America's North Shore Journal » Surge 2007
How General Petraeus Saved the U.S. Economy
Here’s a compelling piece by James Pethokoukis at the Capital Commerce blog on the U.S. News & World Report site. With oil prices continuing to plunge—and they may have a lot further to go—I’ve started wondering about this “what if” scenario: Where would oil prices be today had we abandoned Iraq to civil war and al Qaeda? What if President Bush had announced on Jan. 10, 2007, that instead of surging U.S. troops under the command of General Patraeus, he was ordering their withdrawal? Imagine if Iraq had descended in complete chaos and terror and genocide. Somalia or Rwanda on the Tigris and Euphrates, I guess. I agree with Pethokoukis. The prospect of dramatic instability in Iraq and the region would push oil prices well into the stratosphere. Oil is down 20% … Read entire article »
Filed under: American Economy, Iraq, Surge 2007, War on Terror
Surge Over By Month End
Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, are redeploying back to Fort Stewart, Ga., this month. The 2nd BCT deployed in May 2007 as the fifth surge brigade. Its mission was to block accelerants from entering Baghdad, protect the local population, defeat sectarian violence, continue to increase the capacity of the Iraqi Security Forces, foster local governance and economic systems, and to set the conditions for long-term self-reliance. The 2nd Brigade, as part of Multi-National Division Center, primarily conducted operations southeast of Baghdad, which included population centers in Abu Waitha, Hawr Rajab, Adwaniyah, Madhariyah and Sayafiyah. “The security environment created by the 2nd BCT operations and our efforts in enabling an increased Iraqi Army role in the area set the conditions for the local citizens to step up … Read entire article »
Filed under: Iraq, Rebuilding, Surge 2007, War on Terror
Security Equals More Electricity
AP via SFgate.com, here’s an analysis of the improving electric generation situation in Iraq. The electricity gains have been possible because violence in Iraq has dropped to its lowest level in more than four years. The change has been driven by the 2007 buildup of American forces, the Sunni revolt against al-Qaida in Iraq and Iraqi government crackdowns against Sunni extremists and Shiite militias, among other factors. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Iraq, Rebuilding, Surge 2007, War on Terror
Last Surge Brigade Scheduled to Come Home
The last of the five Army brigades to deploy with the “troop surge†in Iraq will return in July after a 13-month deployment, during which soldiers detained more than 800 terrorist suspects and helped foster Iraqi self-governance. he 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team has operated in the Arab Jabour area of southeastern Baghdad, where the number of attacks plummeted from about 30 a week when they arrived in May 2007 to about one a week now. “All in all, it’s been a very successful operation for us,†Army Col. Terry Ferrell, 2nd Brigade Combat Team commander, told reporters at the Pentagon today via video teleconference from Forward Operating Base Kalsu, in Baghdad. President Bush announced the temporary 33,000-troop surge in January 2007 to tamp down violence in Iraq and help prepare … Read entire article »
Filed under: Iraq, Surge 2007, War on Terror
GI Joes Care for Obeidi Tribe
Members of the Obeidi tribe in Maderiyah, 25 kilometers south of Baghdad, have always relied on one another through difficult times. Now, thanks to successful implementation of the counterinsurgency policy, the tribe can also rely on Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, for help. Soldiers from 1st Platoon, Battery B, 1-9th FA, met with an Obeidi woman May 21 to coordinate treatment options for burns she suffered during a mortar attack aimed at coalition forces. Reshi Hadey Afeiy was cooking in her home last December when a mortar landed near her home. The explosion and shockwave caused the oil she was cooking with to spill all over her upper body, leaving her with second- and third-degree burns from her waist up to the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Iraq, Rebuilding, Surge 2007, War on Terror
Surge Brigade’s Tour Winds Down
These are the men and women that General Cardon talked about with me, and this story demonstrates the results of their hard work. Now they’re coming home. Well done! The numbers only begin to tell the story: 5,943 houses cleared, 1,433 suspects detained, 1,241 small-arms fire engagements, 577 weapons caches found and 532 improvised explosive devices safely destroyed. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, is already busy with the task of preparing for the journey home. As the last of the “surge brigades,†arriving in the south Baghdad area last June, 2nd BCT Soldiers had a difficult but important mission to fulfill. Now, as they prepare to hand the torch to those who will continue the mission, they can look back and see a place not only made safer, but … Read entire article »
Filed under: Iraq, Rebuilding, Surge 2007, War on Terror
Task Force Marne Surge Turns Around Iraqi Provinces
A mix of force, good governance and economic stimuli has resulted in a turnaround for an area in Iraq that once was a hotbed of Sunni and Shiite insurgents. The 3rd Infantry Division’s 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team is completing a 15-month tour as part of Multinational Division Center, and the unit commander, Army Col. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr., spoke to Pentagon reporters yesterday about the deployment. The “Sledgehammer†brigade arrived in February 2007 as part of the surge of additional forces into Iraq. Violent crime was out of control, Grigsby said, and al-Qaida in Iraq intimidated Sunni portions of the area, allowing the terrorist group to use them as safe havens. “In our time here, murders have declined by greater than 50 percent, from 631 in ’06 to 253 in … Read entire article »
Filed under: Iraq, Rebuilding, Surge 2007, War on Terror
Third Surge Brigade Coming Home
Have you read this in your paper? Nope. The third of five surge brigades will be coming home in the next several weeks. Umm… misson accomplished! Approximately, 3,500 Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division are redeploying to Fort Benning, Georgia, in the next several weeks. The 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team deployed in March 2007 to secure the Mada’in Qada in Baghdad Province east of the Diyala River. The brigade was one of five units deployed in support of the surge. The 3rd HBCT’s operations in Mada’in Qada helped improve the safety and quality of life for approximately 120,000 people living there. Its contributions over the last 14 months have led to improvements in security and the capture of more than 600 criminals, numerous cache finds, and a remarkably lower number of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Iraq, Surge 2007, War on Terror
Coming Soon: Future Posts
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- USS President vs HMS Belvidera (in 134 days)
- General Hull Invades Canada (in 153 days)
- First Battle of Sacketts Harbor (in 160 days)
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