INSTAPUNDIT’S IRAQ CORRESPONDENT, Major John Tammes, emails:

All of us over here working with the Iraqi Army have been extra busy lately. Your readers are probably aware of events the last few weeks.

What I have seen in the area of Iraq I have been working is an Iraqi Army that is showing that it can adapt and improve. This is a major step forward for them, if you consider their previous Amry’s showings against the Iranians and us. They were inflexible, repeated mistakes and feared reprisals for even suggesting a change. To be sure, the Iraqi Army has a ways to go, but what I have seen lately is encouraging.

One other thing I should mention – the attitude of the units I have dealt with seems a little better than I would have expected. When I met some of the jinood (soldiers) recently, they seemed a bit more focused on the job. Again, they have a ways to go – but it is improving.

The photo is of an NCO and a Warrant Officer in one of the transportation units that had been in action lately. They had taken some losses, but were keeping up on their maintenance and keeping the trucks rolling.

Thanks, Major John.