The Battle for Baghdad

By John

Richard S. Lowry continues his guest blogging series:

Battle for Baghdad

THE BATTLE FOR BAGHDAD has been enjoined. The Iraqi Army is in the process of moving three additional Brigades into the city for Operation Operation Fard al-Qanun. “These Iraqi forces are deploying throughout the city and working also in the joint security stations, where they're living and patrolling jointly with Iraqi police and with coalition forces.”1 This battle will have a very small military component, as this will be an operation to bring peace and prosperity to the neighborhoods of this war-torn city. The Iraqi ministry of Finance is already planning to provide vital services to the people and there are even plans to open local bank branches.

Within the last week, the 82nd Airborne’s historic 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment has started “cordon and search” operations on the streets of Baghdad. They have taken up residence at Combat Outpost Callahan, inside the city. They have begun to reach out to local leaders to establish relationships and to learn the community’s needs. They are telling all that will listen that they are there to stay. On one of Thursday’s foot patrols SPC Michael Benusa, one of the regiment’s medics, returned to visit civilians that he had treated on his first patrol. He checked in on a family with a teenage daughter who was suffering from eczema and an elderly man who was trying to recover from a recent stroke.

Beneusa provided topical medicine to the teenage girl and gave the elderly man’s family instructions on how to help him regain some mobility in the limbs affected.2

In their first week of Fard al-Qanun, there has been a significant reduction in sectarian incidents and in extrajudicial killings in Baghdad because the Iraqi people have chose restraint rather than retribution. However, while this is in fact very encouraging, we cannot stress strongly enough that it would be premature to declare Fard al-Qanun a success. Success will require a sustained effort and a comprehensive approach that complements progress and security with political, economic, legal and social initiatives. The effects of the operation will not be seen in days or weeks, but over the course of months.3

If General Petraeus’s plan runs smoothly, there will be very little for the traditional media to report. I will continue to monitor the “real” news and provide it to this blog.

Richard S. Lowry

“Marines in the Garden of Eden”

February 22, 2007 08:45 PM The Long War

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Comments

A bit more than 3 IA Bdes are ID'd as augmenting Baghdad.

4-1 Bde (3 Bns) fm Anbar
1-2 Bde (3 Bns) fm Irbil
4-2 Bde (2 Bns) fm Dohuk
3-1-3 Bn fm W Ninawa
3-4 Bde (1 Bn) fm Sulamaniyah
?-?-8 Bn fm Mid-euphraties (prob fm 3-8)
?-10 Bde (2 Bns) fm Amarah/Nasariyah (4-10?)
1-9 Bde (3 Bns) fm Taji
Elements of 2-9 Bde fm Taji

All of that is in addition to 6IAD's 5x Bdes (21 Bns) stationed in Baghdad and the INP providing 8x Bdes (23 Bns)...

DJ Elliott · February 24, 2007 02:19 PM

DJ Elliott,

I am conducting research for a book. Could you please drop me an email at rl@gwchronicles.com?
Please use OPFOR in your email title. I have some questions for you.

Thanks,

Richard

Richard S. Lowry · February 24, 2007 03:28 PM