thedrifter
02-09-08, 10:53 AM
The enemy, past and future
Once, the Qaim region on the Syrian border was known as Iraq's Wild West, with daily skirmishes between Marines and insurgents. For now, at least, those days seem past.
No Marine from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment has been killed during this deployment. There hasn't been a roadside bomb attack in 75 days.
Lt. Col. Peter Baumgarten, the battalion commander, says he's not overly concerned about the insurgents staging a comeback. "If Al Qaeda shows back up, the locals will get them," he said.
But he is worried about his troops letting their guard down.
"We're entering the most dangerous phase of the mission," Baumgarten said. "The excitement has worn off, the environment is fairly benign. Things are quiet."
He's ordered posters around the base with a simple message: Complacency Kills.
— Tony Perry in Qaim, Iraq
Ellie
Once, the Qaim region on the Syrian border was known as Iraq's Wild West, with daily skirmishes between Marines and insurgents. For now, at least, those days seem past.
No Marine from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment has been killed during this deployment. There hasn't been a roadside bomb attack in 75 days.
Lt. Col. Peter Baumgarten, the battalion commander, says he's not overly concerned about the insurgents staging a comeback. "If Al Qaeda shows back up, the locals will get them," he said.
But he is worried about his troops letting their guard down.
"We're entering the most dangerous phase of the mission," Baumgarten said. "The excitement has worn off, the environment is fairly benign. Things are quiet."
He's ordered posters around the base with a simple message: Complacency Kills.
— Tony Perry in Qaim, Iraq
Ellie