A new slideshow featuring various pictures from my embed is up at the Long War Journal.

I've just gotten back to the States. Today I contributed to today's Covert Radio show at the Long War Journal. Roggio and I talk about the campaign against the Mahdi Army in Sadr City about a third of the way through, though I recommend listening to the whole thing.

My fourth item is up at the Long War Journal, a slideshow with an accompanying report.

A wide variety of vehicles enter Sadr City.

I finally made it into Sadr City. Gaining entrance has been difficult, because Army public affairs embedded me with a unit (3-89 Cav) that operates only up to the Shia district's southwestern border. Traveling around Iraq is not as easy as telling military convoys where you'd like to go, and you still can't catch a cab without the (increasingly remote) chance of winding up the lead in a jihadi snuff video. On Thursday, I fortunately caught a ride with a Military Police unit that had plans to liaise with their personnel manning the Sadr City Joint Security Station (JSS), an Iraqi Police station in the southern part of the district.

The southwestern edge of Sadr City is bordered by a major highway dubbed "Route Pluto" by the Americans. Streams of military vehicles periodically turn off of the wide thoroughfare and on to a dusty shoulder, passing staged stacks of concrete T-Walls used in the counterinsurgency barrier being constructed a few blocks north on Al Quds Street. As my convoy took this route and turned into Sadr City, we entered an area held by the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and the engineers attached to them. The space looked like a scaled down version of D-Day +2 in Normandy. Clouds of dust rolled over rows of Abrams tanks, MRAPS, Strykers, humvees and odd engineering vehicles entering the district. The stacatto thrum of Apache attack helicopters sounded overhead.

A short walk took me to an old school that serves as the headquarters for the Stryker Cav. The building buzzed with energy. Soldiers were entering and exiting in varying states of battle dress, hanging out, laying communications wire, shaving in a corner, typing on a laptop and carrying messages into a command center, where personnel ran an operation presumably taking place somewhere immediately north. Litters and stacks of medical supplies were prepped in a corner. A furry white and tan puppy wandered into the middle of the orderly commotion, and soldiers petted the dog as it ambled through the building.

A couple of loud, crackling booms echoed through the hallways. Some of the soldiers who were visiting the school jumped and prepared to leave "if that's incoming," while most of the Stryker Cav nonchalantly ignored it. The explosions turned out to be the "outgoing" impact of Hellfire missiles fired from the prowling Apaches. The munitions had landed near enough to closely resemble the sound of incoming mortars.

This Iraqi puppy was unfazed by the commotion.

Eventually we walked over to the Sadr City Joint Security Station (JSS), also known as JSS Al Tharwa. It's a bright blue police station housing a modest number of Iraqi cops and their American advisers. The mission of the cops at the JSS right now is merely "force protection" -- essentially showing up and manning bunkers and towers to defend the building from militia attack. As a war rages near and sometimes at it, the station is considered "unstable." Snipers are active in the area, some skilled and well-equipped enough that the soldiers casually refer to them as "Iranian" (this may or may not be accurate). And on average, the station is hit "once or twice a week ... usually with small arms fire," according to Staff Sergeant Joseph Houle, squad leader of the 3rd squad, 1-91 Military Police Company.

This instability was apparent on April 28th, when insurgents attacked the building with 8-12 rockets. Video of the event is astounding: the rockets successively pounded the side of the building, huge clouds of smoke and debris erupting at each impact. Horrified American onlookers at JSS Al Qanat across the street assumed that the toll in dead and wounded would be significant, but, miraculously, all of the American and Iraqi occupants survived with only a few minor injuries. The word "miracle" seemed appropriate as I examined the portion of the building that bore the attack.

Houle says that the Sadr City cops working at the station are "very friendly," but he doesn't know them particularly well. The American unit has been working at the JSS for only two weeks.

Some of the cops are "eager to learn" but many "won't say" where they live, added 1-91 MP Sergeant Travis Sand. He describes his unit's mission as "trying to build up the local area, to make a better workspace for [the Iraqi Police] and us."

The busy surrounding area is urban residential, with a few shops and other businesses. The streets have been closed to vehicle traffic, spurring interaction between walking citizens and patrolling American units.

"They seem interested to meet you, to get to know us," said Sand. "Not a lot of frowns or anything, a lot of smiles. When I talked to a few of the people, they want peace, and they are more glad we're here and that we're trying to work on a solution."

He said the locals studiously avoid mentioning the Mahdi Army, which continues to take heavy losses in daily conflict with US and Iraqi forces.

The Shia Mahdi militiamen are said to have a stronger instinct for self-preservation than their Sunni extremist equivalents in Al Qaeda, who tend to favor suicide attacks. But after reading engagement reports and witnessing the combat power arrayed against them, I wonder.

UPDATE: Or perhaps they're more realistic than I was beginning to assume ... but do note that the Sadrist politicians merely have titular control over the Mahdi Army footsoldiers. Thugs will continue to fight to defend their criminal enterprises, and some true believers will ignore the agreement.

A mosque stands to the side of the Sadr City JSS.

My third piece is up at the Long War Journal.

My second piece for the Long War Journal is up.

My first report for the Long War Journal is up -- check it out.

Banking over Baghdad.

The weather cleared and I made it out of the International Zone to Forward Operating Base Loyalty and on to an embed at Joint Security Station (JSS) Babalsheikh with White Platoon, Blackfoot Troop, 3-89 Cavalry, scouts for the 4th Infantry Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division.

The JSS is an Iraqi Police station in southwestern Rusafa District in Central Baghdad. So far, my platoon has conducted one nighttime presence patrol in "a neighborhood (in the relatively calm district) with the most potential to become violent because of the JAM (Jaish al-Mahdi) special groups networks that are known to operate in that area," according to 2nd Lieutenant Mike Hebert. The patrol was uneventful, except for the fact that a shopkeeper's voice dropped to a fearful, glance-punctuated whisper when I asked him what he thought of the Mahdi Army.

In a couple of days I'll push up to embed with another 3-89 Cav platoon in northern Rusafa right along the Southwest border of Sadr City.

Early perspectives from 3-89 leadership are positive. Squadron Commander Col. Craig Collier served in Iraq two years ago and was dissatisfied with the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF); he initially viewed his current assignment dealing with the Iraqi National Police and Army with trepidation. After working with them over the past few months, however, the Colonel is convincingly earnest as he describes great improvement in Iraqi leadership. This positive change has translated into huge security gains in the centrally located District, home to some of Baghdad's busiest markets and the scene of significant sectarian violence in 2006. Rusafa is relatively calm these days, especially compared to the conflict taking place just northeast in Sadr City.

3-89 Bravo Troop Company Commander Captain John Thornburg agrees that "everyone (in the Iraqi Security Forces) is doing better," but that the greatest results are coming from the Sons of Iraq (the civilian neighborhood watchmen formerly known as the Concerned Local Citizens).

"People trust them, people are glad to see them, and people are proud of them, as they are local folks," said Thornburg.

Prior to leaving the base with the platoon, Collier had me take a (severely abbreviated) combat livesaver course. His two requirements for embeds are to "please report accurately" and to drop the camera and help out with injuries if the unit is attacked. My instructor was a soft-spoken young medic who was polite to a fault. He showed me proper use of a tourniquet, Israeli field dressing, "Kerlex" gauze, and more. As he described the use of each, he went over the scenarios in which he's used the item.

For severed arms and legs, it's important to position the tourniquet far up on the upper leg or arm, as the twin bones in the lower leg and forearm make it hard to properly pinch the artery shut. He told me that the adrenaline in the situation would help me cinch it tight, and asked if I'd been a soldier, or if I'd ever felt that kind of fear. When I explained that I had not been a soldier but had felt that way, he sadly and earnestly said he was "very sorry" that I'd had the experience. For gaping wounds, he explained that you need to tightly stuff the gauze into the hole before applying as much pressure as possible, as he did once by jamming his feet against an injured man's side, pinning him to the door of a humvee during evac back to the aid station. He described in gory detail the deadly effect of Iranian Explosively Formed Penetrator explosives. He said that he would "pray" that I didn't get attacked or injured, but "it happens." He was very competent and the lesson was extremely valuable, but I experienced creeping horror as he continued sadly describing examples of the "hundred-something" traumatic casualties they'd treated. It was an anti-pep talk.

I mentioned to another soldier that the medic seemed kind of displaced and worn out by everything that he'd seen, and he told me that maybe he was affected by the mass casualty event at the base a few days before. Two "lob bombs," or improvised rockets, had landed within Loyalty, injuring 16 and killing two. He said that the young medic and his colleagues had "saved a lot of lives that day." Evidently he's saved a lot of lives before that day as well. The medic told me, "They may not remember your name, but they'll always be glad you were there to help them."

An hour after my arrival, a 3-89 Cav convoy was hit with a car bomb just outside the base, resulting in one KIA and two minor casualties. Internet was blocked prior to notification of the family, and access remains very spotty now that I'm in the city. More lengthy updates and formal reports to follow.

The general attitude among Iraqi Security Forces, civilians (the few I've spoken to thus far) and Americans alike, is that the current push against militias in Sadr City is an overdue and necessary development. The Sadrist footsoldiers are commonly described as just "mafia thugs." And the campaign against them continues.

A cafe that is a purported "JAM hangout."

Kuwait International Airport. View larger image

I'm in Baghdad, delayed days by sandstorms that initially shut down air traffic from Kuwait into Baghdad International Airport and now have pushed back a helo ride to my final destination at a Forward Operating Base in the northern part of the city. The military has altered initial plans - instead of the 2-1 Stryker Cav, I'm now tentatively embedding with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division operating in and around New Baghdad and Sadr City. This is the first internet I've scored in days, and I assume access will be sparse until I'm settled. Updates to follow, weather permitting.

Travel in and out of theatre is probably the worst aspect of embedding. It's unpleasant, euphemistically speaking.

UPDATE: I see events are humming right along. Wedged knee-deep in the embed travel suck without good internet access, the sum of my first-hand knowledge about anything is getting woken up by a .50 cal somewhere within earshot of Camp Stryker last night. (Though no Mahdi conflict in that area, natch)

Kuwait International Airport. View larger image

Despite embed approval at the unit level, administrative delays in the upstream embed process have pushed my trip back a few days.

I'm going to Baghdad next week to embed with the 2-1 Stryker Cavalry Regiment operating in and around Sadr City. The showdown between the Mahdi Army and US and Iraqi government forces is currently the most important story in Iraq being covered (and miscovered) by the mainstream press, and I'd like to provide an accurate, on-the-ground perspective.

The embed is accredited and covered through Bill Roggio's Public Multimedia, Inc., and the majority of my work will be featured over at The Long War Journal. These trips are expensive and rely on reader donations, so please consider making a tax deductible donation to PMI:

Thank you for your support.

For a primer on the situation in Sadr City and recent events regarding the Mahdi Army, read the following:

Iraqi, US troops press forward against the Mahdi Army in Baghdad and Basrah

Iraqi government: "We will continue until we secure Sadr City"

US, Iraqi troops prepare the battlefield in Sadr City

Fighting erupts in Sadr City after Sadr aide killed

Iraqi government moves to sideline Sadrists, Mahdi Army

UPDATE: Typo fixed.

Michael Fumento pens a tribute to MOH recipient Michael Monsoor:

Spring 2006: The Mullab section of Ramadi, Iraq. Graffiti boast that this is "the graveyard of the Americans." Leaving your base camp virtually guarantees a fight, and I'm in one the first day of my embed. When shots ring out, I jump into the street to start snapping pictures. I look back and see a tall Navy SEAL seemingly pointing his 7.62 millimeter MK48 machine gun right at me.

In fact, he was protecting me as well as his teammates. SEALs don't wear identification - even on dress uniforms - and I would never have learned his name if, six months later, he hadn't sacrificed all to save those same teammates.

Folks may recall the story of 1LT Travis Manion, a fallen Marine I wrote about here. More than a year after his tragic yet heroic death, his family has raised over $200,000 for his memorial fund. The money has and will be allocated to help families of fallen servicemen and servicewomen, as well as support a scholarship awarded in Travis' name. I'm unsurprised at the success of the effort; I met the Manion family at the Marine Corps Marathon event, where they gathered friends and family to run in Travis' memory, and their dedication to eulogizing him and raising money for a great cause was truly inspirational.