Back in Baghdad
This has been another wall to wall day. I am in Baghdad and I’ve traded jetlag for deja vu. Across the lake looms Al Faw Palace, the old III Corps HQ. Now XVIIIth Airborne Corps is in charge of Multi-National Corps-Iraq.
But back to yesterday– as my friend Mike Hedges of the Houston Chronicle opines, “Yesterday a firmament of stars fell upon us.” I think this means we were briefed by at least a covey’s worth of generals. We covered logistics, intel, and ops. I managed to meet a friend in Doha for dinner and we ate at a Lebanese restaurant– I’d call it toney but the food was much better than the kitsch fare “toney” spots in the US tend to produce.
Today –June 15– began at 0450 hours with a knock on the door. Beware the Ides of June, at least if you want to sleep late. We trucked out to the air base and caught a C-17 hop to Baghdad. One of the C-17 pilots was an RAF officer assigned to the USAF. Before I heard his accent I saw the Union Jack decal on his head set.
Once in Baghdad we drove from the airbase area to Camp Victory (where Al Faw Palace is located). The current chief of operations gave us a briefing in the Corps’ Joint Operations Center. I’ll comment on the difference in operational emphasis at a later date– but it’s clear the Iraqis are taking on a larger share of the operational burden. After the ops briefing we talked with the current corps commander, Lieutenant-General Vines, for about an hour. When asked about Iraqi participation in security missions, Vines gave us a rough percentage figure. In at least nine out of ten security operations, the new Iraqi military is providing half of the forces. The Iraqi units demonstrate tactical combat proficiency but –this is the short version– lack logistical support organizations and heavy weapons (eg, sufficient artillery).
I’ll update later. We’re off to another briefing.
Few Iraqi Battalions Are Operational? In Yesterday’s post, Training the Iraqi Army, we took issue with New York Times characterization of the Iraqi units as not being ‘operational’: The article documents the current and projected manpower in a section misleadingly…
Trackback by Winds of Change.NET — 6/15/2005 @ 3:32 pm
What fascinating reading, I’m tuned in for the rest of the month. Good hunting and stay safe. Please extend my family’s gratitude to any of our proud military you meet
Comment by Ed Poinsett — 6/15/2005 @ 5:45 pm
All of this is well and good. But at what point do we actually round the corner and say, Aha a real Iraq?
Comment by Ashton Bielsky — 6/15/2005 @ 8:19 pm
Good stuff–reading every word here in Austin–or, nearby anyway.
Comment by Buddy Larsen — 6/15/2005 @ 8:28 pm
i consider it a privilige to be the first person to get a reply in to this post. your dispatches are as readable as they are vital, sir. please keep it up and godspeed.
Comment by cali white bear — 6/15/2005 @ 8:45 pm
Thank you, Mr. Bay, for your vivid and fascinating first-hand reporting. Jamie Irons (StrategyPage reader since 2001!)
Comment by Jamie Irons — 6/15/2005 @ 8:50 pm
Great stuff, thanks for sharing and thanks for being in Iraq to report. You and Michael Yon are doing a great service for everyone. Was Vines talking about all ops, or just a particular Area of Operations? If that’s for all AO, that’s quite an impressive stat.
Comment by TallDave — 6/15/2005 @ 10:01 pm
If you’ve got some time, could you also write about what it’s like now as far as recruiting for the Iraqi forces? I can’t imagine it’s easy, given the casualties they tend to take. Or is the pay relatively attractive? The patriotism compelling to young Iraqis glad to be free? Curious as to how it works.
Comment by Joe — 6/16/2005 @ 3:05 am
The Ides of June are on the 13th, not the 15th. Only March, May, July, and October have the Ides on the 15th.
Comment by dan — 6/16/2005 @ 5:42 am
1. At least one reporter who is not cheering the Terrorist! Wow. 2. At least another reporter who is reporting from the scene! The so called MSM or the elite liberal media should take notes. 3. This is really funny - a must read - “Islam and Evolution” Link at - http://satire.myblogsite.com/blog/_archives/2005/6/12 or http://satire.myblogsite.com/blog, then click to June 12, 2005
Comment by David — 6/16/2005 @ 10:43 am
1. At least one reporter who is reporting from the scene. What’s wrong with you guys at the liberal establishment media? Can’t you learn?
Comment by David — 6/16/2005 @ 10:45 am
Hi Warrior, My nephew just returned from Iraq as a Marine about two months ago. WE all thank you for keeping the war there, and not here. The bombings in London have turned the Brits around regarding just how serious this war is. Its about time. I am on line almost every night doing war with the liberals and stupid Democrats regarding why we are in Iraq. The dumb Dems/Libs just can’t figure it out. When you all come home, maybe you can explain it to them in ways they will understand. You are our heroes. I worked in Central America in the 1980s doing “research,” in El Salvador, Guatemala and with the Contras in Nicaragua. We won those proxy wars but it was difficult and a long haul. If there is anything that you need, please email me. We can’t do enough for you guys. We will move heaven and earth to help you or the good Iraqis out. Just let us know. It moves me to tears to know you are fighting our battles. And thank you so much for giving us some decent information. Out love, our respect…and our good wishes to your always. Diana Wilson dianaftld@yahoo.com
Comment by Diana Wilson — 7/27/2005 @ 10:34 pm