Teflon Don, a recently promoted specialist in Iraq, on the IED deaths of three of his platoon:
"Time is supposed to slow down when you’re in the moment, not when you’re hearing of it. The next four hours are glacial- slower and colder than I could have thought…the breeze twisting dogtags around a rifle like a devils windchime, and carrying once again the plaintive notes of the bagpipe playing Amazing Grace."
A good, although sad, read. Condolences, Don.
Support the troops–except when it comes to Iran, which has killed 170 and wounded more than 600 in Iraq, according to the Pentagon. But the Bush administration apparently has done nothing about it, and now that it is talking about doing something about it, the Democrats are threatening to retaliate–against the administration. Doesn’t anybody here know how to play this game?
UPDATE Among the arms Iran is sending into Iraq are these .50 caliber Austrian sniper rifles.
The 26 Americans killed in five helicopter shootdowns in Iraq since Jan. 20 were the latest casualties in our unheralded war with Iran inside Iraq, according to Bill Roggio’s intelligence sources. The action the Democrats in Congress seem determined to keep from becoming obvious with a strike against Iran itself. But it’s another underscoring of the fact that until we take the fight to Tehran and Damascus, no amount of Baghdad neighborhood scouring is going to work for long.
Comments Off on Iran, again
Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops
Tagged Bill Roggio, helicopter shootdowns, Iran, Iraq
Good piece in the Dallas Morning News about members of the 1st Cav in Iraq, some on their third rotation back to the sand box:
"’They (the Iraqis) stood up for us and we stood up for them," Sgt. Rountree said, adding that he had been looking forward to going back. ‘We’ve seen it blown apart,’ he said. ‘I want to see it put together. I want to see what we fought for the first rotation. People who say it’s not worth it, it is.’"
Meanwhile, according to the Harvard Crimson, the Marines are getting a track star for a new infantry lieutenant:
“’I think this is my generation’s greatest calling,’ said [Sean] Barrett. ‘Fighting for the freedom of others is a uniquely American value. Protecting my family, my country, our values and way of life is of the utmost importance to me…This isn’t something that’s going away. We have to win.’”
"US says it is on. Maliki Government says it isn’t."
Not very inspiring, are they? Let’s hope the coordination, such as it is, gets better. I also hope the miscaptioned photo at the link, of the American troops of the 2nd ID, is a long lens effort that’s compressing them into each other. Because not spreading out is a sure way for all to get taken out with one RPG or even one grenade.
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 
