"Soldiers of Today and Yesterday"
" Honor,Dignity & Hope "

Meet the new boss.

If anyone could tame the town, Dolan seemed to be the man. His soldiers called him Stone Cold for his resemblance to wrestler Steve Austin, but with his old-school mustache, he would have fit in back when the 3^rd Cavalry was chasing Apache Indians through the territories on horseback. At the change-of-command ceremony that first day in early May, he stood at attention, decked out in a wide-brimmed Stetson, a curved saber and a pair of spurs. There was a new sheriff in town.

Dolan’s first job was to meet with the old sheriff, Lt. Col. Abdul Kareem Ali, a well-fed official with full jet-black hair blow-dried off his forehead and a thick Saddam Hussein mustache. At their first meeting the day after the Americans arrived, Ali wore an immaculate olive green uniform and sat in a big chair behind a wooden desk. In a scene reminiscent of an awkward middle school dance, his lieutenants lined couches on the left side of the room; Dolan and his staff lined the right.

"We are going to be working together," Dolan began. The chief smiled. "Eventually, things will be easy," Dolan continued. "My goal is to get things peaceful and secure; that’s why I have visited you first." Dolan explained that the Americans would leave when security had been established and the border controlled. The two forces would conduct joint patrols, and the Iraqis would have to carry weapons permits issued by the Americans. "Now, " Dolan concluded, "Is there anything we can do for you?"

The chief drew a prepared document from his desk and began reading. Police and government vehicles had been stolen. There was no communication with the big cities. There was no cooking oil and no gas for the patrol vehicles. It was too dangerous for police in the center of the city between 11 P.M. and 7 A.M. Thievery was out of control; even the police station had been burglarized.

"We want to be strong," the chief said.

"That’s why I’m here," Dolan responded.

"We are happy."

"I am pleased to hear that, "Dolan said. They shook hands, then Dolan informed the chief that from then on he would be working with Captain Justin Brown, a West Pointer from Texas.

"You will not see me again, " Dolan told the chief, unless something really good happens – or something really bad."