toe to toe with the Godfather

so i have told you about the iraqi army working like the mafia- well this was the first time i ever felt real danger from them, or should i say him... the Godfather.

in order to practice good operational security, i'll leave out some details, but here was the situation.

there i was, talking with the only honest officer in our iraqi unit. he was overly nervous that day like any minute he would find out that he was going to be squashed out by the godfather, or worst, his family. we were mid-conversation about our plan to get him out of the impossible situation he was in, which was, in laymans terms, get dirty, or get dying. the problem was that he was an honest man, he did not partake nor approve of the crimes that went on in the unit. he was 10xs the officer in both brains and courage then the godfather, who bought his way up to his position by shaddy deals and dark promises.

As we were talking about these things a knock came to the door and the godfather came in with a scowl on his face. he asked me what we were talking about and i made up something about training or something. but what i really wanted to say was that he was a crook. a cheater and he should be ashamed of his command, and that he belong in jail, or better off, dead (and i would be willing to act on the latter- if only he gave me a real reason) well he asked me to step in the hall and his personal protective guard (all 3 of them) all stepped closer toward me. My spider sense went off and i gripped my 9mm pistol and my mind went into a Jason bourne type thought of who i would shoot first, exit stratagies, etc... (ok im not bourne, but i was ready to rumble). he looked at me and i had to stare back at him, mostly bc if he wanted to have it out, i was ready. but he wanted me to come to his office and i declined saying that i had to get back to my HQ and that they were expecting me. he kept staring at me like he was trying to read my mind... "you got nothing", i thought, but most importantly i was trying to deflect his supision and anger from my counterpart, the honest officer. I think i successfully negotiation this task by talking about the newest fine looking women i spotted on the American side of the base. a crass move i know, but nothing can distract the guy like talk of the opposite sex. after an episode of light banter, and after the pressure was off my counterpart, i made my exit.

a little background of why this would take place:

our iraqi unit that we are (which is rather large) is filled to the teeth with known corrupt leaders, and for months they have become more prideful, defiant, and reckless with their real intentions. at least before, they would fake the funk to maintain the fasawd of cooperation with coalition forces and the freedom/stability of Iraq. but its gotten more and more dangerous and i'll tell you why...

the American people wanted a withdrawal date of troops in iraq from Washington- well fine and thats just dandy for the american people, BUT THAT DECISION IS PUTTING SOLDIERS AT RISK! I dont blame the pres and by my oath as an officer submit to his orders and decisions. But just trying to inform you of why that is a bad move for the guy on the ground (me and my brother cyle) and tactically unsound.

Just think about it, if i was an insurgent, with my main goal being to create a society of unrest, why would i fight the guys with bigger guns and better trained (not to mention better looking:)) soldiers when i could just wait, scheme, and plan my mouse attack after the cats have left.

but why do they want unrest?!?!? why dont they want the american values of peace, freedom, and the presute of happiness?? its all about vengeance, power, and money. whoever holds the most money, has the most power, and therefore can wage the most vengeance for how they were wronged when they were marginalized.... WTF right!

the sunnis are pissed bc they are out of power and their before abused pet, the shia are now holding the majority in the gov positions, and are taking revenge on the sunni "bastards" that abused them for so long under sadaam's rule. well the sunnis, now powerless want back their precious power and now finding themselves in an unforgiving situation, find that if they can prove to the people that the shia are doing a bad job being in charge, that people will demand them to take back control and establish their party as the power in iraq. and im not even talking about the kurds yet, who hate both of them and just want their own county.

now i need to be fair and say that i am only really talking about a small small percentage of the population of iraq. most iraqis really are peace loving, brotherly loving, Muslims desiring the freedom of that we offer. but the few ruin it for the whole.

The IA Mafia

Just extremely frustrated lately....

I work with the Iraqi Army (IA) Mafia. Literally, these guys are crooks. i met with a higher ranking officer today and he gave me an inside knowledge of the inner working of this army, government, country.
Not to be specific, but money and power are the only thing that drives the hearts and minds of those in power. now I'm not naive to the problems in our own country, but they are NOTHING compared the struggles a common good standing, good hearted man in Iraq faces. Corruption is at ALL echelons.....

and that is all i can go with this, but just know that it is my heart is sad, my mind is tired. I'm banging my head against this bloody wall built by the devil. and without a SERIOUS events in order to change the mind of those in power, my best advice to those Iraqis with the ability to leave this country.... is to leave and hopefully God will see it within His wisdom to do what needs to be done.

Not to say that the fight by US troops is in vain... but somewhere in turning over the country to the Iraqis, the noble fight is lost and hope diminished.

Sorry, just one of those days. Now i can understand the struggles of the ancient prophets of old in the Book of Mormon.

Iraqi and egos

So lately i have been working a lot with my Iraqi counterpart plan a couple non-lethal operations... its easy to load up and go get some bad guys, but to plan up close with the iraqis is simply frustrating. some of their ideals and methods of conducting planning, and even their rank-power structure is enough to drive any American mad.

For instance, the brigade commander is so egocentric that i have seen him sit in his chair, reach for a pen to sign something, find that it is just inches out of his reach, so he presses a button by his chair, moments later a soldier comes in and reports and he says that he needs that pen. The soldier then goes over to the get the pen and hands it to the commander, again, only inches away. The commander will sign it, then presses the button again to replace the pen. AND HE WILL DO THIS 6-7 TIMES A MEETING!!

I, like most of you all, could probably show him EXACTLY what he could do with his pen.

Sorry- just had to vent....