Jim Spiri in Iraq

Once again, I was assigned to a familiar vehicle.

DeLeon would be driving, Fernandez gunning, Wallace the medic on my right, and DeCarlo the vic cmdr.

Everyone was ready, and the mission was on. We would be going to west Mosul once again, where it's never a dull moment. This time, however, we would have some Iraqi Army soldiers with us, commanded by Col. Haji whom I have seen in the past. This time I was able to experience his level of expertise a bit closer today.

More and more, I see the Iraqi Army here, taking the fight to the enemy as they have been taught by the Ghost Battalion, under the direction of Lt. Col. Eric Welsh. Today I saw the students become the example of how it shall be done as time goes on here in Mosul, long after I leave.

We headed down a familiar road with some Iraqi Humvees leading the way ahead of us. Then, the familiar sound of an exploding IED was heard in front of us. I happened to catch the rising smoke once again with my camera. There was some follow up small arms fire.
One Iraqi was wounded, from what I was told. The Iraqi soldiers immediately exited their vehicles and engaged.

All in our Humvee, as well as the others in our group, were ready to assist, but the Iraqi soldiers had it well under control. From my vantage point, I watched them,(the Iraqi Army) and noticed they were quick to respond, efficient, and when done, mounted up in short order as we all proceeded to the objective. Yes, there is room for some improvement, but, on this day, at this time, they performed well, without hesitation. Perhaps the lights have gone on.

As we headed towards the objective area, a small dark car was seen. The Iraqi Army soldiers were in front.

There was a rapid engagement. One Iraqi soldier was shot in the arm. It was not too severe a wound. We exited our vehicle and Wallace, the medic, ran directly to the wounded Iraqi soldier and administered first aid. I snapped several photos of Wallace doing his job.

In front of me, there was a vehicle with three dead insurgents in it. As the Iraqi Army searched the vehicle, there was found several weapons including an RPG launcher. One of the dead was also wearing a suicide vest. We watched as the Iraqi Army took photos of the scene and confiscated all the weapons from this mobile cache. After a short while, we left the scene and proceeded to an area close by that was made up of places that were meager in existence.
There were many small adobe looking huts on an area that had a rise in the terrain. Other structures around were made of simple concrete blocks. It had a rural feel to it, but was still in the city. It was desert, not agricultural. The people were herders by trade, so they said. They seemed poor.

For quite some time, we searched the area. This is a haven for many bad guys. We were able to come across some folks that had been on a list to be detained.

They were apprehended. Little by little, step by step, we went in and out of many places. Occasionally there were sounds of small arms fire. Nothing too eventful. I watched as the Iraqi Army under the direction of their Colonel, move about with a degree of professionalism that I had been looking for. It seemed as though everyone today was ready to do their job. Perhaps it is because it is the middle of the week for them. Or maybe it is because the summer is slightly fading. Or maybe it's something else. Maybe all the hard work of 2/7 Cav, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Iraqi Army here in Mosul, is paying off after nearly eleven months of teaching the Iraqi leadership how to take the fight to the enemy. That would be my guess, today, and it surely is my hope in the days ahead.

After the searching of this area and the detaining of the suspects was completed, we all proceeded back towards where the Iraqi Army post is. On the way back, we stopped at another suspicious place. Some men were talked to at a small corner store. Some small arms fire was heard, in close proximity. Must be at the right place, the bad guys always fire when we're getting close. After a short while, we continued on. Behind us, out of hearing range, another IED went off. This time, an Iraqi humvee sustained some damage, which I ended up later taking a photo of after we returned to the Iraqi Army post.

The Iraqi Army soldier in the front seat was rattled a bit, but will be ok. It was close. But no cigar for the bad guys.

We returned by mid afternoon to FOB Marez. The mission was complete. Two Iraqi Army soldiers were injured and treated. No Americans were hurt. Three insurgents, one wearing a suicide vest were killed.

Some weapons were confiscated. Several suspects were detained. It was a busy day.

In conversations with some folks later that afternoon at the FOB, I learned that the three insurgents that were killed were leaders in AQI. That is Al Queda in Iraq. I also learned that the enemy if feeling the pressure of the fight now being taken to him by not only the US forces, but more importantly, the Iraqi Army. It is still a very dangerous place here in Mosul. Each day I go into the city, I realize this very point. But I am watching the Iraqi Army take what they have been taught by 2/7 Cav and implement it one day at a time. A person told me today how the enemy is being pressured. He, the enemy, cannot handle it when the fight comes to his face. There is a lot that goes on in Nineveh province. The view is for sure to keep the Iraqi Army moving forward, into the face of the enemy. What I saw today, shows that the theory can become the reality.

It is affirmative. There is action in Mosul, Iraq. As the Iraqi Army takes the lead in the fight against terrorism in their own land, a new definition to the term, "Affirmative Action" comes to mind. For here in this place called Mosul, I moved about and among soldiers from different countries, different religions, different ethnicitys and different cultures. I could not find any difference among any of them. All seemed to be in one accord today. On the same page. With the same goal.

Maybe, just maybe it can work, at least here in Mosul.
Time will tell. And my time here is short.

Jim Spiri
FOB Marez, Mosul-Iraq
jimspiri@yahoo.com