Reporting from Iraq

BAGHDAD–The questions on the minds of families and soldiers in July were direct and centered on one word: “Why?”

“Why was the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team being kept in Iraq for up to 120 days beyond the year it was about to wrap up in northern and western Iraq?”

“Why were the soldiers of the 172nd being sent to Baghdad?”

Happiness did not accompany the announcement of the extension, both when it was received by families and when it was delivered to the 172nd in Iraq.

Now, about halfway through the overtime period, soldiers say they appreciate that commanders haven’t tried to portray the soldiers as pleased about the extension. They say that while morale has suffered, it hasn’t affected their work. Read more »

This trip has been different than my visit to northern Iraq last winter.

The circumstances, the moods, the environment are different. So has been my work. It’s easy to see I haven’t written a story each day. Since I’ve been here, it’s been a struggle to write even a blog entry each day.

This was not my intention, nor likely my editors. When I left for this assignment, I thought, like last time, that each day, each patrol would bring something new and newsworthy. Read more »