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Posted on 07/18/2003 2:24:49 AM PDT by xzins
A Brigade Commander's perspective of the situation in Baghdad.
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Greetings from Central Baghdad. I took command of the _________________; 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.
I move around the city escorted by a Personal Security Detachment in two HMMWVs with machine guns mounted. They have fits when I dismount (kinda like the Secret Service around the President, except the chances of getting shot at here at much, much higher). I travel with a loaded 9mm pistol on my lap.
This place reminds me of Mad Max and the Road Warrior movies. As predicted, I am living in interesting times, and am using every bit of the strategy education earned 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 (unexploded ordinance) 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 (Non-Governmental Organizations), and the military realm of firefights/improved explosive devices/snipers/mortar attacks. My BCT (Brigade Combat Team) 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 _____, 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 (emergency ordinance demolitions), 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 - General Order #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!
_____
I've edited out names. My 20 years taught me not to unnecessarily bring the hammer down on the innocent.
The most fascinating part for me is how much is being accomplished that isn't being reported by the media.....even Fox.
Can you believe it: a city council, advisory councils, functioning utilities, etc.
The sniper line. Spy versus Spy. Sniper versus Sniper.
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I bet it was that the reporters all wanted to go home, rather than the Govt wanted to end that successful program. But you're right. Whether the initiative belongs to the Gov or the news agencies, I'd love to see some embedded reporting on the humanitarian work going on in Iraq.
Here's a link to a wonderful letter detailing some of that good work going on right now.
hey Dad...it's me again...
well, things are really busy up here in the north...we have a newly(well, 5-6 wks ago)elected mayor of Mosul...we are working closely with him and his administration to help rebuild this city and the surrounding province...
the health system is coming along pretty well, we still have a lot to do but the basic infrastructure of the health care system is closing in on pre-war standards...the school system is doing very well also as well as the public safety areas....
I don't have much info on some of the other areas, but I can say that they too are up to pre-war standards, which is not bad work for only being 10 weeks after the war....these people here are slowly seeing the fruits of OUR labor in helping them out....within the coming months it should be very noticeable what we have done here...
the way I understand it, we(all the units along with the 101st working in this area) are further ahead then anyone else in Iraq....not to toot our own horn, but we're doing really well here....it has come with a lot of blood, sweat, and tears though....the dangers here are not as bad as in Baghdad or other areas, but nonetheless it is very dangerous here...we have attacks against us almost every other day, as opposed to everyday like in the Baghdad area....
it's too bad all the media can focus on back home is all the negativity of us being here....we have come a long way in a very short amount of time...it almost seems as though the people back home are more impatient then the Iraqi people, who by the way are living in this shit everyday....why can't the damn media focus on the great things we are doing over here as opposed to why they still think we don't need to be here....
these people can now live a life without the threat of being raped or killed....trust me, they are very happy that we have given them hope again....Dad, I hope this helps a little....I will try to explain in more detail later on.....sorry this was so short, please let me know if I need to go into more detail....
> Later....take care... > Love ya'll
We need a "We Support the Troops in Reconstruction" campaign.
;^)
Stay Safe !
C-SPAN followed USAID director Andrew Natsios on a recent tour:
Rebuilding Iraq C-SPAN Washington Journal 7/3/03 (USAID Director Andrew Natsios was EXCELLENT!)
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