Tom Ricks's Inbox

As the United States mounted one of the largest ground offensives of the Iraq war last week, one soldier's soundtrack for the battle played on. This report by "Eddie," an 82nd Airborne infantryman who deployed earlier this year, was posted on "The Sandbox" ( http://gocomics.typepad.com/the_sandbox/ ), an illuminating discussion by troops about life in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that's part of the Web site for the "Doonesbury" comic strip.

The list struck me because I once hitched a ride across Baghdad with a rowdy bunch of infantry scouts who had rigged their Humvee with a sound system and were blasting a song by Godsmack, a band I'd never heard before.

Many civilians are likely to be shocked by Eddie's list. I'd recommend that they consider the unnatural task for which he is steeling himself: picking up a weapon and going out prepared to kill people he has never seen before, or perhaps to be killed by them.

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For the longest time here in Iraq I went without any kind of music. Well, one day I gave in and bought an IPOD Nano. I got a bunch of songs from all the guys in my platoon and put together several playlists. I figured I would share my "Pre-Mission" playlist. It's what I listen to before I'm about to head out on patrol or on a mission, and it really gets me pumped up and in the mood to go out.

Dem Boyz -- Boyz N Da Hood

Break Stuff -- Limp Bizkit

America, [Expletive] Yeah! -- Team America Soundtrack

Freedom Isn't Free -- Team America Soundtrack

Voodoo -- Godsmack

Jesus Walks -- Kanye West

Gotta Stay Fly -- Three 6 Mafia