Iraq War News

August 17, 2007

Half a World Away: Soldiers in Iraq Don’t Hear Deliberations Back Home (and Often Don’t Care)

Line troops often don’t have the time for Internet access. And when they do get it, it’s e-mails from home they’re reading. But when it comes to a pullout, our Iraq war correspondent finds that most American military officers want to stay and rebuild....
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July 30, 2007

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Air Scouts: FA-18s Take On UAV Reconnaissance Duties in Iraq

To respond to this nontraditional conflict, the Marines have constantly adapted their existing aircraft to work for them not only as support vehicles but also as smart, intel-savvy reconnaissance scouts....
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July 25, 2007

In Through the Outpatient Door: More IEDs, Surprises at Top Surgical Post

In the lead-up to the American invasion in 2003, most of the American military casualties came from bullets. Today, as the staff stabilize combat casualties at the TQ Surgical unit, it’s blast injuries coming through the hospital doors—the results of RPGs and IEDs....
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July 23, 2007

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Infestation Over: Marines Rethink a Base with High-Tech Sights and Bomb-Dodging Trucks

The transformation from Al Qaeda-laden land to high-end base has come at a significant cost in terms of casualties, but now some of the military’s most impressive high-tech breakthroughs are on display throughout the stabilized region....
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July 20, 2007

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IED-hunting robots weren't moving fast enough for Brooks, who pulled out an earlier version of the robot and challenges his men to a race. He lost because the batteries weren't charged.

Man (and Robot) Down: Adjusting to Insurgent Combat in the War Zone

It’s been another violent day here on my tour of Iraq, with several deaths—four American soldiers, one robot and countless Iraqis. Things started out smoothly enough, but got rocky quick when the Iraqi Army soldiers stationed here mistakenly fired at local leaders....
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July 19, 2007

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SPC Craig McBaine, one of JSS Thrasher's medics, returning from a mission.

Safe House Surprise: Training the Iraqi Army in Chain of Command

I return to pick up the trainers of the Iraqi army from the 114th Military Transition Team (MiTT). It’s time for a surprise checkpoint inspection. “The MiTT helps form working relationship," says a MiTT sergeant. "Guaranteed they can’t do it without our help.”...
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July 18, 2007

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Our Bradley vehicle sits outside Joint Security Station Thrasher

Rolling with Delta Company: High-Tech House Hunting in a Suburb Turned Al Qaeda Killing Ground

The sound of gunfire to the west seems close to me but doesn’t alarm these seasoned line troops as they use retinal scans, fingerprints and ID verification to register Iraqi men. Soldiers enter data into handheld computers using new identification technology....
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July 17, 2007

Data from the Top: Cruising with America’s Commanding General

Gen. David Petraeus frequently visits his line troops and talks directly to his officers, as he is during these operations and intelligence briefings. Screens provide maps with updated data on raids, weapons and IED caches, plus how locals are helping fight Al Qaeda....
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July 16, 2007

Prepping for Disaster: Shelters and Barricades in the Green Zone

Along with the increase in daily strike of indirect fire since I visited Iraq two years ago have come more concrete barriers around buildings and “duck and cover” shelters everywhere. It may feel less safe, but at least the U.S. military is prepared....
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July 13, 2007

Hiding in Traditionalism: How the War Has Made Women Revert

I’ve seen many more women in traditional Muslim head dresses and chadors—a reversion that may indicate how threatened they feel. If women are in Western-style dress, the militias, insurgents, criminals and thugs often will target them as working with the Americans....
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Earlier Posts

• One Marine’s View: Stay the Course, Help the Iraqi Army
• Crash Course: Special Forces Bombard the Hospital
• Independence Day: Good Deeds and (for Once) Safe Explosions in the Sky
• Realities of the E.R.: Treating Iraqis, Airlifting American Bodies
• The Roomies: Some Humor Under a Cloud of Shrapnel
• The Contractor’s Conference Room: Laughing Off a Sonic Boom, Frustrated with Iraqis in Construction Boom
• The Hospital’s Motor Pool: De-Blooding Exploded Humvees
• Back to the Hospital: Re-engineered with More Iraqis, Prep for Advanced Warfare
• Law and Order, K-9 Style: Desert Dogs Save Soldiers’ Lives
• Duck and Cover: Inside a Mortar Blast and the Military’s Acceptance of Indirect Fire