Wow. just got some of your comments and appreciated.
In reality i was thinking how this mission is really not different then my mission. "winning the hearts and minds of the people" except i have a gun and a licence to kill. most likely one of my tasks will be a doing the job called information operations, which is kinda a non-lethal form of warfare. its a challenge, trying to change an already solidly embedded mentality of mistrust and betrayal with this country (if you look at the last 100 year history). I guess the first problem is that they have no sense of "country" the way you or i do. just clicks and tribes. it is a middle eastern melting pot. the population is mostly shia, but sunni are the majority throughout the Arab nations. the sunni was suppressed and abused by the few sunni under Saddam's rule and now want power they feel is owed to them. but the sunni are used to being the higher class and refuse to share. and the kurds to the north were abandoned by the world with no real land or pot to piss in. sprinkle that with the idea that for the last hundreds of years all they have really know is fighting..... and welcome to iraq.
Hopefully that explains some of the background and challenges my team is going to face.
oh and ominae, tell B i have plenty of sunscreen.... its called 60 pound body armor and lucky its blocks UV rays too...
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3 comments:
Wow -- Thanx Clint. You explain this culture and "the problem" really clearly -- but sends shivers up my spine.Black and white is so easy -- this is just nebulous!
Ha Ha on your 'sunscreen' solution.
You were definately on my mind in the Temple today. 0x0x0 m.
Hey you. Love your blog. It gives me something to do while I am supposed to be working. Tell all the guys I said "hi". Talk to you soon.
Kristin
damn bro... do you remember tracting the most dangerous parts in the mission with only the armor of a smile, black name tag, and faith? I recall thinking that I'd NEVER go back to those places in civilian clothes after my mission.
even though conversions then were few and far between, the enemy was all around, though not nearly as lethal. remember the same tools you had then, trust in yourself, faith in the good work you're doing, and always stay alert. the few you'll convert in this new mission will be the ones to take on the message of a just and democratic way of life once you're time there is served.
here on the homefront, we'll make sure you come home to that same lifestyle you are fighting the good fight to teach.
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