So the last couple days have been nuts. everyday we have been shot at with IEDs going off all around us. its heating up in mosul. Since our Iraqi guys are the ones being attacked we roll out in the kill zone and help fight them off. it really does feel like the movies and all you can do is to stay calm, think, and remember your training. usually its one of our check points or smaller iraqi bases in the city that get hit by complex attacks from IEDs, small arms fire, and snipers. the problem is that they hide and blend in the locals and are hard as hell to find during and after they attack. Our team has kinda been like a QRF (quick reaction force) that goes and hunts the attackers down instead of a back seat advisor. I can say that this war is real now, attacking the will of the people of mosul to fight back. those trying to help are being hunted and murdered. we had a couple dudes getting executed right down the street from our location and we were the first on the seen. we chased a sniper for blocks after he got a couple shots at us. Its real. Our team has proven to be a show-stopper for the insurgents and run when they see us coming. It really is something from the movies. We did get a couple of bad guys and processed them but there are plenty more. Our Iraqi unit did however take a couple KIAs and WIAs and ask that you pray for them for and there families, and hope that their loss will further fuel the anti-terrorist fire.
Its like the war has weeded out all the stupid bad guys and the smart ones are left. But we'll get them.
I wrote earlier about the Kurds and the ways they protect their own. Well that is good and bad. I mean if you had Mafia down your street, sure they take care of their own, but at what price? taking matters into their own hands with disregard for the law. Its a double edged sword and we are caught in the middle. Hard to blame them, considering their past, but it still needs a great deal of work. Its all they have known and been able to trust. Thats just a little of what i can say about that.
yea- its been a crazy a week and I dont doubt its far from over. And thank God they cant shoot bc i prob wouldnt be writing this.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
combat missions and Jonah
so we are finally through all the red tape and able to get out and do our jobs. lately been doing a lot of cordon and searching. basically that means that go to one of the 50 or so neighborhood and lock it down and search house by house. Been finding some interesting stuff from weapons to detainees. We got shot at the other day and it whizzed passed one of the 3 gunner we have in our convoy. So finally we saw some action. yesterday we went to one of the poorest neighborhoods in mosul and little kids swarmed around me and my guys. I was able to give a pink teddy bear to a little girl who was playing in a trash pit. it was one of those "man we are blessed moments". most of the houses don't have power and water and other basic necessities we take for granted. I'm 2 months in iraq and time is flying by.
I got to visit Jonah's tomb. if you don't know the city of mosul is the old Nineveh in the old testament. most popular by the city that Jonah refused to preach to and when he ran away he got swallowed by the whale. there was a huge mosque in his honor here and right next to it was the original walls of the city! the market surrounding those walls made it even feel like I was back in time in the days of Jonah (minus the cars and trucks). It was truly humbling to able to witness that sight, and pass through the gates that the great profit Jonah did when entering the city. however, I can empathize with his fear of standing for whats right in the then and now corrupted city of Nineveh/Mosul. Of course i have body armor, tanks, and guns... thanks God for technology...
I got to visit Jonah's tomb. if you don't know the city of mosul is the old Nineveh in the old testament. most popular by the city that Jonah refused to preach to and when he ran away he got swallowed by the whale. there was a huge mosque in his honor here and right next to it was the original walls of the city! the market surrounding those walls made it even feel like I was back in time in the days of Jonah (minus the cars and trucks). It was truly humbling to able to witness that sight, and pass through the gates that the great profit Jonah did when entering the city. however, I can empathize with his fear of standing for whats right in the then and now corrupted city of Nineveh/Mosul. Of course i have body armor, tanks, and guns... thanks God for technology...
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Kurdistan
So we took a little road trip to a place called Arbil a little east of mosul deep inside Kurdistand. It was like night and day. I respect the Kurdish people bc they have united together and stood up to any terrorist group. they are harsh but effective in the protection of their people. Driving through the city, i would have guessed i was new mexico or something. people were dressed nice, building intact and functional, and even school kids running around in class uniforms. We down graded our body armor and had an amazing lunch at a local restaurant. The kurdish people bask in their rights and freedoms, deciding to live in peace rather then allowing terror to rule them. Now they still have their faults and struggles. With decades of abuse to their people from Saddam's era, they are faced with political struggles against the arab grip on the country. But sometimes I wish the arab nations would follow the kurd example by unifying and fight for whats right.
Mosul is getting hot and some call it the last stand of the insurgency over the next little bit... thanks for your prayers and thoughts for protection, bc a wild animal fights hardest when you got it in a corner.
Mosul is getting hot and some call it the last stand of the insurgency over the next little bit... thanks for your prayers and thoughts for protection, bc a wild animal fights hardest when you got it in a corner.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Herding cats...
I use the term herding cats bc this last week i have had the privilege of meeting our IA unit that we will be training. They are a new battalion which obviously comes with all sorts of varied problems. this is how it breaks down. When we roll in the gate the we are swarmed by Jundi (the common soldier). you kinda feel like a movie star. one day i brought a bunch of blow pops and they all loved them. the only problem is that they think that is the standard and you will always show up with free treats. so that needs to be few and far between. The COP (the small piece of land they live on) is pathetic it is just a series of run down buildings with no doors or windows. and without going into further detail, lets just say it could pass as a refugee camp.
Most of the staff is from the old iraqi army, with various jobs and skills, but as a whole they are over worked and spread thin. another thought is that while im talking to these officers and learning about their background, i cant help to think that these were the guys we were fighting in the initial attack in 2002 and Operation Desert Storm 1990. I wonder how many soldiers or friends were killed by our forces and their real thoughts about us that they wont or cant show us. some and i guess i can say most seem to believe in the new iraq and i believe genuinely want to gain to control of their country. But others and even some in the command group have made it very obvious that they do not like us, that we have no business being there, and I quote form one influential officer "If the insurgency was targeting only american soldiers, I would join them."
WHAT?!?!?! How are you supposed to work with a person like that? We took a serious look at the situation after that and have taken appropriate measures. and just to show you the complication of the situation let me show you a couple results of those comments. he could be in league with the insurgency already and has such distain for americans that he couldn't hold back the comment. Which means we need to literally sleep with one eye open and take certain measures when working with the unit and especially those like him. We have to raise levels of security, but at the same time making them think its just business as usual. He could just be viewing his opinion with no real intent on acting on them, but honestly I think i might trust him more now then before. By sharing his true feeling i kinda respect him more. Its like in poker, if he had real intent to do harm, why would he tip his hand? secrecy and the element of surprise is are terrorists greatest weapon. This could just be an opportunity to act on the cheesy new mission of the army in iraq to "win the hearts and minds of the people". call me naive, but i think that it is. I guess it is the missionary in me to assume the best in people and always believing in the power of change. either way, our mission today is to bring them wood and other supplies to help improve their COP. its a slippery slope by even doing this bc they might always expect it and that could potentially cause even more problems of trust... like I said a slippery slope.
We had a small riot the other day, bc the jundi haven't been paid for months and are forced to eat maggot infested rice. we were at the COP and it felt like there was a civil war was about to breakout right in front of us. but to be honest, living under those conditions as a common soldier, i dont doubt that i would be joining the riot if i was in their shoes. It was then that i had another moment thanking my maker that i have the blessing that i have.
I remember that when i was a kid, my mom used to make playdoe for me for me and my brother and sisters to play with. I remember how frustrating it was to make my masterpieces when the playdoe recipe was off. If it was too runny with water, or too powdery and wouldnt stick, my perfect structures would either melt or crumble. Now I feel that same frustration, and that everyday someone keeps adding water or powder to my iraqi unit im trying to teach, advise, and mentor.
These cats are running wild in a mine field and herding them up is difficult when your holding a shotgun.
Most of the staff is from the old iraqi army, with various jobs and skills, but as a whole they are over worked and spread thin. another thought is that while im talking to these officers and learning about their background, i cant help to think that these were the guys we were fighting in the initial attack in 2002 and Operation Desert Storm 1990. I wonder how many soldiers or friends were killed by our forces and their real thoughts about us that they wont or cant show us. some and i guess i can say most seem to believe in the new iraq and i believe genuinely want to gain to control of their country. But others and even some in the command group have made it very obvious that they do not like us, that we have no business being there, and I quote form one influential officer "If the insurgency was targeting only american soldiers, I would join them."
WHAT?!?!?! How are you supposed to work with a person like that? We took a serious look at the situation after that and have taken appropriate measures. and just to show you the complication of the situation let me show you a couple results of those comments. he could be in league with the insurgency already and has such distain for americans that he couldn't hold back the comment. Which means we need to literally sleep with one eye open and take certain measures when working with the unit and especially those like him. We have to raise levels of security, but at the same time making them think its just business as usual. He could just be viewing his opinion with no real intent on acting on them, but honestly I think i might trust him more now then before. By sharing his true feeling i kinda respect him more. Its like in poker, if he had real intent to do harm, why would he tip his hand? secrecy and the element of surprise is are terrorists greatest weapon. This could just be an opportunity to act on the cheesy new mission of the army in iraq to "win the hearts and minds of the people". call me naive, but i think that it is. I guess it is the missionary in me to assume the best in people and always believing in the power of change. either way, our mission today is to bring them wood and other supplies to help improve their COP. its a slippery slope by even doing this bc they might always expect it and that could potentially cause even more problems of trust... like I said a slippery slope.
We had a small riot the other day, bc the jundi haven't been paid for months and are forced to eat maggot infested rice. we were at the COP and it felt like there was a civil war was about to breakout right in front of us. but to be honest, living under those conditions as a common soldier, i dont doubt that i would be joining the riot if i was in their shoes. It was then that i had another moment thanking my maker that i have the blessing that i have.
I remember that when i was a kid, my mom used to make playdoe for me for me and my brother and sisters to play with. I remember how frustrating it was to make my masterpieces when the playdoe recipe was off. If it was too runny with water, or too powdery and wouldnt stick, my perfect structures would either melt or crumble. Now I feel that same frustration, and that everyday someone keeps adding water or powder to my iraqi unit im trying to teach, advise, and mentor.
These cats are running wild in a mine field and herding them up is difficult when your holding a shotgun.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Mental Picture
I think i have described the iraqi state of mind but i answered an email the other day to a friend wanting to know the my mental picture on the situation. and this is it
"a mental pic huh....
We are, as males and kings of the jungle, to be taught not to show fear. This is magnified in the military a hundred times more. Crying is not an option.... that is for the women and gays.
well honestly i thought i would be a lot more scared then i am rolling out the gate to the combat zone. but years of personal training and your team unity is the life line and you have to trust in your self and keep your senses on high alert. i say a quick prayer before we go on these missions and then its on. I haven't fired on anyone yet and often wonder what it will feel like with my first kill. it kinda feel like a robot and ill just ID the target, point and shoot. i am willing to lay down a life if it protects me our my team, but its hard not to wonder. I have known dudes who have done that then find out it was a car full of a family or some other innocent person. I am not scared to kill but terrified that i am in a position and i shoot too fast and feel a threat that is not there accidentally killing innocent people, or not notice a threat and my team or i am killed that i could have prevented. its a fine line in between.
Its funny that when you see people on the side of the road staring at you, i always think if they are the spotter reporting to the trigger man that controls the IED ahead? Or does he hate me and that is a revengeful look telling me he is a potential threat? maybe he is waiting for us to dismount so he can detonate his suicide vest? When i meet our Iraqi counterparts that we are training, i wonder if one of them is planning our kidnapping or sizing us up to discover our vulnerabilities? If i drive down a street with no children playing, does that mean the pile of dirt ahead has an EFP or IED? It feels like a mobster movie, where everyone is smiling to your face, but stabbing you in your back. Or the like your in downtown Gaddianton Robber town like in the Book of Mormon.
I believe everything the church has taught me (even though i am lacking in areas) and pray that God helps me and inspires me to a knowledge and understanding higher then my retarded self bc lives of His children are a stake. I have been trying to get better with Him, bc i know and felt through personal experience from my mission and other times that it is really all in the Lord's hands. I can only help the iraqis build their army and train them with his help. All the influence, common sense, and military training is nothing if someone doesn't want to change or listen. I believe that God can effect these people and inspire them to let me do my job and teach them how they can become a safe country free of a terrorist threat. The other day a car bomb went off at a check point 2 mins after we left it. That was really my first "oh #$&% people are trying to kill me" experience so far and that this is just the beginning. My mental state is pretty much wrapped up as "in-shala" (Arabic for God willing). Its in his hands, if its going to happen, its going to happen. All i can do is my best. "
Its like Major General Zilmer USMC said "But professional, be polite, but have a plan to kill everybody"
"a mental pic huh....
We are, as males and kings of the jungle, to be taught not to show fear. This is magnified in the military a hundred times more. Crying is not an option.... that is for the women and gays.
well honestly i thought i would be a lot more scared then i am rolling out the gate to the combat zone. but years of personal training and your team unity is the life line and you have to trust in your self and keep your senses on high alert. i say a quick prayer before we go on these missions and then its on. I haven't fired on anyone yet and often wonder what it will feel like with my first kill. it kinda feel like a robot and ill just ID the target, point and shoot. i am willing to lay down a life if it protects me our my team, but its hard not to wonder. I have known dudes who have done that then find out it was a car full of a family or some other innocent person. I am not scared to kill but terrified that i am in a position and i shoot too fast and feel a threat that is not there accidentally killing innocent people, or not notice a threat and my team or i am killed that i could have prevented. its a fine line in between.
Its funny that when you see people on the side of the road staring at you, i always think if they are the spotter reporting to the trigger man that controls the IED ahead? Or does he hate me and that is a revengeful look telling me he is a potential threat? maybe he is waiting for us to dismount so he can detonate his suicide vest? When i meet our Iraqi counterparts that we are training, i wonder if one of them is planning our kidnapping or sizing us up to discover our vulnerabilities? If i drive down a street with no children playing, does that mean the pile of dirt ahead has an EFP or IED? It feels like a mobster movie, where everyone is smiling to your face, but stabbing you in your back. Or the like your in downtown Gaddianton Robber town like in the Book of Mormon.
I believe everything the church has taught me (even though i am lacking in areas) and pray that God helps me and inspires me to a knowledge and understanding higher then my retarded self bc lives of His children are a stake. I have been trying to get better with Him, bc i know and felt through personal experience from my mission and other times that it is really all in the Lord's hands. I can only help the iraqis build their army and train them with his help. All the influence, common sense, and military training is nothing if someone doesn't want to change or listen. I believe that God can effect these people and inspire them to let me do my job and teach them how they can become a safe country free of a terrorist threat. The other day a car bomb went off at a check point 2 mins after we left it. That was really my first "oh #$&% people are trying to kill me" experience so far and that this is just the beginning. My mental state is pretty much wrapped up as "in-shala" (Arabic for God willing). Its in his hands, if its going to happen, its going to happen. All i can do is my best. "
Its like Major General Zilmer USMC said "But professional, be polite, but have a plan to kill everybody"
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