AO RAKASSANS, Iraqi Desert -- One minute the sky was dirty yellow, with the sun blotted out by northbound dust. Minutes later, the dust clouds turned burnt red and winds whipped to the south, leaving a scene like a Martian's dreams of home.

Then the rains came. There were a few drops at first, prompting one filth-covered soldier to strip down to his underwear, hoping for his first shower in six days in Iraq. Instead, all he got was a mud bath when winds started gusting near 50 miles per hour, coating him in even more dust.

An hour later, at 5 p.m., skies were back to orange and yellow.

Mother Nature has entered the war - and she's not on the American side.

Two days of blinding dust storms have grounded some of the attack helicopters that the 3rd Brigade (Rakkasans) of the 101st Airborne Division are gearing up to use in air assault operations.

At the forward operating base now dubbed Area of Operations (AO) Rakkasans, they await the arrival of more soldiers and equipment. Meanwhile, they're trying to learn to live with the wicked winds that are a harbinger of spring in Iraq.

"Everything we do is conditions-based. It's not based on timelines," said Col. Michael Linnington, commander of the 3rd brigade. "If the conditions aren't set for movement on to the next step, we don't move. Otherwise you overextend yourself and you are irrelevant."

The Rakkasans are known for using helicopters to insert infantry troops deep into enemy territory, but it's too dangerous flying in high winds, when pilots can't see through the dust when taking off, landing or attacking.

On Monday, some helicopters that were trying to reach the forward operating base had to go back where they came from. In all the swirling dust they simply could not find the base. One helicopter ran low on fuel, so it landed in a remote area and had to be guarded by a passing convoy of other 101st elements until it was refueled.

Linnington was taking weather delays in stride. "I think when the weather returns, you'll see a rapid movement to the north," he said.

Besides the weather, U.S. troops must deal with scattered pockets of small militia groups that mingle with civilians in and around small villages to attempt quick strikes on allied convoys and troops.

For example, when the 3rd Brigade's convoy moved through one small village in the middle of the night, local residents - mostly men in long black flowing robes - lined the sidewalks and stared, emotionless. Once through the town, the convoy found that someone had placed a makeshift roadblock in the way, causing the vehicles to halt.

Linnington said it was a perfect opportunity for an ambush but the 3rd Brigade escaped without incident.

In other towns during daylight hours, men, women and children lined the side of the road waving, smiling and flashing thumbs-up signs. But those moments seem less friendly now with reports that militia members are posing as civilians and trying to attack the convoys.

The 3rd Brigade is already deep inside Iraq. Ahead, the Army's 3rd Infantry Division is moving tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles closer to Baghdad. But sandstorms have slowed its march toward a pivotal showdown with Iraq's elite Republican Guard units.

The storms are so bad that even Linnington admits to getting mixed up when wandering around camp. "It's very difficult to navigate even in a tactical assembly area," he said. "You can't find the sun and you get disoriented."

Sandstorms are a seasonal phenomenon in Iraq, usually ending by early April. But when that happens, it will be a mixed blessing. Once the winds die down there won't be as much dust in the air and the desert sun can beat down on the troops at full strength.