Since we arrived in AO B’dad, insurgent activity has dropped off to almost nothing. Not that we have done such a stellar job at hunting the enemy that they have decided to give up and go back to whatever country they came from. No, I sincerely don’t think that we are so lucky. They, the “terrorists” (a word I grow in increasingly weary of hearing) are not throwing in the towel; they are now waiting just as we are waiting. We have indeed moved into the next stage of this after-war. The clock is ticking, to what we shall see. The fact that Iraq hasn’t imploded has the pundits amazed and looking for something else to complain about, fact is, the changes in the Middle East were due, the liberation of Iraq simply prodded the inevitable along. MAJ K, Thunder6, and I often engage in discussion about the situation in Iraq, and the Middle East as a whole. In Vietnam the phrase was hearts and minds, while as of late Sen. John Kerry called it winning the peace. The key to this “after-war” is to outthink the enemy. The thought processes of our insurgent foes, is quite secular, and two dimensional. They are the product of a way of life (not a religion that is a tired argument and lamely racist.  We are talking about a small group of evil men.  Ok evil cubed!) that has resisted evolution, and violently so. 

I have seen such magnificent sights here in Iraq, things that watching the “news” cannot possibly show you. I realize that I am watching all of this drama unfold from jaded, and pessimistic eyes (I am a product of 10 years of military intelligence work, bitter often doesn’t even begin to describe it.) I am only now realizing that the big picture is so much larger than simply Iraq. It is the evolution of a generation no, generations of oppressed peoples, who now have been given a voice and a chance for something they don’t yet fully comprehend. It is truly magnificent to be witnesses to the Iraqi Government re-invent itself. While we are here this year we will see the entirety of B’dad undergo a face lift. I sincerely hope that one day in my life after this “war” I can come back here and see the seed of democracy grow into something wonderful. This city and its surrounding areas has the potential to become what Beirut once was; as much of what Beirut now stands for, Baghdad is its polar opposite. Where once there was only despair, hope. Where once there was only oppression, freedom. It is not a perfect world here by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s a start.

During the election he [Kerry] said that we didn’t have a plan to win the peace, I disagree. Each and every day we win the peace, we aren’t seeking to make a status quo here, we are planting the seed of democracy here. I am not typically a flag waiving patriot. I don’t go to parades, I don’t really like holidays save for Veteran’s day, and I don’t often fly my flag at my home. I am a quiet patriot, proud, but quiet. What I see here is real honest to God progress. We are rebuilding the infrastructure from the ground up. This nation is standing on its own two feet now, as an infant would. So, there will be set backs, and Iraq may fall on its bum from time to time, but like a growing child, eventually will walk on its own.

Thunder6 and I have talked at great length about little Adele, and the sense of joy we felt by watching those children smile. They are the key to the peace in Iraq. I am fortunate here; I am at this very moment a grad student of international relations and diplomacy at Norwich University, and the fortuitous part of that equation is I am in a nation at its rebirth and get to see up close and very personally the impact of US foreign policy in the Middle East. Most of my homework is being done for me on a daily basis. As T6, and I walked back from lunch we were struck by this simple truth, the combat phase of this “war” is over, and as much as the Company Commanders and their Platoon Leaders want to go out and close with the enemy, that simply isn’t really our job any more. A Marine General recently said, “Sometimes you have to kill a fly with a sledge hammer.” Here that is absolutely true. As I said I completely fell for those kids, and as the bad guys here begin to alter their tactics (as they continually do) Parental instincts I never knew I had have begun to take turn on inside my head, no inside my heart. For every bad guy we drop, we need to be handing out shoes, candy, school supplies, and toys to as many children as we can find. With this simple message, we are not your enemy. It is not a matter of hearts and minds; it’s about what Franklin Delano Roosevelt called the 4 Freedoms. In my opinion the greatest speech of an American President in the history of our nation, basically it said this; “We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way-- everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want . . . everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear . . . anywhere in the world.” --President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Message to Congress, January 6, 1941

All too often we choose the easy wrong over the hard right, I am not here to preach to you, but far too many people have slung mud at the President for his decision to invade Iraq. Well, whether you voted red or blue back in Nov, one thing is becoming obvious. Maybe just maybe the man made the right call. Hell, even the French have sent help to Iraq. Yes you read that right, they sent one single solitary advisor to Well, I must finish a paper that is due in about 4 hours. Did I say finish, I meant start.

RDC

Rufus to some, husband, friend, brother, officer, soldier, I remain…

Comments

[TODD]

I AM ENJOYING VERY MUCH, A MORE ANALYTICAL POINT OF VIEW FROM A SOLDIER ON THE FRONT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR OPENING YOUR HEART TO ALL OF US. YOU ARE DOING THIS COUNTRY PROUD AND YOU ARE A GREAT AMERICAN. ONE DAY I HOPE OUR KIDS CAN READ ABOUT AND APPRECIATE THE TRUE COST OF FREEDOM....

[Charles]

Keep up the good work in Iraq and watch out for the kids they are the future of the country.

[JH]

Yo,
We get an amazing perspective from your site...keep it up and thanks for your service to us and the people of Iraq.
I'd like to start a collection at my company for kids shoes, toys, etc.
Is there an address we could send them to so that these things could get passed out by US soldiers or personnel?

[warriorjason]

You have a good sight. I'll be heading back over their in August. I'm a Marine with ANGLICO so I will be working with the Army calling in some jarhead/Navy fire power. Keep your head down and weapon clean.

[AFSister]

Hey Currie-
Nice post, dude! I love seeing the transformation in you over the past couple of weeks. You seem a lot more "settled", getting into the swing of things over there and mentally back in the game I guess. You are in an enviable position when you consider the role you will play in helping to form a new relationship between the ME and the US, not to mention witnessing the rebirth of a nation! And now if we could only get rid of the bad stuff...which is also happening. YEAH! I'm really happy for you guys, but even more happy for the people of Iraq!

[Julie]

I'm glad to hear that you might someday return to Iraq. My father told so many stories about Viet Nam, but never even considered going back. He eventually died of complications from agent orange exposure. I honestly believe that returning to Nam would have provided him the closure he needed and never found here in the US. Since he couldn't, I did - seeing 1st hand the splendor that was painted in my mind from listening to his words. I followed the footsteps imbedded in my mind and came upon the peace and serenity he would have been proud to have seen. Hold on to the goodness you are finding within the cracks of squalor and turmoil. It will carry you a lifetime and answer future questions. Thanks - JH

[Beth]

Yes! YES!!! Thank you so much for your insights and thoughts on this. What you described is what I have hoped and believed was true, but to hear it from someone "on the ground" reinforces it.

As you wrote above, what a privilege to be over there watching the toddling first steps of a new Iraq with your own eyes! We at home are so proud of what our military is doing over there. You are awesome! May God bless you all, and all the citizens of Iraq.

[Ann]

Thank you so much for your well written blog. I look forward to reading each and every entry. I wish the media would report what you report but they don't and that is why the military blogs and the Iraqai citizens blogs are so important. They tell it like it is.......good, bad and the ugly not just the sensational.

Thank you again for a great blog.

Ann