Democrats Uneasy About Upcoming Patraeus Report

I am trying my best to keep from making this a political site. However, the Dems are working equally hard to undermine our Troops efforts. I am just pointing out… You are with us or you are against us!

From Doc Bulldog – “What’s that expression? Oh, yeah; don’t carry all your eggs in one basket. Maybe the Democrats can learn something from that…”

Check out the entire article at  Doctor Bulldog

A “Four-Dimensional War”

Every day our troops are showing more signs of the progess in Iraq! The nay-sayers cannot continue to turn their heads and pretend that we are not making a positive difference in the Middle East.

1st Cavalry News 35th Street Market open for business

By Pfc. Nathaniel Smith
4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs

            BAGHDAD – Seven weeks ago, the citizens of East Doura couldn’t walk down 35th Street. Seven weeks ago, there would have been an explosive or gunfire waiting for them.
            Seven weeks ago, the Raiders weren’t in the area.
            That’s how long the Soldiers of Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division have been overseeing the security of the 35th Street market in southern Baghdad’s Rashid District.
            In those few weeks, approximately 20 shops have already opened up, and there hasn’t been a single explosive attack.
            Capt. Nicholas Cook, the commander of Troop A, 1-4 Cav. from Lansing, Mich., said while the northern section of the street has become a hub of economic activity, the unit is not ready to sit back on its haunches.
            “We want the whole street to come back,” he said. “Hopefully more businesses will open up on the southern end of 35th Street, and they’ll continue to open up.”
            Sgt. 1st Class Gannon Edgy, a platoon sergeant with Trp A, 1-4 Cav. from Brunswick, Ga., said his Soldiers are noticing the difference.
            “When we first took over, people didn’t want to stop and talk to us,” he said. “Now, locals seek us out to talk to us.”
            Capt. William Johnson, a business analyst with the 4th IBCT’s embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team from Minnetonka, Minn., said success at the 35th Street Market coincides with the overall strategy in Iraq.
            “Economics and governance are important within the (Counter-Insurgency) strategy that Gen. (David) Petraeus developed to allow the Iraqis to stand on their own,” Johnson said. “Ultimately, if we develop the governance capacity for the Iraqis, they can govern themselves in a responsible fashion.
            “Then we can go home, and equivalent to that, if we can build up the economy, we can put people to work, people won’t be doing things that are detrimental to themselves or U.S. troops.”
            In an area where Al Qaeda had a foothold, where the terrorists could move unabated, citizens of Iraq can now find real estate offices, restaurants, auto parts stores, and computer stores in the market. Cook said this would not be the case without the relationships his Soldiers have developed.
            “They work hard with the people, they talk with the people, they make people feel that we are not strangers, and that we are actually part of the community,” Cook said. “Just making them feel that we are there for their security. The troopers worked really hard to become part of this community.”
            For leaders like Edgy, the type of fight has shifted dramatically in a few short years, and therefore, so must the tactics.
            “(This deployment) is a more three-dimensional, four-dimensional war,” he said. “It went from knowing the enemy to having to hunt and fight the enemy. It’s become an intelligence battlefield.
            “It’s like your own hometown. You have to know what’s going on.”
             Johnson said 1-4 Cav’s hard work has paid off, but there’s still more to do.
            “We are making some success, but given more time we can potentially grow our success,” he said. “For example, (the success) we’ve had in Doura Market to other economic areas within the sector.”
            Edgy said to grow the success on 35th Street, the merchants must have a voice in the happenings in their neighborhood.
            “Letting shop owners know the plan and ask their opinion,” he said. “Making them feel involved is the key.”

Sgt. 1st Class Gannon Edgy, a platoon sergeant with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division from Brunswick, Ga., checks out a local’s wares at the 35th Street Market in southern Baghdad July 12. More than 50 new shops have opened since 1-4 Cav has taken over the area of operations. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Nathaniel Smith, 4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs)

Capt. Nicholas Cook, the commander of Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division from Lansing, Mich., talks with an Iraqi vendor at the 35th Street Market in southern Baghdad July 12. Economic development is one of the essential elements of Gen. David Petraeus’ Counter-Insurgency strategy in Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Nathaniel Smith, 4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs)

Rainy Days and Mondays

I am not a big fan of Mondays. My body and mind are still in weekend mode and it is tough to drag myself out from under the covers at 04:30 to start a new week.

Yet, this Monday was so much easier to face. The alarm went off and I reached over to shut it off, and I smiled.

It is so nice to start the week with the words of my L’il Trooper still so fresh in my mind.

Thank you son for your strength, your wit and your humor! We love you very much. (However, not enough to pretend that the Lions have a chance in Hades of beating the Chargers on the 16th of December.) Sorry, it just is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!! We look forward to watching the playoffs together! We are keeping our fingers, toes, and eyes crossed that you will be home with us for at least a few games. In the meantime we will be sure to eat plenty of wings and chips and dip for you. (and we will cheer for the Lions until they come to San Diego) Be Safe…. We miss and love you WAY much!

1st Cav in Action

I seldom get the chance to post over the weekend. Today I wanted to share some random shots of the 1st Cav!

1st Cavalry News

Miami native Sgt. Danil Ramirez, a team leader with Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, talks with several children in the streets of western Baghdad July 26. Ramirez and his unit were part of a joint operation with Iraqi Security Forces to disrupt insurgent activities in the area. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. L.B. Edgar, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Jackson, Ohio, native Pfc. Brandon Tripp, 26, an artilleryman with Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, poses with Iraqis youths from Hateen, a neighborhood in Baghdad’s Mansour District July 26. The joint operation between Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces disrupted insurgent activities in the area with a search of residents’ homes. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. L.B. Edgar, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Pfc. Michael Gray (left) and Spc. Jeffery Sawyer, Soldiers with the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, look out onto the streets of downtown Baghdad from one of the guard towers at Forward Operating Base Prosperity in central Baghdad July 24. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Robert Yde, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

Fuelers from Forward Support Company E, 3rd “Spearhead” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, commemorate their one millionth gallon of fuel pumped at Taji, Iraq. Unlike other fuel companies, Co. E refuels only Black Hawks, making one million gallons a phenomenal feat in the 10 months they’ve been deployed, said Eunice, La., native 1st Lt. Jacob Bollich, the distribution platoon leader. Standing from left to right are: Brooklyn, N.Y., native Spc. Franklin Obour, a fueler; Perryton, Texas, native 1st Lt. Luke Reynard, former distribution platoon leader; East St. Louis, Ill., native Staff Sgt. Carl Johnson, first section chief; Farmington, N.M., native Staff Sgt. Delilah Curley, second section chief; Magnolia, Miss., native Staff Sgt. James Thompson, third section chief; and kneeling is Bollich, the current fuel platoon leader. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Nathan Hoskins, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

Colorado Springs, Colo., native Pfc. Jordan Etchells, an infantryman with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, provides security as residents walk by in Ur, a neighborhood in Baghdad’s Adhamiyah District July 21. The paratroopers went door-to-door to gather information from residents who are being terrorized criminal militia. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. L.B. Edgar, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

New Recruits

I wanted to end the week with a funny and stumbled on this one!

Hugs out to all our men and women in harms way. And a special thanks for showing us the humor!