Embedded journalism from the front lines of
Afghanistan & Iraq ~ by Mike & Carlos Boettcher

The Army used to call it battle space.  Now their war zone real estate is officially named the Operational Environment (OE).  It carries a much less kinetic connotation and that is precisely what the U.S. military wants to project.  By June 30^th, the status of forces agreement requires U.S. forces to stop combat operations in Iraqi cities unless Iraqi security forces request their help.

Last year at this time when the “surge” was at its zenith, there were 15 combat brigades, about 60,000 troops, operating in Baghdad alone.  Now there are 5 brigades with a total of 24,000 soldiers.  Quietly, the U.S. footprint here is becoming less visible.  The U.S. command in Iraq is trying to be like the Invisible Man – unseen, but able to influence events.

There is a risk involved in this steady pullback.  There has been an uptick in bombings and attacks in Baghdad the last two weeks.  If the trend continues this smaller U.S. force will be hard pressed to fully support the Iraqi Army and Police in counter-insurgency operations.

Currently we are embedded with the 2^nd Brigade of the 1^st Infantry Division based at Fort Riley, Kansas.  Their OE used to be 52 square miles. It is now six times larger, approximately 322 square miles.  It stretches from downtown Baghdad west to Fallujah.  The Brigades 4,200 men will have their hands full if fighting erupts again.

But commanders express a cautious optimism that Iraqi’s have become accustomed to the new, but shaky peace, and do not want to see a return to the bad old days.  Insurgents still lurk and operate, but will find it harder to succeed if the population does not support them.  There are a lot of ifs in this equation, but U.S. soldiers here hope it all adds up to this being their last deployment in Iraq.