Cold Steel:*
Walk in the Park*
*
January 2005*
Peru*
Assault*
*
The 172nd Separate Infantry Brigade serves as the US Pacific Command's most rapidly deployable force.  The 172nd, based at Ft. Wainwright Alaska, is the third Army force to be transformed into a Stryker Brigade Combat Team and the only Army force to receive arctic training.  Elements of the 172nd are formed from one of the oldest infantry regiments in the US Army, the 1st Infantry Regiment, which served in all major conflicts from the War of 1812 until Vietnam.*
*
Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadores in 1533.*
*
After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency.  President Alberto Fujumori's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity.*
*
Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime.  International pressure and corruption scandals led to his ouster by Congress in November of 2000.*
*
Due to the War on Terror, the United States military is stretched very thin.  Taking advantage of civilian dissatisfaction with the current government and American inattention, Peruvian criminal elements have begun massing to stage a coup.  Thanks to excellent intelligence by the Peruvian government, one of the anti-government drug kingpins has been located.  It is widely feared that the Peruvian military has been infiltrated by the anti-government forces.  To avoid tipping off the enemy, American units will be used to conduct a raid on the drug-making facility.*
*
Now that the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team has fully achieved operational status, it has been airlifted to Peru for a trial by fire.  The 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, "Cold Steel", is ordered to conduct a daytime raid on anti-government elements and capture or kill those present.*
*
Since American units have the latest equipment and training, this operation should be a walk in the park.  Nonetheless, intelligence operatives warn that the guerrillas have carefully created a sophisticated defense and warning system for the drug factory.  American units will need to attack across a shallow river at either a bridge or one of two fords.  The guerrillas are well-equipped and operatives report that they even have sophisticated anti-tank missiles.  It would be wise to carefully plan this assault.*
*
Marginal or Decisive Victory is necessary to advance*
*