Author Archives: The LWJ Editors


Sadr’s Special Groups

Muqtada al Sadr influences the Mahdi Army’s ‘Special Groups’ more than the military will admit. Written by Bill Roggio and Daveed Gartenstein-Ross for The Weekly Standard.


Descent into Appeasement

A look at Pakistan’s dangerous deals with terrorists in the Northwest Frontier Province. Written by Bill Roggio and Daveed Gartenstein-Ross for The Weekly Standard magazine.


In Pictures: The Sons of Iraq

SoI-slideshow-image-thumb.jpgGordon Alanko, who is currently embedded with US forces in southern Arab Jabour in Baghdad province, Iraq, provides a pictorial of a Sons of Iraq recruiting drive.


Iraq in pictures

David Tate provides a view of Baghdad and southern Baghdad province from his September 2007 embed with Bill Roggio. David was embedded with US forces in East Rashid, Mahmudiyah, Al Haswa, Arab Jabour and Iskandariyah.


To raise them up. Part 3: Investing in people

B.A. Patty was recently embedded with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In part three of the series, Patty discusses the role investments – in the NCO corps of the AFP, in the local economy – play in counterinsurgency.




The surge: Gunners on patrol

Forward Operating Base Loyalty, Baghdad, Iraq — The signs of war are never far from the men and women of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, currently stationed at Forward Operating Base Loyalty in eastern Baghdad. Yesterday at lunch, a sergeant entered the building yelling, “ATTENTION IN THE CHOW HALL! ATTENTION IN THE CHOW HALL!” […]


Battle Sight Zero

By Gene E. Blanton, who is currently embedded with the Multi-National Forces West Training Center in Habbaniyah. Support for Gene’s reporting was provided by Public Multimedia Inc. I’ve had the privilege to hang around the men of the Multi-National Forces West Training Center in Al Anbar Province, Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq led by CWO-5 “Gunner” Terry […]


The Intellectual Grunt – Part Two

By Gene E. Blanton, who is currently embedded with the Multi-National Forces West Training Center in Habbaniyah. Support for Gene’s reporting was provided by Public Multimedia Inc. Lt. Col. McGrath touring his battle space between Fallujah and Ramadi. Click to view. CAMP HABBANIYAH, AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ: To the uniformed, the term “intellectual grunt” may […]


The Intellectual Grunt – Part One

By Gene E. Blanton, who is currently embedded with the Multi-National Forces West Training Center in Habbaniyah. Support for Gene’s reporting was provided by Public Multimedia Inc. Counterinsurgency is not just thinking man’s warfare-it is the graduate level of war. Special Forces Officer in Iraq, 2005 COUNTERINSURGENCY Marine Corps Warfighting Publication 3-33.5 CAMP HABBANIYAH, AL […]


A look at the surge from Baghdad

By Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, who is currently embedded with the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery in western Baghdad. Support for Daveed’s reporting was provided by Public Multimedia Inc. As I write this, I’m nearing the end of my time embedded with the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery (known as 2-32), which is working with the 2nd […]


Grandkids and War Zones

By Gene E. Blanton, who is currently embedded with the Multi-National Forces West Training Center in Habbaniyah. Support for Gene’s reporting was provided by Public Multimedia Inc. CAMP HABBANIYAH, AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ: In September 2005, when I told my wife, Shelia that I was going to be embedded with the 2nd Marine Division in […]


Featured Embedded Report: Chris Muir from Iraq

In mid-February, Chris Muir, the talented cartoonist behind day by day, a political comic strip prevalent in the blogosphere, embedded in Mosul for five days. Public Multimedia, Inc, my non-profit media company, was proud to sponsor Chris for this embed. Chris is the first of several embeds Public Multimedia will put into the field this […]