Rocket’s red glare

At 1500, Arabic Standard Time, The Iraqi Intervention Force’s 2nd Brigade, 9th Battalion arrives in Camp Manhattan. Ten Advisory Support Team members will be eagerly awaiting, literally chomping at the bit to get some hard core training under way.

But what can four days accomplish?

It had better be volumes, because 19 December is the day we march into the last, truly unsecured corner of Fallujah. It is there we fight insurgents who are using our night vision equipment, our rations, and more weapons and armament than the entire Iraqi Army.

Who wants the challenge? Yes please!

We’ll be living, eating, sleeping, and breathing within Fallujah borders for an undetermined amount of time, side by side with our Iraqi counterparts. It is their opinion that “no Fallujahn is a good Fallujahn”, and I agree. Killing the bad guys will be simple enough, but the powers that be will soon begin the surge of civilians back into the city.

That day is today.

With a little luck, the reoccupation of Fallujah will be postponed until the end of the month. It will give us and our men time enough to eliminate the rats and save the sinking ship. Regardless, I’ll be off line until further notice.

Semper Fi.