Wretchard comments on today's dispatch from Mosul-based freelance war correspondent Michael Yon. Belmont Club is as prescient and eloquent as one would expect, and a worthy read, but the most valuable treasure is Yon himself:
Deuce Four is an overwhelmingly aggressive and effective unit, and they believe the best defense is a dead enemy. They are constantly thinking up innovative, unique, and effective ways to kill or capture the enemy; proactive not reactive. They planned an operation with snipers, making it appear that an ISF vehicle had been attacked, complete with explosives and flash-bang grenades to simulate the IED. The simulated casualty evacuation of sand dummies completed the ruse.The Deuce Four soldiers left quickly with the "casualties," "abandoning" the burning truck in the traffic circle. The enemy took the bait. Terrorists came out and started with the AK-rifle-monkey-pump, shooting into the truck, their own video crews capturing the moment of glory. That's when the American snipers opened fire and killed everybody with a weapon. Until now, only insiders knew about the AK-monkey-pumpers smack-down.
A soldier once gave voice to the complaint shared by tens of thousands of his brothers in arms, criticizing media agencies for taping four low-lifes toting guns on an Iraqi streetcorner and calling it "in the hands of the 'insurgents.'" In his piece, Yon added that stories like the one above, defining the increasing deadliness of American forces, never make the papers. Well, of course they don't.