Raining Down...

LTC Myron Rieneke(R), commander of the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment of the US army, shakes hands with an Iraqi security volunteer during a patrol in Baghdad. US warplanes rained bombs on a rural area just south of Baghdad on Thursday, with the American military saying Al-Qaeda in Iraq safe havens were destroyed in "one of the largest airstrikes" since 2003. (AFP/Jewel Samad)

On patrol : A US soldier from the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, secures an area as his team inspect an abandoned factory in Baghdad. (AFP/Jewel Samad)

Providing security : A US soldier from the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, secures an area in Baghdad. (AFP/Jewel Samad)

US soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, secure an area in Baghdad. US warplanes rained bombs on a rural area just south of Baghdad on Thursday, with the American military saying Al-Qaeda in Iraq safe havens were destroyed in "one of the largest airstrikes" since 2003. (AFP/Jewel Samad)


A U.S. army soldier from the Ghostrider Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment throws a smoke grenade during Operation Phantom Phoenix in the village of Abu Musa on the northern outskirts of Muqdadiyah, in the volatile Diyala province, about 90 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. The U.S. military launched Operation Phantom Phoenix on Tuesday as a nationwide campaign against al-Qaida in Iraq. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

Evening all. Based on the flood of photos and news I sifted through tonight...as they say on an airline flight before taking off...your tray table should be in the upright position and locked, your seatback must be all the way forward and your seat belt needs to be secured, low and snug across your waist. Why?

These next few days and weeks may be quite a ride for our warriors in the 2nd SCR...and for us.

If you haven't spent some time listening to the Operations Update from the Commander of 2nd SCR I posted earlier today I would encourage you to do so. There is good insight in the interview about the ops tempo for our warriors...

Tonights blog...

Operation Phantom Phoenix is in full swing and the 2nd SCR is supporting some of the ops under this umbrella. In Arab Jabour, on the southern outskirts of Baghdad, a ferocious airstrike was conducted on suspected Al Qaeda in Iraq safe havens. A recap of this activity can be read in the LA Times article US Bombers Target Al Qaeda in Iraq.

In the Bread Basket, ops continue. If interested, grab your gear and lets tag along on with Headquarters/Headquarters Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd SCR as they work the Bazul area in the Diyala province. The two videos below paint a pretty clear picture of the terrain and environment the 3rd Squadron is operating in...

Let me close with a few more pictures of our Ghostrider Company, 3rd Squadron warriors in action in the Bread Basket...stay strong guys and keep the pressure on.

Chris, I expect you are busy, son. Be safe and keep your head on a swivel. I love you buddy!

Women watch as U.S. army soldiers from Ghostrider Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment search their home during Operation Phantom Phoenix in the village of Abu Musa on the northern outskirts of Muqdadiyah, in the volatile Diyala province, about 90 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. The U.S. military launched Operation Phantom Phoenix on Tuesday as a nationwide campaign against al-Qaida in Iraq. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)


A woman cries as she talks to a U.S. army soldier from Ghostrider Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, as the rest of his unit search a home during Operation Phantom Phoenix in the village of Abu Musa on the northern outskirts of Muqdadiyah, in the volatile Diyala province, about 90 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. The U.S. military launched Operation Phantom Phoenix on Tuesday as a nationwide campaign against al-Qaida in Iraq. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)


A U.S. army soldier from Ghostrider Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment runs through smoke generated by a smoke grenade during Operation Phantom Phoenix in the village of Abu Musa on the northern outskirts of Muqdadiyah, in the volatile Diyala province, about 90 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. The U.S. military launched Operation Phantom Phoenix on Tuesday as a nationwide campaign against al-Qaida in Iraq. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

v/r,
- Collabman