What was it really like?

[gilliam]

Surprising number of people are asking “What was it really like being in Iraq? Are we getting the right story in the news that we watch?”
Good question, because I asked myself the same thing while I was in Iraq. I would sit in the briefings in the mornings at the Strategic Operations Center and then listen to the Headline News later in the day. Not always the same story. What the coalition forces accomplish on a daily basis is not being reported. What the insurgents and criminals perpetuate seems to always be highlighted. National News is competitive. The best stories are the ones that grab the listeners at an emotional level (hence the “yelling” shows of Sunday news and the No spin zone variety)…emotions sell advertising. “If it bleeds, it leads.”
The hard work in Iraq is not emotional or leading-news-type stories. The hard work stories are the day in and day out slogging it out among the citizens helping to keep them safe and secure. Not a lot of glory and guys get blown up on a regular basis just doing their jobs. That is the high price of securing a dangerous country, but it is necessary and difficult; but not glorious.

Do the Iraqis want us there?
Overwhelmingly, YES. Scarcely a visit with an Iraqi that I had did not involve some part of the conversation centering around how grateful the citizens are that we are there and that Saddam is gone. The insurgents and Former Regime elements that want Saddam back in power are basically thugs and criminals that preyed off of the citizenry. If lawlessless can be established and maintained, then their hope is that the coalition will leave and the vacuum of stability and power will allow them back into their positions of oppression. The plan is to provide enough continued stability in the country that their own forces can keep the peace…then we are out of there.

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[gilliam]

Another one, from a Marine just back from Anbar province in Iraq:

I just got back from the dam and Hit and I think I can answer your questions pretty authoritatively:

1. Who are the insurgents and what are they fighting for?

There are three general categories of insurgents:

Former regime elements
Foreign fighers
local criminals/mafia types

It’s obvious what they’re fighting for. They often fight each other, at which time we step aside and let them kill each other.

1. How bad is the state of basic services (electricity, water, etc.) in Iraq? Are outages widespread or is that merely made out to be the case by the media?

In the Hit-Hadithah corridor power is pretty good. We did a lot of work on water in Hit, I believe. The outages are usually further south, like in Baghdad. Since the people running the dam live nearby, they rarely have an outage. Hadithah Dam reportedly supplies 1/3 the power for the country.

1. Do the locals just fear the insurgents or do they also admire them?

There are all types. Some of the locals are insurgents, of course. But after we moved into Hit permanently, the people were generally very helpful to us in finding the muj.

1. Is everyday life in Al Anbar province occupied by war or is business going on as usual with the odd shot fired in the background?

Both. Depends on the day.

1. What is the state of unemployment in the region?

Unemployment is high, which is why they have had success in recruiting young men with a lot of time on their hands and little money.

1. What is the state of true morale in the military and are they aware that a majority of Americans are against the war?

The morale of the Marines is extremely high. You are mistaken in your statement that the majority of Americans are against the war.

1. Are the Iraqi security forces a worthy fighting force? Do they show any actual skill and ability to fight on their own?

The Iraqi army has proven to be pretty good. They aren’t Marines, but they can do basic tactics well and have shown a strong willingness to fight. Generally, they are no good at logistics or planning above the company level, but they fight well. They will continue to improve.

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