Inside Iraq - Santa Barbara in the Warzone
Ben Preston, a staff writer for The Santa Barbara Independent, is taking some time off from his usual duties to report from Iraq with the U.S. Army’s 425th Civil Affairs Battalion, which is based in Santa Barbara. He’ll be spending about a month in the war-torn country, traveling with the unit as they help Iraqis rebuild their country, and reporting about the work here on this blog.
Traditional Transition
A little bit of military history, and some of my reasons for going to Iraq. Read more...
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The Long Road Home
Military transportation has come a long way since the days of horse-drawn caissons, but by modern standards, it is best described as deliberate. Read more...
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Foreigners in the International Zone
Coalition forces still have a job to do, but is there a term limit on the amount of welcome enjoyed by foreigners? Read more...
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The Big Picture
The 425th's Battalion Commander sees civil affairs projects from a slightly different perspective. Read more...
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Planes, Choppers, and Automobiles
In Iraq, you can't just hop in your Honda Civic and go somewhere, so what's the best way to get around? Read more...
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Passing the Torch
Through training Iraqi Army soldiers and National Policemen in civil-military operations procedures, the US Army hopes to increase peoples' trust in their government. Read more...
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The Future of History
Throughout history, wars have affected monuments and artifacts. How will what's left be protected? Read more...
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When in Baghdad, Do as the Arabs Do
In a perfect world, God listens to Obama, and the military listens to thousands of years of tradition. Read more...
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Where have all the generators gone?
Job training is supposedly humming along in Baghdad, but where is the end product? Read more...
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Powering Reconstruction
As Baghdad slowly rebuilds, local companies and government agencies find themselves the recipients of increasing amounts of responsibility. Read more...
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