PostWatch

Iraq's Untold Story: The Soldiers Believe in the Cause

ViaInsta, milblogger Sgt. Trevor Snider at The Will To Resist:

I watched Bush speaking on television last night. It was my first day off since arriving in theater one month ago.

Please, America, listen to the man.

The moment anyone puts a timetable on coalition forces leaving, we’ve lost the war. You can’t put a timetable on the good guys unless you can put one on the bad guys too. That’s ridiculous. You can’t put an exact timetable on training up the new Iraqi military and police forces. It would be irresponsible.

No one wants American troops to keep dying in Iraq and Afghanistan. I know, because I’m one of those troops and I would prefer not to die here. On the other hand, and this is what you won’t hear from most mainstream media, if I do die over here, I’ll do so with few regrets. I wouldn’t be dying for a lie, as so many minstrels of misery and mischief keep spouting.

Americans are dying in Iraq so Americans don’t have to die at home, or so that they can die of self-inflicted things like lung cancer and heart attacks instead of having a building blow up and crush them while they are inside it....

Read it all. Does every single Army soldier or Marine believe this is the good fight? Impossible. Most do, from everything I've been able to read. I'm going to take a wild guess, for example, that support for this war is much higher inside the military than in the final stages of Vietnam.

I think of men like Sgt. Snider whenever somebody spouts the John Murtha line about how much he loves being critiqued by men who didn't serve in the military let's say Dick Cheney... It's a favorite gibe from the left, but strangely absent from the same critics is any sentiment that the military should decide whether to stay and fight or cut and run.

Iraq's Untold Story: What's Boring Here Isn't Boring There

From Iraqi Press Monitor on Nov. 28:

Caring for Women
(Al-Mutamar) Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed al-Chalabi, who is also head of the Iraqi National Congress slate running for parliament, said there is no way to build the new Iraq without putting women in leading roles. He noted that women in Iraq had been marginalised for decades and described them as “patient mothers and active sisters.” He praised their roles in keeping Iraqi families together during the aggressive wars of former president Saddam Hussein. He emphasised that they must participate in the political process with fair representation equal to their social importance.
(Al-Mutamar is issued daily by the Iraqi National Congress.)

Jonathan Finer doesn't perceive much good news to report, but that's because he and his colleagues subscribe to the crashing-airplane school of journalism  and have not reflected  on some essential differences between the political culture of Des Moines and Baghdad. Declarations by national leaders about the political rights of women are just possibly more worthy of coverage in one place than another.

 

Iraq's Untold Story: The Non-Ugly Americans

Via Hugh Hewitt, milblogger Major K:

 ...What I would like to point out is how US Forces are regarded here.  We have been asked to supervise or arbitrate at every level from neighborhood to national repeatedly.  The reason for this is because of the entrenched culture of corruption of the past 35 years.  Whether Sunni, Shia or Kurd, the presence of Americans at neighborhood council meetings, disputes and detention facilities is not only favored, but is often greeted with a sigh of relief.  The Iraqis know they will get fair treatment from us because ethnic group, tribal affiliation and political power do not weigh upon our measurement of justice.   

This brings two things to mind.  Firstly, the average Iraqi will often (not always) trust us more than other Iraqis outside of their family when it comes to fair and humane treatment.  Secondly, for all of the people at home and in the media that think we are such a widely hated and mistrusted "occupying force," I would like to know why they think the Iraqis hate their honest broker.  I have found that only the arhabi [terrorists] do.

 ...What I would like to point out is how US Forces are regarded here.  We have been asked to supervise or arbitrate at every level from neighborhood to national repeatedly.  The reason for this is because of the entrenched culture of corruption of the past 35 years.  Whether Sunni, Shia or Kurd, the presence of Americans at neighborhood council meetings, disputes and detention facilities is not only favored, but is often greeted with a sigh of relief.  The Iraqis know they will get fair treatment from us because ethnic group, tribal affiliation and political power do not weigh upon our measurement of justice.   

This brings two things to mind.  Firstly, the average Iraqi will often (not always) trust us more than other Iraqis outside of their family when it comes to fair and humane treatment.  Secondly, for all of the people at home and in the media that think we are such a widely hated and mistrusted "occupying force," I would like to know why they think the Iraqis hate their honest broker.  I have found that only the arhabi [terrorists] do.

Iraq's Untold Story: The Nation's Entrepreneurs

From Azzaman.com:

The government has issued licenses for the construction by private entrepreneurs of 20 new cement plants, according to the minister of industry and minerals.

The minister, Osama al-Najafi, said the plants, which will cost $4 billion will be built across the country.

“This is an unprecedented step. The factories will be fully in Iraqi hands and built by Iraqi investors,” Najafi said....

Iraq's Untold Story: Fighting For Their Own Country

Tired of the blanket MSM coverage on the growth of indigenous Iraqi military and police strength? Right.

From Defense Link, Operation Steel Curtain Concludes Along Iraq-Syria Border:

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND,

Iraq,

Nov. 22, 2005

–

U.S. and Iraqi forces wrapped up Operation Steel Curtain today near the Iraq-Syria border, military officials here announced.

The 17-day offensive was conducted in the cities of Husaybah, Karabilah and Ubaydi, and was geared toward preventing al Qaeda in Iraq from operating in the Euphrates River Valley and throughout the country's Anbar province, officials noted.

As part of a larger operation called Operation Hunter, Steel Curtain made way for the establishment of a permanent Iraqi army security presence in the Qaim region. It also set the conditions for local citizens to vote in the upcoming Dec. 15 elections, officials said.

Steel Curtain ushered in the first large-scale operational use of the Iraqi army, officials said, employing about 1,000 soldiers in western Anbar province. The Iraqi soldiers conducted detailed clearing missions alongside their coalition counterparts and began establishing permanent bases within these three cities....

And there's more like this every single day, Iraqis Capture Insurgents, Disarm Roadside Bombs:

WASHINGTON,

Nov. 23, 2005

–

Iraqi army troops from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, captured three insurgents Nov. 22 in Baghdad, military officials reported.

Officials said the military-aged suspects were apprehended after they threw a CD containing sniper video footage from their vehicle at a traffic-control point and tried to turn around and get away. Iraqi troops questioned the three men, who admitted attacking coalition forces in Baghdad, Fallujah and Najaf, officials said. The men and materials were taken into custody pending further investigation.

Elsewhere in Iraq, Iraqi troops from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, discovered two roadside bombs Nov. 22 near Iskandariyah.

The first bomb consisted of a 130 mm round with a three-foot detonation cord. The second bomb was found in a pre-existing hole with wires protruding from a 152 mm round and two propane tanks. The bombs were neutralized, and no injuries or damages were reported....

The Post has a special section devoted entirely to the cumulative effect of these growing operations, but it may have slipped out when the paperboy tossed it on your doorstep.

Iraq's Untold Story: The Kids

Just go to the blog of intrepid reporter Michael Yon and take a look at his photo essay of the beautiful Iraqi children. Then ask yourself what on earth John Murtha was thinking.

Iraq's Untold Story: Standing On Its Own Feet

One thing that puzzles me about Rep. John Murtha's ridiculous call for an immediate withdrawal is his insistence that we're not making any progress (There's a long list of Things That Puzzle Me about Murtha, items No. 1 and 2 respectively being the slaughter that would automatically result and the massive strategic defeat it would represent... but I digress). Surely a member of Congress has sources of information outside of the Washington Post and the New York Times--you read those guys or watch MSM TV news and we've already lost many times over.

Lots of other things going on over there. Free your mind, baby. From Ali al-Allaq at Azzaman.com:

Iraqi troops are now in full control of Kut as the Ukrainian garrison there is preparing to leave the country.

It is the first major city where security is wholly in Iraqi hands. Kut, 160 kilometers south of Baghdad, is a strategic city as it borders Iran and several major provinces in the south, including the capital Baghdad.

Ukraine has decided to withdraw its contingent of 1,650 troops from Kut by the end of the year. Several hundred of them have already left.

Senior Iraqi officers along with their units paraded in Kut streets indicating that they are capable of preserving peace despite the imminent departure of Ukrainian troops.

Kut, home to nearly 500,000 people, is the capital of the province of al-Wasit....

Iraq's Untold Story: Secret Heroes

Dana Priest can spend years developing intelligence contacts to reveal classified information about the war against terrorism, but mainstream media is apparently incapable of chronicling multiple acts of bravery and determination by U.S. and Iraqi forces. The following is from Partamian Report via Dawn Patrol at Mudville Gazette:

Most Iraqis (and a lot of coalition forces) don't really trust the Police here. They have a very bad reputation for being corrupt and inept at best. While performing mounted patrols just outside of Baghdad proper, my B section of 2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles was called to check out a possible insurgent ambush. They pulled off of the freeway and turned North to proceed across an overpass. As they crested the hill (they also had 2 Abrams tanks in tow), the lead Bradley Commander reported that and IP checkpoint was under attack by approximately 15 insurgents. Most insurgents are afraid of Bradley's and tanks so they began to try and break contact. Unfortunately, trapped in between the IP and the insurgents, there was a little girl who was cowering behind a jersey barrier. One of the Policemen, noticing that the insurgents were trying maneuver away from the approaching armored vehicles, ran into direct small arms fire to rescue the trapped little girl. He shielded her with his own body and ran back to the relative safety of his police SUV. Be mindful of the fact that most Iraqi Policemen do not have body armor! The armored vehicles, now with a clear shot, proceeded to engage the attacking forces and chase them away.

I am awed by the bravery I see here everyday; not only from the best soldiers from around the world, but from the Iraqis who put their lives on the line every minute of every day. Coalition forces are fortunate to be able to return to our fortified operation bases with some relative safety. The Iraqi Police, Army and National Guardsmen (and women) risk death by merely driving to get fuel. It is to those brave men and women that I salute and ask all of you to do the same....

Iraq's Untold Story: Pick A Story, Any Story

A roundup of progress going back for at least a year from Relief Web. I'll bet any one of these could be the start of a fascinating story should reporters ever realize how remarkable and important they are. Among other things, the following comes under the heading "Establishing the rule of law." What's boring in Happyville USA isn't necessarily commonplace in Baghdad:

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE

- Assisted the Government of Iraq to develop and submit the first filing in the WTO accession process - the Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime.

- Provided technical assistance and information on contracting opportunities for Iraqi businesses and entrepreneurs through business centers.

- Worked with the Ministry of Finance to introduce the new Iraqi dinar.

- Created more than 77,000 public works jobs through the National Employment Program.

- Provided technical assistance and capacity building to three private sector banks to develop their own lending programs.

- Trained over 700 Iraqis in International Accounting Practices.

- Assisted in management of $21 million micro-credit program. Provided over 40,000 hours of microfinance training in 2004-2005.

- Improved statistical analysis, monetary policymaking, and bank supervision procedures at Iraq’s Central Bank; offered a two-week banking course to Central Bank staff with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

- Evaluated and updated commercial laws on private sector and foreign investment.

- Assisted in developing the 5 percent reconstruction levy on imports; built capacity of customs officials to implement levy.

- Developed a government-wide IT strategy to automate planning, budgeting and reporting processes across ministries.

- Developing the Iraqi Investment Promotion Agency with the Government of Iraq.

USAID works with Iraqi institutions to establish an environment for sustainable economic growth. Assistance empowers policy makers to formulate and execute decisions based on economic data, and to implement modern best practices in economic governance. USAID projects provide a framework for private sector trade, commerce, and investment throughout Iraq.

Iraq's Untold Story: The Future in Education

From Azzaman.com, Ministry to Launch Five New Universities by Ali al-Mawasi:

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is planning to build five new universities to accommodate the growing numbers of high school graduates.

Demand for higher education is rising and the places we have are fewer than the number of applicants,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry endeavors to establish one university at least in each of Iraq’s 18 provinces,” the statement added.

The statement said the ministry has appointed in the past two years more than 400 lecturers with Ph.D. degrees and 4,000 qualified teachers with certificates not less than masters degrees....

The story goes on to briefly describe the destruction the country's education system endured during the war, and notes aside from the state system there are now ten private colleges for computer science, business administration, economics and management.