Black Widow...Update

Evening...

It remains very quiet on the news front for the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. No photos or articles that I nor the info hounds could find.

On the 25th, Chris will celebrate his 2nd birthday on the ground in Iraq - he will turn 21. We are hoping for a phone call from him on his 21st birthday but we are not sure. Given that we haven't heard from him for almost two weeks his ops tempo may just not allow it. We shall see...

For those who are planning on sending an email wishing him a happy 21st birthday - thanks!

Last year I celebrated his birthday virtually with this blog:
20th Birthday...On the Streets of Baghdad...


As I stated in that blog...the pictures were his mother's idea ;-) (Really, they were...)

Tonight, I was tipped by Justin (thanks sir) to a video from CNN (Cal Perry) on how Iraqi authorities are working to train Iraqi women to help mitigate the problem of female suicide bombers. You may remember a number of blogs I wrote on the threat of Black Widows to Iraqi citizens, police forces and U.S. forces...

Black Widow...

Hunting...

Poised...

Here is the CNN video on the progress being made to counter this threat. If your browser is Firefox make sure you have the latest version (3.0.2) running to ensure the video loads and plays properly.

Confronting female suicide bombers




Additionally, I encountered a sister video from DVIDS that was produced by SSG Christina Harwell, 14th Public Affairs Detachment in Iraq. It is a B-roll about female Iraqi police cadets graduating from the Ashcroft Training Center in the Diyala province. This video includes interviews with:

-- CPT Melody Faulkenberry (US)

-- SFC Patricia Baiocchetti (US)

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Chris, I love you buddy. Almost 21, eh? Wow!

I continue to pray for you everyday...you are always on my heart.

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman