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FOB Tacoma - A different Iraq

Jan-30-2010 » Filed Under:

ARMY LIFE SUPPORT AREA, Kuwait – Joe took this photo of rusty bullets while riding in a Humvee with soldiers from Fort Lewis’ 17th Fires Brigade. As we prepare to leave the Middle East after more than six weeks, I think this photo represents the Iraq war, circa 2010: The potential for great violence abounds, but the country has quieted.

Joe and I visited two Stryker brigades, an intelligence brigade, an artillery brigade and I Corps during our time in Iraq, and without question we witnessed a different war than others from The News Tribune who have previously embedded. Soldiers place premiums on meeting with local leaders. Troops need to discuss infrastructure projects with the same expertise as battle tactics. The 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division has dedicated an entire battalion to supporting the State Department-led Provincial Reconstruction Team. American soldiers sit in the operations center of Iraqi units, and Iraqi soldiers sit in American TOCs. And on the few offensive operations local soldiers still plan, Iraqi soldiers are involved throughout.

All that leads to that box of bullets rusting away. Most soldiers I talked to hadn’t shot once since they arrived, save for days at the range.

Read full article at The News Tribune

The team from The News Tribune reflects on its recent trip to Iraq.


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