THE TENSION: Combat Camera: New Year's Blast in Iraq

A large explosion of confiscated mortar rounds, grenades, guns and other explosive devices set up by Army explosive ordnance disposal technicians on Contingency Operating Base Q-West, Iraq, Dec. 31. The controlled blast, which contained more than 1,500 pounds of explosives, was set off at midnight as a way to ring in the New Year from Iraq. Photographer: Spc. Eric Rutherford, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

White phosphorous ignites and lights up the impact area after a large blast of confiscated mortar rounds, grenades, guns and other explosive devices set up by Army explosive ordnance disposal technicians on Contingency Operating Base Q-West, Iraq, Dec. 31. The controlled blast, which contained more than 1,500 pounds of explosives, was set off at midnight as a way to ring in the New Year from Iraq. Photographer: Spc. Eric Rutherford, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

A stack of mortar rounds, grenades, guns and other explosive devices that were confiscated are set up by Army explosive ordnance disposal on Contingency Operating Base Q-West, Iraq, Dec. 31. The controlled blast, which contained more than 1,500 pounds of explosives, was set off at midnight as a way to ring in the New Year from Iraq. Photographer: Spc. Eric Rutherford, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.