International Police Liaison Officer (IPLO) Tom Gorman was a very tough, competent dude who patiently entertained gripes, jokes and questions from a not-so-tough blogger.

Anybody home?: PiTT marines visit Weapons Company marines manning an outer OP. It's a good idea to knock.

The other IPLO was Jody Martinez of Leadville, CO. Jody's a funny dude who's plenty tough and just a little bit crazy. The good brand of crazy, though. I think.

Rear Security: Lance Corporal Thomas Hauk looks back from patrol formation as PiTT members return to the police station with new recruits.

The view from an Iraqi Police outpost on the perimeter of the station. These posts are regularly targeted by sniper fire and drive-by shootings.

Remains of the Day: aftermath of a shot IP saved by Navy Corpsmen and marines.

A wounded IP is treated by marines, corpsmen and other IP's.

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Americans call this the "Twin Towers Mosque," here viewed through a gap in sniper camo on the roof of the Police station.

"Yankees, Go Home ... but Not Yet:" A Fallujah police recruit waits to be processed. To a man, the Iraqis I spoke to didn't want the Americans to leave yet, as they believe quick US withdrawal will preface a bloodbath.

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Pay Attention: Iraqi Army recruits learn how to handle their weapons during a morning firearms class at Habbaniyah.

Itching: Despite begging, the marines refused to let me squeeze off a few rounds in front of a CAG base. (No, not really.)

Jundi (Iraqi Army soldiers) pal around after a successful night raid. These guys aggressively but good-naturedly swarmed me, grabbing the camera and insisting I take pictures.

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Mutton for Punishment: Ok, that picture title was just b-a-a-a-a-d. A shepard tends his flock on the side of MSR Mobile, as seen from the hatch of an Amtrak.

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Businesses in Fallujah seem to sell only three things: food, cell phones and auto parts, the latter evidenced here on Route 10.

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Fallujan engineers voice concerns to contractors and American Civil Affairs officers at the Fallujah Development Center, a central point of interaction between citizens, Americans and the local government.

CAG Captain Michael Bennett owes me a "good scotch" for dragging me on one last convoy through Indian Country.

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Ghosts: On our raid with the Iraqi Army, Lt. Col. Fisher wondered how tanks could provide stealthy cordon security on a night operation. Another marine told Fisher that he'd be surprised, and he was right: as we were driving to a new target, the tanks would seemingly materialize out of nowhere. Shown above are dormant tanks parked at Camp Fallujah.

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Iraqi drill officers observe new recruits at the Army training facility in Habbaniyah.

Labyrinth: Forward Operating Base Castle looked like an MC Escher painting.

A ride awaits.

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