A Brief Discourse on Iraq

There has been a significant amount of debate over whether or not we, as a country, should be in Iraq, doing what we are doing. Some argue that we originally went there because of weapons of mass destruction - which was one of the myriad of reasons. So we haven't found any WMD - yet. I think it is still there, buried in the desert, or quite possibly hidden in Syria or Iran. So, the new question is, "Should we stay in Iraq?" I think the obvious answer is, "Yes."

Now we get to "why?" As a Soldier, I will go to Iraq because I am ordered to. It is my job, and it just so happens that I agree that we need to be in Iraq.

First, we have put ourselves in a position where we cannot and should not leave Iraq until the country and its elected government can defend itself against the insurgency. If we pull our troops out of Iraq, we all but guarantee that the insurgents will take over and resume a reign of violence in Iraq - which we cannot, in good conscious, let happen.

Second, once Iraq is formed and strong enough to defend itself, it stands a chance at becoming a viable, self-sufficient, free nation - which are in short supply in the middle east. A free Iraq means the chance for other nations in the area to see first hand what a free country can do and become. The history of Iraq has been one of bloodshed and violence from the dawn of time. Apparently what they've been doing hasn't worked, so what's wrong with giving something else a shot?

Third, if Iraq does become an independent, albeit friendly to the U.S., nation, it could be used as a military stepping stone should other nations in the area seek to become free through violent means.

Fourth, contrary to popular belief and news media coverage, things are not all bad in Iraq. The majority of the Iraqi people support the US and coalition forces there and do not want us to leave until the ISF (Iraqi Security Forces) are well established. The people of Iraq deserve a chance at freedom, and we are in a position to assist in that goal. The people are voting, they are speaking out and becoming free.

Fifth, the insurgents have figured out that we are "hard targets." We drive around armed to the teeth in armored vehicles and are not afraid of their bombs, guns or rockets. They have noticeably shifted their efforts from attacking our Soliders to attacking the civilians who want to be free and the men who want to join the ISF to protect their country. These soft civilians make ideal targets for the smaller weapons and tactics used by the insurgents. By killing civilians, the insurgents hope to sway public opinion in Iraq against the coalition forces by showing them to be ineffective and unable to protect the population. The US has declared its resolve and will not back down and will not quit. Before we leave, Iraq will be free and capable of its own defense.

Strange Thing

So, I thought I'd try this email blogging thing. And a strange thing happened tonight.

I went to put my daughter to bed tonight as I sometimes do because she goes to sleep better with someone to cuddle (as do I). Usually, I fall asleep with her because once I get nice and warm, I have a tendency to do that. I asked my wife to come get me in ten minutes because I wasn't really ready to go to bed yet.

So, I DID fall asleep, but only mostly. I was in that crazy state of consciousness where you aren't awake or sleep, but somewhere inbetween. I could feel my body laying on the bed, could hear the TV and see - but everything was very very fuzzy and unfocused. I tried to move to get up out of bed, but could not control any part of my body. I tried a leg, an arm, my head, even just to twist a bit to start the movement, but I couldn't move a thing. At first it wasn't worrisome, just a momentary lapse of movement due to being mostly asleep. Then, it continued and I became consciously aware of not being able to move - at all - and I began to get a little scared. I didn't think that I was permanently unable to move, but still - I felt that I should control what I moved or didn't.

Then my wife came in, or at least I thought she did. I could see her standing there - just a dark figure by the bed really, everything was still very fuzzy. I wanted to ask for help, to wake me up, to just wiggle me a little. I could only whisper, so softly I didn't even know if I could hear it, much less her. I whispered, "help me," "move me," "pull me." But she didn't react at all. I assumed she couldn't hear me and didn't want to disturb me sleeping.

Soon after that, I managed to move me head up a bit and that broke the spell. I was fully awake again and got up.

In the end, it was no big deal - but even that little bit of inability to control your own body can be scary.

IRAQ INFO:

Nothing new to report, its the weekend. Haven't left yet, no specific dates or times, or even places. I think "Iraq" is vague enough that the insurgents reading my blog won't put two and two together.

The Army is really trying to crack down on blogs from the war zone - and for OPSEC reasons, I completely understand and will definately not put out any info that could be used against myself or my Soldiers.

CASUALTY REPORT:
WIA 0
KIA 0
EWIA 0
WKIA 0

Going to a far away land.

My company has been granted the honor of serving the nation by travelling far far away to a little country called Iraq.

** Disclaimer: I will be privy to first hand information and operational security matters while deployed. I will not put anything out on the internet that would even be remotely classifiable as OPSEC. I believe that the public has the right to know whats going on from every point of view they can, but do not believe that the details of an attack or specifics of a casualty are necessary.

So, back to this little country. It's about the size of California and by know you are all tired of hearing about it. In fact, some of you may know more about Iraq than you do about your own country.

This is the second time my company has been to Iraq, and hopefully things go as well this time as they did last - zero KIA and only 1 or 2 Purple Heart recipients.

My intent for this blog is to show the true, no bullshit, no agenda story of a year (or so) in Iraq. I consider myself to be a typical person who is going - I have a wife and kids who will miss me. I have a company that needs me and a country that I've chosen to serve that has told me that that is where I need to be to best serve the country.

I serve the country as a patriot and because I believe in the Constitution and the government. If you don't like the USA governmental style, you are welcome to leave and either find something better or make something better - its up to you.

The war in Iraq sucks for us and our troops who go there. We have lost almost 2000 brave men and women in our efforts to free that country. At this point, its not a matter of IF we can stand them up, its a matter of HOW. There is no simple, easy solution to the political matter of Iraq. The bottom line is - if we don't continue to have Soldiers in Iraq until the country is fully capable of dealing with the troubles that are currently plaguing it, we put our own security at risk. The insurgents don't care WHERE we are, they will attack us anywhere. If we aren't THERE to get attacked, they will come here and attack us. It may be callous, but I would rather go there for a year, put my life on the line, get shot at, bombed, etc, and be able to shoot back with 7.62mm, 5.56mm, and cannons knowing that its not my family or my neighbors family that is in the background. If it comes down to them or me, its them. If it comes to accidently (and they are accidents) killing civilians there, or killing them here, I'd much rather it be there that they die. Selfish? Yes. Cold? Yup. True? Without question. Survival of the fittest sometimes rears its ugly head.

So, the bottom line is - I'll go to Iraq, do my job, and come home because I would rather fight the insurgents on their land than mine.

My wife hates it, but deep down I know that she understands.

I intend to blog daily-ish from now until the end, in order to maintain communication with the world and so that those of you who may be going in the future know what to expect.

Thus far, this is what we've done in regards to Iraq:
1. Have received deployment orders.
2. Have shipped equipment and containers.
3. Have trained for the last 18 months on theater specific tasks.
4. Qualified with weapons almost monthly.
5. Been to the CS chamber.
6. Received cultural awareness training.
7. Begun to deal with those Soldiers who are desperate to get out of it - more on this, later.

What's left before we go:
1. More shooting.
2. More family time.
3. Rear Detachment inventories.
4. More classes.

That's it for now. I'm adding a casualty tracker to the end of the blogs to show the quick stats for company - and my company only. I will track injuries and casualties and possibly put a brief description of what happened.

CASUALTIES:
KIA - 0
WIA - 0
EKIA - 0
EWIA - 0

Too busy to be continued...

When we last left our hero (that's me), the day was going to be continued. Well, that fell through due to the fact that even though one day is hectic, the rest aren't any easier. But, it's Friday and the weekend is nearly upon us - although I still have THIS hectic day to get through. Another day, another dollar. And if you were reading this hoping for some profound words of wisdom, Id just stop now, pick up some Plato or Shakespear or the Bible and start from there.

Just me.

Just me, doing my thing.

Another of those...

Ever had one of those days? Who hasn't, right? Well, today was another one of those days in another of those weeks, in one of those months, and it all started with a crazy dream before I woke up.

Long story short, had a dream where I couldn't answer the phone, it kept buzzing and buzzing (on vibrate) and no matter what I pressed - send, end, and OFF - it just kept on buzzing. Then I woke up and found that my phone was indeed buzzing, because it was also my alarm clock. Good thing its persistent. But in the dream, it was frustrating.

So, I hopped out of bed and went to do some nice early morning PT with my unit. Instead of regular, boring PT, we took the platoon and played some Ultimate Football - after ditching the Commander and First Sergeant.

Well, wouldn't you know it, someone had to go and get hurt. It was dark when we started, so we didn't see the 8 inch deep hole until someone sprinted into it, trying to catch the ball. We took him to the hospital, but I'm not sure of the outcome yet. I know they carried him into the NBC chamber, but I don't know if its broke or just sprained.

More to come...

By Fire

Forged By Fire. Who hasn't come through something bad only to be stronger on the otherside? Steel is heat treated for strength. But, many other things come from fire. Fire is a natural energy, the source to which, in the end, all things must go.