Chapter 19: Snake Eyes

1 The Euphrates lapped … “that hard.” A senior special mission unit officer; two Delta sources; “Key Zarqawi Aide Captured,” a Multi-National Force-Iraq press release number 05-05-09, dated May 7, 2005, accessed at: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1383919/posts?q=1&;page=1901 (the original centcom.mil link is dead); a TF Brown source.… Ghassan Amin … His full name was Ghassan Muhammad Husayn Amin al-Rawi.

2 As the Ghassan … and Baghdad. My Share of the Task, pp. 167–68, 171–72, 179.

3 Realizing … DiTomasso’s leadership. My Share of the Task, pp. 167–69; Defense Department press release 1317-04, “DoD Identifies Army Casualties,” December 24, 2004, accessed at: http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=8084; a special mission unit officer.

4 While JIATF-East … unilaterally. A source familiar with the JIATFs; a military intelligence source; My Share of the Task, p. 169.… staffs of fifteen to twenty-five … McChrystal puts the staff size slightly higher, at twenty-five to thirty-five, in My Share of the Task, p. 119.

5 But as JIATF-West … Multi-National Force-Iraq. My Share of the Task, pp. 175–79; Task Force Black, pp. 78–79.

6 A rapprochement … Syrian border. My Share of the Task, p. 179; Task Force Black, pp. 80–81; a TF Brown source.

7 By fall … to Iraq. My Share of the Task, pp. 161–62, 180, 219; a senior Team 6 source; No Easy Day, p. 46; two Delta sources.

8 McChrystal’s announcement … refitting, and training. My Share of the Task, pp. 96–99, 180–81; a TF Brown source; two Delta sources.

9 The surge west … elements. A TF Brown source.

10 Of the three … Delta teams. Three Delta sources; a Ranger source.

11 But McChrystal … surge work. My Share of the Task, p. 181; a TF Brown source.

12 The stakes … Snake Eyes. My Share of the Task, pp. 180–82; The Endgame, p. 170; Task Force Black, pp. 80–81.

13 Delta began … been done. A Delta source; The Endgame, p. 170; My Share of the Task, p. 182; Task Force Black, p. 86; http://americanfallensoldiers.com/army-master-sgt-michael-mcnulty/; “The Unknown Soldiers: To Family, Friends, Mike McNulty Will Always Be There,” by Tom Sileo, Creators Syndicate, published March 14, 2014, in the Columbus, Georgia, Ledger-Enquirer, accessed at: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2014/03/15/3002857/the-unknown-soldiers-to-family.html; http://arlingtoncemetery.net/mlmcnulty.htm. McNulty survived long enough to make it to a field hospital, where surgeons were unable to save him. The Army promoted him to master sergeant posthumously. In an odd coincidence, both McNulty and Horrigan had twin brothers who served in the Army.

14 The June 17 … Austin, Texas. My Share of the Task, p. 182; Not a Good Day to Die, pp. 97–98; Task Force Black, p. 86; Delta operators.

15 … and an increasing … that risk. A TF Brown source.

16 As Task Force Brown … but survived. My Share of the Task, pp. 184–85; Defense Department Press Release 887-05, “DoD Identifies Army Casualties,” August 27, 2005, accessed at: http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=8829; Defense Department Press Release 890-05, “DoD Identifies Army Casualty,” August 30, 2005, accessed at: http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=8831; a task force operator.

17 The general … “It’s the fight.” My Share of the Task, p. 187.

18 Under Mike Flynn’s … actionable intelligence. Top Secret America, pp. 244–45, 248; My Share of the Task, p. 155.

19 Meanwhile … detainee abuse. Deep State, p. 133.

20 At the height … in Balad. Top Secret America, p. 251.… “Fox Bravos” … A Ranger officer.

21 “No raid force … death squads.” My Share of the Task, p. 191.

22 As the year … Snake Eyes. My Share of the Task, p. 186.