Stubbornly Violent...

U.S. soldiers from the Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment escort an arrested Iraqi policeman suspected to have ties with the militia, at a U.S. military camp in Baquba, Diyala province August 19, 2008. U.S. and Iraqi forces have launched a crackdown against militants in the province, in which Iraqi forces have been given the lead.

REUTERS/Andrea Comas (IRAQ)

A report published by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War last week about Diyala concluded that progress had definitely been made by U.S. forces and it was now important for them to work with Iraqis to maintain the gains.

David Clarke/Reuters

Evening...

The 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, in partnership with the Iraqi forces, continues operations in the Diyala province as they track, find and apprehend insurgents. More and more U.S. commanders are putting the onus on the Iraqi military to take the lead...

Give the following story a read for insight on how the 2nd SCR is working...umm, pushing the Iraqis to step up and lead on the battlefield. I like what I see in this article and trust more of this will continue. Tell me what you think...

Also, ever wonder why our warriors are working long hours? Note this quote from U.S. Army LTC Bob McAleer of Fires Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment:

"I think we are going to do about five or six months of work here in about the next two weeks and I think that's, quite honestly, pretty realistic..."

Yowsa...still, lots of work to do for the 2nd SCR in Diyala.

On a stubborn battlefield, Iraqi forces set to take lead

Finally, there was a dust up in Diyala today that has caused headlines...

Iraqi Sunnis outraged over Diyala raids, arrests

Chris, I love you buddy - be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

A U.S. soldier from the Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment guards an arrested Iraqi policeman suspected to have ties with the militia, at a U.S. military camp in Baquba, Diyala province August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Andrea Comas (IRAQ)

A U.S. soldier from the Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment helps an arrested Iraqi policeman, suspected to have ties with the militia, get out of a military vehicle at a U.S. military camp in Baquba, Diyala province August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Andrea Comas (IRAQ)

A U.S. soldier from the Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment helps an arrested Iraqi policeman, suspected to have ties with the militia, get out of a military vehicle at a U.S. military camp in Baquba, Diyala province August 19, 2008.

REUTERS/Andrea Comas (IRAQ)


Iraqi policemen sit next to U.S. soldiers from the Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment inside an Iraqi police station in the village of Abu Sayda, Diyala province August 19, 2008.
REUTERS/Andrea Comas (IRAQ)

A U.S. soldier from the Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment buys food inside an Iraqi police station in the village of Abu Sayda, Diyala province August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Andrea Comas (IRAQ)

Workers talk to U.S. soldiers from the Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment during their visit of an Iraqi water plant in the village of Abu Sayda in Diyala province August 19, 2008. REUTERS/Andrea Comas (IRAQ)

A man passes by a U.S. army soldier attached to Eagle Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment as he patrols a street on the outskirts of Baqouba, the capital of Iraq's Diyala province, some 60 kilometers (45 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008. Iraqi troops raided local government offices in the volatile Diyala province on Tuesday, arresting a Sunni provincial council member and a university president who was led away hooded and handcuffed, officials said.
(AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)


People pass by a U.S. army soldier attached to Eagle Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment as he patrols a street on the outskirts of Baqouba, the capital of Iraq's Diyala province, some 60 kilometers (45 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008.
(AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

A man passes by U.S. army soldiers attached to Eagle Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment as they patrol a street on the outskirts of Baqouba, the capital of Iraq's Diyala province, some 60 kilometers (45 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008.

(AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)


A U.S. army soldier attached to Eagle Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment patrols a street on the outskirts of Baqouba, the capital of Iraq's Diyala province, some 60 kilometers (45 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008.
(AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)