Fox News Correspondent David MacDougall
Iraq's Anbar province is a former al Qaeda stronghold and has suffered some of the worst fighting in the country.
At Outpost Iron
Day 1: Outpost Iron:
At this time of year, the heat in Anbar province is relentless. The temperature today rose to 130 degrees - 105 in the shade.
I'm spending 10 days embedded with 2nd Battalion 5th Marines in Ramadi.
We've already spent 24 hours at Outpost Iron in the south of the city visiting Whisky Company, which run missions across the poorest parts of the city.
Outpost Iron used to be part of a small Bedouin village. Three years ago there was fierce fighting here and some of the marines would patrol the area then, which has become their home now.
We're told the Bedouin mostly just want to farm, fish, and raise their animals. But they're deeply religious, so al Qaeda had some success recruiting them to their ranks.
They're still pretty wary of the marines, even though al Qaeda has (for now) been soundly beaten in Ramadi.
Virtually everywhere we look there's extreme poverty. Buildings (including Ramadi's railway station) reduced to massive piles of rubble during the most intense months of fighting.
There's a small canal of raw sewage running down the middle of the street - covered over with a film of green scum.
It's been cordoned off by razor wire, but still, we see children playing near this filthy breeding ground for germs and disease.
But thanks to the efforts of the marines and army, al Qaeda is on the run.
The number of violent attacks each day has dropped drastically.
But all of the sightseeing with the men of Whisky Company took its toll.
Pale-skinned Scotsmen aren't supposed to spend three hours walking around in the sun in 130 degree heat, wearing body armour and a helmet. I felt myself fading fast.
No comments:
Post a Comment