Posted on 07/15/2003 6:31:18 AM PDT by mark502inf
Greetings from Central Baghdad. I took command of the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division on 1 July; since then I have had two soldiers killed in firefights. The Special Opns folks call my sector east of the Tigris River "The Hot Box," due to the number of engagements in it on a daily basis. This place reminds me of Max Max and the Road Warrior movies. As predicted, I am living in interesting times, and am using every bit of the strategy education earned in ASAP and at the War College. We are fighting former regime-backed paramilitary groups, Iranian-based opposition, organized criminals, and street thugs. We have stood up governing councils from neighborhood to district to city level. We have conducted humanitarian action in numerous areas to include repair of electricity, water, sewer, hospitals, and schools; created refuse collection systems; and built numerous recreational facilities (particularly soccer fields). We have cleared hundreds of tons of UXOs and weapons caches. I have already hosted Fox News, ABC, ITN, UP, Reuters, the New Yorker, and an Indian news service. On any given day I deal with the political realm of the Coalition Provisional Authority, the humanitarian realm of the NGOs, and the military realm of firefights/improved explosive devices/snipers/mortar attacks. My BCT contains active duty, reservists, and National Guardsmen. The BCT has lost 4 soldiers since taking over the sector. The soldiers are staying focused and disciplined, and are getting more effective with each passing day. Our snipers have had some success of late - enough said. Even though we are still being shot at daily, the vast majority of the population supports our objectives and just want to get on with their lives. We are doing some excellent humanitarian work, but it doesn't make the news because all the press wants to talk about is the attacks. The infrastructure is up and running and the shortfalls in electricity, water, sewage, etc., are being addressed. We have local advisory councils of Iraqi citizens set up in Baghdad and a functioning city council. The people we kicked out of power can't stand our success, however, and will do everything they can to try to make us fail. Thus the ongoing gun battles in the streets. There is also a lot of organized crime here. I have flashbacks to "The Godfather" all the time. As the military commander of eastern Baghdad, I feel like Don Corleone...or maybe a ward boss on the south side of Chicago. The brigade was trained in high intensity conflict back in Germany, but quickly transitioned into urban combat operations once in Baghdad. We had a visit from a team from the British Army experienced in operations in Northern Ireland, and we were already doing everything they talked to us about. In some cases, such as use of helicopters in conjunction with ground forces, we are ahead of them. Special skills such as military police, civil affairs, psychological operations, EOD, and engineers are needed more in this type of operation. I have a reserve MP company out of New York working for me, and they are doing a fantastic job. The company commander is a New York City prosecutor in his other life. It's 116 degrees here today, and I don't even get a cold beer - GO #1 strikes again. So yet another go-round with the extended Betty Ford clinic. At least I'm drawing combat pay. I have a spare cot for you if you make it to Baghdad. My HQ is east of the Tigris River. Alcohol not allowed, but bring cigars. Otherwise, enjoy the summer and drink a cold one for me. Ready First! Pete
Bump for a good read.
Hooah!
MEG, awesome post. Hugs!
Liberation Update, latest quotes from the WH website:
“I want to help my country to make a new life, to get human rights, and also to get modern life, especially because we are a rich country.”
An Iraqi translator for the Allied forces, The New York Times, 7/08/03
“In Baghdad, Shiite Muslim tribes from central and southern Iraq met for the first time to discuss how they, as the country's religious majority, could help create a united Iraqi nation.”
The New York Times, 7/08/03
“We will be happy to get rid of Saddam’s face and this useless money.”
Hillal Sultan, an Iraqi moneychanger, Agence France Presse, 7/08/03
“We can’t train staff fast enough. People are desperate here for a neutral free press after 30 years of a totalitarian state.”
Saad al-Bazzaz, editor of the Azzaman Daily in Baghdad, The Independent (London), 7/08/03
“This guy [Uday] had nothing to do with journalism but he saw it as a powerful way of trying to control the minds of the Iraqi people. He knew very well that most journalists were not supportive of his father. By day they did their jobs quietly. … By night many worked against the regime.”
Saad al-Bazzaz, former head of Iraqi state television and current editor of the Azzaman Daily, The Independent (London), 7/08/03
“The Americans did a very good thing when they crushed Saddam for the Iraqis.”
Khither Jaafar, a member of a Shiite party outlawed by Saddam, Los Angeles Times, 7/08/03
“We as a council were chosen by the people. God willing we will work to achieve the hopes and wishes of the people.”
Mohammed al-Assadi, a representative on the new Najaf City Council, Associated Press, 7/07/03
“During the days of the old regime, only members of the Baath used to benefit and got what they wanted. This council has nothing to do with any regime because all of them are intellectuals and chosen by the people.”
Angham Fakher, a hospital employee in Najaf, speaking about the new City Council Associated Press, 7/07/03
“We were like a tightly covered pot which no one knew what it contained. Now that the cover has been removed, you can’t imagine what you will discover.”
Majed al-Ghazali, who now dreams of setting up a children’s music school in Iraq, Associated Press, 7/07/03
“U.S.-U.K., Liberators of Iraq from Saddam’s Terror.”
A banner hanging outside the entrance to central Suleimaniyah in Iraq, Chicago Tribune, 7/05/03
“We feel liberated. We’re very very happy.”
Dana Mohammed, manager of a fast food restaurant in Suleimaniyah, Chicago Tribune, 7/05/03
“I’ve been like a blind man during Saddam’s time. Look at my hair. It’s already turning gray, and I don’t even know how to get on a plane at the airport yet. I haven’t done anything. Now the future is very different. I’m free. I can travel, and no one will follow or arrest me.”
Dana Mohammed, a 19-year-old Iraqi, Chicago Tribune, 7/05/03
“I can feel it inside. All Iraqis are feeling freedom. This is a good start of a new Iraq.”
Saniya al-Raheem, a 56-year-old housewife in Baghdad, Agence France Presse, 7/03/03
“It was a cruel system. We were living under terror and we all suffered from it. It was for our own survival not to talk about politics. We could not even discuss our personal problems openly.”
Balkis Al-Shamary, a clerk in an Iraqi shop, Agence France Presse, 7/03/03
“I like free discussions. I talk about these issues with my families and friends. This could never happen during the Saddam years.”
Maha Abrahim, owner of a wedding dress shop in Baghdad, Agence France Presse, 7/03/03
“During the Saddam years, we did not even have hopes. We were living only to survive. Now I have lots of dreams and hopes.”
Hansam Hassan, a pediatrician at Baghdad’s Al-Alwiya Children’s Hospital, Agence France Presse, 7/03/03
“When I see my female students, I see hopes in them. They will have more opportunities to travel and learn and have more control of their lives.”
Bushra Jani, a professor at Baghdad’s Al-Mustansiriya University, Agence France Presse, 7/03/03
I have written several notes to reporters at Fox for more indepth coverage but they don' get it. I'm going to ask them to leave the hotel and the AC to learn what is happening and report it to us.
Perhaps we all should do that: First.lastname@foxnews.com
Good point. With embeds, we got what was happening at the ground level from reporters who were living it with the troops. Now the media is giving us snapshots in time & anecdotes & spin. The mainstream press did not like the embeds because it made it much more difficult to spin from the studio about civilian casualties and collateral damage & quagmires & so on when their own reporters at the cutting edge were showing something completely different. All that direct access and real-time truth got in the way of the story Peter Jennings et al wanted to tell!
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