Robin Hood and His Merry Men??
The newly appointed Interim President of Iraq, Ghazi al-Yawer, is the cousin of the Governor of Ninivah province. The officers of the 1-14 Cav made a trip this week to the Governor's residence to congratulate the Governor and to discuss the future of the northern province. Relations with the Governor are even more important now then they were before his cousin was appointed President. al-Yawer is a vocal critic of the US and it's policies so getting on the Governors "good side" is important for the US in the northern region and Iraq as a whole.
The Iraqi and his staff were extremely cordial, providing a luncheon for the US officers and the troops accompanying them. Our Soldier has "been there, done that" in the past at the Governor's Palace. Usual fare is mutton, rice, fresh fruits, vegetables and pop to wash it down.
After lunch, with a good meal settling in their stomachs, the Strykers start back to Tal Afar. He's fully expected to get "home" and then be able to take a few hours off to get a nap and catch up on his sleep. But it wasn't part of the plan.
Ever wary, the Strykers roll down the highway towards Tal Afar. Having traveled the route countless times over the past 6 months all of the Strykers know the potential dangers of the road they are on. Imagine driving to work in the morning and looking at the highway not as a scenic drive but as a rat's nest of potential traps and ambush points.
At a point where trees come up close to the road, it happens.
"Mortars! Incoming!"
"RPG's, RPG's!"
"Keep moving! Keep moving!"
Mortar rounds impact in and around the Strykers as they pass the trees. Insurgents, using the trees as cover, pop up and fire RPG's at the Strykers and just as quickly fade back into the foliage. Small arms fire randomly pings and pops off the sides and top of the Strykers as the insurgents lay down cover fire, keeping the Americans inside their vehicles.
Stryker weapons systems just as quickly return fire into the trees. 50 Caliber rounds rain branches and leaves down from the trees as they pass through the forest.
Then, as quickly as it started, it's over. The Iraqi's fade away into the trees of what I've been told is the only forested area in Iraq. No damage, no wounded - the insurgent attack failed to accomplish anything other than preventing a Stryker driver from getting his planned nap. The mortar rounds were "pop cans", 60mm. These rounds have to score a direct hit on the roof of a Stryker to have even the potential of doing damage. The RPG's were fired hastily and inaccurately, all of them passing between the Strykers and impacting on the other side of the road. The Stryker Soldiers dismount and pursue the insurgents, Strykers use their remote video systems to scour the area with telescopic sights but no enemy are sited. A couple hour search of the woods dashes all hopes for a rest once they get back to Tal Afar.
Certainly there are a handful of Iraqi insurgents "bragging" about their attack on coalition forces over Chi tea and bread the next morning. They boast about killing the Infidel's and destroying their armored vehicles. This boasting hopefully will lead to their capture.
The Iraqi and his staff were extremely cordial, providing a luncheon for the US officers and the troops accompanying them. Our Soldier has "been there, done that" in the past at the Governor's Palace. Usual fare is mutton, rice, fresh fruits, vegetables and pop to wash it down.
After lunch, with a good meal settling in their stomachs, the Strykers start back to Tal Afar. He's fully expected to get "home" and then be able to take a few hours off to get a nap and catch up on his sleep. But it wasn't part of the plan.
Ever wary, the Strykers roll down the highway towards Tal Afar. Having traveled the route countless times over the past 6 months all of the Strykers know the potential dangers of the road they are on. Imagine driving to work in the morning and looking at the highway not as a scenic drive but as a rat's nest of potential traps and ambush points.
At a point where trees come up close to the road, it happens.
"Mortars! Incoming!"
"RPG's, RPG's!"
"Keep moving! Keep moving!"
Mortar rounds impact in and around the Strykers as they pass the trees. Insurgents, using the trees as cover, pop up and fire RPG's at the Strykers and just as quickly fade back into the foliage. Small arms fire randomly pings and pops off the sides and top of the Strykers as the insurgents lay down cover fire, keeping the Americans inside their vehicles.
Stryker weapons systems just as quickly return fire into the trees. 50 Caliber rounds rain branches and leaves down from the trees as they pass through the forest.
Then, as quickly as it started, it's over. The Iraqi's fade away into the trees of what I've been told is the only forested area in Iraq. No damage, no wounded - the insurgent attack failed to accomplish anything other than preventing a Stryker driver from getting his planned nap. The mortar rounds were "pop cans", 60mm. These rounds have to score a direct hit on the roof of a Stryker to have even the potential of doing damage. The RPG's were fired hastily and inaccurately, all of them passing between the Strykers and impacting on the other side of the road. The Stryker Soldiers dismount and pursue the insurgents, Strykers use their remote video systems to scour the area with telescopic sights but no enemy are sited. A couple hour search of the woods dashes all hopes for a rest once they get back to Tal Afar.
Certainly there are a handful of Iraqi insurgents "bragging" about their attack on coalition forces over Chi tea and bread the next morning. They boast about killing the Infidel's and destroying their armored vehicles. This boasting hopefully will lead to their capture.
posted by deesci | 7:05 PM
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