We'll see what we can do. It may simply take a little time.
As long as we're posting blogs tonight, for those familiar with an extremely hardworking US secret weapon, a kindhearted and focused interrogator in Baghdad named 'Chiefwiggles':
The Online Journal of Chief Wiggles
Hitting the Wall, Busy schedule, Helping Others 9/02/03 |
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Tuesday, September 02, 2003 It is now almost 7 pm, the sun is heading to its resting ground somewhere beyond the horizon, the darkness of night trailing not too far behind. I can only imagine what will be happening tonight, never having ventured beyond the walls of the green zone once darkness covers the city. I am sitting wondering where the day went, having not even paused to catch my breath. I have lost all track of time, dates, seasons, anything beyond today. I have no thoughts of tomorrow until tomorrow comes, being so overwhelmed by the rigorous schedule of today. I can honestly say I have not had a day off since arriving here at the palace, not to complain but only in retrospect as I ponder the events of the last month, which now seem more like several months. Today while in route to refill my vehicle I traveled back down the road I first came in on. I commented to Chief Authentico that it seems like such a long time ago, our lives having been condensed into some fast passed timeless blur of semi consciousness. It is as if we are locked in some twilight zone, not being able to actually make contact with anyone in the real world. I have no time for anything not relating to the demands of my busy schedule, now just trying to keep pace with the proverbial flow of Iraqi citizens. I have no time to watch the escapades of the nightly news broadcasters, or to listen to the negative twist put on everything we are endeavoring to do over here. We drive on with nothing but a single focus and deaf ears to all who might disagree. We cannot afford to lose our positive energy, our hope for a different future, or our forward momentum that compels us to press on. We have to care, for we cannot afford to think otherwise. We have to believe for if we didn't we would be worthless, frozen in an endless state of depression. Living and working in this green zone at times, seems like I am in an amusement park, manning one of the rides. Only those who have the right pass or ticket get to take their turn on my ride. These people come in out of nowhere and then return into nowhere, for I never really get to see where they come from. I explain the rules to this ride, hoping after listening they will agree to jump on, not fully understanding risks involved. I live in an area of virtually no Iraqis, only soldiers living in the remains of this once great regime, bombed out areas and empty buildings. As I look out my window I see nothing but green trees covering my direct view of the city that is sprawled out all around me. I feel secure but it feels unreal at times, as I hear gun shots and explosions through the night. I am not afraid to go out beyond our area, which I have done on several occasions, but there is that unpredictability of it, the unknown that keeps me on my toes and looking over my shoulder. I am sure there are people in America, in New York or LA, who can relate to this feeling. Our record setting pace of the last few days as finally taken its toll on me, now totally exhausted with barely enough strength to push the keys on my computer. I have basically hit the wall needing now to recharge to greet the onslaught of another day. I am going to retire but felt inclined to pass on these words. On a daily basis my emotions cover the full spectrum of possibilities, from sad to happy, to ecstatic to overwhelmed. This work is emotionally very draining, pulling on us from one moment to the next, from one emotional situation to another, as we try to determine the truthfulness of the very words we are hearing. We also get the full range of people covering the entire spectrum of possibilities, from one extreme to another, from one fanatical or extremist group to another, from wanting to die for their country to wanting to make every dollar off of us they can. I have never been in a place where the people have such a wide range of personalities, beliefs, attitudes, motives, etc. It is a virtual buffet of emotions and personalities, mind-boggling and confusing at times. As I mentioned before I was working with one of the Free Iraq Fighters, now with out his unit hoping to find a place in the new Iraq. He was so depressed, so down, not sure about his future, as if he was a little boy lost in a crowd with no hope for finding his parents. I took him over to the headquarters for this area in hopes that I might find a job for him, something to get him started, a place to hang his hat. I spoke with a few people, gave them the details of his background and experience and asked for a special favor to help this young lost man out. They agreed to get him started in a new training program with a very positive welcome, stating they need people like him. You should have seen the light come on in his face, the light of hope or belief that something good was going to happen. He was so excited about the possibilities, now feeling his life had some purpose and direction. We ended our discussion and as I drove him to the front gate he leaned over from the back seat to kiss me on the cheek (which is customary over here) to thank me for all I had done for him. He was so appreciative; he could not stop blessing me and my family, my kids, my dogs and everyone else. Another guy I met yesterday was from the village in Northern Iraq that back in 1988 was attacked by Saddam's republican guards, using chemical weapons, slaughtering thousands of people, including this man's whole family. He was moved to tears as he explained the details of that massacre and his plight since that time. We never know from one minute to the next what the next appointment will bring us or what to expect from the next person we run across. We have our moments, but for the most part we stay enthused, focused, and positive. Pray that we will stay our course till the end of our tour here, in order that in our own little way we may make a difference in the lives of these people. It would be just too easy to give up hope in such a plethora of crime, violence, dishonesty, ulterior motives, greed, revenge, you name we have it. But that is about it for now. Good night, gotta crash. Bye Bye Aug. 31, 2003 Little by little things are all coming together, shaping up, providing us with what will be needed to accomplish this mission. Miraculous things are taking shape and the pieces of this huge puzzle are coming together one piece at a time. All you have to do is pitch in and help make it happen. The ball of progress has begun to roll, stand back and watch it roll-forth bringing freedom to the people of this country. You can either be part of the solution or get out of our way. Yes, there will be stumbling blocks, hurdles and many more difficulties but goodness will prevail. I am sure the media is having a free-for-all with all the reports of the bombings, the shootings, the crimes and so on and so forth. I am sure there are plenty of people accusing us of not doing our job to make things safe and not being able to solve the problems of this country. We are making a gallant effort but you don't really understand unless you are here in the middle of it. You don't really understand all the numerous complicated aspects of this environment. After 35 years of being totally controlled, fearing every move they make, the people here are protesting because they can. For the first time in 35 years they can say whatever they want with out any recourse, now using their freedom of speech for the first time. This is a land that has been at war on and off for the past 20 years. They fought against the Iranians for 8 years and lost a million people combined on both sides. Saddam has encouraged them to have weapons and to use them. He has created a wild-west atmosphere using the gun to enforce his laws and to settle differences. This is the guy that used to fire his weapon into the air whenever he had something to celebrate, even inside a hotel room. These people also feel that if they are not complaining about the progress of things then people will have a tendency to stop working on their issues. They are very impatient with progress and very emotional about their issues. Also with their economy in shambles people are creating an economy based on commerce around anything that will sell. So now even ordinary citizens are getting into the weapons business because there is supply and demand. Saddam made sure there were plenty of weapons by unloading dump trucks full of weapons in every neighborhood. Everyone here is getting into the business. We just need to develop other industries that will give the people jobs and another source of income. Today was Sunday normally a day of rest, but it was like the floodgates were opened dropping on us a continual flow of sources all day long. It was unbelievable, person after person, dropping in on us, people we hadn't seen in a long time. We accomplished many good things today. Goodnight |
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What better place to give those in Iraq a voice, than on one of the most beautiful pieces written about Iraq since the beginning of the war.
You can send 'Chief' a note of thanks at his website, link above.