War secret: Iraqis actually like the U.S. military

WND ^ | August 23, 2007 | Matt Sanchez

[IrishMike]

Lt. Col. James Crider is a soft-spoken, direct man who has just become the "property owner" of muhalla 840 – "muhalla" meaning a section of land and the number 840 having been assigned to this particular square plot of Baghdad on a high-resolution satellite-image map.

I asked how numbers got assigned and imagined some military official coming up with an intelligent formula: 8 for the neighborhood and maybe 26 to represent the level of threat. Next to the square marked 840 was another marked 838. Was one area of operation worse than the other area of operation? The satellite image was black and white, but someone with a red-colored marker had traced a thick line down the borders. You knew exactly where muhalla 840 began and where it ended, but you couldn't see the streets underneath, so much about the square marked 840 just couldn't be seen from the map.

In the old-fashion wars and battles gone by, the enemies wore different uniforms and had a base or capital that was readily identifiable on the type of map Crider was holding. But in Baghdad, and specifically in the Dora neighborhood, if the lieutenant colonel could clearly define enemy territory as easily as his AO, there would be several bursts of grey on that map, blinking on and off like a defective light-bulb.

The 1st Squadron 4th Cavalry out of Fort Riley, Kan., was a long way from home. I personally knew about Dora, in the Rasheed district of Baghdad, just from reputation. Days before I arrived, five soldiers had been killed in a Bradley, a heavily armored vehicle that was far safer than the average Humvee, which is precisely what the soldiers of the 1-4 Cav used to commute between home, Forward Operating Base Falcon, and work, muhalla 840.

[Y2000]

War Secret.. ??

Shhhhhh.. don’ttell anyone.

[G8 Diplomat]

It’s true, the Iraqis really do appreciate what we’ve done for them. There’ve been pictures on FR of Iraqis waving US flags and signs saying “Thank you America!” and displaying their purple fingers and recieving chocolate bars from US soldiers. The MSM just doesn’t want anyone to know this, which is why they only report the negative news from Iraq.

[Allegra]

Wow....all this stuff I've been saying on FR for the past three-plus years is being reinforced by media-types now.

A lot of FReepers derided me and told me I was delusional. One told me my "vision is skewed" because of my location.

Dang...I wish I could remember who those posters were now. ;-)

[IrishMike]

They will remember ... that’s good enough.

[hsalaw]

Interesting report. The intelligence and adaptability of our military is amazing.

[Eyes Unclouded]

It's about time some of this got out there. The wars of the next 50 years aren't going to be toe to toe. No one wants to do that with us they know they would get creamed. (nuclear aside) It's gonna be all guerrilla campaigns that we face. The army that comes out of OIF is going to have the equipment, the doctrines, and the personal to deal with these things properly. No longer will people say that the US army isn't meant to do nation-building. They can do anything on God's green earth! (and I'm assuming sometime in the upcoming century up in space and on the moon)

[Grimmy]

“One told me my “vision is skewed” because of my location.”

Might have been me, or someone like me. I’ve been known to get myself all sideways and inverted when posting while enraged.

Btw, welcome home. Glad you’re back safe.

[eureka!]

I read an article this morning (I can’t find it having searched) where a young Iraqi man spotted a suicide bomber approaching four American soldiers in a group of eight Iraqis. The bomb detonated killing the young Iraqi man but saving 12 lives. When his father was asked whether he had remorse for the loss of his son he said “no because he gave his life protecting American soldiers”. The story, of course, will not be in our papers. I have really come to hate the mass media’s bias to where it may be unhealthy...

[Allegra]

Btw, welcome home. Glad you’re back safe.

Thanks. But I still work in Baghdad. I'm just on a brief vacation at the moment - in England. Will be back in Iraq by the end of the month....and I'm not giving up. ;-)

[FMBass]

This can’t be a war secret. It wasn’t on the front page of the New York Slimes.

[Lurker]

I wish I could remember who those posters were now. ;-)

Cue Shaggy music:

"It wasn't me!"

L

[Paradox]

Here is that article. Hard to read it without tearing up..

[Little Ray]

Of course they like the American military. The troops are tough, competent, kind, generous, and nearly incorruptible. Compared to the Iraqi gub’ment under Saddam, or even today, they’re the stuff of legend. When they’re gone, the Iraqis are really gonna miss ‘em.

[eureka!]

Thanks so much Paradox. It is an eye mister. God bless our brave Iraqi allies.

G8D, link at #13...

[ClaireSolt]

Unfortunately, the Kansasans will rotate out and their replacements will have to start over meeting the people.

[Grimmy]

I swear a gotta learn to pay attention better in class.
Glad you got some time out of the cooker. Stay safe and keep well.

[StarCMC]

1st Squadron 4th Cavalry out of Fort Riley, Kansas...

Ping, TX.

[StarCMC]

Dang...I wish I could remember who those posters were now. ;-)

Heh heh! Most of 'em are gone, I think. But count me in as one who believed you all along!

[StarCMC]

From the “No $#!%, Sherlock” files... a ping to the Canteen and some other friends.