A soldier's report from Iraq: Ten Good Things

[Bob's your Information Minister]

This guy is a friend of mine. I thought this was a pretty cool list.

Since it was questioned about whether or not I had perished by roadside bomb in another thread, and combined with the basic negativity about Iraq, I decided to post a few good things that I've expirienced since I've been here.


1. Our platoon was placed in charge of what was considered one of the most dangerous and violent sections of Baghdad, since our platoon put boots onto the ground in late Dec/early January attacks against our guys have dropped alomst 80% according to the British guys we work with.


2. The local Iraqis have come to like alot of us, we've become a familiar sight patrolling through virtually every neighborhood, we also get out of the humvees and frequently talk to everyone from store owners to random people on the street.


3. We hand out soccer balls, ALOT of ****ing soccer balls. The kids love the damned things and we pick some kids that look like they need them (ones who are playing with old ones that barely look like they'll last) alot of the parents seem appreciative of us helping their kids out.


4. We stopped at the equivilant of a coffee shop and the Iraqis there acted like the cast of Cheers, greeting us and offering us hits from the Hookah they had (it had black licorice stuff in it according to the three guys who smoked a bit) pictures were taken.


5. The Public Order Brigades (POB) that are predominantly Shi'ite Muslims were reported to have abused their authority with the local populace (which is comprised of Sunni, Shi'ite, and Christians). We vowed to speak with the POB and did so. We've not had large scale reports of POB acting out of turn in our area in a little while now, they know that our platoon is watching them.


6. We've assisted in helping Mosques protect themselves, supplying them with C-Wire which they use to block off the section of road in front of the Mosques so no VBIEDs are placed in front of the Mosques to damage them or hurt the people that pray there. As far as I know, the Innams (or the ones who run the Mosques in their abscence) have been very appreciative of these acts and our show that we care about their protection.


7. Due to the amount of trust our Platoon has with some of the populace we've been slowly getting intel about insurgents that we've not had before, intel that apparently, will be put to good use soon.


8. We've had massive gatherings where we've spoken to literally two hundred Iraqis at once, not once have these gatherings grown violent or anti-American in fact, it seems that many Iraqis have apparently walked away from them with the idea that SOMEONE gives a **** about what goes on in their neighborhood.


9. We bought bread from a local bakery the other day, to give you an idea of how signifigant this was, local business refused to sell to Americans for fear of insurgent reprisal when we first arrived.


10. Our platoon gives out our Company Commander's cell phone number and told that if they need assistance or wish to give us intel, to call that number. This has improved our standing with the locals and contributed towards the trust factor that we've been trying to build.

[Rascal]

Cool.

Yeah the good news coming from Iraq doesn't make good news so you rarely hear about it from our outstanding media.

[RaiderH8r]

I've heard very similar good news stories from my buddy in Ramadi. I keep telling him he's an evil american a--hole and to start acting like it. The news here says so, Michael Moore says so, Dustin Hoffman says so, Arianna Huffington says so, ALL of those guys can't be full of ****...can they?

[Bronx33]

Excellent news bob my cousin just got back from his 2nd tour and told me similar stories, alot of good is being done it's just not being reported.

[Crushaholic]

Excellent thread, Bob. There ARE good things happening in Iraq, but the media feels good news won't sell. Thinking about it, they are probably right. I just wish they would report it from time to time...

[DBruleU]

Wait, I'm confused...LABS told me that it's all doom and gloom...who do I believe? You know he was in the military at one point...

[bendog]

Originally Posted by Crushaholic

Excellent thread, Bob. There ARE good things happening in Iraq, but the media feels good news won't sell. Thinking about it, they are probably right. I just wish they would report it from time to time...

For over a year all that was reported was how we were rebuilding. Dissent was verbotten. I think the picture we have is fairly accurate. The troops are doing their best, and most iraqi's prolly don't hate americans, but they don't like each other. Their concept about democratic representation is not the same as ours. The troops would rather be home than be nationbuilding around a bunch of exsunniarmytypes and al queda.

[DBruleU]

Originally Posted by bendog

For over a year all that was reported was how we were rebuilding. Dissent was verbotten. I think the picture we have is fairly accurate. The troops are doing their best, and most iraqi's prolly don't hate americans, but they don't like each other. Their concept about democratic representation is not the same as ours. The troops would rather be home than be nationbuilding around a bunch of exsunniarmytypes and al queda.

I'm sure they'd like to be home...I'd like to have them home as well. But that doesnt mean they dont see the need, and good they are doing there. The point is that we dont hear any of this being reported here at home at all. When you tunr on the news at night, any network, you dont hear this kind of stuff.

[Crushaholic]

Originally Posted by bendog

For over a year all that was reported was how we were rebuilding. Dissent was verbotten. I think the picture we have is fairly accurate. The troops are doing their best, and most iraqi's prolly don't hate americans, but they don't like each other. Their concept about democratic representation is not the same as ours. The troops would rather be home than be nationbuilding around a bunch of exsunniarmytypes and al queda.

Of course, they would actually like to be at home. That's human nature. However, I've talked with a few people who have returned from Iraq. It's not quite the quagmire the media would prefer people believe.

[bendog]

Right the media is out to destroy the militayr and georgw bush.

The people I've talked to say its a bunch of bull****. My kid's science teacher's husband has gotten two tickets cause he's driving in the middle of the road, fast. Been back 4 weeks.

[DBruleU]

Originally Posted by bendog

Right the media is out to destroy the militayr and georgw bush.

The people I've talked to say its a bunch of bull****. My kid's science teacher's husband has gotten two tickets cause he's driving in the middle of the road, fast. Been back 4 weeks.

You dont think they are. You think they praise the military and the good they do? I dont think so. They love to paint an ugly picture.

Two tickets where? Driving in baghdad? I'm not sure where you are going with that...

[Bronx33]

Originally Posted by DBruleU

You dont think they are. You think they praise the military and the good they do? I dont think so. They love to paint an ugly picture.

Two tickets where? Driving in baghdad? I'm not sure where you are going with that...

He means his friend was used to driving in the middle to avoid IED bombs and is having a tough time adjusting, kinda funny if you ask me.

[DBruleU]

Originally Posted by Bronx33

He means his friend was used to driving in the middle to avoid IED bombs and is having a tough time adjusting, kinda funny if you ask me.

Oh ok, makes more sense.

[bendog]

The problem with the liberal media conspiracy story is that it fails when one looks back to late winter/early spring 2002 and the failure to report the suspect intelligence on womd. People were in a patriot ferver and didn't want to hear nay sayers. Now, the worm has turned so to speak, and people really don't want pro-stay the course stuff. It's not the media leading people, it's the media reporting to people want they want to hear. It's about selling ads.

[Bronx33]

Originally Posted by bendog

The problem with the liberal media conspiracy story is that it fails when one looks back to late winter/early spring 2002 and the failure to report the suspect intelligence on womd. People were in a patriot ferver and didn't want to hear nay sayers. Now, the worm has turned so to speak, and people really don't want pro-stay the course stuff. It's not the media leading people, it's the media reporting to people want they want to hear. It's about selling ads.

The truth and fricken shame.

[Crushaholic]

Originally Posted by bendog

The problem with the liberal media conspiracy story is that it fails when one looks back to late winter/early spring 2002 and the failure to report the suspect intelligence on womd. People were in a patriot ferver and didn't want to hear nay sayers. Now, the worm has turned so to speak, and people really don't want pro-stay the course stuff. It's not the media leading people, it's the media reporting to people want they want to hear. It's about selling ads.

It IS about selling ads. However, you can't honestly believe that the media doesn't have an influence on public opinion. They could just as easily take a cue from Bush saying that progress is being made and go out and find those type of stories.

[bendog]

Progress is being made when oil production and electricity production and gnp are all less than they were before the invasion? I saw an admin apologist saying we should be impressed that Iraq isn't having a full civil war when they are suffering a 9-11 level attack every week?

Sure, the troops are able to police areas and saddam's goons aren't taking people off the street. The troops have cleaned up schools and mosques. But the political solution to the insurgency is failing. Violence is escalating. Cheney is asked "why didn't you anticipate the insurgency," and he answers "you can't anticipate everything." What's the effect of that on a viewer? To me, it's you god damn idiot how many orphans have you caused?

The media can push one story over another but there is a certain level of rationality. They can't just make something up that isn't true.

[Spider]

Here is the thing , Most democrats know the Militarty is trying to do good , what we struggle with is , not enough good going on to validate this invasion , no amount of good news will validate Bush and his misuse of the oval office to get revenge ......... you guys on the right want to spin this about the troops , and how the media wont report the good , whern civil war is about to break out and we invaded Iraq on a lie ......... So ONCE AGAIN THIS ISNT ABOUT GOOD , THIS IS ABOUT A FúCKING MORON IN OFFICE INVADING A COUNTRY BASED ON A LIE ............ Do you get it yet ?

[Bronx33]

Originally Posted by §Pide®

Here is the thing , Most democrats know the Militarty is trying to do good , what we struggle with is , not enough good going on to validate this invasion , no amount of good news will validate Bush and his misuse of the oval office to get revenge ......... you guys on the right want to spin this about the troops , and how the media wont report the good , whern civil war is about to break out and we invaded Iraq on a lie ......... So ONCE AGAIN THIS ISNT ABOUT GOOD , THIS IS ABOUT A FúCKING MORON IN OFFICE INVADING A COUNTRY BASED ON A LIE ............ Do you get it yet ?

I get and i understand GWB is a baboon but the fact remains that we are there and have commited to helping out the region do you think dropping everything right this minute and pulling out would be wise?

[Spider]

Originally Posted by Bronx33

I get and i understand GWB is a baboon but the fact remains that we are there and have commited to helping out the region do you think dropping everything right this minute and pulling out would be wise?

I dont know , 1 thing I do know is you cant force freedom on those that wont fight for it , commited ? well we did screw everything up , but now is spiraling out of our control , has been realy ........ But then you and me are not there , so it is easy for us to say stay the course keep fighting , when we are not doing the fighting .......... Hell we are not even scraficing, tell me have you seen 1 victory garden ? hell most dont even know what that is ..... Afghanistan I was all behind , that was the right move ....... But it is clear to me that all of those that voted for Bush put our country second , put our way of life second behind the republican party , they didnt vote for the best intrest of America , they voted for the best intrest of thier religion ,or sucking the dícks of big companies ........ Thats why we are in the shít storm we are in now

[GonzoLays]

The media is not liberal for the ten thousandth time. A liberal media would have NEVER supported a war. NEVER! A liberal media would be singing the praises of anti war activists, they would have countless anti-war "experts" giving their views and they sure as hell wouldn't be apologists when the main reason for war, WMD, was never found.

Its not that hard to understand. Liberal Media = Anti-War Propaganda Did that happen? Nope.

So how is the media liberal? Someone explain that to me.

[Rigs11]

Originally Posted by DBruleU

Wait, I'm confused...LABS told me that it's all doom and gloom...who do I believe? You know he was in the military at one point...

All excited because a Chiefs fan told you his "friend" told him all these things? Turn on the news, read the paper. Hell I'm sure you can find the latest report from the pentagon that states that none of the iraqi soldiers can fight without US support.Yeha yeah I know it's the liberal media.No it's not all doom and gloom, but if you're boasting about bread and soccer handouts as some sort of accomplishment you must be dripping with the kool aid.

[ant1999e]

Originally Posted by §Pide®

I dont know , 1 thing I do know is you cant force freedom on those that wont fight for it , commited ? well we did screw everything up , but now is spiraling out of our control , has been realy ........ But then you and me are not there , so it is easy for us to say stay the course keep fighting , when we are not doing the fighting .......... Hell we are not even scraficing, tell me have you seen 1 victory garden ? hell most dont even know what that is ..... Afghanistan I was all behind , that was the right move ....... But it is clear to me that all of those that voted for Bush put our country second , put our way of life second behind the republican party , they didnt vote for the best intrest of America , they voted for the best intrest of thier religion ,or sucking the dícks of big companies ........ Thats why we are in the shít storm we are in now

Change takes time. Democracy is a huge change for these people. They don't even understand what it means. They have been oppressed for soo many years. If in the end they choose not to accept democracy , then at least we gave them a chance. It's easy for you to say pull out and let all the hard work and effort they puy in go to waste because you aren't putting in all that hard work. As far as your judgement on those who voted for bush, what other choice did we have? John Kerry? He didn't have a clue. He didn't have a plan for Iraq let alone any other problem the country was facing.

Look the dems lost 2 elections because they lost touch with Clinton. He was there ticket. They were scrambling to come up with ideas when gore lost because he distanced himself form clinton. Don't blame bush or those who voted for him for him being in office. Blame the democrats.

[ant1999e]

Originally Posted by Rigs11

All excited because a Chiefs fan told you his "friend" told him all these things? Turn on the news, read the paper. Hell I'm sure you can find the latest report from the pentagon that states that none of the iraqi soldiers can fight without US support.Yeha yeah I know it's the liberal media.No it's not all doom and gloom, but if you're boasting about bread and soccer handouts as some sort of accomplishment you must be dripping with the kool aid.

God forbid we have a positive conversation about Iraq. Sorry we hurt your feelings.

[Rigs11]

Originally Posted by ant1999e

Change takes time. Democracy is a huge change for these people. They don't even understand what it means. They have been oppressed for soo many years. If in the end they choose not to accept democracy , then at least we gave them a chance. It's easy for you to say pull out and let all the hard work and effort they puy in go to waste because you aren't putting in all that hard work. As far as your judgement on those who voted for bush, what other choice did we have? John Kerry? He didn't have a clue. He didn't have a plan for Iraq let alone any other problem the country was facing.

Look the dems lost 2 elections because they lost touch with Clinton. He was there ticket. They were scrambling to come up with ideas when gore lost because he distanced himself form clinton. Don't blame bush or those who voted for him for him being in office. Blame the democrats.

Maybe we should have asked them if they wanted democracy before going in.Hell Pakistan is a dictatorship but your buddy Dubya was all grins the other day.