PCS to LinkedInUSAF: Optimism Trumps Fear #6

The banner for this blog says it all, optimism ultimately defeats fear! Here's the sixth installment of the latest CENTCOM Press Releases. Progress, PROGRESS, PROGRESS!

Hello? Any positive reports out there from the greater stream of news? Thought not. Oh well, you know where to get the GOOD NEWS and CENTCOM weekly roundups!

Again, what a great week to tell you about! Even though we've had two really bad situations (CH-47 Emergency Landings), all in all the good stuff just keeps happening. We all can breath a sigh of relief to learn that those six soldiers injured in the two emergency landings are in stable condition. The Good Lord is watching out for them! God Speed!

I didn't get the opportunity at our last "round up" to talk about Operation Thunder Blitz! The primary objective is to clean up the local areas prior to the elections (Iraqi Elections, not US - sheesh, always looking for some sort of evil-angle!) so that Iraqis can vote. It's a major Clean Up on Aisle 5 whereby terrorists and varying weapons are getting the attention they deserve! So, it's sorta like the Giant Zamboni Machine in the Iraqi Theater!

[Photo Courtesy About.com and Zamboni.com]

Once they are done, we can drop the puck and get down to some serious work that makes for awesome history! I mean, all these boneheads need 5 minutes in the box (OK, stay on the hockey analogy, please) for major blue line offenses!!! Cross the line, get time!

Great news, have you read it already?!

"Wait for it ..."

Iraqi Government Assumes Control Of Borders!

Boo-Yah baby!

This is a GREAT step forward, and makes transition to the Iraqis truly possible. One good thing is that Iraq is in control of the flow of "terrorists for hire"! You can just hear it when you read the words straight from Iraqi's Minister of Defense, Saadoun al-Dulaimi:

"This is a historic day for Iraq," said al-Dulaimi. "I won't forget this day. The ~~insurgents~~ terrorists are no longer controlling the border. Our friends have helped us. We are now a country of freedom, of human rights, and of peace."

[i did the strike-through - more accurate!]

The ceremony was held on November 30th. It highlighted one more major success in the Global War on Terror, focused mainly in Iraq at this time. This success is the direct result of the cooperation of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Multi-National Force Iraq. This is truly historic! I hope that you have been able to see this news in other places than just here!?

To keep the momentum going, there was a very important conference held on November 29th and 30th. The primary goal was to set the strategic direction for Operation Iraqi Freedom in CY-2006. During the conference, Fatmir Mediu the Albania Minister of Defense was quite clear in stating that there is widespread progress in Iraq. In fact, the quote CENTCOM provides is as follows:

"... we need to share the same belief that Iraq is heading toward democracy and that the Iraqis are not left alone in their progress."

Again, words that the rest of the PMM (Prevaricating Media Machine) needs to heed and take to heart. Maybe someday ...

OH! And for those of you, and I know who you are, still take great interest in the Air Force, how about something new? It seems that there was another very historic flight, not like the one I reported on, but historic all the same! The Iraqi Air Force took control of their first C-130 flight just this last week! Now, to most this sounds trivial, but for those of us that have been responsible for thousands upon thousands of sorties, getting your first "bird"

[US Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Randy L. Mitchell]

[for history on YI-301 and her sisters, go to C-130 Hercules HQ Message Board]
[Thanks to Bob Daley and Doughy Baker over at C-130 HQ!]

in the air is AWESOME! I suspect the flight plan was within operational limits for their mission and in some small way supported a minor part of the overall mission. BUT, and that is a very big word here, they can now begin to take their airspace under control. That says a ton to those military history buffs out there. I can hear the words ringing true right now, "He who rules the air ..."

Oh yeah.

Bad Lots
Alright, when there are 33 terror suspects captured in one day, you gotta figure our troops are on the hunt! I mean, you just gotta read this quote from the CENTCOM press release:

"Moving rapidly into the area, hundreds of U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and Iraqi Forces from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Commando Brigade (Wolf Battalion) took the enemy by surprise by securing seven different objectives areas along the Tigris River."

SEVEN DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES!

Yeah, our troops are "broken". Uh-huh, our troops are "hand to mouth".

Our troops are the best in the world! Sheesh!

Let's see, compare one conflict lasting decades and in the same theater, new forces, a campaign lasting a few weeks, with limited casualties. Can you think of another super power that just couldn't "seal the deal" and the great fighting force that "smeared the opposition"? I can say one word, and I think you'll be right there with me. Need I say the theater of campaign? It starts with an "A" ...

That LOOONG Arm!
To lock this one down, when it comes to the long arm of the law, I figured it'd be good to hear about this little activity. It seems that between the Iraqi and U.S. Military we removed more than 4,200 mortar rounds discarded/stored near Kirkuk. I guess the Iraqi soldiers discovered it and began to clear the area. Then, "lions and tigers and bears, oh my" it seems they quickly realized that there was more to be had than at first glance. From that point they figured a quick call to the 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team would be a good idea. When all this stuff is buried under concrete blocks and sand, sometimes there is more and more - ya just don't know. TSgt. Jennifer Wayne of the EOD Team said: