This is an email from my cousin Brett who works private security for Blackwater in Iraq. Hello all, I had an interesting conversation yesterday with an Iraqi that does some work for us. He wanted that I pass on his words to you. I wish you all could have heard him for yourself...but I will pass along his message as clearly and as accurately as I can. I am not a good writer so bare with me.
He is a chemical engineer in about his mid 40's but looks much older. He lives a few kilometers south of Baghdad in a predominantly Shia neighborhood. I believe he was educated in London but am not sure and he speaks real good english. He has 2 kids, possibly a 3rd on the way and is happily married.
His home is very near a U.S. FOB or Forward Operating Base occupied obviously by our soldiers. He said that this FOB, as do most, is mortared,rocketed, and receives direct fire on a regular basis. He said he can see this from his rooftop where his family often sleeps when it is hot in the summer. In response to this the military conducts random patrols in the area and random searches of houses nearby searching for mortars, rockets, etc. He said what is truely amazing is how respectful almost all the soldiers are and said that the Iraqi Army would never conduct themselves this way. He has >taught the locals show the military that they have the one allowed AK-47 and not to hide it. He has also told his neighbors that they should hold on to the barrel and hand it to them buttstock first with no magazine in it. Having done these house to house movements before I know what the soldiers face, booby trapped doors, baited ambushes, etc.etc. There are a ton of unknowns and you need to be on top of your game so often being considerate is far down on the list.
He said that over and over our soldiers act professionally and treat these people with total respect. His neighborhood looks forward to the soldiers coming and so do the kids. The children were told at one time that American candy contained wine and pork products...both not excepted in there religion...just another case of us loosing the propaganda battle here.
Another interesting thing he said is that many of the interpretters working for the US military (Iraqis) don't convey the same words as the soldiers are speaking....they often put there own slant on the message. Another obsticle in we face here.
He said that they understand the tough position the U.S is in and he dreads the day we leave. He said that the Iraqis believe that everything we have done here has been with the best intentions but certain things didn't fall into place....this he said is the Iraqi peoples fault not ours. He is all for Bush's new plan of increasing troop levels and is very optimistic of Iraqis future in 2007. He >said he cannot believe we think we are loosing. He said that the hanging of Saddam did alot for the moral of the people...he said is has been a long time since justice prevailed in Iraq. He said it is everyone in his neighborhoods dream to go to the US...when asked why, he said to repay the favor.
He has recently had the opportunity to travel to some of the boardering countries of Iraq. Saudi, UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait and he is appaled at how Saddam raped this country while there neighbors thrive all around them. He wanted to know what he could do for me to repay me for the last 3 years I spent here....tough question to answer.
Again this is one mans view and I think partly the views of his neighborhood. I just thought it would be nice to hear about this side of the war. I find it funny that many who are against this war and anti- Bush will not admit to us doing anything good here...yet most of those who have been here see that we have done well, have given them a chance to fail or succeed on there own but can also admit that not everything has worked according to plan. What stance do you think is more believable?
When he left I asked if I would see him tomorrow...En Shalah....God willing...he said. He explained that you never know if you will be alive tomorrow here but he said if he dies he will continue to thank the US for giving him a chance.
This all sounded much better when he said it...I won't be publishing a book anytime soon.
Anyway he just wanted to say "thanks".
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
