THE REBUILDING OF IRAQ (e-mails from a friend)

e-mails | April 2004 | A Friend

[Spunky]

These are e-mails from a friend who went to Iraq to help rebuild the city of An-Numaniyah. He works for Contrack Intl, and is the Senior Site Constuction Manager.

I asked if I could share his e-mails so we would have some idea what is going on in the rebuilding of Iraq and how the people feel about us being there.

April 11, 2004
Good day to you all at home, (wife's name here) had mentioned you all had a nice service yesterday,(Easter) Thank you for mentioning me again. Tell all of our members I think of them often and pray that all are in good health.

From the pictures (wife's name here) is sending me ,it appears you are having a faily good spring, turning green is always beautiful this time of the year.

Overhere, it is up and down, everyday is really anew day. We take a lot of baby steps over here, trying to build trust and friendship some times have been hard. We have gone from a few hundred here on this site in An- Numaniyah to over 5000 people they are all very poor and haven't much at all. they make $4.00 per day working here on this site. And none of them have any skills at all to speak of.  My Interperter , His name is Sattar Huessin, a young man of 26 , he and i have become very close friends and he now calls me Daddy and (wife's name here) his New Mommie, His Father was killed in the first Gulf war. We have had numerous talks about how things have been for him and his people, including his religion and have had some very good discisions.

Overall they all seem to like me very well , Mr. Dan is my name here ,and most won't do a thing until i say it's ok for them to do it.

Around the area , from here to Baghdad is very un-safe, and alot of bombs as well as shootings have occured since my arrival here on this site . But we end each as well as when we start each day saying a little prayer to help me get through this . well again i hope and pray this finds all well and safe on your end . for now. I will attach a copy of a picture of your review. (picture above)

Regards Dan.

April 30th, 2004
..........My location here is south of Baghdad and east of Najaf, off the Tigers river, the local people are very poor , all they want is to have a job , they make here on this site from $4.00 to $8.00 dollars per day only.  I have heard every story you can think of here . and have seen quite a few people who have yet the scars from the old regiem. In general they all seem to be very happy we are here helping re-build their country.

Most of the people here have made me one of their own ,  all want to work for this guy they call MR. Dan . My interperter is a young man of 26, his name is Sattar Huessin , no relation to the last thug who crawled out of the hole we found him in. But Sattar , is a good guy whom i have come know better as the weeks fly by. we often find our selfs talking about our church and the way we believe as well as how they believe over here, we talk about God often and Jesus. they seem to believe that Jesus was a profet like their Ali only, no more no better, we have had some real good talks about this subject in general. He seems to feel  that the muslims are a good people and its only some who are causing the problems , and the people of his village do not agree with the way things have been going with this young cleric whos raising trouble to the north of us .  So i continue to plant seeds with him on how we believe almost daily.

They have never had beds , in his village they all sleep on the ground, we came involved with cleaning the Egyptian compound out and , there were 1000 beds that came up , the local Shie-k got most of them , but we kept 10 beds out for Sattar and his family , they all feel greatfull for Mr. Dan .

His mother has been sick lately , he says , my mother is sick in the head, some fever i soppose, they have no Doctors , so i gave him , what (wife's name was here) had sent me a small bottle of pinicilinn pills , this seem to have helped for he has told me his mother is ok now in the head.  Funny. but this how it is over here. any way was great hearing from you , hope and pray you stay healthy both of you , tell the members of our church , thank you for your prayers, for i often think of all of you , it is wonderful to have good friends...........

Best move on , it is getting late...... , Regards your friend Dan 

[Spunky]

I can't imagine what it must be like to work with 5000 people who do not speak your language or you theirs.

Along with the servicemen we need to keep this family and all those who went to rebuild Iraq in our thoughts and prayers.

[Spunky]

Would you ping your list? Thanks

[Spunky]

Would you ping your list? Thanks

[Spunky]

Would you ping your list? Thanks

[Spunky]

I thought maybe you all would be interested in what someone who is helping build Iraq has to say.

[coldpatriot]

Thanks and please keep doing this, it's nice to hear what's going on besides from the the media.

I've got to give this guy credit, he's pretty brave to be over there, even if he's not fighting. I think we all know what will happen to him if the bad guys get their hands on him.

[Swiss]

He has my prayers

My former Army roommate is shipping over to Iraq this week as a private contractor and I have just applied with Halliburton for a couple of jobs in Iraq and Afganistan.

I figure I am too out of shape to get back in the Armed Services but if I don't do my part for the war effort I will regret it the rest of my life. We either rebuild Iraq and and Afganistan now or be forced to rebuild American cities after terrorists in the future.

[Spunky]

"Thanks and please keep doing this, it's nice to hear what's going on besides from the the media."

Yes, it is nice to hear from someone who is there. I will keep posting any e-mails I receive from him.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Would you ping your list? Thanks"

PING!
Spunky : Thank You!

[McGavin999]

I am so glad to hear they have put 5,000 to work. They're hard workers and will learn fast because they want so much to do a good job. Well worth any effort we expend.

[tiamat]

Hope he stays safe!

[Spunky]

"My former Army roommate is shipping over to Iraq this week as a private contractor and I have just applied with Halliburton for a couple of jobs in Iraq and Afganistan."

We will keep your former Army roommate in out thoughts and prayers also, and if you go please keep in touch.

The more we hear from people who are there the more truth we receive.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[MEG33]

Thank you for another view of the life in Iraq and rebuilding efforts.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[SheLion]

[Spunky]

This isn't about you know who, :-) but I thought maybe you all might be interested in this. If you know anyone else who might want to know about the rebuilding of Iraq please feel free to ping them.

[SheLion]

[getgoing]

Dan and his friend Sattar will be in my prayers, both risk their lives for their loved ones. May the message of good will and responsibilities of liberty override 30 years of hate one family at a time.

Many of us are torn between wanting revenge for our losses this month and understanding the logic for the Marines stand-down. Dan and his fellow Americans exemplify "rebuild" the thought process and cities...I am humbled.

Thank you for sharing Spunky.

[getgoing]

ditto and appreciation sent to you & your Army roommate.