This is the layout for the clearing plan for Al-Mascar, an area suspected of an abundance of Unexlpoded Ordinance. The US had cleared the area after a sheep herder was injured, but the locals would have felt better if the IA went in and personnaly searched the area. As you might be able to tell, the area is several square kilos large. The mission itself took two days, having found relatively nothing.The area had previously been an Iraqi Army munitions area, and it is obvious by the large craters that it was one of the US's targets during the early part of 2003.
After several days of training, planning and preparation, the IA gave up the plan after an hour and went in, with their MiTT in tow, to search the area.
Heres a photo we had taken of some of us and our interpreters at PB Dezil. I'm on the far right...
Here is Sgt Abere, one of my counterparts. He seems to think he's cool with my M4. After several vanity shots I had to pry my weapon from his hands. Things have gotten difficult since we were directed to give no physical assets to the IA. They seem sometimes to want nothing to do with us unless we have stuff for them. We were even asked why we were here if we can't give them stuff. This question came a few days after I showed the commo LT how to use his GPS...
Sgt Abere was angry at me yesterday, after finding out the picture disk I made him didn't work. He told me he didn't trust me anymore... Oh well.
Ah yes, only a few miles into our Al-Mascar trek. This photo was taken atop a bombed out bunker. Here was obvious proof of the US's bunker-busters competence.
SGT Kessinger, one of the most motivated soldiers I've met yet, standing in the way of SSG Crocodile "Crock" and his handler, a SGT. Dogs always outrank their handlers. This cuts down on abuse.
Here is a typical way that American troops treat IA soldiers. This soldier was told that the tab he was given means he is some kind of great soldier. If you can't tell, it says "shit bag." After getting to know the IA soldier, I didn't mind anymore, he was quite a jerk.
Major Brott and KC, showing off their enthusiasm for Al Mascar.
KC, Doc, and myself. Pre-mission. The elections that were all over the news went smoothly. There was heavy IA presence at all the polling sites. We were now where near the polling sites. This is the way we want it, to have little to do with the execution of Iraqi operations.
Scarface is doing great. He's filled out quite a bit and has made himself our guardian. He keeps all the cats away at night and barks at the wind.
I hope all is well back home. We are all doing fine and eager to come home.
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