Word: dusting
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Afghanistan, Kosovo, the first Gulf War - each a video game played from 15,000 ft. - only added to our delusion of control. We are not so lucky this time. This is an actual war; there are unplanned events: an unruly enemy, uncooperative allies, magisterial dust storms. That doesn't necessarily mean the war is going badly. For all we know, it may be going splendidly; as I write this, Saddam Hussein may be throwing in the towel...
...tank is headed by Sergeant Al Wallace, 28, who back in Kuwait decorated his 120 mm barrel with the moniker "Baghdad beware". At 10:29 am just as a figure appeared on the roof of the distant bungalow, Barbarian 2's barrel exploded like a bomb. A cloud of dust enveloped the tank as 60 tons of Abrams recoiled across the road. A second passed then the impact. The bungalow disappeared in dust. "Rock Six, we no longer have a sniper problem," said Mitchell. He would later recount how the round hit two feet under the figure on the roof...
...Barbarian 2. "The Iraqi's have zeroed their distance," said Mitchell, as all three tanks in Micthell's track made a sharp reverse. "Let's show 'em what real mortar fire is all about." Mitchell made the radio call and seconds later the ground around the bungalow erupted in dust, like it had been flattened by a giant fly swapper. "Thunder Base, Rock 7," said Mitchell. "I want you to go right a hundred, ahead a hundred, and then converge all weapons." Then leaning over to Rather, now along side in Barbarian 4: "Watch this Barbarian...
...heavy SAWs (squad automatic weapons) and 240-Bravo machine guns. Flanking them are three Bradley fighting vehicles. Mitchell, 34, briefs his men that a passing farmer has told a sentry about 10 men sweeping around for an ambush. On his command, the Americans run north through the choking red dust and throw themselves on the ground against a nearby railway track. "Jesus, we can't see s___!" says Carnahan. The squads hold their positions as the Bradleys scan the area with thermal imagers...
...other side of the Euphrates, east of Najaf, the 7th Cavalry ran into an even bigger fight. This time the main attack came during a swirling dust storm that made thermal night sights useless. Iraqi irregulars swarmed around the U.S. forces. The Americans were ordered to stay put and shoot at anything that moved. By midnight it was over. Two U.S. tanks were lost, blasted from behind-their most vulnerable spot-by antiaircraft guns mounted on pickups. Because of the M1's unique armor, no one on either tank was injured. And one of the tanks is recoverable...