First off, I would like to say that this is a really good thread. I went through and read each page and each response, unbiased and with an open mind. It is true, the majority of Iraqi citizens actually like Americans. Some are still scared to come out and openly show it for fear of retalliation from some terrorist groups but I have been met with more smiles and friendly gestures than I have with 7.62 heading my way. Even when we bust into their homes and interrupt their family dinner, they still ask us to stay and eat with them or stay for tea. Unfortunatly, as much as I would like to sit down and find out their story, alot of times we are unable too. I only wish the American media would show all the absolutly amazing things that American soldiers do day in and day out. In a country with such ugliness and senseless acts of random violence, it always brings a smile to my face when I see a little kid get excited when you just give him a simple soccer ball.. But it just made his/her week. I, like many others in this forum, have spent a great deal of my life dedicated the Army and to operations overseas such as Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am currently in Baghdad right now, I have been here for the last 8 months and I have spent some time in other areas of Iraq before as well. Last April, after we found out we were extended, I wrote a blog and I think it might fit in here so.. I will admit, I was a little.. angry at the time. And some of it was just an 'emotional enema', but anyways, I'll just cut and paste it.
I have worked alot with the Iraqi Army..alot. They are fully capable of taking control of their own shit and fighting for thier own country... but I have heard it from them too many times before "we are not going to do that without the Americans there..we want American help" They are too dependant on us. But we have fed them enough, we have supplied them, we have trained them and we have mentored them.. Its time to cut the impilical cord and let them grow as a security force for this country. While they might have some learning to do still, they need to do that through trial and error. No one ever came to the great United States of America long ass fucking time ago and helped us. And now look at us. The greatest military on the globe. We had to learn and we did it by muskets, pitchforks and hatchets. But if 'they' really want to help these people than do it.. help them.. sending American combat soldiers out on daily combat patrols through the city is not helping them. Send people here to teach these bitches about medicine, electricity, water purifying and fucking sewage control. HELP THEM. Since this 'surge' of troops in the capital, we have seen a huge lapse in violence. We have put a little plug in them killing each other. Sectarian violence is down. Its at a real low along with stupid fucking IEDs. And thats great. Really really good. I am personally very happy with that... but they still exist. Last week I was sitting somewhere in baghdad outside of a Iraqi Army post getting ready to eat luch when an IED went off 80meters behind me and down the street, the concussion shook my guts. I kind of stopped for a minute looked around as I heard metal flying down the street and clanging off the pavement behind me. Minutes later the IA patrol wanders into the gates and they were obviosly pissed off at each other.. yelling at one another.. i dont think any one was hurt and i dont have the slightest idea what the hell they were saying but i dont think it was good by the sound of it.. I can only imagine it was something along the lines of "holy shit Akmed, I told you to turn fucking left not right, now Mohamud has to clean the shit out of his pants, Abdulla pissed himself and Aladdin and his driver Abu couldnt finsh thier homosexual exploits in the backseat..." My point to this is this.. I am not complaining one bit, so I hope it doesnt come off like that. But for them to tell us we are going to be here for an extra 3 months, to me, doesnt make any damn sense whatsoever. We are not going to suddenly miracuously perform wonders and this country of 20 something million is not going to suddenly give a shit. It hard to help a society that doesnt want it, or people that stay divided and each sect wants ultimate power. I personally say, lets go.. The Shiites/Shias are probably going to fuck up the Sunni's and than the Kurds are going to come down and take control of this entire country. Fuck it, let the cards fall where they may. As long as we keep the Kurds on our side, everything should be alright.. Hopefully. 'They' rant and rave about how 'they' want to help these people secure this country and make thier lives better, we can find other ways of doing it than having guys like me exchanging rounds with the locals in the middle of a street somewhere. I dont really get into the whole political side of things when it comes to this, I rather not but..I know terrorism has been around a long damn time, and it will continue to be around for a long damn time, Iraq or no Iraq, and its not something that we can pick our battles. But keeping us in a place that we just keep breaking shit while we are trying to rebuild it is re-damn-diculous. While some of these personal thoughts and feelings may seem like a contradiction at times, so is this whole entire country. The thoughts, motives and purpose in the heads of the leadership boggles my mind and I fail to understand why most of the time. But.. I love the United States, that will never change. I pledge my alliegance to the red white and blue and I will still defeat my enemies on the battlefield for her, where ever that may be. I just question the principles and motives of the people that call the shots thats all...