Blackfive Interviews "Sheik Lion"

BLACKFIVE ^ | 8/21/06 | BLACKFIVE

[Citizen SMASH]

Want the truth on the ground in Iraq?

Thanks to the good folks at Central Command Public Affairs, I was able to interview a Marine that's sort of been one my favorites to watch in Iraq. He is US Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Erik E. Duane, and he's a Civil Affairs detachment chief in the Denver Area of Operations. Since the Iraqis call their Gunnys "Lions" and Gunny Duane was inducted into a local tribe as a Sheik, he is Sheik Lion.

Here's the interview unedited (except for my spelling errors) with Gunnery Sergeant Erik E. Duane:

B5: Tell me about AO Denver. What are the Iraqis like (how many are working, kind of jobs, crime rates, etc.)?:

AO Denver covers approximately 33,000 square miles, about the size of South Carolina. The area I work in is the western Euphrates River Valley near the Al Asad airbase. The airbase is the largest US base in AO Denver. The Iraqis in our area are predominantly Sunni Muslims who were primarily left alone by Saddam during his 30+ year tyrannical reign mostly because Saddam himself is a Sunni. The people here aren't much different than any other part of Iraq in the east/west/southern sectors of the country. They are mostly curious and many times great us warmly and invite us for a meal or tea. In most of the areas I travel people recognize me or my team members and are openly affectionate with their greetings. People are working here in the local area in various infrastructure jobs. We have hundreds of local policemen, and Iraqi soldiers to provide security for the region. We have hundreds of Iraqis employed in waste removal, water treatment and electrical works...

[Marine_Uncle]

I have to hit the sack very soon. Work work work. booooo.
But it must be said yet again. There are a lot of Iraqi that welcome the US and coalition forces to help bail them out of thirty plus years of misery. For more of them understand we are not there for their oil nor to conquere them, then the miserable world of L/MSM would have the masses believe.
IMHO, the insurgents in their many forms are really a minority at this point. To many Iraqi have seen their neighborhoods improved, in the way of medical clinics, clean water, better electrical distribution and a number of other things, which obviously include no more jihadist roaming their villages, towns, and cities, to think they in their hearts do not appreciate what the US/Brits, and coalition forces have done for them.
The day will come when the US and Coalition shall depart for the most part from their land. I sense most of them shall thank us for our sacrifices in their behalf.
That said. Time to hit the sack.

[SierraWasp]

Wull... It sure is a smug, cute lil sucker!!! Is it gonna grow up ta be a SheLion too???

[Gucho]

Thanks for the ping.

[pissant]

PING from boots on the ground

[SheLion]

Wull... It sure is a smug, cute lil sucker!!! Is it gonna grow up ta be a SheLion too???

No.  But "this" one is! hehe

[RC51]

Word for the day

ENEMEDIA

gotta love that one!