Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Iraq Update - 28 MAY 2017

  1. #1
    Senior Member SapperDawg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    The HSV
    Posts
    711
    vCash
    1005147

    Iraq Update - 28 MAY 2017

    Elite Dawgs -

    It has been several weeks since my last update, so I thought now is a good time for another. Regarding the fight against ISIS in Iraq, the Iraqis have had a tough slog getting through old Mosul. This is the worst urban warfare the world has ever seen?..entire buildings are set to blow up as IEDs. Worse, ISIS is packing them full of civilians, and then shooting at us out of them?.daring the Iraqis to shoot back and cause massive civilian casualties. The elite CTS forces just started the final push into old Mosul, which should be the worst part of the remaining fight there.

    Baghdad seems to be fairly calm, and the violence - or lack thereof - seems to be an acceptable level for the Government of Iraq (GOI). Driving through the city, you quickly move from first-world neighborhoods to slums, but that is true over most of the world. Ramadan just started, and could tell the true tale if the GOI can secure this place or not. If things don?t get squirrelly in the capital over the next month I would say popular confidence in the government's ability to secure the people should increase dramatically.

    Environmental protections are generally non-existent here, and will take years and hundreds of millions of dollars to fix. Most water treatment plants seem to be operational, but the wastewater plants are not, which equals raw sewage in the rivers. Same for industrial and hazardous waste. When I relate these observations to folks at home, I often get some incredulous looks as the thought of dumping untreated waste in rivers is almost unheard of now. Then I remind them that in my lifetime we had rivers on fire in the US from industrial pollution, and large stretches of waterways with fish eating bans. Iraq will have to come up with their own version of the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act to make any significant moves on the environmental front.

    There are several countries here playing the long game. The Italians and Spanish were here after we left, training and creating bonds with the Iraqis. I am sure they want to be part of some resurgence here, or just want the petro-based rewards that will come later. In any case, it is not just us and a few coalition hangers-on?.other countries have fully developed embassies, national goals and objectives in their programs here.

    Really enjoyed following the Diamond Dawgs mostly via Twitter this year. They are a gritty bunch, and Cann should have them rocking over the next few years. I likely wont be able to make a football game until late October, but am really looking forward to some Gridiron time.

    I smoked the last Outdoor Dawg cigar last night, you gents did me a solid there. Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend. Say a silent prayer for those that have gone before us, and one for those who don?t yet know they will also pay the ultimate price in our attempt to rid the world of these terrorist assholes. Next - light the grill, turn the party up, have many cold drinks and hug the crap out of your loved ones. The pursuit of happiness is part of the freedoms we enjoy. Exercising those freedoms is truly honoring their sacrifice.

    Sapper Dawg

  2. #2
    Banned
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    17,158
    vCash
    1003450
    Thank you sapper for the update and your service.

  3. #3
    Senior Member BrunswickDawg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Home of Slay, GA
    Posts
    11,916
    vCash
    1746501
    Thanks for all you are doing Sapper. Get home safe!

  4. #4
    Super Moderator BeastMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    7,504
    vCash
    3100
    Awesome update. You are the man. Thank you for your service.

  5. #5
    Senior Member SpeckleDawg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Coast
    Posts
    1,081
    vCash
    3100
    Nice uodate Sapper. We appreciate everything you are doing over there for sure.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    2,150
    vCash
    3100
    Thank you for your service, sir... May God Bless you and God Bless America.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Barking 13's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Bulldog Hill, AL
    Posts
    1,843
    vCash
    3200
    Thanks Sapper! You're probably near the "can" my son was in over there if you're near Mosul...
    cautiously optimistic

  8. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    68
    vCash
    2862
    Thanks to you and all others that keep us free! Damn selfless to take your free time to update us goons.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    4,368
    vCash
    32000
    Godspeed SapperDawg. Many thanks for your service and get back safely.

  10. #10
    Super Moderator BeastMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    7,504
    vCash
    3100
    Baghdad seems to be fairly calm, and the violence - or lack thereof - seems to be an acceptable level for the Government of Iraq (GOI). Driving through the city, you quickly move from first-world neighborhoods to slums, but that is true over most of the world. Ramadan just started, and could tell the true tale if the GOI can secure this place or not. If things don?t get squirrelly in the capital over the next month I would say popular confidence in the government's ability to secure the people should increase dramatically.
    Saw they had a car bomb go off yesterday on the news. First thing I thought about was your post on how you said things could get squirrelly. Stay safe out there bud.

  11. #11
    Senior Member SapperDawg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    The HSV
    Posts
    711
    vCash
    1005147
    Yea, that one was close enough to hear when it went off. Call to prayer just started so any crazy tonight should happen in the next two hours.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Disclaimer: Elitedawgs is a privately owned and operated forum that is managed by alumni of Mississippi State University. This website is in no way affiliated with the Mississippi State University, The Southeastern Conference (SEC) or the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The views and opinions expressed herein are strictly those of the post author and may not reflect the views of other members of this forum or elitedawgs.com. The interactive nature of the elitedawgs.com forums makes it impossible for elitedawgs.com to assume responsibility for any of the content posted at this site. Ideas, thoughts, suggestion, comments, opinions, advice and observations made by participants at elitedawgs.com are not endorsed by elitedawgs.com
Elitedawgs: A Mississippi State Fan Forum, Mississippi State Football, Mississippi State Basketball, Mississippi State Baseball, Mississippi State Athletics. Mississippi State message board.