An Infantry Colonel’s Foxhole Report from Iraq

The American Thinker ^ | 29 March 2006 | COL William Ivey

[Barbarian6]

Sorry it has been five months since my last update, but then, we have been busy. Let me give you the bottom-line up front (BLUF), and then catch you up on things. Feel free to forward this to whomever, since we still can’t seem to get the press to tell folks what is going on. This is how the fight is going from my foxhole, and it is much more than the bombings, US casualties, and rumors of civil war the press seems to be focused on.

[Barbarian6]

Is there a problem with the US media in Iraq?...

[68skylark]

Good post.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

This is a tough fight, and we are once again up against an enemy who has no moral compass. Our kids continue to excel at every mission, and are undaunted in their task. If anyone has any doubts about this generation, they can erase them. 2006 will be a decisive year. We have the opportunity to do a battle handoff to the Iraqis for the lead in the counterinsurgency fight, and begin to reduce our combat presence. Concurrently, we must continue to coach and mentor the Iraqi Government as it continues its journey toward democracy. We will need to be here for awhile, but my assessment is that this is the make or break year.

I’m betting on our Soldiers and the Iraqi people.

Doubt and faithlessness will destroy us. Too many sheep think they know better than the sheep dogs.

[SevenMinusOne]

Great post -

[pissant]

Great letter. Thanks for posting

[magslinger]

Is there a problem with the US media in Iraq?...

Not enough terrorists left to take them all captive?

[Billthedrill]

They can no longer give beanie babies to the kids, because Al Qaida has taken to placing explosives in them, giving them to kids, blowing their arms off or killing them, and blaming the Americans.

OMFG.

[balk]

What a great update! I feel better already.

[stm]

If the American public would listen to us that have been there more, there would not be nearly the misconceptions and misinformation that there is about things in Iraq. The worthless lamestream media is a extremely biased (and decidedly anti-republican and anti-military) and a totally unreliable souce of what is really going on overseas.

[pissant]

I take it you were there?

[Critical Bill]

Too many sheep think they know better than the sheep dogs.

The "Tribes" article about sheep/dogs/wolves still makes me pause and think about the mechanics of social interaction in this fast evolving world.

Where would we place Iran in this model, Hamsters?

[Valin]

Consider yourself pinged.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

That doesn't mean the sheep are lesser beings. They're just....well... sheep. Accept it. Take pride in it.

[JimRed]

They can no longer give beanie babies to the kids, because Al Qaida has taken to placing explosives in them, giving them to kids, blowing their arms off or killing them, and blaming the Americans.

Bastards!

[Valin]

No one party/sect has a majority in the newly elected Council of Representatives, so learning to compromise and put together alliances in the government will be key to success.

In the long run this will really help.

[ASOC]

Thanks for posting the link.

[Valin]

Great Blog!
"And you'll talk about shit. You'll have stories about what you did on the other side of the world. Interesting stories about cool shit you did and places you saw. And as you talk, at some point you'll realize that they don't have a f*cking clue."

I'm sure all vets can relate.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman

We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep.

The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, "Baa."

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Welcome to FR, troll. Things slow at DU tonight?