Constantly Changing...

Everything is constantly shifting and changing...from location to the type of operations being conducted. The one thing that is constant is change...read on...

The info hounds pushed some interesting articles tonight. The first one shows a possible shift in location by the insurgency as they seek a new haven for operations -- Mosul attack points to insurgent shift. As the article points out - the stakes are high on both sides. The photo shows the carnage from today's attack...

Iraqi's tour the site where an explosion on Wednesday collapsed a three-story apartment building and ravaged adjacent houses just minutes after the Iraqi army arrived to investigate tips about a weapons cache in Mosul, Iraq Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008. Police on Thursday raised the casualty toll from that blast to at least 18 killed and 146 wounded.(AP Photo)

The next article is from the Middle East Times and shows the shift in the Bread Basket from kinetic operations to outreach efforts, a building phase -- U.S. begins outreach in 'liberated' areas. This is a look at the great work 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment has performed in the Diyala Province. The photo explains the importance of the outreach work in Diyala...

A U.S. Army medic treats a villager's leg infection during a patrol near Himbus, Iraq. The villager was later taken to a special medical clinic established in the town with U.S. and Iraqi Army doctors. (Middle East Times)

Finally, additional insight on Operation Phantom Phoenix and the role the 3-2 SCR played courtesy SPC John Crosby and posted on DVIDS.

Story by Spc. John Crosby
Posted on 01.24.2008 at 08:11AM

BAQUBAH, Iraq – Coalition and Iraqi army soldiers are focusing their combat strength on clearing al-Qaida from Diyala province, Iraq, in support of Operation Raider Harvest. The operation is a part of Operation Phantom Phoenix, an Iraq wide offensive to destroy AQI and provide stability to the Iraqi government.

Operation Raider Harvest, executed by the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., is a complex mission with many moving parts and several phases.

“Deny, hold and build,” said 4-2 SBCT Commander Col. Jon Lehr. “We must deny safe haven to al-Qaida and other insurgents throughout our area of responsibility wherever they hope to find it. We must set the conditions for Iraqi security forces to hold these hard fought areas so they don’t slip back into the enemy’s hands. And we must assist the government of Iraq to build the economic, governance and essential services infrastructures in these areas.”

The operation started with the 2-3rd ACR and the 2-23 Inf. Regt. clearing simultaneously around the Breadbasket into blocking positions and securing a route for the 3-2 Stryker Cavalry Regiment to move into position for the main push.

“Based on the geography of the Breadbasket, it was feasible to confront them on multiple axis all at once, simultaneously, with other forces isolating the area,” said Lt. Col. Rod Coffey, 3-2 SCR commander.

With the other battalions providing blocking positions, 3-2 SCR moved from northeast to southwest, clearing house to house searching for AQI operatives, weapons caches, improvised explosive devices, documents and training sites.

As of Jan. 21, coalition forces working in the Breadbasket found and cleared 29 IEDs, eight car bombs, seven booby-trapped houses, three of which were found thanks to tips from locals who lived in the area and 36 weapons caches. Four enemies were killed in action and another four wounded.

The successes were not without their cost. Coalition forces suffered 19 casualties during the first three days of the mission. Two Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3-2 SCR were wounded when their Stryker vehicle hit an IED as well as a Soldier from the 38th Engineers Company, Brigade Troops Battalion, Jan. 8. On Jan. 9, six Soldiers and one Iraqi interpreter of HHC, 3-2 SCR were killed in action after a house borne improvised explosive device detonated. Another nine were wounded as a result of the blast and were evacuated.

“We prepared for that,” said Coffey. “There are a number of things you do in making sure that you are mentally and physically tough, and although it hurts and you feel it, I would say the Soldiers are even more determined to achieve the mission and get these guys.”

After the clearing phase secured the Breadbasket, the holding phase began. Coalition forces working side-by-side with Iraqi army troops conducted humanitarian assistance missions to aid the people of the northern Diyala River Valley.

“Although decisive, the combat operations will likely not have as great of an effect as the next phases,” said Lt. Col. James Brown, executive officer of the 4-2. “The big part of it is that now the area will be tied to Muqdadiyah, its closest and largest urban center, and Maqdadiyah will be tied to the province, so the chain of communication between local villages and the Iraqi government will be established. That chain was not there before, so the local people were ripe for AQI to fill that need for them. Now that the link has been established, the government will be able to provide what the people need, which will end AQI’s foothold in the area.”

Food drops conducted by IA and CF supplied the people of the Breadbasket with rice and flour, and IA and CF medical personnel also conducted medical aid mission to provide care for minor illnesses, cuts and scrapes, treating more than 600 Iraqis as of Jan. 21.
Other projects aimed at helping the Iraqis to help themselves are on-going in the area.

“Soon we will provide 400 people here with jobs clearing the canals of vegetation to improve water flow through the area,” said Capt. Jonathon Norquist, a civil affairs officer in 2-3 ACR, 4-2 ID. “We want to improve our relations with the Iraqis here and build trust.”

On Jan. 17, the Diyala Provincial Government organized a fuel drop for the citizens of Mansuriyah, after they went months without. Hundreds of Iraqis lined up, fuel cans in hand to receive their rations.

This was one of the first steps in local district governments connecting the provincial government to address the needs of the people.

“Coalition forces, Iraqi security forces, and Muqdadiyah Iraqi police all helped achieve our goals in taking back the Breadbasket,” said Muqdadiyah Mayor Najem Abdulah Ahmed through an interpreter. “After clearing the area controlled by terrorists, we provide services, food and kerosene for villages that have been isolated.”

An Iraqi police station has been opened and is currently operating in the Breadbasket.

“As we transition into the next phase, you will essentially see a planting of the Iraqi flag in the northern DRV,” Brown said. “You will see Iraqi army and Iraqi police, which up until this point had not patrolled in this area, and here shortly you will see the linkage between the provincial leaders and the local leaders.”

Combat outposts in the Breadbasket are under construction, providing more security in the area. CLC groups are organizing and the Iraqi government is assuming responsibility for the area.

“We will set up some joint security stations and combat outposts,” Coffey said. “It’s getting the local government functioning again in these areas which creates a lot more cohesion between the people, the local police, the Iraqi Army and coalition forces. Part of that is raising Concerned Local Citizens groups because that dynamic of preventing al-Qaida from re-infiltrating your neighborhood is an important civic exercise.

“We’ve gone a long way in identifying local leaders we think will be important to the future or cooperative to us, and some people we should perhaps keep an eye on,” Coffey continued. “I think as everyday goes by the people in the Breadbasket are more assured that the security forces are going to stay. They are going to become more cooperative in giving up AQI that are still in their midst. The local Iraqi government is going to get in there more and more. The civil government needs to get in there and reassert its control and its normal functioning services in there.”

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Chris, you are constantly on our hearts and minds. I love you!

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman