SAFE & REST.

This is coolbert:

At this very moment the Iraqi National Army [INA], bolstered by Shia militia and possibly commanded by an Iranian general officer advancing on the ISIL controlled city of Tikrit. The battle joined, the situation as of this moment unclear.

That INA having big time egg in their face, morale very low, the rank and file troop dispirited and his esteem nearly zero.

In measure Iraqi failure a cultural phenomenon. From "EMBEDDED A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army"  by Wesley Gray.

"When it comes to prioritizing efforts during defensive operations, the Marines follow a common sense acronym."

SAFE.

* Security.  "Check [your] surrounding[s]."

* Avenues of approach.  "Make sure the machine gun is pointing in the direction from which the enemy will be approaching."

* Fields of fire.  General idea of where to point their weapon."

* Entrenchments. "'road blocks', 'signs', 'defensive positions'."

This is as would be taught at the Marines Infantry Officer Qualification course.

THAT IRAQI ALSO FOLLOWING THEIR OWN COMMON SENSE ACRONYM BUT NOT THE SAME AS THAT OF THE MARINES:

REST.

* Relax. "Make sure everyone has a comfortable position."

* Eat.  "Always bring homemade chow from the camp."

* Sleep.  "As long as someone in the turret is partially awake, everyone else can sleep":.

* Tea.   "When everyone needs a pick-me-up, break out the tea set."

Tikrit of course the ancestral home of Saddam Hussein. Expect the battle for Tikrit to be long and bloody. And don't expect American air power to show up?

coolbert.