U.S. Army Sgt. Tyler Barriere and Buddy, a military working dog, ride in a helicopter as part of their training on Camp Echo, Iraq, Jan. 6, 2009. Barriere is assigned to 4th Infantry Division's Headquarters Company, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. The training acclimates the dogs to flying in a helicopter so they can conduct a mission after landing. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eric HarrisFrom The Captain's Journal:
There are seasons in any campaign, in any counterinsurgency effort. The Army Chief of Staff may have claimed that U.S. forces could be in Iraq for ten more years, but they will mainly serve to ensure that Iraq is a protectorate of the U.S. American troops will not be performing classical constabulary operations.
In a sign of the nature of the current phase of the campaign, the last Marine artillery is headed home.
CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - As the security situation in the Al Anbar province continues to improve, the final Marine Corps artillery unit to operate its cannons in Iraq, Battery G, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, is preparing to go home, signifying a significant change in the nature of the conflict in Anbar.
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My Comment: The Captain's Journal summarizes the situation perfectly .... read it all.