BANDIT RED |

BANDIT RED
Name: Teflon Don
Posting date: 2/19/08
Reporting from: Iraq
Milblog url: acutepolitics.blogspot.com

(Frequent Sandbox contributor Teflon Don* recently returned to Iraq, this time as a photojournalist accredited by Public Multimedia. Proceeds from the sale of high-quality prints of his photographs help support TD's independent journalism.)

I caught up with Bandit troop’s Red platoon on a dusty road within sight of PB Meade. They were on mission to search through the fields and canals surrounding the site of a huge cache, and had been diverted to check out a report from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle team, of men digging in a field.

SGT Rose and Iron search for buried weapons.

The report sounded promising enough; 4-5 men digging near the road until a bongo truck (the distinctive middle-eastern version of the pickup truck) pulled up, at which point the men started unloading items into the hole. It sounds like IED-planting or cache-digging, but my experience with UAV intel has been poor enough to leave me a cynic. I made a gentleman’s bet with the gunner that the search would turn up nothing. The dismount team found farmers working in the fields. Score one for cynicism.


Red platoon soldiers set fire to a canal.

Red platoon’s plan for the day was to light the reeds lining the canals in their search areas on fire, search the fields nearby while the canals burned, and return to check the canals after the flames turned the concealing reeds to ash. The danger in burning canals is that loose ammunition tends to explode like popcorn, and there is always the chance of an artillery shell “cooking off” in the fire. It is best to stay far away as long as the fire burns.


A Red platoon soldier runs from an explosion.

The area where Red platoon was searching had come to Bandit troop’s attention a few days prior; White platoon had been patrolling nearby when they saw an explosion out in a field. They investigated, and found a trench cut in the earth with two men inside. They chased the men across the fields, catching one, at which point he confessed to being an al-Qaeda fighter conducting a sort of IED attack training.

He proceeded to turn over his companion and lead White platoon to a series of large caches scattered across a few hundred meters of farmland. Rockets, artillery shells, ammunition, RPGs, over 200 anti-personal land mines and more all came out of the earth.


1LT Walker stands over the IED training trench.

Searching for caches is as much art as science -- “needle in a haystack” is an oft-used phrase. Human intelligence, the informants that soldiers call “bird dogs”, is an important tool to use in the search. Shepherd boys and farmers are often just as important as AQI fighters and facilitators that can be convinced to give up information, because it is often their fields that have been turned into caches and fighting positions.


SSG Cruse comes up out of the reeds with a 155mm artillery shell.

In Arab Jabour, though, many of the locals fled or were forced out by AQI, and are only now returning. As security improves and refugees trickle back, they often return to homes once used by AQI. They call in the war supplies left in their houses -- as for what is buried in the fields, the search often turns into a treasure hunt like the one Red platoon was sent on today.


SSG Cruse feels out a homemade RPG launcher. This one had a round explode in it when the fires passed over.

Just a few days before I went out with Bandit troop, a local farmer had approached them with the names of two men whom he claimed had been involved in Al Qaeda in Iraq. Bandit troop went out to question the men -- cousins, as it turned out. Both men lead led Bandit to cache sites; both were detained after admitting they had helped dig the caches.


1LT Walker and his interpreter talk to a local shepherd.

After being detained, one of the men told Bandit troop, “You don’t want me; my brother is the really bad one." His mother came out waving a white flag to say goodbye to him, and substantiated what he had said about his brother. The next day, she returned -- with her second son. She sat him down in front of the Americans and told him to talk or he would get worse than what his brother had gotten.

The second brother, the “bad one”, would go on to help Bandit troop find yet another giant cache. This is just a simple story, but it substantiates a point about Iraqi culture that bears repeating: the men hold all the visible power, but winning over the women is extremely important to succeeding at counterinsurgency.


SSG Cruse calls EOD to report the day's finds.

*Here are some of Teflon Don's previous Sandbox posts, from his 2006-2007 Iraq deployment:

The Good Bad Guys
A Day of Firsts
Mission
How Human Are We? 
Beauty in the Dirt
Dreams
A Surreal Day
 

Comments

[John Austin]

"but winning over the women is extremely important to succeeding at counterinsurgency."

That, and a hell of a lot of patience and not a little courage, by the sounds of it. Good luck, and thanks.

[mamaworecombatboots]

I find it interesting that Al Qaeda memebers are willing to fess up so readily. Is that because they are Al Qaeda under duress or ?? I would be interested in your insights.

[Hendrik]

Thank you for your observations, comments, and pictures.
It provides a much craved input from the battleground.
Thank you again.

[Hendrik]

Thank you for your observations, comments, and pictures.
It provides a much craved input from the battleground.
Thank you again.

[Sheryl]

Just want to thank you guys for all you do. Did not realize how complicated it really is. thanks and keep posting.

[Buttermilk Sue]

Wow, seomthing real to read accompanied by excellent photos. Good insights into the culture, and the work that the troops are doing. Thank you. Buttermilk Sue

[Impotence Causes]

Great site,this information really helped me , I really appreciate it.Thanks a lot for a bunch of good tips. I look forward to reading more on the topic in the future. Keep up the good work! This blog is going to be great resource. Love reading it.

[irregular menstruation]

I caught up with Bandit troop’s Red platoon on a dusty road within sight of PB Meade.

[levitra online]

I made a gentleman’s bet with the gunner that the search would turn up nothing.

[caverta online]

It sounds like IED-planting or cache-digging, but my experience with UAV intel has been poor enough to leave me a cynic.

[Poker-chip-cases]

Playing online poker is much helpful than the real thing. Not only that, you can multi table games for cash or Sit N and in person you can only play at one table at a time.

[generic cialis]

I admire the work of the soldiers, they always have to risk their lives for their country, they are very brave, I always think about how much their families miss them, but all they do for their country will be recognized.

[Tadalafil]

I believe that soldiers' work is rthe best because the give the best of them in a battle. On the other hand, many soldiers have their families, and they leave them because of the honor to a country. To conclude, I think the country has to give an attribute to all of them because thery are heroes of a nation.

[Nike shox deliver]

You are the legend of the world, you are the only one in the world.
You let me spend a whole picture, used to find your youth.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One. He and her fan.
Begin..

[nike shox]

used to find your youth.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One. He and her fan.

[Louis Vuitton Clothing]

look at how the problem is a superficial understanding, if the boss is not substantive, it is impossible to make a full

column wedding dresses

[ray ban outlet]

I have never read such a wonderful article and I am coming back tomorrow to continue reading.

[timberland outlet]

Good post. You did a good work,and offer more effective imformation for us! Thank you.

[Moncler Dames Jacks]

[url=http://www.moncler2you.com/]Moncler Netherland[/url] Zover als kwaliteit, hij is de kwaliteit naar hoogwaardige, kunt u niet elke kleine probleem zijn buiten meterials wordt gemaakt van kunstmatige vezels, die zijn gemaakt van rayon,[url=http://www.moncler2you.com/]Moncler jas[/url] nylon materiaal en een mengsel van andere topics.and de binnenkant van de MonclerGestreepte Technische Menuire omlaag Jacketsare gevuld met hoogwaardige gans dowm dat is [url=http://www.moncler2you.com/]Moncler Dames Jacks[/url] oorlog en het licht goed te dragen in de koude winter.It functies in het houden van de gladheid uit en houden van de drager warm [url=http://www.moncler2you.com/]Moncler voor Dames[/url].

[LouisVuitton]

This is really good stuff here. Thanks for taking the time to post such valuable information.

[britax boulevard 70 cs]

Wow, its so realistic.You really hit the nail on the head.

[http://nonstoptrafficformulabonus.org/]

This may be a really good suggestion! Need to express gratitude to your material, it is important to publish. Basically pursue to prepare an extremely job. I am an individual’s steadfast readership. Thank you so much for a second time.

[Microsoft Office 2010]

This article is GREAT it can be EXCELLENT JOB and what a great tool!

[Microsoft Office 2010]

The extensive use Office 2010 of Microsoft Office 2010 for educational purposes would make education easier and interesting to follow.

[21 Day Fast Mass building review]

I am visiting this blog for first time. I am proud to say that I’ve become a great fan of this blog officially. A good blog always comes-up with new and exciting information like this one. Anyone who really wants to read a article with full of information, should read this.

[Anabolic Cooking]

What I love about your post is that it's concise and filled with substance which really captivates me. Two thumbs up!

[Daily Momentum Trader review]

That is such an incredible talent... I think this kind of stuff is an inspiration. 

[michael kors outlet]

This is my first time I have visited your site. michael kors canada: http://www.michaelkorsoutletsca.com/ I found a lot of interesting information in your blog. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one! keep up the great work.