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.
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2 comments:
Clint, glad you are appealing to The Voice Within -- and your gut instincts. You will be guided (and protected) as you continue to do so. Your mission to Hong Kong was to save and help lost souls. Seems this is very similar... but your tools a little different. You have the gift of discerning human nature & the Holy Ghost enhances that. As you said, your reading of the Kingmen and Freemen and war chapters in the BofM has given insite too...as do your feelings of gratitude for your blessings. Thanx for not being synical or hard...keep your heart soft...and nerves/instincts alert alert alert!!
Just think how great you will be when you have kids. You will be well experienced and it should come easy to you. Time will only tell how the Iraqis learned from you all and the rest of the soldiers over there. Hopefully they will see your good example and want to be like that. Keep up the good work. Spirits high and six low brother and we will see you soon.
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