Troops blast through a bomb-strewn route in Diyala province

[unhappycamper]

A mine clearing line charge, or MICLIC, explodes into a giant fireball along a bomb-laced road in southern Diyala province on Tuesday. Combat engineers from the 84th Engineer Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, have been clearing the supply route for an Iraqi-led offensive.


Troops blast through a bomb-strewn route in Diyala province
By Sean Kimmons, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, August 14, 2008

DIYALA PROVINCE, Iraq — An Army combat engineer pointed to the side of a paved road riddled with holes in southern Diyala province.

"That’s where the Husky blew up," he said of the spot where one of his platoon’s mine-clearing vehicles hit a roadside bomb. "And that’s where our second Husky got hit," he said as he looked at a crater on the opposite side.

Another soldier coolly chimed in: "No, it was our RG (mine-protective vehicle). The second Husky was further down."

For the soldiers of the 84th Engineer Company’s 1st Platoon, explosions are their forte. And for long stretches in this violent region, the Visleck, Germany-based unit has had plenty of opportunity to use its expertise.

The soldiers have been tasked with clearing a bomb-infested supply route that runs between Baghdad and Baqouba. Iraqi army soldiers intend to use it as they continue to advance on al-Qaida in Iraq strongholds.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56746