[Dean's World] Dave Price: VDH In Iraq

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Dave Price:
VDH In Iraq
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1192137351.shtml


   The preeminent military historian of our time [1]shares thoughts from
   his visit to today's battlefield:

     I spent last week touring outlying areas of Baghdad and American
     forward operating bases in Anbar and Diyala provinces, talking to
     Army and Marine combat teams and listening to Iraqi provincial and
     security officials. Whether in various suburbs of Baghdad, or in
     Baqubah, Ramadi or Taji, there is a familiar narrative of vastly
     reduced violence. Until recently, the Americans could not find
     enough interpreters, were rarely warned about landmines and had
     little support from Iraqi security forces.
     ...
     So we are at yet another turning point in the constantly changing
     saga of Iraq. On this recent trip to Iraq, I rode on highways that
     just a few months ago were nearly impossible to navigate without
     being blown up by improvised explosive devices. Soldiers now train
     Iraqi security forces as often as they fight terrorists.

   Crazy Ramadi has become [2]Lazy Ramadi, with our troops now often
   [3]walking around without body armor.

References

   1. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/10/hope_yet_for_iraq.html
   2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k3L-_Snu7k
   3. http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001517.html