The Wellstone effect and Chief Wiggles. [NO Wellstone. ALL "Chief"]

Weekly Standard ^ | Nov. 10, 2003 issue

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Call Him Wiggles

In a story in last week's Newsweek online about Iraqi reconstruction, there was a glancing mention of an important grassroots effort to reach out to Iraqi children. The article talks about safety improvements in parts of Baghdad: "There are motor pools, and Internet cafes, cafeterias and video lounges." And in an almost dismissive manner, it continues: "There's even a blog from inside the Green Zone, put out by someone who says he's a military intelligence soldier using the pseudonym Chief Wiggles (http://chiefwiggles.blog-city.com). Lately the boosterish Chief Wiggles has been using his blog to find donors to give him bicycles so soldiers can pedal around the zone giving out toys to children."

Boosterish? We understand the writer probably bears no malice towards the chief, but this operation is no ordinary "toys for tots" program. Wiggles's efforts to make life a little easier for the children of Iraq is on a scale with Gail Halvorsen, the celebrated "candy bomber" who dropped chocolates down to German children during the 1948 Berlin airlift. And despite doubts expressed in the Newsweek piece about Wiggles's identity ("someone who says he's a military intelligence soldier"), the man is authentic. The Chief (whose real name is classified for security reasons) serves in Utah's 141st military intelligence battalion (National Guard) and is currently working as an interrogator and debriefer at a palace in Baghdad. But on one occasion, he witnessed a poor girl crying and was so moved he wanted to gather up some toys for her. He then made mention of this idea of giving even more toys to more children on his blog, and thousands of people from around the world responded, all wanting to know how they could help.

To date, the Chief's "Operation Give," a newly set-up nonprofit organization, and "Share Joys Through Toys" effort has yielded more than 800 packages from overseas. Even Federal Express has gotten involved by shipping some of the packages from the United States free of charge.

Hundreds of toys have been distributed to a children's hospital in Baghdad, among other venues. "As we went down each hall and ward of the hospital, our following grew behind us as the word of our arrival spread like wild fire," writes Wiggles. "Unfortunately, due to the sheer number of people, we were unable to deliver toys to every employee or family member who desired something. We were there to make sure each and every sick child got a toy. The kids were great. Yes, there were many very sad situations causing me to cry inside for the kids, but there were smiles indicating their happiness to see us with the toys."

Wiggles humbly describes himself as "one individual trying to make a difference" and believes that "one person's seemingly insignificant positive actions can exponentially initiate a rippling of positive energy." Call him benevolent, noble, or selfless. Just don't call him boosterish.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

We understand the writer probably bears no malice towards the chief, but this operation is no ordinary "toys for tots" program. Wiggles's efforts to make life a little easier for the children of Iraq is on a scale with Gail Halvorsen, the celebrated "candy bomber" who dropped chocolates down to German children during the 1948 Berlin airlift. And despite doubts expressed in the Newsweek piece about Wiggles's identity ("someone who says he's a military intelligence soldier"), the man is authentic.

~~~
"Chief" continues to inspire.
~~~

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[gatorbait]

And in an almost dismissive manner, it continues: "There's even a blog from inside the Green Zone, put out by someone who says he's a military intelligence soldier using the pseudonym Chief Wiggles

Anyone with an emotional quocient higher than age 12 has to realize Newsweak is the voice of the DNC at best and is the major weekly propaganda organ for the unrepentant, unreconstructed Communist party faithful. Newsweak could be improved by putting its stories on a serrated roll of MUCH sofeter paper.

[gatorbait]

sofeter= softer

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

It's great to see Chief getting recognition for his good work. Newsweek comes off as petty and unkind, and Weekly Standard paired Chief w/ Wellstone to drive the difference between the two home.

(^;

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

"Chief's" friend and fellow blogger "Baghdaddy":

---

Q&A Session

Ok, I’m going to try and answer some of my reader’s comments.

1. I’m not an Arabic linguist. I speak English and Korean.
   
2. The “Green Zone”, referred to by the Chief and myself, is a semi-secured (because no compound is completely secure) compound around the Iraqi Presidential Palace, and other key governmental institutions. It covers an area roughly two square miles.
   
3. A mother of a soldier being deployed to Baghdad wrote and asked if I believe that I have suffered any psychological harm as a result of serving here. (I believe that she was referring to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, akin to what a lot of soldiers from the Viet Nam War suffered from). My answer to this would be that I don’t know how my period of readjustment will go. I know that my loved ones may probably never understand my experiences here, regardless of how eloquently I attempt to explain. And that will be difficult. The American people may in time come to see and appreciate the fact that we ousted a dictator and regime as evil as any in the history of the world. And that for that reason alone, this conflict deserves the support of the American public. I have some cynical ideas about our initial involvement in WWII, at least on a political level, but I wholeheartedly accept and support the decision made to rid the world of Fascism. The Nazis killed people in my family in Norway. I may have some issues left to be resolved, (I struggled a little after I was nearly killed in a terrorist incident at the beginning of the war) but I drove on and so, I believe your son will. Bless you for your sacrifice, your son’s decision to serve his country shows that his parents instilled in him a love for his country. I salute both you and your son respectfully. He’ll do just fine.
   
4. To answer another reader. Day after day I am told by the Iraqis that the U.S. is way too timid and soft in dealing with those who are attacking our troops. In our efforts to be P.C. we have shown ourselves as weak, easy targets, who because of our own policies governing our soldiers that we put our boys, and the future peace in this country in jeopardy (they also give me a lot more explicit and graphic measures we should take in dealing with anti-coalition groups, and while effective, and appealing to me personally, I don’t ever see the U.S. adopting these tactics).
   
5. Economically, Iraq is starting to move forward. People are working and little by little the economy is growing, this too will take time. But in time Iraq’s economy will in my opinion, be better than its neighbors. Of course the people here expect that it is the U.S. role to right all of Saddams wrongs, but I don’t think that kind of thinking will lead to a strong and independent nation.

 -Baghdaddy  ~   http://whosyourbaghdaddy.blog-city.com/

---

"Baghdaddy's pic:  "Chief Wiggles," friend to children:

 

Uploaded: Friday, 24 October 2003

''These kids give us more than we could possibly give them.''

http://whosyourbaghdaddy.blog-city.com/photo.cfm?WF_WAID=1585&WF_ID=16988

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for all the information!

[Valin]

Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.





Bump

[blackie]

"Chief" continues to inspire ~ Bump!

[McGavin999]

You look at those photos and you realize just how lucky we are that we have men like this to represent us. We have a military that break things and kill things and then turn around and heal hearts and pour out love and generosity. God was having a very good day the day he created Chief Wiggles.

[katya8]

I've been reading Baghdaddy's weblog for weeks. Great guy! Great taste in the music he hates!

[TomB]

Nice to see somebody other than me noticed this inane story.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks for the heads up, Tom. I missed the Newsweek story.

Being on Newsweek and co.'s hit lists these days is a good thing, right? Better than Nixon's enemy list...

...and a handy voting guide. *g*

[WOSG]

To answer another reader. Day after day I am told by the Iraqis that the U.S. is way too timid and soft in dealing with those who are attacking our troops. In our efforts to be P.C. we have shown ourselves as weak, easy targets, who because of our own policies governing our soldiers that we put our boys, and the future peace in this country in jeopardy (they also give me a lot more explicit and graphic measures we should take in dealing with anti-coalition groups, and while effective, and appealing to me personally, I don’t ever see the U.S. adopting these tactics).

It BOGGLES MY MIND that we arent harsher to our enemies (within the confines of the Geneva convention)... we need to be executing soldiers captured who are running around without uniforms and who have killed American troops and civilians. They are murderers, let them die as such. And the fine soldier who saved American lives threatening an baathist piece of scum, give him a medal, not a court martial!

[PhilDragoo]

Newsweek is demunist trash, viz the asses Eleanor Clift and Jonathan Alter.

The tone is derogatory, patronizing, demeaning, libelous.

To hell with the Leftist anti-American propaganda mill from Newsweek to the NYT to CBS, CNN, AP et al.

These swine are without shame--and without loyalty: i.e., traitors.

[bjcintennessee]

Chief Wiggles was interviewed last week by Joe Scarborough on MSNBC. Someone on FReepers announced that he was on Scarborough Country, and since my family had sent him a box of toys and stuff several weeks ago, I was curious to see him.

He seemed rather quiet and unassuming, but he is really a great guy and I applaud his work.

[windchime]

Bump!

[VOA]

Bump...
and a reminder to the forum that NOVEMBER 13 is the general deadline for mailing
holiday care-packages.
SO...that means we're coming up on the last shopping weekend for our folks serving
in about 160 countries around the globe

[VOA]

NOW HEAR THIS ALL LURKERS/POSTERS:

THIS WEEKEND (November 8 and 9) is the LAST SHOPPING WEEKEND for Parcel Post mailing
of care packages to our BEST AND BRIGHTEST who will be stationed far from home for the holidays
(deadline for this inexpensive mailing route is November 13th).

TIME to:
SHOP
BOX
and
MAIL

THAT IS ALL!

till next time...