One Checkpoint at a Time...

A U.S. Army Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, pull security on Nov. 20, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq.

Photographer: Cpl. Jeffrey Sandstrum - Joint Combat Camera Center

Jeez, where did the weekend go? Tomorrow we begin another work week. For the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment they work 24x7...weekends? They would laugh and ask, what is a weekend?

Chris and the entire 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment will be on my heart and mind as they make adjustments to stay ahead of the ever changing environment on the ground in Baghdad. In Moving On... Seth Robson, Stars & Stripes wrote about the ongoing changes for the 3rd Squadron. I expect that other units in the 2nd SCR may also be flexing in their own Area of Operations (AO). The insurgents adapt and so do our warriors.

I am grateful for the calm but as Marti commented in Moving On... the 2nd SCR is not done. Each area they clean up and hand over leads to one more that requires possibly the same effort. Will the new AO require a kinetic engagement? It could, but either way the 2nd SRC will be ready for whatever is ahead. And remember, the calendar does not lie - November '08 is still some 11 months off. So for the 2nd SCR and each one of us it's one day at a time...one patrol at a time...one checkpoint at a time. Keep praying for them.

Let me leave you tonight with two items you might find interesting. The first is a report from the Stars & Stripes and shows how the combination of biometrics, human intelligence, and the screening of sworn statements and data on insurgents is helping our warriors detain fewer innocent Iraqis...and those who are held, stay in jail. It's called GIs Getting Better Intel on Detainees. Thanks to Seth Robson for providing the report. Give it a read if you have the time.

The second piece is a series of photos from a combat cameraman traveling with the 1st Squadron, 2nd SCR in Baghdad. The photos show the joint effort of the 1-2 SCR and Iraqi Policemen pulling security in Baghdad.

Hmmm, what do you see?

The photo of the young boy on crutches...

For Chris - we love you son and look forward to talking with you soon. Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

U.S. Army 1st. Lt. Elcort from, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, talks to a crippled Iraqi boy on Nov. 20, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq.
Photographer: Cpl. Jeffrey Sandstrum - Joint Combat Camera Center

Iraqi police stop from their convoy to meet with 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, on Nov. 20, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq.
Photographer: Cpl. Jeffrey Sandstrum - Joint Combat Camera Center

U.S. Army Soldiers from, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, pull security on Nov. 20, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq.
Photographer: Cpl. Jeffrey Sandstrum - Joint Combat Camera Center

An Iraqi policeman goes on a patrol on Nov. 20, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq.
Photographer: Cpl. Jeffrey Sandstrum - Joint Combat Camera Center