Day #34 - The RKG-3

The RKG-3 is a small grenade that has become the weapon of choice for many of the insurgents in Mosul. It is a very powerful grenade with the ability to penetrate armored vehicles with it's shrapnel. It is easily concelead beneath clothing and lately the locals have resorted to pulling these out of their clothing and throwing them at vehicles as they drive by on patrol. Yesterday, one of our vehicles was hit by one of these grenades. What is even worse is that the person that approached the vehicle and threw the grenade was a young boy, maybe 10 or 11 years old. Women and children are now being forced by the insurgents to carry out these acts because they are seen as less of a threat by coalition forces and are treated with less suspicion when apporaching checkpoints or soldiers out in the city. It is really disturbing to witness how little regard these terrorists have for human life ... even the life of an innocent child.