U.S. forces struggle to save the suburbs

[SgtRock]

U.S. forces struggle to save the suburbs

By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Read more at: Stars & Stripes

CAMP RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq — The soldiers here call it “Rusty Roulette.”
Every time members of the Destroyer Team roll out of Camp Rustamiyah’s gates, they know it may be their day for “contact” — anything from taking a few insurgent potshots to getting hit by a roadside bomb.

Over the past few weeks, contact has ranged from one to five incidents per day, according to Capt. Carson Davis, 32, intelligence officer for 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. The Destroyers, and the units they control, are facing one of the most complex fights in Iraq today. They are working to counter a bewildering, and in some cases strengthening, mix of deadly players.

With military forces, both U.S. and Iraqi, focused on getting Shiite militias under control in Baghdad, the militias are looking for other strongholds where it’s easier to operate. The Madaein district, particularly Salman Pak, is a natural place for such a shift, the officers said.

The influx of Shiite militias, in turn, attracts more Sunni insurgents, who want their own control of the district, the officers said.

To help prevent a wholesale infiltration of insurgents as the pressure increases in Baghdad, locals have asked the Iraqi government to send in a brigade of the Iraqi army. The Iraqi government has yet to decide whether to assign the troops to this increasingly restive region.

“Could we use some help? Sure. I’ll never say ‘no’ to more help,” said Lt. Col. Jimmy Phillips, the 3-61 squadron commander. “But we’re making good progress here.”

 

[Cold Dirt]

U.S. forces struggle to save the suburbs

By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Read more at: Stars & Stripes

CAMP RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq — The soldiers here call it “Rusty Roulette.”
Every time members of the Destroyer Team roll out of Camp Rustamiyah’s gates, they know it may be their day for “contact” — anything from taking a few insurgent potshots to getting hit by a roadside bomb.

Over the past few weeks, contact has ranged from one to five incidents per day, according to Capt. Carson Davis, 32, intelligence officer for 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. The Destroyers, and the units they control, are facing one of the most complex fights in Iraq today. They are working to counter a bewildering, and in some cases strengthening, mix of deadly players.

With military forces, both U.S. and Iraqi, focused on getting Shiite militias under control in Baghdad, the militias are looking for other strongholds where it’s easier to operate. The Madaein district, particularly Salman Pak, is a natural place for such a shift, the officers said.

The influx of Shiite militias, in turn, attracts more Sunni insurgents, who want their own control of the district, the officers said.

To help prevent a wholesale infiltration of insurgents as the pressure increases in Baghdad, locals have asked the Iraqi government to send in a brigade of the Iraqi army. The Iraqi government has yet to decide whether to assign the troops to this increasingly restive region.

“Could we use some help? Sure. I’ll never say ‘no’ to more help,” said Lt. Col. Jimmy Phillips, the 3-61 squadron commander. “But we’re making good progress here.”

With Iran and Syria pouring trained troops into the insurgent ranks, the boys could use all the help they can get.....its like the NV Regulars pouring across the border into the VC ranks......but the huge difference is, we dont have 1/5the amount of troops in country as we did in Southeast Asia.......btw Welcome to DP Sgt Rock.....


Now the democrats who voted by a majority to fight this war is taking the one thing the troops have been asking for from the get go....more equipment, more troops, better weapons and more Urban Warfare training before shipping out.....

it takes money people to accomplish this..... you dems claim you support the troops, yet you vote to cut the money that is used to help keep them alive until we get out of Iraq.......so pushing to cut the budget which in turn causes more troops to be killed because the lack of training, equipment and weapons is in what way supporting the troops?