Steel Curtain Update

[cameron]

OK no one wants to say the back of the "insurgency" is about to be broke but...


The Fourth Rail: Steel Curtain Update: Slugging it out in Ubaydi, Running with the Sheep

Operation Steel Curtain has had a noticeable impact on the terrorist’s supply chain. Reports indicate 36 weapons caches, including “several that contained suicide vests and bomb making material”, along with 107 IEDs and multiple homes rigged as bombs have been discovered. These are weapons that will not be able to be used to disrupt the upcoming parliamentary election on December 15th.
With Husaybah, Karabilah and Sa’dah hosting a strong Coalition contingent directly on the Syrian border, Coalition forces holding the bridges and roads eastward, and the borders essentially closed down at Tal Afar in the north and Rutbah in the south, the insurgents in the region may be finding it difficult to move around and reestablish a base of operations elsewhere.

Multinational Forces - West also states “Intelligence reports indicate that the strong resistance to the Iraqi and Coalition push into the city is due in large part to the fact that insurgents believe they are trapped and have nowhere else to go.” The high casualty counts in Ubaydi support this theory

[Merceditas]

Wow..........thanks for that link!!!!

If anyone is interested in the emails and phone calls, his take on things, I've been getting from Pat, let me know. He's at Camp Ramadi.

[cameron]

merceditas said:

Wow..........thanks for that link!!!!

If anyone is interested in the emails and phone calls, his take on things, I've been getting from Pat, let me know. He's at Camp Ramadi.

Oh please share, what does he think?

[Merceditas]

Oh.......where to begin.....

He's only been there for a little more than 2 months. He drives a 7-ton and humvee. He said every run they make they get hit, either with fire or remote eids. But the terrorists are more than outgunned. And our troops use overwhelming firepower against them when they find them. (that made me feel better)

The Iraqi kids are very cute. We send him candy to hand out to them.

The Iraqis they're training for the Iraqi army........he doesn't think too much about. From those he's spoken to, he thinks they're only in it for the money and thinks more of us here are more interested in the country of Iraq's future than they are. (in my view, that doesn't necessarily mean it's all bad......there's still hope)

So far, that's about all I've got......except for little battle excerps he's given me. Sounds like the Seebees did a great job in their making of Camp Ramadi though.

[101ABN]

Merc,

Feel free to keep a running post here if you like.

We don't get enough first hand updates as you know.

Also, please let him know that he's in our thoughts and prayers.

[cameron]

in my view, that doesn't necessarily mean it's all bad...


No I don't think so either, the overall picture is looking too good to lose hope now.

Hey Merceditas you may enjoy this site


One Marine's View

Oh and please thank Pat and know he is remembered in all our prayers.

[Merceditas]

Sure, 101. I'll do my best. He talks a lot about things that are not exactly to do with the country.

This time is a teeny bit easier on me, I at least, get to keep in touch with him, and know he's got time to relax for a few days at a time, (or as he says, 'I'm bored out of my mind!). So different than what Greg went through, and he's so grateful to see Pat dealing with a bit of a better life over there. (I don't know if I told you, but he's in his second year at K-State, and the VA is getting his knees operated on, they did one, and they still need to get his other one done)

Cam,
Thanks so much. I do appreciate it. And the more info I get, esp from the area Pat's in, the more I can deal with things.

Thank's you guys for letting me share.....

[Sailor]

admin said:

Merc,

Feel free to keep a running post here if you like.

We don't get enough first hand updates as you know.

Also, please let him know that he's in our thoughts and prayers.

Let me second all that, ESPECIALLY the line about "he's in our throughts and prayers."

And you are too Mom.
Take care Merc.

[tits]

Pat and Corrie (the son of a friend from church) are in my daily prayers.

Thanks for sharing.

[tits]

The BBC did a great piece on the war last Thursday. They had terrorism experts, military leaders, on the ground reporters, and Iraqis speaking. All of them said that by all accounts that we are making headway. Several, including the BBC correspondent said that it is very dangerous to announce an established time-line.

However, with very few exceptions every one of the call ins from Canada, Britian, and American disagreed with the experts and stated that we are the only reason there is still violence. The anti-propaganda machine is working overtime and has thoroughly convinced the populus of the surface truths of the observations.

It really makes me wonder if those people who claimed that we murdered 100,000 in 91 and that we have killed 42,000 civilians really want the truth.

Merc, what run does Pat usually make?

[Merceditas]

As far as runs he makes......from what he has told me, and could tell me, they run Marines in to search out insurgents, do patrols, and running intel (? my guess) in and out.

Here's a couple of pics, the one where the blast out building is behind him was to do with an outpost he was at, they were taking fire from 3 buildings, and the one with the hole in it was one of them.

[tits]

Fine looking man you have there!

Semper Fi Sister!

[Merceditas]

tits said:

Fine looking man you have there!

Semper Fi Sister!

Thank you, I think so too.......and my other 5 kiddos are pretty cute too. lol! (no bias here.....)

Thanks everyone for your prayers, I've told him about you people here and at the gulch, how you send him your thanks and your prayers. I know he's grateful and a bit humbled by it.

[cameron]

Great pics Merc, you know how I love pics. You have obviously raised some fine young men.