Information Operation
near Ramadi, Iraq
55 miles west of Baghdad
October 27, 2005
with Task Force Saber, 172nd Armor, VT National Guard
55 miles west of Baghdad
October 27, 2005
with Task Force Saber, 172nd Armor, VT National Guard
Soldiers hop out of their Bradley fighting vehicles and fan out.
This is a quiet sector in one of the worst parts of Iraq. That combination means extreme caution.
The soldiers are moving house to house in this neighborhood of well appointed houses. They talk to the locals, ask questions, ask if there are any signs of insurgents.
In this neighborhood there is no great support for the insurgents. But life is tough for the locals. It isn�t far from an American checkpoint on the highway. The large houses with courtyards, set among groves of tall palm trees look nice. This would be prime real estate for insurgents collecting money forcibly. Not all insurgent money comes form abroad, or was squirreled away by Saddam before the war started for an insurgency that would require money. A love of it now comes from ordinary Iraqis, at gunpoint. The insurgents have turned into an armed mafia, with political aims. Think Chicago 1920s, and those are the same rackets. Booze, protection and coercion.
That is all seemingly removed from this quiet neighborhood. A medic treats child after child who comes up needing help. One 10-year-old boy has hurt his wrist, which is swollen. A 4-year-old boy has a burn. This one needs an IV. The list goes on.
The kids know they on to a good thing. They congregate and ask for candy, which the soldiers hand over. The soldiers also hand over a soccer ball, with the idea the assembled kids might start a game. But the kid who gets the ball bolts immediately for home. He knows what�ll happen here if the game gets started - the older, stronger kids always keep what they get their hands on.
Appearances are deceiving. The soldiers man the rooftops looking for snipers. More than a month ago an insurgent shot at them here. They keep a sharp eye out wiht binoculars.
Then the soldier pull back to their Bradleys, tumble in and head home. No great strides. No drama. Just another day in Iraq.
The soldiers are moving house to house in this neighborhood of well appointed houses. They talk to the locals, ask questions, ask if there are any signs of insurgents.
In this neighborhood there is no great support for the insurgents. But life is tough for the locals. It isn�t far from an American checkpoint on the highway. The large houses with courtyards, set among groves of tall palm trees look nice. This would be prime real estate for insurgents collecting money forcibly. Not all insurgent money comes form abroad, or was squirreled away by Saddam before the war started for an insurgency that would require money. A love of it now comes from ordinary Iraqis, at gunpoint. The insurgents have turned into an armed mafia, with political aims. Think Chicago 1920s, and those are the same rackets. Booze, protection and coercion.
That is all seemingly removed from this quiet neighborhood. A medic treats child after child who comes up needing help. One 10-year-old boy has hurt his wrist, which is swollen. A 4-year-old boy has a burn. This one needs an IV. The list goes on.
The kids know they on to a good thing. They congregate and ask for candy, which the soldiers hand over. The soldiers also hand over a soccer ball, with the idea the assembled kids might start a game. But the kid who gets the ball bolts immediately for home. He knows what�ll happen here if the game gets started - the older, stronger kids always keep what they get their hands on.
Appearances are deceiving. The soldiers man the rooftops looking for snipers. More than a month ago an insurgent shot at them here. They keep a sharp eye out wiht binoculars.
Then the soldier pull back to their Bradleys, tumble in and head home. No great strides. No drama. Just another day in Iraq.
posted by Doug at 7:51 AM
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