gstelmack
02-18-2006, 08:28 AM
I've read several of this guy's letters, and they're always an interesting read. Just a different take on what is going on over there from someone in the thick of it. Story is here: http://www.carynews.com/opinion/story/2895854p-9351133c.html. Some excerpts:
The accomplishments of RCT-2 have been quite phenomenal. When the commander of all U.S. forces in Iraq came to visit in December, he commented that he never thought he would see the Euphrates River Valley cleared and occupied all the way to the Syrian border. This no-man's land known as the Al Anbar has always been the forsaken area of Iraq, even when Saddam was in power. The home of smugglers and bandits, it has been uncontrolled for thousands of years.
This environment easily facilitated the trafficking of foreign fighters and weapons into the country, which ultimately made their way to Baghdad and Ramadi. When we arrived, the insurgents controlled all the cities in the west and along the Euphrates down to Hit. Most of the local populace had fled the worst areas of Husaybah and Karabilah, leaving the insurgents to fortify their positions and establish their own rule.
Beginning last June, RCT-2 began to dismantle and destroy their networks and control over the cities. Starting in the Hit-Haditha corridor, systematic clearing operations were conducted, culminating in Operation Steele Curtain along the border with Syria. The Marines and soldiers attached to this Regiment have accounted for over 1,000 enemy fighters killed in action and thousands captured. The weapons caches we continue to find, with the help of the local populace, reduce the potential for further attacks. The insurgents who are left are resorting to making grenades out of gunpowder and rocks.
We have taken away their leadership, a substantial amount of their weapons and they are becoming desperate. Attacks in Baghdad (which always originate through our area) are down 80 percent and attacks here are down 60 percent. It is still a very dangerous place, we lost four Marines last week to suicide attacks, but it is getting better.
There is a lot more in the story itself (not pasting the whole thing as I'm trying to be nice about copyrights).
The accomplishments of RCT-2 have been quite phenomenal. When the commander of all U.S. forces in Iraq came to visit in December, he commented that he never thought he would see the Euphrates River Valley cleared and occupied all the way to the Syrian border. This no-man's land known as the Al Anbar has always been the forsaken area of Iraq, even when Saddam was in power. The home of smugglers and bandits, it has been uncontrolled for thousands of years.
This environment easily facilitated the trafficking of foreign fighters and weapons into the country, which ultimately made their way to Baghdad and Ramadi. When we arrived, the insurgents controlled all the cities in the west and along the Euphrates down to Hit. Most of the local populace had fled the worst areas of Husaybah and Karabilah, leaving the insurgents to fortify their positions and establish their own rule.
Beginning last June, RCT-2 began to dismantle and destroy their networks and control over the cities. Starting in the Hit-Haditha corridor, systematic clearing operations were conducted, culminating in Operation Steele Curtain along the border with Syria. The Marines and soldiers attached to this Regiment have accounted for over 1,000 enemy fighters killed in action and thousands captured. The weapons caches we continue to find, with the help of the local populace, reduce the potential for further attacks. The insurgents who are left are resorting to making grenades out of gunpowder and rocks.
We have taken away their leadership, a substantial amount of their weapons and they are becoming desperate. Attacks in Baghdad (which always originate through our area) are down 80 percent and attacks here are down 60 percent. It is still a very dangerous place, we lost four Marines last week to suicide attacks, but it is getting better.
There is a lot more in the story itself (not pasting the whole thing as I'm trying to be nice about copyrights).