additional months at various training centers preparing to deploy again. When you ask him if he has kids, his reply is "well, you have to be home to do that." SFC Hanover is on his fifth tour, if you count Desert Storm in 1991. He is retirement eligible, but chose to deploy again because he wanted to make sure all of the Soldiers under him made it back alive. He was successful in the volatile Diyala Province in 2006, where the Squadron battled daily with insurgents. Overall, the Squadron lost 19 Soldiers in that 15 month tour, but because of his diligence, none of them were SFC Hanover's. MAJ Clark deployed to Iraq during the 2003 invasion, again in 2005 as a part of a training unit that did more fighting than training, again in 2007 as a combat advisor, and in 2010 he deployed to Afghanistan as an Operations Officer for a Cavalry Squadron. During an ambush in Afghanistan, two Soldiers in his small element were killed, and MAJ Clark was significantly wounded. The Squadron Sergeant Major was severely injured in May of 2005 in the Zafaraniya neighborhood in Baghdad when a suicide car bomb exploded, killing four children and severely wounding him. He lost his thumbs, and if you laid out all of his scars on his body, they would measure something ridiculous like 18 feet. He could have chosen medical retirement and gone to the house, but he continues to serve. MAJ Miller is on his fourth tour as well. In 2003 his unit took what is now known as the Baghdad International Airport as a part of the 3d Infantry Division. He was likely a candidate for Traumatic Brain Injury from the RPG that hit his vehicle in 2005, but he never sought treatment. He speaks almost fondly of Cigar Night on FOB Falcon, where they stargazed on the roofs, smoked cigars, and watched the Katusha rockets come in. They, and about a million others just like them, are the guardians of freedom. Wayne Sapp, Terry Jones, and the Westboro idiots can say what they want because of the guys like those listed above-- Call it a by-product of Freedom. But having freedom doesn't mean freedom from consequences. These nutjobs truly give us a bad name and it's a shame we can't beat them for being stupid. The blood of those killed in Afghanistan is on their hands. I wish there were a legal way to hold them legally accountable. Sorry this update was a long time in coming. Was going to write about Libya, but maybe later. Regards, Ron

Ronald Of Arabia's Plan for Getting Everyone Out of Iraq

Ronald Of Arabia wacking a golf ball off of the balcony of Al Faw Palace, home of USF-I Headquarters

The problem of how to get everyone out on a decent timeline persists at another "we gotta figure this out" conference at USF-I. As referenced below, everyone wants to go, but no one wants to go home because we assess we that need everything up to the last minute. Here's my plan for how to do it by 31 December:

Start with all of the goofy headquarters by making things uncomfortable.

Make them show an honest "Troops to Task" list (the kind they always ask us for) that shows exactly who does what in their headquarters, and then painfully question why one general needs a personal staff of six Public Affairs guys, a 30-man PSD, a Secretary, a Civilian Administrative Assistant, an Aide de Camp, and a reservations Clerk at the VIP hotel (I am making this up, but I don't imagine I am too far off).

Then start making people move CHUs (Containerized housing unit- basically a mobile home that Soldiers live in).

Have them move a lot.

At a minimum, move all of the acronym headquarters people 2-3 times a month. Move them into CHUs without working air conditioners. Make the higher ups turn in their suburbans and have them ride in tactical vehicles around the Victory Base Complex. Then ration the gas. Shut off the commercial internet in the CHUs. Then get rid of the contracted restaurants- Shut down the coffee shops, pizza joints, concessions, local vendor stores, and souvenir shops.

Stock the PX with only one kind of shaving cream, one kind of razor, one kind of toothpaste, one kind of bar soap.

Then get rid of all the deoderant.

Then, each unit has a Class I account for food and drinks (seperate from the chow hall). All that is in this thing is sugary snacks and sodas anyway, so shut that down (except for the Diet Coke). Start rationing power and shut down generators randomly. Remove all the air conditioners from the CHUs. Reduce the size of available tactical bandwidth, and force units to simultaneously turn in all their non-tactical vehicles (make everybody walk) and then downsize tactical vehicles and containers.

Then ration each Soldier to five gallons of water a day for everything.

Folks should be pretty bitter by now.

Next step: Get rid of the KBR four square meals a day in the big air conditioned DFAC and serve only MREs. Send all of the contracted manual labor home-- Dudes need to start taking their own trash out.

At this point, this should disband all of the goofy big giant made up headquarters and their bloated staffs and most of these will go home. For the ones that still stick around, get rid of the Triple Canopy contracted guard force and tax every unit left to provide Soldiers to guard the walls.

Then, stop selling tobacco products.

For the hardcores that just won't leave, do away with the sanitation contracts, and get Soldiers back to disposing of human waste the old fasioned way we did it before: Pour Diesel on it and set it on fire and stir liberally. For hours.

Remember: The war cost the taxpayer $800 billion for a reason. I submit if we did this in August, most would be more than ready to go by September.

Just a thought.


Of note: 15 March is a "double post day" so be sure to see the next one below too!

See ya,
Ron