CREDIT: Department of Defense

It’s been a tumultuous 24 hours for the US embassy in Baghdad. The day started with mobs organized by Iranian-funded and -influenced militias whipping up a mob to attempt to storm the US embassy inside Baghdad’s Green Zone. A few hours ago, a reinforced Marine rifle company deployed from Kuwait to Baghdad to provide additional security. Showcasing the seriousness with which the Trump Administration is taking the situation, the Immediate Reaction Force for the 82d Airborne Division (‘America’s Guard of Honor’), is wheels up and en route to the CENTCOM area of operations. No destination has been given but it seems most likely that they will deploy to Kuwait and prepare there to deploy to Baghdad if needed. The entire Division Ready Brigade, about 4,000 paratroopers, is on alert for movement. This is the statement issued by Defense Secretary Mark Esper:

“At the direction of the Commander in Chief, I have authorized the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the 82nd Airborne Division to the U.S. Central Command area of operations in response to recent events in Iraq.

Approximately 750 soldiers will deploy to the region immediately, and additional forces from the IRF are prepared to deploy over the next several days.

This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today. The United States will protect our people and interests anywhere they are found around the world.”

#USAF 3 X C-17A Globemaster III heading east over Atlantic as 2 X Boeing KC-135R heading south from #UK
1 X C-17A departed Fort Bragg. Most likely personnel of 82nd Airborne sending as reinforcements to #Irak pic.twitter.com/QwqyEYZ25t

— AegeanHawk (@AegeanHawk) December 31, 2019

Three C-17As from Fort Bragg heading across the Altantic. Looks like #Iraq reinforcements. pic.twitter.com/MxDYjhARNZ

— Aircraft Spots (@AircraftSpots) December 31, 2019

This deployment is clearly designed to send a message to Iran and its proxies, but it does not take place in a vacuum. Since May, over 14,000 US military personnel of all services have redeployed to CENTCOM in response to aggressive action by Iran and the terrorists it funds. It should be viewed as a clearly visible signal to Iran that fun-and-games are over and it is time to call off the rent-a-mob. Let’s hope they get the message but, as they used to say in planning circles…if you want to send a message, use Western Union.

For your enjoyment, some paratrooper pr0n: