[Rhodes22-list] Iraq

[Brad Haslett]

Got this from a co-worker that has a son in Iraq (2nd, 3rd tour - can't
remember)  I took the liberty of removing his name.  The 'can' the author
speaks of is a shipping container, same as our world headquarters on the
coast.

Brad

--------------------------

To all,  I got this from Paul earlier today.  Harry Reid, take note!
Charlie

From: "%&*$ Capt +#@$%
Subject: FW: [U] Update #1 from Al Anbar, Iraq
Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 6:32 AM


This update is from a Major I worked with while in Quantico. He is now
working for Lessons Learned in Iraq.

Subject: [U] Update #1 from Al Anbar, Iraq

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Family and Friends:

I have been in Iraq for nearly three weeks now and am beginning to find a
rhythm to my work days and nights and have seen just enough to have some
sense of awareness concerning the complex nature of the war and our role in
it. Before I begin to cover some of the latter, I would like to dispel some
of the lingering misconceptions that remain in the American consciousness on
the home front. First and foremost, it is instructive to note that as of two
weeks ago there were less than 20 journalists embedded with US forces across
all of Iraq. There are approximately 165,000 US troops in Iraq, so that is 1
reporter for every 8,250 troops, roughly the equivalent of almost two
regiments. If the media has been our window, no matter how opaque or
transparent, into this war, the media is not in a physical position to
report with much authority at this stage, in my opinion. Which leads me to
one of the changes the media has not covered well, what is going on and has
been going on for almost six months in al Anbar Province, where the US
Marines and US Army are working day and night to set the conditions for
transition of security to Iraqi Police and Army.

Within days of my arrival, I Iearned that our base outside the once violent
and impenetrable city of Fallujah had not received incoming fire since April
of this year. In the past several months, the Marines and Army have taken
many casualties while making great strides finding roadside bombs, defusing
them, and training the Iraqis to find them and report this to US forces. The
number of violent incidents in the provincial capital, Ramadi, has declined
95% in the past year and Marines now patrol both Ramadi and Fallujah on foot
without the ever present fear of being shot. Neighborhood watch programs
manned by Iraqis proliferate and it is common for a Marine security patrol
to encounter numerous checkpoints throughout the city of Fallujah, where
Marine platoons man Joint Security Stations alongside Iraqi Police. I spent
a day and a night with one of these platoons two weeks ago, and found the
perimeter guarded by Iraqi Police, the interior manned by Marines and Iraqis
in observation posts, and the outlying neighborhood patrolled at night by
squads of young Marines on foot searching for signs of insurgent
infiltration from outside the city limits. I sat in on a gathering of
Fallujan leaders and Marines to discuss better communication and cooperation
and found that their relations were professional and cordial. The Marines
and the city leaders in Fallujah have brokered a way forward that respects
the local muhktars, or religious leaders, vests much power in the city
council, and allows the Marines to step back from their prior role as the
key power brokers. The Fallujans are smart and they know the Americans have
money and resources or at least can lead them to money and resources for
their badly damaged neighborhoods and inadequate infrastructure, especially
sewer and power. They also know that the insurgents have neither the money
nor the resources to rebuild their city and will not help them gain leverage
with the central government in Baghdad. This bottom up approach is a key
component of our counterinsurgency strategy and tactics, for it empowers
local and municipal leaders who are very wary of the civil servants in
Baghdad. Furthermore, the Iraqi constitution gives significant powers to the
provinces, so a strategy that builds the capability of the provinces is in
keeping with that document. I have just returned from Hit, a city north of
Fallujah, along the Euphrates River, where much the same story is playing
out, Iraqis and Americans joining forces to defeat remnants of the insurgent
cells that are still active, but are finding it increasingly difficult to
locate safe havens free of the 24 hour US and Iraqi security presence on the
highways, in the streets, alleyways, all under the watchful eyes of unmanned
drones circling aloft.

Now a few words about quality of life for me and the other Americans serving
and working here. I live in what is called a "can", a basic trailer type
living space, with a couple beds, lockers, and maybe a camp chair. Most have
AC. Showers and toilets at main bases are like you would find in a basic
locker room, but showers are individual stalls. Third Country Nationals,
Pakistanis mostly, clean the toilets and showers twice daily. Laundry
service usually has a 24 hour turnaround. At more remote bases, or platoon
and company outposts, showers are more primitive and porta johns are the
rule. Food on main bases is plentiful and well cooked, to include fresh
fruit, salad, Gatorade and pastries. Even at the remotest locations, the
logistics folks manage to deliver some semblance of good food, although it
is not as well presented. People here work long hours, mostly because there
is little else to do, and most battalion and company bases have some form or
internet access for official business, at least. The weather is cooling off
now, temps in the high 80's during the day, high 50's at night. No rain yet,
but when it comes the "moondust" will turn to slick muck. Until then, we are
enjoying the fall like weather.

Best regards,


Brooks