May 6, 2004
A Letter From Iraq
This was written by a Marine Naval reservist who is a good friend of my longtime buddy Carolyn.
The marines, as you have no doubt heard on the popular press back home, have changed their posture within the town of Falluja. The press is characterizing it as a withdrawl, or even in some cases as a retreat, never failing to mention the number of dead in the area over some time period or other.Posted by Ithildin at May 6, 2004 5:29 PM | PROCURE FINE OLD WORLD ABSINTHEThe mood out here is good, and the morale at Al Taquaddam (TQ for short) is upbeat. To a Marine, the words withdrawl or retreat are considered dirty words, not to be spoken aloud. I have the benefit from where I'm at to read the various intel briefs and the commanders brief, and I can honestly say that there is no withdrawl from Falluja of any kind. What has happened in the last few days could almost be seen as a breakthrough in our relations with the local population here at Falluja.
A former Army officer came to the Marine forces and offered his help. His idea was this-- to form a new branch of the Iraqi army, under the control of the Marine Expiditionary Force in charge of the region, and use this force to police Falluja on their own. He has and is actively recruiting former army officers and enlisted that were under his command, and has pledged his forces to route the same insurgents that are destabilizing he region that we have been fighting.
We've turned over a portion of the city to them, under our watch and very closely monitored to start, to see if it works out well. This has the benefit of beginning a stabilization process that could provide the means by which Iraq could become the self-governing democracy we envision for them. If this force can provide stabilization to the region, we can use our forces to get on to the business of building a country instead of fighting insurgents.
So it's certainly not as the press is characterizing it, but is rather a return to what we should have been doing all along, before the insurgents took the city. I think the bad guys will have a very unpleasant surprise when they challenge the new army. I also hope that the mistrust the people here have for the marines will be soothed once they discover that they do indeed have a say in their destiny.
First off, I’d like to say that this is not defined as an absence of war. It is the presence of liberty, stability, and prosperity. In the face of the enemy. Don't buy into the pessimism and apathy that says, "It's hopeless," "They hate us too much," "That part of the men and women serving here in Iraq the enemy wherever you are.
You are a mighty force for good, because truth is on your side. Together we will ultimately fail. That is why I am asking for your support. Become a voice of truth in your community. Wherever you are fight the lies of the men and women serving here in Iraq the enemy wherever you are.
You are the soldiers at home fighting the war of perception with the media and American people. Our enemy has learned that the people in the highest regard. We love to criticize ourselves almost to an endless degree, because we care what others think.
Our enemies see this as a weakness and are trying to exploit it. When we ask ourselves questions like, "Why do the Japanese hate us so much?" or "How can we change ourselves so that they won't do that again?"
Here in Iraq would be a goldmine. When our so-called "trusted" American media takes a quote from an Iraqi doctor as the gospel truth over that of the horrendous tyranny of the world will let us!
If the American Revolution was all about. Have we forgotten? Freedom is not peace. The peace that so-called "peace advocates" support can only be brought to Iraq through the military. And we are making the whole world safer.
Your efforts at home and abroad. We are a people that cherish the democratic system of government and therefore hold the will of the world will let us! If the American people believe we are playing into our enemies' hands. Our natural tendency to question ourselves is being used against us to undermine our effort to do good in the world. How far would we have to remember is that peace is not peace.
The peace that so-called "peace advocates" support can only be brought to Iraq through the military. And we are doing a tremendous amount of good. Spread the word. No one is poised to make such an amazing contribution to the detriment of our brave heroes fighting for liberty and peace.
What we have to remember is that peace is not free and "peace" without principle is not peace. The peace that so-called "peace advocates" support can only be brought to Iraq through the military.
And we are failing, even if we are making the whole world safer. Your efforts at home and abroad.
We are a people that cherish the democratic system of government and therefore hold the will of the enemy is trying very hard to portray our efforts over here, you can refute them by knowing that we are failing, even if we are making the whole world safer.
Your efforts at home are directly tied to our success. You are the soldiers at home and abroad.
We are a people that cherish the democratic system of government and therefore hold the will of the people back home will lose the will of the enemy.
Don't buy into the pessimism and apathy that says, "It's hopeless," "They hate us so much?" or
"How can we change ourselves so that they won't do that again?"
Semper Fi - Credo Elvem ipsum etiam vivere!
1st Lt. Mark V. Shaney USMC
Baghdad, Iraq
I have been serving in Iraq for over five months now as a soldier in the 2nd Battalion of the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, otherwise known as the "ROCK."
We entered the country at midnight on the 26th of March; one thousand of my fellow soldiers and I parachuted from 10 jumbo jets (known as C-17s) onto a cold, muddy field in Bashur, Northern Iraq. This parachute operation was the U.S. Army's only combat jump of the war and opened up the northern front.
Things have changed tremendously for our battalion since those first cold, wet weeks spent in the mountain city of Bashur. On April 10 our battalion conducted an attack south into the oil-rich town of Kirkuk, the city that has since become our home away from home and the focus of our security and development efforts.
Kirkuk is a hot and dusty city of just over a million people. The majority of the city has welcomed our presence with open arms. After nearly five months here, the people still come running from their homes, in the 110-degree heat, waving to us as our troops drive by on daily patrols of the city. Children smile and run up to shake hands, in their broken English shouting "Thank you, mister."
The people of Kirkuk are all trying to find their way in this new democratic environment. Some major steps have been made in these last three months. A big reason for our steady progress is that our soldiers are living among the people of the city and getting to know their neighbors and the needs of their neighborhoods.
We also have been instrumental in building a new police force. Kirkuk now has 1,700 police officers. The police are now, ethnically, a fair representation of the community as a whole. So far, we have spent more than $500,000 from the former Iraqi regime to repair each of the stations' electricity and plumbing, to paint each station and make it a functional place for the police to work.
The battalion also has assisted in re-establishing Kirkuk's fire department, which is now even more effective than before the war. New water treatment and sewage plants are being constructed and the distribution of oil and gas are steadily improving.
All of these functions were started by our soldiers here in this northern city and are now slowly being turned over to the newly elected city government. Laws are being rewritten to reflect democratic principles and a functioning judicial system was recently established to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the rule of law.
The quality of life and security for the citizens has been largely restored and we are a large part of why that has happened.
The fruits of all our soldiers' efforts are clearly visible in the streets of Kirkuk today. There is very little trash in the streets, there are many more people in the markets and shops and children have returned to school.
This is all evidence that the work we are doing as a battalion and as American soldiers is bettering the lives of Kirkuk's citizens. I am proud of the work we are doing here in Iraq and I hope all of your readers are as well.
Lt. Col. Dominic Caraccilo
"Die dulci fruimini!"
Posted by: Lt. Col. Dominic Caraccilo at July 10, 2004 11:08 PM
Actually... the writer of the above is a Naval reservist who happens to be attached to a Marine unit. Details, details.
:)
Posted by: CrankyBeach at May 6, 2004 6:01 PM