Blog by LTG Cladwell

Reflections by Frontier 6

The Challenge of Retaining Majors in Our Army

A recent article in the Armed Forces Journal by MAJ Myles Caggins, III, discussed possible incentive plans to retain U.S. Army majors. Caggins asserts that qualified enlisted recruits receive up to $40,000; Army captains $35,000; Navy officers $121,000; and a typical Army major – nothing. He offers some creative proposals he believes would help retain more of our field grade officers – you all.

The Global War on Terror has tested our Army’s personnel management systems. The shortage of majors has many causes, not the least of which is junior officer retention rates, the creation of modular brigades, and growth of our Army.

Consider, for example, the “cohort” of Army officers who were commissioned in 1998. They originally numbered 4,155. Those the Army retained have now served 10 years of active duty. Although the Army still requires about 2,200 of these officers, it has only kept about 1,800. Additionally, the ranks of captain through lieutenant colonel are only manned at 80 percent strength.

The Army cannot accept risk in its officer corps, and the consequences of how we act now will have generational impacts. We’re soliciting your help. Please provide feedback on how you think we can retain quality field grade officers. Specifically, what motivates you and your peers to continue to serve? Do you think there should be increased incentives? Should there be changes in assignments, policies or education? What would you recommend?

Would encourage you to read MAJ Caggins’ article and comment on the pros/cons of his argument. We need to get this right and we need your help.

Thank you for helping shape the public debate on this important subject. We will highlight your feedback with leaders at the highest level in our Army as they look for creative solutions to today’s complex personnel management environment. Nothing would send a more powerful message than to have the entire CGSC class sound off and provide input. We look forward to your thoughts and recommendations.

Apr 17 2009, 08:09 AM by LTG Caldwell

THIS IS WHAT I WROTE BACK:

Sir,

Many people misunderstood my research titled “A Pending Major Crisis” as a focus on US Army majors leaving the service before 20 years; very little time was spent looking at majors leaving the service before reaching retirement. The research focused on the issues that will arise if the number of officers that retire immediately after 20 years of total service (including many with prior-service) increases.

The current retirement rate of officers reaching 20-years of service is 20%; a survey conducted for the thesis indicates the rate could soon grow to 60%. This loss rate suggests that by 2014, the US Army may be short 30% lieutenant colonels and 20% majors. The most critical aspect of this potential shortage will be that it is not equally distributed across all the branches. By 2014, indications suggest that many of the US Army officer branches (the branches with the largest current deficiencies) will face shortages greater than 50% of their requirement for lieutenant colonels and majors. As an example, the Transportation Corps is already under 50% (slightly hidden with the merge into the Logistical Corps)

In the thesis I’m only reporting on the extreme obvious. This is not rocket science… this is more like the invention of the paper clip. Anyone can say “I knew that” after the fact. Same as this shortage situation; some at HRC say there is no issue, but I think everyone else can see the situation quite clearly.

I cannot count the times in the Command and General Staff College auditorium that a General Officer stood on stage and lectured us that we can change and improve the Army; in fact, we have a responsibility to do so as the new field grade officers. Yet, after my first draft was sent to HRC, a representative was sent to speak to one of the ILE classes (09-01) to explain there was no issue with the shortage of majors, and that the programs to retain captains would solve all the FG shortage problems… Several senior members of HRC also sent emails to CGSC staff and my MMAS committee contradicting my research (although I noted other professional research in my thesis that has reached the same exact conclusions I did). Afterwards I was asked by one member of my MMAS committee to change my thesis and one faculty member of CGSC asked me not to discuss my findings with the media. Although the greater majority of the faculty of CGSC was, and continues to be incredibly encouraging, I did feel slightly threatened in the last months I spent in ILE.

Since my graduation from ILE, I have continued to received a steady stream of emails from senior lieutenants to GOs – with each and every email linked to the same theme: supportive of my research and frustration with the “Army” for not understanding this crisis. The preponderance of the officers who have written has already decided to leave the service. These officers are not disenfranchised, but they are exhausted, and household six is asking them to drop the paperwork because even when these officers are not deployed, the unpredictable and extended work hours at home station are also having there toll. Why wouldn’t any able officer accept the generous retirement pay at twenty years and find a more stable job when faced to choose between the military and family?


Once the experience and military investment in these officers are gone with retirement… well, they’re gone. Perhaps my research into the extreme obvious will make a difference by bringing this issue (with recommendations) to the forefront before the US Army hits a tipping point of a serious major crisis.

V/R,
Major George Brown

Major's thesis cites impending officer crisis

Major's thesis cites impending officer crisis

By Melissa Bower Staff WriterPublished: Thursday, January 8, 2009 8:51 AM CST

A recent graduate of the Command and General Staff College is concerned the Army's shortage of majors may be sooner and more serious than originally thought."I'm mainly putting this out there," said Maj. George Brown, who graduated in the 2008-02 class. "It's kind of like the Army suggestion program."Brown based his opinions on research for his Master of Military Art and Science thesis, "A Pending Major Crisis: An analysis of the critical shortage of U.S. Army officers in year groups 1991-1997."

"If you don't do something now, the shortages are critical to the point where it may affect mission readiness," he said.For his thesis, Brown conducted a survey of majors in the 2008-02 and 2009-01 Intermediate Level Education classes. The Army already knows it is facing a shortage of intermediate level officers, Brown said.Officers nearing the 20-year mark of service are the targets of Brown's thesis. Although they are leaving at a 20 percent rate now, that rate could grow to 60 percent. By 2014, the Army could be 30 percent short of lieutenant colonels and 20 percent short of majors. Some branches could face shortages greater than 50 percent by 2014, he said.

"The shortage of officers is only going to get worse over the next few years because nothing is being done to encourage officers to stay in past 20 years of service," Brown said.Reasons officers leave after their 20 years are because of the high operational tempo, understaffing in the mid 1990s, and long and multiple deployments to the Global War on Terrorism. Officers who are not deployed must pick up extra duties, Brown said. Another survey of officer spouses, conducted by Angela Crist in 2006 for Central Michigan University, found similar results to Brown's for reasons why officers leave."Nearly half of the branches are so understaffed in the rank of major that these branches would be considered not ready for combat using the U.S. Army Unit Status Reporting system," Brown wrote. "Any significant loss within these branches could be devastating."

Officers typically receive a letter at 18 years of service from the Army Career and Alumni Program with information about retiring at their 20-year mark. Because Brown himself served a few years in the National Guard, he received that letter after 15 years of active-duty service instead of 18 years."I could retire by 2012, not 2015," he said.Brown hasn't made his own decision for retirement; he said that is something he'll have to talk about with his family.

"These officers are not disgruntled, but are tired, frustrated and starting to leave the service," Brown said of those surveyed. "Persuading these officers to stay in longer is imperative, but currently, there is surprisingly little being done."That's why Brown suggests a three-pronged approach to encouraging longtime service members to stay in the Army. First, he said a short-term information campaign could help encourage support. Mentoring and career counseling, he said, would provide a "sense of organizational belonging.""Senior leadership in the U.S. Army should reach out to the officers approaching 18 years of service or sooner and take part in the edification process," he wrote in his thesis. "Addressing the majors at CGSC would be an example of a quality forum where this process should begin."

He suggests formalizing bonus and incentive programs the Army already uses and creating a monetary bonus program similar to the one for enlisted Soldiers. Brown said providing money across the board simply isn't enough; financial incentives need to be targeted toward those who genuinely want to stay in the Army and fill a need.The shortages aren't yet felt in every branch, Brown explained, so one branch might be short by 50 percent, while another branch might only be 10 percent short."Find those in critical MOS branches and offer them bonuses to stay longer," he said.

Brown's thesis received the attention of a Washington Post article in August 2008. According to the article, the Army projects that it will fill the captain shortage by 2011, but will continue to have a shortage by 2013. Brown's survey disagrees."Senior leadership agrees that we have a bigger problem approaching," he said. "They already know they have a problem. They just don't realize how bad it could be."

Now In Germany...

I have arrived in Germany…Kaiserslautern to be exact. I’m honored to be the new operations and intelligence (S-2/3) officer for the 202nd Military Police Group (CID). With an area of operation extending from Greenland to the east coast of Russia and the southern tip of Africa, the unit’s mission is to conduct criminal investigations of serious, sensitive or special interest matters, and criminal intelligence, logistics security, counter-drug, antiterrorism, force protection and protective services operations in support of Army and Department of Defense interests in order to prevent crime and protect Soldiers, civilians, family members, units and materiel.

Retirement System Reforms

ALERT:

There is a request to congress to take away military retirement payments at 20 years of service.

I have written about this (from the Report of the Tenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation dated July 2008) in my thesis: the concept is to bring equality to the Reserve/National Guard and the active Army and also to allow those with 10 years of service to eventually receive part of their retirement pension. In my opinion, it is a method to keep officers in past 20 years of service because the incentive to take the retirement paycheck after just 20 years is gone. Almost no one will get a retirement paycheck until you reach 60 years of age! There is no “grandfather” clause in this request by the SECDEF to Congress.

The full memo is 41 pages long, but here is the part I am talking about.

Retirement System Reforms — recommendation 28:

Congress should set the age for receipt of a military retirement annuity at 62 for service members who serve for at least 10 years, 60 for members who serve for at least 20 years, and 57 for members who serve for at least 30 years. Those who wish to receive their annuity at an earlier age should be eligible to do so, but the annuity should be reduced 5 percent for each year the recipient is under the statutory minimum retirement age (consistent with the Federal Employees Retirement System).

For reserve component members, retired pay would continue to be calculated on the number of creditable retirement years, based on earning at least 50 retirement points per creditable year.

a. Congress should expand current statutory authority to permit all service members to receive up to 5 percent of annual basic pay in matching government contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan; the government’s contribution would vest at 10 years of service, and the Thrift Savings Plan benefit would be portable and thus capable of being rolled over into a civilian 401(k) account.

b. Congress should pass laws providing that the military retirement system allow some portion of its benefits to be vested at 10 years of service.

c. As part of the reformed retirement system, retention would be encouraged by making service members eligible to receive “gate pay” at pivotal years of service. Such pay would come in the form of a bonus equal to a percentage of annual basic pay at the end of the year of service, at the discretion of the services.

d. As part of the reformed retirement system, service members who are vested would receive separation pay based on the number of years served and their pay grade when they complete their service.

This recommendation to Congress on the change to the military retirement system is a bit under the radar now, but could bring down morale and recruitment for big Army if it passes Congress. This is a decision by Congress, not SECDEF.... BUT, the office of the SECDEF did not note "The Department does not support...” as it did in some other sections. By recommending nothing, I think the SECDEF circuitously supports the request, or at least does not fully disagree (political jargon).

It is a bit in-line with my thesis (shortage of field grade officers) but only makes the situation worse: I think this would only encourage more offices to get out sooner; there would be little incentive for the officer with 10 years of service to stay in until 20. In my opinion, this is the military shooting itself in both feet. Whatever happened to the second half of the "Mission First, People Always" slogan?

I doubt Congress would approve this system as is... but if they did, I could see most officers getting out with 10-14 years in. This would make a bad situation critical and bring down our volunteer military within a year. It may not happen, but what if...

Completed Thesis...

It has been an extensive and challenging process, but after nine months, my master’s thesis on the shortage of US Army officers in YGs 91-97 is complete and has been approved.

The research in the thesis reviled that this officer shortage is already having a critical effect on the military and its ability to continue its high operational tempo. Without action, the deficiency condition will most likely get worse.

There are three critical points that influence the overall quantity of military officers: the recruitment of new officers, retaining mid-grade officers, and limiting the number of officers retiring. The US Army is making numerous efforts to increase the number of officers entering the service and limiting the amount of officers that leave early in their career. The thesis takes a look at the officers the US Army loses as they reach the retirement minimum of 20 years of service.

Let me know if you are interested in a copy of the full text (153 pages) or just a summary and I’ll send it your way.

GEORGE

Iraq Update...

In the mainstream media, have you heard the recent good news from Iraq?

In the last 10 months the US Military in Fallujah have done what was unthinkable before the surge began — they have quietly transferred out of one of Anbar province's largest cities; 80 percent of the move is complete. In February there were 8,000 Marines living at Fallujah base; now there are about 3,000 left; and by November 14 there will be none.

The US Military plan to be out of all Iraqi population centers by mid-2009.

Change in Assignment

The one thing you can count on in the Army is everything changes. My assignment has been changed from the Pentagon to Germany. I have been told I will be working in Kaiserslautern (K-Town: the largest military community outside the US). This is fantastic news!

Major Crisis Update

The article on the shortage of majors in the Washington Post has received a lot of attention – unfortunately the issue in the article was slightly off point. The problem is not so much the number of majors leaving the service, but the number of officers leaving once they reach 20-years of service. I have posted a summary of my master’s thesis titled “Major Crisis: An Analysis of the Critical Shortage of US Army Officers in Year Groups 1991-1997” (pp125) to help clarify the situation.

*****************************************************************************

There is a potential crisis in the US Army that has received little attention, but is having a critical effect on the military and its ability to continue its high operational tempo: a shortage of US Army field grade officers that entered the US Army from 1991 to 1997.

The reason for the current shortage is not really important: it is likely a combination of the under-accessions of officers in the early to mid-90s; loss of officers being wounded/killed in war; increasing the need of field grade officers due to modularity; officers leaving before retirement because of too many deployments; increasing the size of the military; etc… there is a shortage- no argument: 5% company grade; 17% majors; and 8.5% lieutenant colonels (AC basic branches). This shortage is not equal among all the branches, and is already critical in some.

Much is being done, with some success, by the US Army Human Resources Command (HRC) to increase the numbers of officers entering the service and retaining junior officers. The issue discussed in my thesis is the indications of a growing shortage of field grade officers. The theory is that the shortage of field grade officers is going to get worse over the next few years because little is being done to encourage officers to stay in past 20-years of service. Contributing to this shortage is the number of officers that will reach 20 years in service sooner than their year group peers. This is because over 35% of these majors have prior-service experience (enlisted service time before becoming an officer is credited towards cumulative years).

The retirement rate of officers reaching 20-years of service last year was 20%; the survey conducted for my thesis indicated this will grow as much as 60%. This loss rate suggests that by 2014 the US Army may be short 30% lieutenant colonels and 20% majors. The most critical aspect of this 30% shortage of lieutenant colonels and 20% majors will be that it is not equally distributed across all the branches. By 2014, indications suggest most of the US Army officer branches will face shortages greater than 50% of their requirement for lieutenant colonels and majors.

In other organizations, for example the State Department, an individual could join as a GS-14 (government position equivalent to a lieutenant colonel) based on education and experience. The US military does not have this type of program for most branches. It takes over 15 years to grow lieutenant colonels, so the loss of each lieutenant colonel is significant.

Something should be done to address the issue of such a large number of officers in year groups 91-97 from retiring at the 20 year mark of service. At 18 years of service, most officers start the decision process for retirement. This decision and planning process is done with their family who, with the officer, has become worn down from the high operational tempo of the US Army. At 18 years of service, the Army Career Alumni Program (ACAP) sends a letter to each officer letting them know about services to help them retire from the US Army and find a job in the civilian community. At 18 years of service flight pay goes down for US Army aviators. At 18 years of service Variable Special Pay goes down for dental and medical officers. At 20 years of service, members of the military may retire and receive 50% of their base pay for the rest of their life and maintain many benefits from active duty. Although there are many incentives for the US Army officer to leave the service at 20 years, there is virtually nothing officially being done to encourage officers to stay in past 20 years of service.

The Human Resources Command has many good informal incentive programs that might be better utilized if publicized and controlled by one centralized section. Allowing officers to more easily exchange assignments, across branches, would be an example; transferring to another branch (from full strength branch to one that is undermanned) is another option. These options would be at no cost to the US Army but, require additional staff at HRC dedicated to run this program.

Many of the officers in this research agreed that a monetary incentive of varying types would convince them to stay in the US Army longer. A one-year base pay cash bonus for three years of service was the most accepted option requested from the survey; matching TSP funds up to 10% was number two. A monetary bonus, in the correct amount, and targeted to the branches that are critically short, is undoubtedly an effective method for the retention of the officers to stay past 20-years of service. This is true, not only because the value of non-monetary benefits is not easily recognized by personnel, but also because a system that favors monetary benefits would enhance the freedom of each officer to decide how best to use his/her benefits, thus increasing the value of those benefits.

The one-year base pay bonus for three years of service over 20 years could provide a monetary incentive to officers in branches that are critically short and is already common practice with enlisted US Army Soldiers. An average of 1,400 officers reach 20 years of service each year. At 20 years of service, most officers would be at the rank of lieutenant colonel with a base pay of $88,473.60 a year. This would equal a yearly program maximum cost of just under 124 million dollars, even if every officer was given this bonus after reaching 20 years of service. The cost of the captain menu of incentives program is over three times this amount and one-year base pay is a common bonus to enlisted Soldiers in critical jobs. This program could be used to target specific branches with the greatest shortages, but would require a change in federal law to facilitate this option.

Another way to think about cost of this bonus program is the US Army is short approximately 15% of its authorized strength of majors and 8.5% lieutenant colonials. That means that part of the budget set aside to pay these officers salaries is not being used. In theory (and practice), 85 majors are working harder to do the job of 100 majors, and not getting any extra pay. That 15% of the salary from majors could fund bonuses, or other incentives, for those who are working harder than ever. (Philman 2008) The US Army is short 2,228 majors for a savings to the US Government of over $210 million. This might be an oversimplification, but premise is sound.

The spouses of these officers are also weighing in on the decision to get out; overlooked in the compensation calculations is a complete family focus. There is a popular t-shirt slogan that sells well on post, it reads: “Military Spouse: The Toughest Job in the Military”. The military members pay also must compensate for the loss of income from their spouses. These officers marry smart, competent, career-capable partners, but frequent military moves while effectively single-parenting during deployments; it's next to impossible to also have a viable career. It may not be about the money, but these spouses are comparing their family lives to their brothers, sisters, friends from college, etc. Comparisons are inevitable and many spouses are counting the days until 20-years of service have been met to start their career. If the compensation doesn't keep pace at a family level, in addition to stresses of military service, the spouse is most likely to cast their vote to get out.

The survey I did for this thesis was approved by US Army Command Arms Center and supervised to ensure quality. Out of the 780 majors that were sent a survey, 412 responded giving the survey a confidence level of over 95% (Taylor-Powell 1998) and a confidence interval of +/- 5% for a population size of 15,000. This response allows for an accurate assessment of all the majors in the US Army today. Similar survey results were published in June 2006 by a spouse of a CGSC student for Central Michigan University. (Crist 2006)

The thesis explores the potential critical shortage of officers in year groups 91-97 as they start to reach 20-years of service. These officers are the future lieutenant colonels: the battalion commanders and senior staff members of the US Army. This shortage of lieutenant colonels could move this significant shortage from a hardship to an incapacitating element in the US Army's ability to accomplish missions the nation requires.

It is obvious to me that the situation is troublesome and the indications are that the shortage will get substantially worse. More senior-level discussions on this topic are required. There is an opportunity for action, but less options and assets are available the longer no action is taken.

Something must be done to address the issue of the officers in year groups 91-97 from retiring en masse. There are three categories of effort where improvements can be made in the short, near and long term: conduct an information campaign (short term); formalizing incentive programs already in use (near term); and creating monetary bonus similar to those already in use for enlisted Soldiers (long term). Other drastic options are available to address the shortages, but the second order of effects may be too harmful to the US Army.

My thesis discusses many other aspects and options to this major issue, but the open public dialogue is the first step. My thesis is still a draft, so comments (both positive and negative) are welcomed to help improve on the product

GEORGE

US Army shortage of officers...

The story that is loosely based on my masters thesis has been published by the Washington Post. It missed the mark, but not by much.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/25/AR2008072502976.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Next Assignment

I have been given my next assignment. I will be at the Pentagon no later than the middle of January, 2009 working on the Quadrennial Defense Review. The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) charts the way ahead for the military over the next 20 years as it confronts current and future challenges and continues its transformation for the 21st century.

Here is the official statement on the QDR: The Secretary of Defense conduct a comprehensive examination (to be known as a “quadrennial defense review”) of the national defense strategy, force structure, force modernization plans, infrastructure, budget plan, and other elements of the defense program and policies of the United States with a view toward determining and expressing the defense strategy of the United States and establishing a defense program for the next 20 years. Each such quadrennial defense review shall be conducted in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Iraq can participate in the Beijing games...

After I saw first hand how the Iraqi soccer team was able to help bring together this new democratic nation last, I thought it was distressing when I learned that Iraq could not participate in the Olympic being held in CHINA… is this not ironic?

UPDATE: The International Olympic Committee ruled today that Iraq could participate in the Beijing games, reversing itself after Baghdad pledged to ensure the independence of its national Olympics panel. A compromise was worked out after mediators from Germany and China became involved in talks, and Iraq pledged to hold free elections for its national Olympic committee under international observation. The IOC had insisted the old committee be reinstated even though four members were kidnapped two years ago. Their fates remain unknown.

Iraq is expected to send two athletes to Beijing to compete in track and field events. The decision came too late for five other hopefuls in archery, judo, rowing and weightlifting. The deadline to submit names for those sports expired last week.

Success in Iraq

The truth is out there… but not from the liberal media. The blogs have it:

Iraq's efforts on 15 of 18 benchmarks are "satisfactory" — almost twice of what it determined to be the case a year ago. The May 2008 report card, obtained by the Associated Press, determines that only two of the benchmarks — enacting and implementing laws to disarm militias and distribute oil revenues — are unsatisfactory.

Of course, the Associated Press had to put their nasty spin on this wonderful news today... because, 5 years is just way to long to build a functioning democracy in the Middle East:

“No matter who is elected president in November, his foreign policy team will have to deal with one of the most frustrating realities in Iraq: the slow pace with which the government in Baghdad operates.”

It's no wonder Americans do not understand we are winning in Iraq. Even the good news is so slanted you don't know what the heck you are reading.

More good news...
Iraqi officials will take over security responsibility of two more provinces.Already, the Iraqi democracy is in charge of 9 of its 18 provinces.The Democratic government of Iraq will take over responsibility of al-Anbar, a province once reported as lost, and Qadisiya (Diwaniya) Province in the coming days. Severe sandstorms prevented the transfer earlier this week.

Democrats also say more solid progress could have been made had the administration starting pulling troops out sooner.

Of course!

The surrender monkeys have convinced themselves that declaring defeat and handing Iraq over to Al-Qaeda and Iran would have brought this same kind of success :)

MAJOR CRISIS

There is a Major Crisis in the US Army that receiving very little attention, but is having a critical affect on the military and its ability to continue the high operational tempo: there is a 17% shortage of US Army active duty majors. Half of the specialty branches are so undersized majors that the branches would be considered not ready for combat using the US Army Unit Status Reporting system. For example, the transportation branch is short 50% of requirements for majors with 92% of these officers planning on leaving after they reach 21 years of service, or less.

This predicament dates back to the massive military drawdown in the early to mid-1990s; the US Army decreased its number of officers by 31% and under-accessed newly commissioned second lieutenants following the Cold War and as Operation Desert Storm came to an end. Now twelve years later, increased operations after 9/11 has placed extraordinary strains on those officers, now majors, who came in from 1991-1997. Since 1998, the percentage of majors leaving the service has increased 73%. This exodus is expected to continue its growth as more officers are leaving after 20 years because of the strain multiple deployments are having on their families.

The US Army recently attempted to address the officer deficiency by increasing accessing second lieutenants accessions, early officer promotions, increasing the officer promotion rates (nearly 100% from first lieutenant to captain, and then nearly 100% to major despite Department of the Army guidance of 90% and 80% respectively per DA PAM 600-3), graduate programs, duty station of choice, and retention bonuses up to $35,000 for captains. There are also interservice transfer agreements with the Navy and Air Force under what is known as the “Blue to Green” Program. These programs failed to decrease the growing trend of junior officers departing as soon as they reach their minimum requirement and the field grade officers (field grade officers are defined as officers serving in the rank of major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel) leaving as soon as they reach 20 years of service.

Another statistic of interest is the over 35% of officers that have served more than a year of time as an enlisted Soldier. This number is important because it indicates the percent of officer that will reach 20 years of service sooner than their year group peers.

If the number of officers getting out continues to increase, as indicated in a recent survey, there will be an increase in the total shortage of lieutenant colonels from 8.5% in 2008 to 40% or even 50% by 2012. This deficiency will be even greater in some specialty branches that are already operating at a requirement of fewer than 70% of the authorized required lieutenant colonels.

Not only do lieutenant colonels command battalions, but they are also the direct, senior mentors to the junior officers. From Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-3 2007: “Officers in the grade of lieutenant colonel serve as senior leaders and managers throughout the Army providing wisdom, experience, vision, and mentorship mastered over many years in uniform.” Without quality mentors, the entire professionalism of the US Army officer corps suffers. This tipping point perhaps could be the most destructive aspect of the officer shortage.

The current average number of officers that are leaving the service each year at 20 years of service is 20%. This number is predicted to increase to an average of about 60%. This percentage is even higher in most of the specialty branches that presently have the fewest number of majors required.

Less than 8% of those majors planning to leave the service at 20 years or less noted that nothing would keep them from getting out later; therefore, 92% of the officers could be convinced to stay past their planned retirement at 20 years, with the proper incentive. There is a window of opportunity.

As the nation continues to fight an unpopular war, both nationally and internationally, and over such an extended period, there will be manning issues. Consequently, the overall security of our nation depends on the senior military and civilian leadership to recognize these issues before they become critical and reach a tipping point beyond what can be quickly fixed. It is most likely that the US Army has already reached this point in several of the specialty branches.
More discussion is needed, but it is apparent that the situation is bad and getting worse. The longer the military takes to seize the opportunity to take action, the less options and assets the US Army will have.

GEORGE

Time to Reflect…

It has been four months now since my return from Iraq. As I look back on the last few months, my time in Iraq seems so many years ago… almost a different lifetime. I get the same feeling now as I got when I had returned from Desert Storm… remembering is like recalling an old movie; an actor I saw, not really something I did. I guess the mind has its own way with dealing with memories.

15 months away from family and the comfort of the environment I grew up in was very difficult. 15 months of working seven days a week and 16-18 hour days, no holidays, was demanding. Living 15 months in a combat zone was not enjoyable. But was it worth it? It saddens me to say that only time will tell. There is the possibility that our efforts in the Middle-East may be the single greatest endeavor our country has been involved with since WWII and the Marshall plan… but our next president will have to close the deal. There is also the possibility that Iraq and the Middle-East will revert back to the way it was ten years ago, all our efforts, blood and treasure wasted.

But are we winning? I say yes, for two reasons: (1) Iraq is no longer in the headline news. Good news does not happen in spectacular fashion (ie large explosion with hundreds dead), it is often the lack of news that is good (ie no explosion, zero dead). This does not play well in the media. And, (2) not only has their not been a terrorist attack in America since 9/11, but the world is at relative peace. I freely admit that people are still not playing nice in the world - but it is much better than our fathers or grand-fathers can remember. Even I grew up with the fear of the USSR and US on edge with the capability to blow the entire world up several times over.

Over the past four hundred years, the world has only gotten better at killing. General estimates place lives deliberately extinguished in the 1800s by politically motivated carnage at around 45 Million compared to 170 million in the 1900s. Heck, since 3600 B.C. the world has known only 292 years of peace. During this 5,600 year period there have been almost 15 thousands wars, in which over 3.6 billion people have been killed. To put this in perspective, the current population of the world today is around 6.6 billion.

The good news is that the world is becoming a better place to live, but we have a very long ways to go.

I'm now in Ft Leavenworth, KS in the Command and General Staff College until December of this year. It is very much like a school environment, and in fact I am also working on another Masters degree while I am here. I have picked back up my hobbies of making beer, getting out in the yard, exploring the area, and just gathering with friends. There is plenty of time to relax, reflex and recharge.

I want to thank you for all the support you've given me during the deployment - I hope to expand my travels this summer and fall and even make some speaking engagements… please let me know if you'd like for me to try and stop by.

Take care!
George

15 DEC 07: I have been in Baghdad for 432 days – IT IS MY FINAL DAY.

I started my last day at just a little after 3am this morning to watch on the Armed Forces Network (AFN) Appalachian State WIN the Football National Championship (49 to 21 vs. Delaware) for an unprecedented third year in a row :)

I’ll start my long awaited trip home late tonight; I anticipate it will take me about four days to make it to Ft Hood, Texas and then another three days there for “re-integration” training. My next assignment will be the Command and General Staff College in Ft Leavenworth, Kansas starting the end of January.

It has been one hell of an experience being part of this difficult birth of a democracy in the center of the Middle East; but I guess there can be no real satisfaction in life without obstacles to conquer. History is made by those that can have a vision of the future and actively supporting positive transformation… even when it is neither easy nor trendy.

Thank you for your support of me – many times I was not too sure I could see the light at the end of this incredibly lengthy tunnel, but a friend or family member was always there to center my direction.

I’ve also had the pleasure on this tour to meet some extraordinary Heroes that would truly humble me and remind me of my phenomenal honor it is to serve.

I have countless stories … and I look forward to share them with you and catch up on what I have missed in the near future.

GEORGE

Geraldo Rivera has had a great line of reports from Iraq recently – I’ve always seen him as a bit too much into “sensational” journalism… but he is be the only national reporter brave enough to get out in the streets and tell the great story of the successes in Iraq. Just six months ago, there was not one national media reporter or one democrat that gave us an ounce of hope. There is more to being proud of our Soldiers than just simple “we support the troops”; the pride should be in the substantial achievements within all the sacrifices.

GEORGE

Life experiences

Cousin Betsy and Boy Scout Troop 969 (VA) sent me a couple more boxes of school supplies and Beanie Babies for Iraqi children. I was able to get the boxes to a different orphanage this time; one that was made infamous by Lara Logan of CBS/60 minutes. Conditions have improved there – but some of the children are still really bad off (two have died).

The school supplies were given off camera, but I should have the still photos posted on my web site in the next day or so.

>>> 419 days here... 12 days to go and I start my trip home; in fact, I am homeless right now, but after 17 years in the military, I guess home is just where the family is.

This has been one hell of a life experience. I’m very proud of my minor contributions over the past 14 months (my third war, including Desert Storm and Bosnia) to the continuing effort to bring about lasting world peace and security; and the major successes no one can dispute – but my tour has been a too extended and I need some rest. I am a bit burnt out...

I expect to leave Iraq and travel to Kuwait for a day or two. If all goes well, I will be in Ft Hood, Texas on the 18th of December. I will have to take a few days of Army “reintegration” training and then jump on an airplane to Germany to be there on Christmas Eve.

I will return to Ft Hood on the 6th of January to “out-process”; and then travel to North Carolina to be there around the 13th. After some family time, I’ll drive back west to Ft Leavenworth, KS and be there by the 27th of January to start the Army’s Command and General Staff College. That assignment will be for one year.

For now, all I can do is try to remember what it was like not to be a target of daily indirect fire, not to work 16-18 hours everyday, seven days a week… not living in such a tiny room, not sharing a shower with about 50 different guys (no dependable hot water), and not having to walk a mile to and from each meal when I found the time to eat… I think the first thing I will do is go out to a restaurant with table service, start and finish with a beer : ) then walk to my hotel room, take a 30 min hot shower and then and sleep for nine hours.

GEORGE

Page A-14

I think America is the only country in world history that reverse-propagandizes itself, magnifying its setbacks and ignoring its successes. The media of today would of had us out of WWII months after D-Day after the set-backs progressing past the beachhead in the hedges. What would our world be like today...

When U.S. troop deaths hit a monthly high in April this year, it was front page news in most major newspapers. But when U.S. Soldier deaths fell in October to their lowest levels in 17 months, that news was buried on page A-14 of the Washington Post and on A-12 in the New York Times.

AND: Al-Qaeda's support in the Muslim world has plummeted, partly because of the terror group's lack of success in Iraq, more because al-Qaeda's attacks have mostly killed Muslim civilians. They have been run out of Baghdad, partly by there own sect (Sunni).

Since the last soldiers of the 'surge' deployed last May, Baghdad has undergone a remarkable transformation: No longer do the streets empty at dusk. Liquor stores and cinemas have reopened for business. Some shops stay open until late into the evening. Children play in parks, young women stay out after dark, restaurants are filled with families and old men sit at sidewalk cafes playing backgammon and smoking shisha pipes.

We've won the war in the real Iraq, but few people in America are familiar with anything other than its make-believe version from our own media.

Veterans’ Day #2

I am now here for my second Veterans’ Day in a row; ironic how the government gets this whole weekend off…

395 days done and I should be back in the states a day or so before Christmas. It is the final countdown- and what little time I’ve had each week to write in this blog is going away (not to mention the Army has blocked my ability to get to this blog web site). I hope to get in one or two more entries; and then after being back for a few weeks – one last update. I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts... to agree or disagree; I have truly enjoyed the feedback and support.

I will miss this interesting and demanding job... I live near the Baghdad international airport on the edge of the city and I work almost daily with the Iraqis (from the man on the street to senior level politicians and businessmen). This is still a dangerous place, but the people here are doing better and so appreciate the basics. It is so upsetting watching our (US) media cover Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, Britney Spears etc and all their troubles, when there are some good people here happy to just have water and a secure trip to the market. I have seen true heroes (both American and Iraqi) risk their lives for the future welfare of a nation and the stability of this part of the world (and in turn, our safety). Then I see our media cover the Oscars and Emmis like these actors are who we want to be... I tell you, the coverage should be on real life (and by this, I do not mean “reality” TV) - because it is much more to be proud of (and interesting).

Our Soldiers live here in Iraq on average for 12-15 months at a time working long hours seven days a week; most on their second or third tour. Away from family; comforts of home; normality; and safety... but most are very proud of what they do and would never ask to be recognized for their daily accomplishments - but as the situation here becomes more stable; and celebrities continue to drive drunk/take drugs/get divorced/ect - this life our American Soldier live will too become ancient history in our short term memory, like all the rest: We have forgotten the Soldiers in Bosnia, Korea, Africa, Central America, etc. All away from home and family - protecting the world from bad people. Quiet professional Soldiers… Happy Veterans’ Day

GEORGE

* "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil, is that good men/women do nothing."

World Youth...

Today and yesterday I passed along some happiness from America to Iraq.

Yesterday I was able to visit a Hospital in Baghdad in an area called Adhamiyah, and found some children there (some from the orphanage next door) and today I visited an elementary school in a village called Makasib. All I saw was the biggest smiles (children/parents/teachers) as I passed out hundreds of new Beanie Babies and school supplies from Boy Scout Troop 969 (help organized by my cousin Betsy) from Virginia.

I also got a couple of dozen letters from the Scouts – very moving thoughts from such young men… it makes me so proud to know of the thoughtfulness, concern, and compassion in our American youth.

There is much hope in the youth of our world… They have no understanding why some people hate others so much – and perhaps they never will.

GEORGE

The Zoo...

I like Zoos… Everywhere I have visited, I have made the point to visit their zoo.

Today I went to the Baghdad Zoo – not a standard trip to the zoo with full battle gear on and weapons loaded, but this is not a typical city.

The first thing I noticed is how normal life seemed - it was a nice cool morning and love was in the air. I saw so many couples having picnics, using the paddle boats, and even holding hands… Families seemed very happy and all the children smiled and waved at the group of Soldiers (we might have been just as interesting as the animals).

The Baghdad zoo was built in 1971 and was the largest zoo in the Middle East hosting 1.5 million visitors a year and 600 animals. During the 2003 invasion, the Iraqi Republican Guard troops used the zoo as a defensive position – following the invasion, only 35 animals remained.

The zoo and surrounding park reopened to the public on July 20, 2003 and was the home to 86 animals. Conservation organizations such as the Born Free Foundation, Wild Aid, Care for the Wild, the International Fund for Animal Warfare, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, and the World Society for the Protection of Animals to restore the zoo and improve the health of the animals.

Currently, there are over 500 animals at the zoo representing 100 species; many from private zoos owned by the Hussein family.

I spent some time getting to know some monkeys; made it to feeding time for the lions (nine lions vs. three donkeys each day); and hung out with Mr Hussein’s private horse.

It was a nice and almost normal day.

GEORGE

Nothing to Report

Not much new to report – by nothing new I mean that:

Criminals/fanatics still randomly fire rockets into American camps and set off road side bombs. But the numbers of attacks/injuries/deaths maintain a downward trend.

The Iraqi politicians are still out for themselves first, their sect second, and the Iraqi people they represent last.

Daily life for the Iraqis has become more safe and routine; and they are getting used to the freedoms of speech/communications (satellite TV/internet/independent local newspapers/cell phones/etc).

Essential services continue to improve. The biggest complaint has always been electricity, but local micro power generation as augmented the national grid and power is now available almost all day in the majority of Baghdad.

Local businesses are popping up everywhere like mushrooms.

Traffic Jams are common.

Industry has started; a few already at western standards.

The only major change I can report is that the high temperatures have finally dipped below triple digits… this is a noticeable and welcomed change.

GEORGE

Stability and Security

Stability and security depends on the knowledge that if you do wrong, that you will be caught, and there will be a negative impact on you directly. This works (or doesn’t work) on the local level just as it works (or doesn’t work) on the global scale. When a rouge nation abuses its power; ignores its responsibility to the citizens; and harms its neighbors there must be known, dependable, and swift consequences.

Like it or not, America has a responsibility (and desire) to support stability in the world- yet after Vietnam and Beirut, the world saw that our government was not up to this dependability and was not able to stay the course during the evils of war.

Desert Storm also added to our mistakes by (1) not completing the mission (removing the dictator/supporting the revolution) and (2) making massive reductions in the US military during a critical time in history (the collapse of the USSR).

America then stood by, and did virtually nothing after the bombing of the Khobar Towers; USS Cole; two Embassies; Twin Towers (the first time) and ran from Somalia after one disastrous mission.

Our failure and lack of action has had massive international repercussions.

The US shoulders the lead with treasure, blood, and the ethical burden of the lethal challenge of killing those who want to slaughter us. Most of our allies limit their support for fear of reprisals. Sacrifices are required… If the world would have stood with us on Iraq to start with, this war would have never been necessary.

Even the US Government has not stood together 100%, but the mission and Soldiers have been maintained and we now have the positive results we have fought so hard for.

GEORGE

Thank You

I have said it before – and now it is visible to most… Iraq has hit the tipping point and is now moving quicker and faster toward a more secure and stable country. This is an exciting time for Iraq and success in our mission, even when many said we were failing. Granted, most of the cries for surrender came from politicians, only interested in getting votes - not in doing the right thing; or by our media, hell bent on giving doom and gloom stories because it sells better.

In Baghdad, people are going about their business, the shops are open, and they’re filling the streets. You are greeted by children who laugh and adults that smile and gave the thumbs up. There is a sense of normalcy - people getting on with their lives.

But it is not over…

While security has improved with Iraqis turning away from al-Qaida, there are still neighborhoods where fighting remains intense. It's still very dangerous and al-Qaida has sort of dug in some of the neighborhoods; the Iraqi Army, National Police, Iraqi police and U.S. and coalition forces are still engaged in some very heavy, tough fighting.

To those who have supported us; believed in us; and never wavered after we were attacked by al-Qaida in 9/11… Thank You.

GEORGE

War...

There will always be war…

As far back as history can tell us, mankind has killed each other- and continued to get better at it. On this beautiful planet, we have cycles of stability; then in a region of the world, one person lets power corrupt; this person wants more and more… and is so distant from reality, has no problem doing anything to get it; most of the population suffers, and often it spreads to neighboring counties; then, the citizens from that country rise up, or another country attempts to help; then we have a war being fought; just more misery of the people because of one person’s desire for power…

Afterwards we promise never to fight again – because we have learned how awful war is…

the problem is- people forget

the unimaginable human suffering

the direct experience of death

the permanent loss of family and friends

the unimaginable sum of man-made devastation

the destruction of the irreplaceable

the quantity of carnage

the magnitude of maiming

the colossal amount of terror

the lack of basic security

the economic ruin

the feeling of hopelessness; despair; emptiness…

Reading about war; seeing movies about it; hearing the stories in all it’s glory is not the same as living it… it is not the same at all.

War IS hell – all that can be done to avoid it should be done, but the key is to not wait too long (because waiting will make this very bad siruation even worse)… it is evil, but a necessary evil that we will never outgrow… sad.

GEORGE

Middle East Miracle

I have read over and over again recently about how we have made numerous military gains here in Iraq, but slight advancement on the political side. What is missed in all of this is the massive amount of Iraqi political pressure that is being placed on the militias and Iran to stop the hostilities.

I have been in meetings, every few days, with exceptionally senior ranking officials in the Iraqi government- and each and every one of them are finding ways to support security for this nation.

Even the tribal leaders – who once fully supported fighting Americans – have turned 180 degrees and are now working side by side with our Soldiers. Thousands upon thousands of volunteers, in what were the most violent neighborhoods, are securing critical sites.

The politicians here may be having trouble passing meaningful legislation, not much different than our own government, but they are running the country and making it a better place to live.
You can be for or against this mission in Iraq – but no one can avoid the obvious progress that is being made here – and a stable democratic Iraq, in the Middle East is nothing short of a miracle…

GEORGE

9/11

Do you remember how you felt on 9/11? The world changed.

A day when almost 3,000 people were murdered. Do you remember watching on the television as the Work Trade Center towers were pierced by airplanes and then collapsed? What about the Pentagon? And a field in Pennsylvania? Remember how you felt then?

We were attacked – not by a country but by a shadow group that likes to shoot us in the back when we least expect it. How does that make you feel?

We were violated and the world should never look the same. We no longer have the feeling of security we thought we had…

The Islamic fundamentalists want nothing more than the total destruction of freedom, America and all we represent. These fundamentalists do not threaten more attacks, they promise them.

How do you feel now? Does it still make you angry?

GEORGE

100

Today marks 100 days to go... I would have been going home this month (one year), but the surge and the extension will now have me here until around Christmas.

I have the opportunity every week to see many Troopers soon after they have been wounded – what really amazes me, is that no matter how serious the injury, the Soldier’s motivation is still high. They typically have the same requests: 1) let his unit know he is ok and 2) that this will not keep him down.

It blows me away each and every time – when entering their room, they attempt to salute and look strong – there is no self-pity. They are true heroes that would never admit to it. Those quiet and humble professionals that see the world as a place they can contribute to, and not as what the world owes him.

I am proud, that as a country, we can honor these courageous heroes that supersedes all political views.

GEORGE

Support

I have been asked what could be done to support the troops – directly.

For me – I only ask for one thing: photos from home. My wife and family have done very well taking care of me…

But…

Many of our Soldiers came here with little to no supporting family; girl/boy friend or wife/husband that have left them (could not wait – or just wandered off with someone else); battle buddies that have died or left because of wounds. If they could have anything on this 15 month deployment, it would be to know someone back home is waiting for them. There needs to be a pen-pal system in place.

Other items that are great to get (to be honest, just getting a box/letter is what is really important):

1) Home-made anything is very popular, but keep in mind that the mail goes a long way, so things crumble. Also, the temperatures will melt food items with chocolate.
2) Drink mixes - artificially sweetened. Instant teas are especially popular, but also the vitamin drink mixes from crystal light. As we move into winter, cocoa, tea and coffee will get more popular.
3) Otter pops are a nice treat, now that some out posts have a way to freeze them.
4) Jerky is huge - Slim Jims, too.
5) Chips, Cheeze-Its, snack crackers (like nabs), trail mix, nuts, granola bars, etc.
6) Snack mixes (like chex party mix, cajun spice crunch, poppycock, etc).
7) Candy like: Twizzlers, gum, tootsie rolls, caramels, suckers, (no need for hard candy, we have plenty).
8) Health and beauty aid items: shave cream, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razor blades, disposable razors, deodorant, etc.
9) Magazines: muscle/fitness, cars, sports, women's/men's magazines (however; pornography is against the rules)
10) Good Coffee and powdered cream
11) Phone cards
12) Photos…

For the Iraqis (given out on the streets by our Soldiers):
1) School supplies (paper, pens, and backpacks)
2) Toys
3) Children’s clothes

If interested - you can send directly to me (until Chistmas) and I will deliver. Email me for my address: Brown-George@US.Army.mil

This site has a good listing of supporting web sites*:
www.military.com/benefits/resources/support-our-troops

*I have seen more support from USO than any other group

GEORGE

A Good Night in Iraq...

ASU- 34
Michigan- 32

What is being called the biggest upset in all of college football history:

Appalachian State University (Boone, NC), my alma mater, and a level below Division I college football- the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, formally known as Division I-AA)

DEFEATED

Michigan- ranked #5 in the nation. The game was played in Michigan…

ASU has won the Football Championship Subdivision two years in a row (in a playoff system)… and is well on the way to a threepeat.

I talked before in this blog (see title "300") how football is a great distracter to this 15 month deployment – and with my ASU winning tonight, it was the greatest diversion I could ask for. I smiled; cheered out loud; jumped up and down; wore my ASU hat; and told anyone walking by how proud I am to be from ASU. It was a good night- and good nights are really hard to come by here…

WOW – Go Mountaineers!!!


GEORGE

The Salute

I have always been a bit uncomfortable when asked to stand up and singled out at a major show or sporting event to honor those who are or have been in the service (but I always stand up). Not that I’m not proud of what I do – but because standing up brings too much attention directly to me, when the true honor is to those who over the hundreds of years have give there life before I was even born. We have something very special, but it did not come easy, nor by those content to just complain and take no real action.

I did not know this, but a US bill (S.1877) clarifying U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag has been passed. The old law (US Code Title 4, Chapter 1) stated that veterans and servicemen not in uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or should salute the flag.

From U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK): "The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one's military service, veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform. I look forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at baseball games, parades, and formal events. I believe this is an appropriate way to honor and recognize the 25 million veterans in the United States who have served in the military and remain as role models to others citizens. Those who are currently serving or have served in the military have earned this right, and their recognition will be an inspiration to others."

I could of not said it better myself.

Sunrise or Sunset?

Fact: The ‘surge' (both in numbers and living into the local neighborhoods) of U.S. troops has lowered the violence in and around Baghdad, and given the Iraqi government a chance to succeed.

The Bottom Line: If the Iraqi government can't or won't use the window of opportunity provided by the surge, the U.S. might have to switch strategy. There's a frustration by Iraqi citizens and military leaders with PM Maliki’s inability to be a reconciliation leader, and a fear that the momentum generated by the surge could be lost. But there is still time... and PM Maliki seems to be making efforts - and we are at the tipping point...

GEORGE

Tipping Point

There has been a positive tipping point in this war on so many fronts:

Liberal think tank members that have recently visited Iraq are reporting positive trends, and are now calling for a strategic patience for the effort. This is a major change from the excessive doom and gloom reported before, and the demand for a complete and immediate retreat.

The local Iraqi population is not reporting security as their main concern any more. Attacks are way down (and crime: esp murders) and bombings are becoming much less effective because of the walled areas with security checkpoints.

Calls to the “Tips Lines” by local Iraqis are way up with credible and actionable information.

Most Iraqis complain about essential services. This is partly due to the extra electricity demand caused by new air conditioners; refrigerators; satellite TV; etc, that were not available in abundance before the war. This, and all the extra trash now being created, are difficult to deal with, but are signs of progress.

What is often not reported is that the citizens ARE getting close to 20 hours of electricity a day; the reported 2-3 hours a day is the free electricity from the government, the rest of the electricity is being bought off the local economy. I often fly over the Baghdad area at night – and I see the lights on in and around every house.

Our Soldiers are living with the Iraqis. This could be a very dangerous situation, yet there is a trend emerging of far fewer American deaths and injuries over the last two months (JUL-AUG).

The Iraqi Security Forces are becoming more reliable and conducting missions on their own.

Iraqi health care system and emergency services (first responders) are coming on line.

Markets are packed full of people every day. This includes some major markets that were dead as recent as eight months ago – yet in many markets, hundreds of vendors (reaching capacity) and thousands of shoppers are filling the streets today.

Before the war, there was a very limited land-line phone system. Now, just about everyone has a cell phone… or two… or more.

I now see the children out playing (like in the photo, in the pool). They smile at the Soldiers when they walk the street.

The Iraqi national soccer team (a mix of all sects) won the Asian Cup – a real national pride has surged because of this.

The Iraqi government is reaching out to all political groups to form a larger and stronger unity coalition. The parliament may be on summer recess, but some work is being done.

Both local and national government is learning to manage and spend their budget. The government here is not short money – it is short in an experienced government to run a country of 26 million (six million in Baghdad)… but it is learning.

Sunni tribes are turning on Sunni Al Qa’ida. Al Qa’ida was too radical with forcing its very strict religious practices and was indiscriminate in who it killed in the mass vehicle bomb attacks.

It has become a well know fact that Iran is supporting many of the insurgent groups in Iraq. Having this is the open had made it more difficult for Iran to operate as freely in Iraq as it has in the recent past.

Even our own media is starting to report the good news… or just not reporting on Iraq at all. In either case, there is much less bad news to report. I can only hope that the leaders we trust in Washington put politics behind them and do the right - not just what they feel it takes to get re-elected.


GEORGE

Family Reunion

I've a family reunion this weekend – I’ll of course miss it, as I have often recently because of my job; but I still have great memories of the ones I did make:

I remember the drive, and knowing I was very close when I found the “barrel” house. The challenge then was finding the correct dirt road to turn on

I remember once I was close, just about every house in sight was of someone I was related to

I remember showing up, around noon – there would be a hundred people, some unfamiliar, but feeling very comfortable and at home

I remember the best BBQ ever – the whole pig roasting over the fire in a homemade grill with homemade “Carolina” sauce

I remember the plates never being large enough to hold all the food

I remember the sweet tea; Wow that was good stuff

I remember always having space for the great cream style corn from my grandmother

I remember getting three different kinds of stuffing and three different kinds of deviled eggs

I remember, no matter how full I was, going back for dessert – I would get several, including the coconut cake… also from my grandmother

I remember spending a lot of time attempting to figure out how the kids my age were related to me

I remember all the Aunts telling me how little I used to be

I remember horseshoes (the game, for those not from the South and do not make that automatic connection)

I remember feeding the chickens (and the story of how my Great-Grandmother could just pop the neck of the chicken… and how I think one poor chicken was a pet of my Mom, when she was young… but not for too long)

I remember how much fun it was exploring the area around my Great-Grandmother’s house; I think I remember there was a very, very old still in the large dilapidated storage house.

I remember finding pecans and crushing two together to eat right on the spot

I remember those who arrived first, left last because their cars were blocked in by everyone else

I remember how friendly everyone was – nothing but smiles and many many great hugs (oh and lots of delicious, scrumptious, mouth-watering, delectable, yummy food… did I mention that already?)

I do not remember the ride home; I think I was asleep, every time…

George or "Tripp"

What have we forgotten?

We are at war with Al Qa’ida. They have attacked us over and over and over again before 9/11 (www.haveweforgotten911.com). Our nation had had enough (about time) and we launched a campaign to defeat this terror. Just killing them (we do this well) does not work – that is just like kicking the ant mound (see “Fire Ants” below)… we must change the environment in the region. That is what we are attempting to do in Iraq.

Peace and democracy is not easy to create from a dictatorship – in a region that has only known conflict and little essential services infrastructure. The American military leaders here work seven days a week; 17-18 hours a day; short meal breaks; every moment of the day accounted for… even getting briefing while moving from one meeting to another; out with the Soldiers; for 15 months with only one two week vacation – on top of getting shot at or experience incoming indirect fire every week... But on TV, who do you see more... reporters and politicians who visit only for a few days? It that where you have formed your opinion from?

There are many Soldiers that never leave the Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Iraq, and some that when they do leave, are just moving from one place to another (no interaction with the population). These jobs are well respected, dangerous and very much required for our military to operate, but their blogs are also not where you should derive your opinion on this mission from. Get the “ground truth” from the military leaders that are fully engaged in the complete spectrum of this process.

I have the opportunity to converse to both the senior leaders of Iraq and the common citizens of Baghdad every week… There are incredibly excellent reasons for you to be extremely proud of this mission and how your Soldiers are going about to be successful.

While there is a distrust of virtually anything the US administration says about Iraq, real military progress (both combat and economic projects) is taking place and the US State Department in Baghdad is actively seeking matching political progress. Additionally, a substantial numbers of tribal leaders have turned against Al Qa’ida; the number of total attacks/events has gone way down; murder (both crime and sectarian) rates are at a fraction of the numbers from last year; the massive increase of actionable tips from Iraqi citizens; more of Baghdad is secure than ever; and the US causality numbers have been cut in half.

I admit, like the “drug war”, it will be virtually impossible to fully defeat terrorism – but ask anyone that has lost a family member or friend to drugs or a terrorist act if what we do to limit the impact is worth it… and if we should have been doing more sooner.

Al Qa’ida does not care if it loses every battle – only that they just survive until we give up. Thank God American public support is increasing a bit now for patience in favor of success in this mission. I think this is partly because they see we are “winning”; but more because our eyes are being opened to what our world can be if we lose.

GEORGE

“Victory”

Americans are still concerned with finding ways to define “victory” in Iraq, yet virtually the entire world already perceives the US as having decisively lost. We probably cannot entirely reverse these attitudes, however, we may be able to improve them over time. It seems likely that the US will ultimately be judged far more by how it leaves Iraq, and what it leaves behind, than how it entered Iraq. Our global image, and how we see ourselves, is at stake.

We are winning – change in an area like this could be expected to take decades, if not hundreds of years… this is just how it is here, where much is the same as it was in biblical times. Yet despite this, many rapid changes are happening: success of joint security (and less Soldiers getting hurt or killed), reconciliation and the increasing ineffectiveness the insurgents are giving the government a chance to organize itself to provide essential services (water, sewer, electricity) to the people. A central democratic government is very difficult to run, even in the best of situations, but in this region the concept is similar to America deciding to change from a Capitalistic Democracy to fully state run Communism during the conditions of the depression. It takes time.

Never has the single most powerful nation on earth taken over the responsibility to bring independent democracy to other countries. In the past, (Romans, Ottoman Empire, British Empire, etc), as the balance of power has shifted to just one country- that country was intent to use that power to plant their flag around the world. In contrast- America has a history of going to war, winning, and then becoming that nation’s best friend. This dates back in our own history, when much like Iraq and Afghanistan; we were occupied by France to help gain our independence. And to put things in perspective- it took eight years from the start of the revolutionary war until the Treaty in Paris. We are directly part of a noble quest and I am so very proud to be part of this slice of history that will be significant for centuries to come.

GEORGE

300

300 days here; 134 to go…

While I am still here, I have stuff to look forward to (only stuff I can get in Iraq - the stuff I look forward to outside of Iraq is too long of a list...)

I look forward to hearing from and seeing photos from home (home is not a location; home is where the family is).

I look forward to having the time to write to this blog (the goal is once a week); and checking every couple of days for comments.

I look forward to the weather cooling off (but I guess I'll have to deal with the rain and mud then).

I look forward to mail call.

I look forward to the days I finish work early… by 2200 (10pm)

I look forward to when the MPs bring in the military working dogs for a rest day in the HQ.

I look forward to football season (1SEP) – by the time the NFL season and NCAA bowl games are over, I will be done.

I look forward to the football games that serve as a reminder that we have made it to the end of another week. I can’t wait to see Appalachian State football win their third straight national championship and the Panthers to make it back to the super bowl. It would also be nice to see NC State make a bowl game.

I look forward to finding out in November if I will become an exchange student with the Irish military for one year. The odds of this are very low, but I submitted for it anyway.

I look forward to days when I have time to take a nice long jog.

I look forward to peaceful flights over Baghdad and the surrounding areas – watching the city go about their lives. The markets are full, the streets are full of cars and children are out on the soccer field playing…

I look forward to having the opportunity to talk to the common citizen of Baghdad and learning the “ground truth”.

I look forward to seeing the progress here; the whole time I have been here I have not seen it get worse. 20 years from now I want what we did here to have real meaning for the world; just like the sacrifices a couple of generations ago directly effected who I married to today : )

I look forward to the end of each day; taking a quick shower and enjoy a bit of silence before falling asleep.

I look forward to taking a day away from my countdown calendar each early morning.

I look forward to the days that no one dies; and even better, when no one is even hurt. That is been happening more and more often recently – but not nearly often enough.

GEORGE

How do you know you are winning?

I propose that there is not a proper in progress measurement for true lasting success in Iraq while fully engaged, especially during a this surge of American troops. This is like attempting to get your car’s tire pressure while moving on the highway at 65 mph. But it is possible to know you are “winning”; the key is not just knowing, but then doing something about it; not the necessary the same thing.

There has been experiment after experiment in the US that has shown an increase in policemen in an area appears to have no significant effect on the actual rate of violent crime, and a roughly proportionate negative effect on the actual rate of property crime. The same could be said in parts of Iraq where the surge has found more “crime” and caused panic attacks from the anti-Iraq forces (similar to attempting to catch a cat and during the chase, trapping him in a corner causing a panic attack directly at you). But recently, the numbers of events have actually gone down (lowest in eight months); markets have gone from practically dead to hundreds of stores, filled with merchandise; schools open (also allowing female children); hospitals and emergency services able to respond; and essential services coming on-line (by the government or private enterprise). I propose this the key indicator that we are winning and that we can start removing our Soldiers now from living with the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF).

The irony is that as more intertwined we become with the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) with the co-habitation surge and in the Joint Security Stations (JSS), the more [not less] dependent the ISF is to us. The American Soldiers is a great example to follow, but also has the habit of taking on too much responsibility and leadership (taking assuming on the role of the alpha male). It is time to start pulling back and give the opportunity for the ISF and the government to fail and learn from mistakes and learn to succeed.

We should take our cue from nature: during the time of training young eagles to fly, the mother eagle throws the eaglets out of the nest and because they are scared, they jump into the nest again. Next, she throws them out and then takes off the soft layers of the nest, leaving thorns. When the scared eaglets jump into the nest again, they are pricked by thorns. Shrieking and bleeding they jump out again this time wondering why the mother and father who love them so much are torturing them. Next, mother eagle pushes them off the cliff into the air. As they shriek in fear, father eagle flies out and picks them upon his back before they fall, and brings them back to the cliff. This goes on for some time until they start flapping their wings. They get excited at this newfound knowledge that they can fly and not fall at such a fast rate...alone.

We have given and demonstrated to the ISF and GoI the proper tools needed for success with security; our job now is to move to a close over-watch position and allow the incubation of this infant democracy develop into the type of free government that matches the culture and in turn become both permanent and contagious in the region. The situation is some areas will get worse, like the thorns, but is will be part of the growing pain. I recommend we do this soon, and under the leadership of the military commanders on the ground before our leaders 6211 miles away take this decision away from us.

The point of measurement of lasting success will start after the removal of American Soldiers in the JSSs and concentrate on the avenues into the city and the borders of Iraq. I would expect there would be an initial increase of negative events, but like the young eaglet, the panic of new found freedom of flight will eventually have Iraq flying on their own.

There will be issues in Iraq for many years – but that is to be expected. The American experiment with democracy and capitalism for 231 years has had many ups and downs… many of the downs have been nothing to be proud of, but the final product is. I expect Iraq will have many of the same experiences, but now that the people of Iraq have tasted freedom, they will never let go.


GEORGE

Sad day in Iraq...

Iraq's parliament adjourned today (31 July) for over a month (until 4 September), as key lawmakers declared there was no point waiting any longer for the prime minister to deliver Washington-demanded benchmark legislation for their vote.

The Iraqi Security Forces are improving – but the government is stubborn and is getting very little done. They were elected by the people and for the people of Iraq, but they have forgotten that (or never cared); but I guess the government of Iraq has learned this from many of our own politicians (who are also taking the month off with almost all of the US budget issues still on the table).

While the Iraq government is on vacation, our Soldiers will still be on guard next to the Iraqi Security Forces... it was over 140 degrees today.

Is Soccer the Answer?

Iraq delivered an inspirational soccer victory Sunday by winning for the first time ever the Asian Cup with a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, a beacon of hope for a nation divided by war.

It was an extraordinary triumph for a team drawn together from all parts of the Gulf and with its players straddling bitter and violent ethnic divides.

The jubilation over the team known as the "Lions of the Two Rivers" gave Iraqis a rare respite from the daily violence. The victorious run sent men of all ages cheering and dancing in Baghdad*.

Iraqis welcomed the victory as a chance to show the world they can come together and expressed frustration that their politicians couldn't do the same.


*One sad note - the traditional firing of weapons in the air was discouraged by both the government and from the speakers of the mosques; yet several people were killed when the bullets came back to earth.

They are Amazing…

What is life like for our Soldiers living in the middle of Bagdad?

A week of this could scar the average person for life – yet for over 65 weeks day in and day out, our Soldiers are expected to do this, mistake free, return home for a year or less*, and then do it again:

It is ungodly hot (over 130 today in the shade); Soldiers wear full battle gear to include heavy plates all over their body; walk the streets filled with stench looking for an enemy- an adversary that often get the first round (or Improvised Explosive Device – IED) off before being seen; our Soldiers respond with the unnatural act of killing; then go back to a crowded area to get just a few hours of sleep- never alone; always thinking about that unpredictable indirect round or rocket that may or may not land too close this time; or thinking about a buddy he/she saw die; going several days without a shower; and even longer before checking email from home (phone calls are even more rare).

The Soldiers know of the support America has for them – but they also know how much America have begun to hate the war and have started to give up. The Soldiers still have pride in what they do because of the common Iraqi people. The only natural thing our Soldiers do here is the act of helping another person… should that not be enough?

We will never free Iraq of all evil (we can not even do that at home), but we should only depart when the situation is stable and leave as friends.

George

* Units are now required to wait one year before deploying again, but when a unit returns, many of the Soldiers are required to move to another unit after 90 days – this other unit could be leaving in less than six months for Iraq or Afghanistan. During this time, training may (and often does) take the Soldier away from the family for weeks at a time.

What the news does not tell you...

This is what the news does not show or tell you enough of:

I have had the opportunity to talk to hundreds ordinary citizens of Baghdad and many dozens of senior politicians… not one, not a single one has said that they want the Americans to leave. They say we are neutral to the sectarian violence and protector from the insurgents for the neighboring countries. I guess this is not controversial enough; popular enough; or spectacular enough to make the news.

Did you know that news agencies pay Iraqis to photo or video insurgents attacking Americans? Our own American news agencies pay money for video/photos of insurgents killing… so the “stringer” needs to find an event to get paid – so to be at the right place at the right time this “stringer” most likely has to be “in” with the insurgents or giving up part of his money to fund events to capture on film. Our own American news agencies are funding the killing of Americans…

The change here has been difficult and complex – but the freedoms now enjoyed are appreciated by all. With these freedoms have come decisions… and more and more are starting to pick the choice of supporting the stability of their own country.

It is interesting to me that the three countries that have most likely killed the most Americans are today our best friends… The UK, Germany and Japan. During WWII, few could comprehend the idea of a “Marshall Plan” (perhaps should have been called the Truman Plan) and how pouring in so much money into a country that we were just at war with could be so beneficial to both countries in the long run. But it takes so much time that the rest of our fast paced world no longer has patience for.

George

15 Months in Iraq

It is important to stay the course – but it is in my opinion we do a better job here with fresh troops. 12, and especially 15 month tours are just too long – I think we are asking the Soldiers AND their families for too much…

It is difficult to explain what it is really like here in Iraq. As much as I support the reason for the mission, I must admit that each and every day here is difficult; I always thought one year is too long to send someone away to this place… and now the active duty Army Soldiers have been extend an extra three months, on top of the year. 15 months is such a lengthy amount of time, and causes everyone to miss two of some important date… two birthdays, two wedding anniversaries, two Thanksgivings, etc

It is difficult to maintain a positive attitude for so many months when the progress moves so very, very slow (at least there is some progress). Also, there is not a day that goes by that explosions are not heard- in the distance, and often times not so far away… this, and just moving from base to base rubs on the anxiety until the nerves are about raw. The heat does not help the situation one bit.

The US military policy in Baghdad has changed over the last few months- the original plan was to have US Soldiers position around the city in support of the Iraqi Security Forces. But today, the surge has given many thousands of extra US Soldiers to live with the Iraqis in the middle of the city… often times in the worst areas. This technique is working to control much of the violence- but at a cost. Soldiers are now living on the streets they patrol, with the Iraqi Security Forces… so when the Soldier comes in to rest, they are in a location of limited security that requires them to also guard where they sleep. So not only has the time here increased, but also the time the Soldier spends in the danger zone.

The insurgents are losing the battles; they are hated by ordinary citizens; even their own tribes are tuning on them. Their fight to tear apart Iraq is now one of desperation- but still supported by Iran and often our own media (who loves bad news). But we need to win control of this while losing as few Soldiers as possible. There must be a balance... BUT we CANNOT leave the Middle East in disarray, and allow the troubles to follow us home.

George

Fire Ants...

I have said this numerous times - we are fighting a group unlike anything we have ever seen... but the concept is familiar: When fighting fire ants* in your own yard, you take out each cell/mound as soon as you find it... if not, you will get overrun. You can not burn the entire yard just because one ant bites you... but you know it will happen. I have also been told to just leave the ant hill alone; that “kicking” the ant hill only stirs up trouble. Do you honestly believe that? Do you think by just ignoring the situation, it will go away?

We do what we can, when we can. The optimal solution is to look for the ant mounds beyond our own yard.

The enemies we face are not interested in agreements or treaties - only that if we are not exactly like them, we should die. They also have no issue with killing themselves to kill us... With this, I have no idea why so many people in the world (including the majority of Americans) hate what we are doing. Would they or you rather see us doing nothing just waiting to be attacked again?

We taught the terrorist that their techniques can work – America, possibility the weakest pre-nation on the earth in 1776, defeated one of the greatest militaries of all time by using many of these same methods. In Vietnam, we lost because of this (this and our own media) - but all we lost was one foreign country… We could lose this as well, but the consequences will be significant world wide and right at home.

* The ant analogy is an interesting one because it is only ants and humans that go to war with each other.

George

4th of July

There is no holiday in Iraq; no weekends; no day off; no rest for the tired; while standing tall for freedom and peace – there is none for the Soldier… I could not be more proud of those I serve with: I have had several tell me “happy Independence Day” with not a single hint of sorrow or disappointment for missing the events at home. I know where they would rather be, but all understand where they need to be.

George

I have been told...

I have been told that in the Army the only thing you can count on is change…

I have been told that I’m here now for 265 days; and using the new timeline, I should have 170 days to go… I’m over 60% done! I have started to allow myself to initiate thoughts about what is going to happen when I depart Iraq.

I have been told that we could be back in Texas before Christmas… This will put the deployment at 14 and one half months. I could not even comprehend being away for that long when I first left – but now I can almost see a light at the end of this ever growing tunnel.

I have been told that my next assignment will be going to the Command and General Staff College in Ft Leavenworth, KS and that I will need to be there by mid-January of next year – there will be a slight issue to deal with because of the time it will take for me to “clear” or check-out of Ft Hood, and then move everything to Kansas; it’ll be a bit of a time crunch.

Only to complicate matters, I will also apply to have the Army consider me as an exchange student for this same course with Ireland (Irish Defense Forces). I should learn about the decision in November – I have been told that only one Officer a year is chosen for this, so my chances are extremely slim. Both courses are just under one year, but the school in Ireland would start a few months later than the one in Kansas.

I have been told that my assignment after the school will be in Europe, most likely in Germany.

I have been told that in the Army the only thing you can count on is change…

George

Democracy

Soldiers are Republicans, Democrats, liberals, conservatives, men, women, single, married, black, white, Hispanic... We volunteer from the American population at large, so we mirror it. Some hold strong political opinions and argue vehemently with one another, and some are apathetic towards all things political. We are the salad bowl mix that is America.

When candidates for President claim that opponents’ opinions demoralize the troops, they’re telling us that we’re too ignorant to understand the right to disagree is inherent to democracy, that we’re too stupid to separate political views from our jobs, and that we’re too fragile and sensitive to hear all sides. The reality is that most politicians will tell the public whatever they want to hear to get elected.

Protest – for or against the war… at least we are not forgotten. I support your educated views and right to express yourself, if you so desire.

Public Perception

Please share my blog with as many people as you can, if you feel it will help public perception... but I think that that the US public, and most of the world, has lost hope in Iraq and this war, and it is now next to impossible to recover support. What has to be remembered is that most wars are not popular DURING the war... did you know that only 1/3 of the people living in America supported the Revolutionary War; 1/3 supported the United Kingdom; and 1/3 just did not care? Good thing our leaders back then did not make decisions on public opinion... public support for our national independence in 1775 was about the same as our support now for the support of Iraqi independence. And on another familiar note - we would have never achieved victory without support form another country (France).

This is truly "God's Country" - I can stand in the dusty footprints of all the Greats of the Bible and see the world close to how they would have seen it. Many of the stories of the Bible repeat themselves over and over here in Iraq - it is not the Muslim faithful that cause the issues, but the Judiths that use the scripture to their own advantage for power, prestige and/or money. This place is worth saving, the common person here is true to the belief of goodness common to both of our religions.

But this goes well beyond giving freedom and security to Iraq… We are in a war- it would not matter if we were not in Iraq now, we would still be at war. We were not fighting in the Middle East when attacked on 9/11 or the many attacks before that… This war is also sponsored countries, not just a few rouge groups, with the goal to rid the world of “western” influence. Why is it that the same people who ask what did we do to prevent 9/11 are the same people who ask why are we in Iraq?

Progress is being made here – but the propaganda of the enemy is winning thanks to our own media echoing the messages. And public opinion has taken a negative tipping point directly because of this.

I am proud of what is being done here... history, not current public opinion, will be the true measure of success. I would hate to see what failure could bring us.

George

Do Something...

I am back on my “soap box” taking the Christian angle today…

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke (Albert Einstein also said this – I had always thought he said it first)

So much of the history of the struggle between good and evil can be explained by Edmund Burke's observation. Time and again those who profess to be good seem to clearly outnumber those who are evil, yet those who are evil seem to prevail far too often. Seldom is it the numbers that determine the outcome, but whether those who claim to be good men are willing to stand up and fight for what they know to be right.

In the parable of the talents, Jesus described a man who did nothing. When he received his Lord's money, he "went and digged in the earth, and hid his Lord's money" (Matt. 25:18). When his Lord returned, he returned to the Lord just what he had been given (Matt. 25:25). Notice, the servant did not do any outright evil, such as stealing the money, but then neither did he do anything good. He did nothing and he got nothing good accomplished. Jesus said he was a "wicked and slothful servant" (Matt. 25:26).

When good men do nothing, they get nothing good done. To be good, one must do good. The Lord commands his people to do good (Luke 6:35; Eph. 2:10). Christ "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14).

Too many citizens of the world do nothing. They are standing idly by, they are mere spectators. They sit on the sidelines instead of actively participating and working for the good. If good wins, they join in the celebration though they did nothing to produce the victory. If evil wins, they will complain long and loud, though their own apathy helped produce the undesirable result.

Do not allow evil to triumph. Do not do sit by and do nothing. Stand up and be counted, speak up against evil and speak out against evil men and their sinful deeds.

Why Serve?

Every year the military gets a pay raise – it is typically on about par with inflation or the Employment Cost Index. Currently there is a gap between military and civilian pay that stands at about four percent. But this is like comparing apples to oranges: Most military personnel work on the average 25-50% longer each week then their “comparable” civilian counterparts and often spend weeks away from their family while on training missions or temporary duty (TDY). This does not even include deployments when time away from family can be 12-15 months at a time (with only a year between returning), not to mention risk of life and lack of some of the most basic comforts (ie- privacy).

Base pay, particularly for enlisted service members, is extremely low. Only five occupations listed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics -- including "butlers" and "housekeepers" -- bring less pay than a first-year Private's base pay, according to a survey by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The same can be said about the Army’s most senior: after 36 years in the military, a General (four stars) earns a base pay of about $15o,000, not including allowances and incentive pay. A typical corporate CEO, on the other hand, earns about $11 million a year.

Would you be able to deal with the difficult training, time away from home and the risk your life for a steady paycheck, college money, and a better future? That's a question facing many 2007 high-school graduates who are considering military service.

SO WHY JOIN…?

What is missing in the equation above is something taken for granted by far too many: Freedom. One word, but yet countless words could never capture its true meaning or power.

“Freedom has a taste, and for those that have fought for it, the taste is so sweet the protected will never know…” General George S. Patton Jr.

It’s not the average American’s fault they are numb to the taste of freedom. Most American’s are born into their God given right, so it is all they have ever known. I was once one of them. I would even dare to say that it isn’t surprising that they take for granted what they have had all their life. My experiences in the military has taken me all over the world and opened my eyes to the truth.

Ironically you will find the biggest outcries of opposition to our cause from those who have had no military experience and haven’t had to fight for freedom. I challenge all of those who are daring enough to question such a noble cause to come here for just a month and see it first hand. I have a feeling that many voices would be silenced.

You need not to have a great understanding of the world but rather common sense to realize that it is our duty as citizens of the world to free the oppressed. If you lived that way would you not want someone to help you????

The Iraqi’s pour into the streets to wave at us and when we liberated the cities during the war they gathered in the thousands to cheer, hug and kiss us. It was what the soldier’s in WW2 experienced, yet no one questioned their cause; Saddam was no better than Hitler. He tortured and killed thousands of innocent people. We are heroes over here, yet Americans badmouth our President for having us here. Do not let the few evil insurgents (many not even Iraqi) warp your opinion of the people of Iraq. Would you like for the world to judge us on our top news story… Paris Hilton?

This fight (some call civil war) among the sects is for whom will control this country – and Iran has staked their claim as well as al Qaeda. If they win, where do you think they are going next? I look forward sleeping safely in my own bed – and I hope someone will take my place to watch my back. Not for the money, not for the praise, but for the pride in serving and giving security and freedom.

What do you support?

You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom. Malcolm X

Patriotism

I was in a meeting yesterday, when a senior Iraqi official gave a short impromptu speech on how he feels his country can rise up from under this conflict: He said that he is so incredibly impressed on how a country like America, with such extreme diversity, can unite under one flag. He feels that the people of Iraq should see themselves as Iraqis. This pride in nation is the key to stability, security and success.

I’ve had many an Iraqi tell me that the differences of the sects here are not so vast – that the rift between them is generally artificial created by those in power, or desiring authority, in an effort to create fear and intimidation. A lot of this is being influenced from outside of Iraq. Within Iraq, there are many tribes with diverse sects and even mixed marriages. Today, many of these tribes now see the evils of the insurgents and have started to work with the government of Iraq and coalition forces to defeat these groups. The Iraqi reconciliation movement is gaining momentum.

We often take our patriotism for granted – but with so many citizens so disenfranchised with the government (both executive and legislative), our American pride is not as strong as it once was as a whole country. How often have we heard some under-educated entertainer say that he/she will leave the country if “so-n-so” is elected? Yet millions of people are willing to risk their lives to get to America… where else in the world can you find such freedom and opportunity? Many thousands of local Iraqi translators go out on combat missions for years, risking not just their lives, but the safety of their family if discovered… they do this for the slim hope that they will be one of the few selected for a special visa to move to America. I have such respect for these people and such embarrassment of those entertainers with some talent, beauty, and access to a microphone, but inadequate intelligence.

I’m an optimist – with a mix of reality. Just about anyone can complain about what has been done, I like to look forward to see was can be done.

George

Memorial Day

It is appropriate this Memorial Day to salute all those who have given their lives in defense of this nation. Without their sacrifices we would not be free to ask questions, to challenge our political leaders and to take an active role in our system of government. To them we owe an unrepayable debt.

The United States of America was born from the blood and ashes of war--the Revolutionary War. It was fought to defend the "self-evident truth that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." As feee men and women, do we owe this gift to the rest of mankind?



We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
Moina Michael

Hot Hot Hot....

I have been here for 227 days now, and I am a bit unsure when I will be going home (the 90 day extension plan has not been officially published)… but I think I am at least halfway done. Thank you for all your email and prayers of support; being gone for such an elongated time is difficult, but it helps to know we have not been forgotten at home.

Wow, is it getting hot – 115 today and we are still in May. At this rate it will be over 200 by the first of July. The wind feels just like a hairdryer set on hot. I’m only out and about just a few times a week (not including the 2k walk to and from the dining facility) but some of our Soldiers are living with their Iraqi Security Force partners in this heat on a daily basis – in heavy protective gear, laden with weapons and ammunition; all the while, maintaining 100% vigilance to keep him or herself and buddies alive. Free time is defined only as sleep, and getting anything over six hours a day is a luxury that few get. It is remarkable how much we ask of these valiant warriors, how much they risk and how little they expect in return…

How is it going: The big issue here is time... to make this Iraqi government genuine; we must allow it to make decisions (right or wrong) and to develop. We (citizens of the world) want to see rapid results with the different sects getting along - but how long did it take us (US of A) to live well with the American Indians or African Americans - - - can't throw stones when we ourselves live in a glass house. Out military must provided security and offer advice for this new democracy until this country become independent and handle these issues (these issues will never completely go away) without collapsing into a civil or regional war. Then we may have a true partner in the Middle East that can have a real and direct effect on our security and economy.

George

American girls and American guys

We'll always stand up and salute

We'll always recongnize

When we see Old Glory flying there's alot of men dead

So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our head

Toby Keith - Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue

The Republicans say if there is major progress by September, we can start moving out our troops in Iraq. The Democrats say if there is no progress by September, we should just give up and leave Iraq. So is it just me, or does it seem like both the Republicans and Democrats are AGREEING that the troops need to start leaving in September?!?!

The military has been asked to do many things – defeat the Iraq Army; find Saddam Hussein and the rest of those on the deck of cards; get the oil and economy jump started; train the Iraqi Security Forces; allow free elections (x3); create a working government; find weapon caches; prove Iranian involvement in Iraq; ect; ect; ect… All done successfully… All the battles have been won – let’s not lose the war.

George

Just about everyone who reads this blog is much more fascinated in life over here more so than my opinion of the war – but it is my site and I just need to vent every now and then.

Do you remember why we went to Iraq? How you felt when the war initially started? We had just been attacked, and the madman Hussein refused to cooperate with UN inspectors- we needed to make a stand and just about 100% of America agreed. I also admit oil is elevated on the list of American interests. But That Day showed us the worst in mankind… and also the very best. What will That Day mean to us decades from now: a start of something evil, or the start to ending something evil?

Major progress has been made here, but public hesitation now is nothing short but motivation to whom we are fighting. Instead of them giving up, thanks to the media and democrats, our enemies feel all they need to do is hold on just a bit more until we leave. Soldiers need more than just “we support the Troops, but not the war”… we could use a bit of “united we stand and divided we fall – win win win!!!” We are Soldiers – and it is not enough to just be in the US Army, supporting/defending our nation. We are proud for what we accomplish. We need to finish this – the correct way.

How will America be viewed for the coming decades if we leave Iraq too early and there is a collapse in the region? How will it affect the world economy and how safe will you feel in your own home and just traveling to work? It is popular now to dislike our president and the war… are you sure this is how you will still feel 5 or even 10 years from now?

We are committed, and I for one would like to see the ultimate sacrifices of our brothers and sisters (and the injured and those who gave years of their lives away from family and friends) be remembered in a just cause we successfully accomplish.

How close are we to this? Wow- that is one heck of a question… but I think we are very close. Already just about all the major and minor operations are done jointly with the Iraqis – and this is working well. The only issue is the vulnerability of corruption within the Iraqi Security Force. We have this in our own police force, just not as common. We also have problems with gangs in the states… no country is perfect, and I think we are getting close to “good enough” here. Let’s get to the proper conclusion of this war together and the majority of our Troops home… and me.

George

I do not agree with 100% of what is said - but it is an interesting view and worth watching:

http://www.youtube.com/v/m9Yc3wYJOtI

*you might need to copy/paste this into your web address box

Back From R&R

I'm back in Baghdad from my mid-tour "Rest & Relaxation" holiday- got in Kuwait City this past Saturday and made it to Baghdad around mid-afternoon on Sunday ... it was a 32 hour trip.

I spent time in Germany with Sandra and Justice; slept in late; went to a few spas; traveled little; ate too much (a good thing); and drank a few beers (a very good thing). It was precisely what I required.

The fifteen days in Germany seems like only a few hours now. It took me no more than a couple of minutes to get my feet back under myself here and back into the routine. I have a renewed empty feeling, it is always there when I'm gone, but is much more noticeable when the memories are so incredibly fresh.

Progress in Iraq is measured in inches (this does not play well in the media), so daily transformation is often not noticed, but it is a pleasant reception here to see what has been accomplished in the weeks I was gone (mostly the local tribes rising up against insurgents). But the initial thing I noticed was the temperature... wow, it went from just a little hot to scorching. 106 already (it is only early May)... it is not going to be a comfortable summer.

I do not know when I will return - one year for me would be early October... but with the announced extensions last month, I do not know yet how this will affect my homecoming. I get the sense that I will gain some extra time- but perhaps not the full 90 days.

I'll attempt to get photos up on the web site (See link at top right) this week - I need to catch up a bit on work here, but my goal is to have the photos up by the weekend.

George

Success in Iraq (or anywhere in the Middle East) is defined by a general feeling of security- we are on the verge of a positive tipping point. The residents of Iraq are tuning on the insurgents (otherwise-know-as foreign fighters)… They have grown tired of the indiscriminate killings used only to cause instability in the Iraqi government structure. It is all about power – if a strong democratic government emerges from this dust storm, it would be damaging to the neighboring countries and those holding onto the benefits/perks of control.

Progress is an uphill battle, and measured by inches… but it is improvement. More has been accomplished here in the last four years than the last 85 years combined.

George

We find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve... It's the same each time with progress. First they ignore you, then they say you're mad, then dangerous, then there's a pause and then you can't find anyone who disagrees with you.

Iraqi Security Forces Are Stepping Up To Take Control Of Their Country's Security. Iraqi Security Forces continue to
gain strength and are fighting alongside Coalition forces. Their commitment and sacrifice are real: Casualty levels for Iraqi
Security Forces are now higher than for Coalition forces.
• Iraq is now operating 9 National Police brigades and 31 Iraqi Army brigades, meaning almost 329,000 Iraqi Security
Force members are now risking their lives to secure their country and allow political progress to continue.
• 9 of Iraq's 10 Army divisions are taking the lead in their areas of operation.
• 3 of Iraq's 18 provinces have acquired full responsibility for their own security.
• Iraqi-planned, Iraqi-conducted, and, most important of all, Iraqi-led missions continue throughout Iraq.

And so, my fellow americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

John F. Kennedy

Soldiers and War

I think every American Soldier, throughout history, has wanted combat to stop… We do not fight just to fight; we go to complete the mission. I can tell you that there is a turn here - it is getting better. Life will not be 100% wonderful here in our lifetime (but I challenge anyone to name a large American city where nothing bad happens), but I think we can bring a new level of stability; and in turn this should bring a powerful partner in this region in keeping the guys who want to destroy America at bay. It should also help stabilize an area of the world that has the potential of starting a world war...

George

To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to know its pleasures, we must go to those who are seeking it.
Charles Caleb Colton

The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved.
Confucius

What you might not know about conditions in Iraq…

Random bits of information…

Soldiers are not allowed to have sex, see sex (no full nude magazines or porn sites), or even have the opposite sex in your room. The exception is if both you and your partner (different sexes… of course) are married and are both deployed and in the same location. It is rare, but it happens. There are a few I see walking to their room at night or to work in the morning.

No alcohol is allowed – none. Near-beer is given out at the dinning facility... not the same, but I drink it. No matter how fast you drink it, you do not get happy... I drink it just to taste the distant memories of real beer. The exception is if you work for the state department or some contractors; sometimes located where they work are bars.

There are very few lights outside the building on the military camps. It is tricky to identify a person passing you on the walkway at night.

It is free to send a letter from here to America. To mail a letter to a Soldier from the states is the same cost as sending a letter to New York, NY. The mail typically takes about a week to go one direction (expect during holiday seasons). Great system, but most Soldiers just like to use email – instant gratification. But we still love to get care boxes.

Haircuts are $3…

There are no issues with electricity or water… for Soldiers. Most even have heaters and AC in their room.

Soldiers here do not pay federal taxes when deployed and an additional few hundred dollars

It rains- mostly during the winter months. The rain helps make this special mud that is just about impossible to get rid of. It can also get very cold during the winter – I even saw some snow in the air once.

Inside, dust is everywhere. A fine layer of dust awaits you every morning. When the dust is stirred up by sweeping or a mortar round coming a bit too close, the dust in the air then becomes almost overwhelming.

For most- showers are from 20 to 200 yards away from where they sleep. Tracking through the elements (often in the dark) can leave you more dirty when you finish than when you started.

Most Soldiers work all day (14-16 hours) seven days a week. Meal time is limited to the time it takes to get your food and then eat it. No weekend off – no holiday off… not even Christmas. Two weeks are given for R&R.

The Soldiers in the worst conditions (smallest outpost with fewest amenities) are often the happiest Soldiers…

I do not know of one Soldier that has committed suicide because of anything here… in every case I know of (I am sure I do not know all the facts on this), Soldiers have taken their own life because of the person they care the most about, has given up on them.

In most cases, laundry is done by a contractor. The Soldier drops of his stuff (only 20 items to a bag) and 72 hours later it comes back folded and clean. I visited the location where the magic is done and it is a very clean (ok – that is expected), large building with several dozen workers happily go about the business. Most are from locations like the Philippines, the Balkans and India and I assume getting paid well by the smiles I saw from just about everyone.

Speaking of pay – civilian translators from the states (American citizens that speak Arabic) get paid six-figures. Most of them are in their early to mid 20s. Most were born in another country and moved to America, with their parents, at an early age.

Most of the Iraqis do not want the American military to leave. The military have great effect in keeping order and safety… and that is cherished more than anything in this part of the world.

Most of the Soldiers believe in this mission and what we can be accomplished. They think this, not because of what the media or politicians say, but from their on personal experiences here.

In a country with so much oil, it is hard to understand, but it is very difficult to get gas. Iraq has limited ability to process oil. This is also why there is problems with electricity--- the Iraqis try to burn the unprocessed (and not so good of quality) oil in the electrical generators.

The Iraqis are good at diverting water; this allows for farming in the desert. It is surprising how green this area is as seen from the air.

George

To will is to select a goal, determine a course of action that will bring one to that goal, and then hold to that action till the goal is reached. The key is action. Michael Hanson

Any community's arm of force - military, police, security - needs people in it who can do necessary evil, and yet not be made evil by it. To do only the necessary and no more. To constantly question the assumptions, to stop the slide into atrocity. Lois McMaster Bujold

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt

I love life...Yeah, I'm sad, but at the same time, I'm really happy that something could make me feel that sad. It's like...It makes me feel alive, you know. It makes me feel human. The only way I could feel this sad now is if I felt something really good before. So I have to take the bad with the good. So I guess what I'm feeling is like a beautiful sadness. -Trey Parker and Matt Stone, South Park, Raisins

Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be permanently maintained. President Garfield (1880)

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.

Peter Drucker

What is the Problem?

It is my opinion that the problem in Iraq is with a small percentage of radical Muslims (am I over stating the obvious?), and their need to feel part of something greater than themselves. It is not enough to just be a part of this group, but the leaders of these groups want more and more power, and will use force, fear, and intimidation to get it. Power corrupts. Many areas in the Middle East (but not limited to) are incubators to these groups.

This is a world wide problem. Most of the residents of planet Earth are in denial, and with that, this problem could reach a tipping point. What America does, or does not do will make the difference (for better or worse). I hate to sound like a “doomsdayer”, but those who do not understand, and learn from history, may repeat the same catastrophic mistakes.

Here is my theory:

People gather together naturally - groups are formed; and then there is the fundamental need for the group to achieve pride. This pride is often gained by being the best at something. It is a typical human need (I think this is more prevalent is men, but women are not exempt).

This group dynamic is usually healthy when contained to organized sports (participating or rooting for), professional clubs, college fraternities/sororities, political affiliation, religion, ect – I could go on and on forever. I expect you could quickly name five groups/teams/clubs you feel closely connected to. Our connections to groups start the day we are born and join our first group – family. From that moment you also adopt many associations by default: being American, social class, race, sex, etc.

All these groups have the potential to go bad - sports teams fight (along with the fans in the stadium), clubs become overly exclusive, politics become corrupt and even families can become part of a mafia style organization. Some groups just start bad – young poor youth often turn to criminal gangs. Extremist clubs, political and religious groups start to believe that not only are they the only “right”, but everyone else should not exist.

Extremist are not limited to Muslims (we are not immune to this, you do not have to look hard to find many example in America – many non Muslim) – but they are getting the most press now-a-days and, admittedly, are very dangerous. There is not a time is history where a group was not attempting to conduct genocide to the rest of the world. The current attempt by the extreme Muslims is quite tame (for now) when looking back on the history of civilization. In recent history, we as a human race have become really good at killing each other:

Genocides and other mass murders killed more people in just the twentieth century than all the wars combined: 1.5 million Armenians. 3 million Ukrainians. 6 million Jews. 250,000 Gypsies. 6 million Slavs. 25 million Russians. 25 million Chinese. 1 million Ibos. 1.5 million Bengalis. 200,000 Guatemalans. 1.7 million Cambodians. 500,000 Indonesians. 200,000 East Timorese. 250,000 Burundians. 500,000 Ugandans. 2 million Sudanese. 800,000 Rwandans. 2 million North Koreans. 10,000 Kosovars. Try to get your head around those numbers…

The world’s response was denial in the beginning of each of these situations. “Never again” has turned into “again and again.” Again and again, the response to genocide has been too little and too late. Genocidal massacres are systematic and the warning signs are as compelling as the warnings of a hurricane.

I admit, there are other places in the world where the current genocide problem is worse, but the Middle East area has the potential to be much, much worse than the world has ever seen (that is saying a lot).

There are 1.2 billion Muslims in the world; they represent about 22% of the world's population and Islam is growing about 2.9% per year. This is faster than the total world population, which increases about 2.3% annually. It is thus, attracting a progressively larger percentage of the world's population. About 10-15 percent of these Muslims support extremism. (I recommend reading this paragraph again)

I agree that killing all the extremist is not the answer, but some of these groups are readying weapons of mass destruction and have no problem killing you (and killing themselves in the process – that is hard to stop)…. The answer: is taking out the radical leadership (who do not kill themselves to kill you – but have no problem sending their children in suicide missions) and emplacing a secure democracy; with checks and balances in the system. We have to go to the problem – not wait for it to come to us.

The tipping point can go one way or the other… like it or not, America is the only country with the ability and desire to do something. Do not lose the desire to finish this mission… not just in Iraq, but wherever it takes us. It is not easy, but it is worth it. What are you doing to help? What do you support?

With so many people protesting the war, how many are making recommendations on the bigger issue. Do you honestly think we can pull all the troops home, become isolates, and we will be left alone? The World Trade center was attacked (twice), two embassies and the USS Cole were attacked without provocation before our deployments… many more attacks were planned, some attempted. Americans have been targeted to be wiped off the face of the earth… you have two choices, stand up and fight, or sit back and hope the problem goes away. Which one do you think will work?

George

Why Care?

I’ve been ask how I can be so positive about our mission here.

First, I do not consider myself overly optimistic – It’s just that so many people are negative, that my viewpoint seems positive, when in fact I am much more neutral to hopeful. What I do see is the potential of success… and the possibility for us to not succeed. My vigor is related to the vision of what failure could bring (see my first blog post). All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing (Albert Einstein).

Second, let me say that I have always enjoyed helping others; we all have different gifts, according to the grace given us… If a man's gift is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously (from Romans 12). I may only give as much as a drop in the ocean, but it is as much as I can give. Perhaps my drop can contribute to the tipping point.

I do try to keep things in perspective… praying that I’m granted the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can, and the ability to know the difference (Serenity Prayer).

George

First Posting

What I miss most: My wife, Justice (who has yet to learn he is a dog), Mom, Dad, Sister, family and friends… enough said.

What I miss second most: Sleep. Too bad I can not get that in a care package. I go to my room after midnight, change to take a shower, walk 50 meters to the shower, take a five minute shower (great experience attempting to predict when the water is going to go ice cold or boiling hot), go back to my room, brush my teeth, check my three alarm clocks and sleep for about five hours. Next morning- argue with the alarm clocks (they win most mornings), get dressed, brush my teeth and go to work. Everyday.

What I miss third most: Making and drinking (especially drinking and drinking) beer.

Most needed: Photos from home. Soldiers can never get enough of pictures of family, friends, pets, and just common everyday life. Photos by “snail” mail are great – so are the digital ones.

Most abundant: Dust. A close second is candy. Tons (no exaggeration) of candy in care boxes. Soldiers leave the boxes out for the common good and it is hard to pass by without taking some.

Most painful: Being away from the real world for A YEAR! I used to think training in the field for 30 days was a long time, or six month deployments… a year is just too much. It is missing one of everything (Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years Day, Valentines Day, Birthdays, Anniversary, winter, summer, spring, fall etc…).

Most Depressing: Funerals. But are also a motavation - * See Most miss-undersood

Most interesting: How quickly the days go by, yet how slowly the months craw by.

Most Surprising: The food (it’s good). There is only one place to eat, located 1 kilometer from my office; those cooks hired by Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR) from India, Pakistan, Philippines, etc do an outstanding job.

Most Common myth: There are only a few hours of electricity in Iraq. I often fly over Iraq and most often Baghdad, at night; it is easy to see most of the lights are on. It is true that the free electricity is limited, but capitalism has been born from necessity- During “rolling blackouts” neighborhoods will link and sell their power to other neighborhoods (careful not to blow their fuse. The fuse is like our meter – as long as you do not blow it, you are not charged). Some entrepreneurs have bought their own generator sell power that way.

Most seen on Iraqi houses: From above- laundry and many new satellite dishes; they have popped up like dandelions in spring… everywhere. From the ground- trash.

Most beautiful: In a country where piles of trash and standing sewer water are commonly found in the street – there is not much. But with all the dust and pollution, the sunsets and sunrises are awesome.

Most Surprising: I saw snow here once (in the air - not on the ground).

Most overrated: The oil. Most is of bad quality.

Most underrated: The potential of the industry and agriculture in this country.

Most Outrageous: The reporters and political leaders (these VIPs should also be listed as the “Most Hassle”) who fly in for less than four days to get an understanding of the “situation”. They spend all their time in the relatively safe Forward Operating Bases (FOB) getting information from Power Point presentations in a comfortable conference room. The background video footage used is often “B-roll” from the first month of the invasion. Some reporters stay long enough, and are open enough to try and find the real story; but I have not seen a politician who has come for anything more than gaining credibility in Washington DC by “talking to the leaders on the ground” (translation: got the one hour canned VIP brief and heard what I wanted to hear). Granted, they say, and I believe, that in their hearts all want to support the troops… but very few know how to support the mission (that is how you really help the Soldiers).

Most ingenious idea: Get these people over here some fireworks. Some alternative method to firing bullets in the air (that eventually fall back to earth) every time they get emotional. Every Iraqi citizen has the protected right to own a weapon and ammo – (typically an AK-47 assault rifle).

Most “WOW” job: TIE: (1) The engineers given the task to find the bombs on the routes. One of the reconnaissance vehicles used only has room for just one Soldier, and is built to be blown up. I met two Soldiers who had been working for only a couple of months who both had already been blown up twice and were none the worse for wear. Only a couple of Soldiers in the unit had not been blown up at least once. (2) The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams that get called to deal with the explosives (sometimes found by the above group). Often these bombs are very old, unstable and rigged to kill. Also, understanding that the bomb they are looking at could very well be a decoy for another bomb meant for them. Both of these groups think they have the best job in the world.

Most unnerving: TIE – (1) The sound of incoming artillery; outgoing artillery; car bombs; improvised explosive devices (IEDs); and controlled detonations (EOD blowing up stuff) all sound the same. I remind myself that the one I hear is not the one that got me. (2) Birds – not just any birds, but the ones oblivious to the helicopter I am riding in. It’s the sudden jerk of the aircraft the pilot makes to avoid this bird with a death wish.

Most appreciation: Everyone involved with the process of improving the survivability of the military vehicles with better armor. I have a lot of visibility of this process, and it is amazing how quickly it is being done by some really committed people

Most powerful image: TIE: (1) American Army doctors working to save the life of a premature Iraqi infant whose mom was shot by insurgents. The baby did not make it. (2) Watching the Soldiers go out the gate. Pure courage

Most miss-understood: The call to Professional Duty felt by most of the Soldiers. This is a new type of Soldier – much less interested in killing (but can do this well, if needed), and more satisfied when helping a fellow human. And the duty to the fallen Heroes from this war. Those Soldiers who gave their life to a great idea – the idea to bring freedom to a part of the world that has never seen it. It is overwhelming to me understanding the possibility we can have with success and I’m so proud to be part of this major historical event – I could not watch it from afar. I also have the responsibility so that the deaths of our friends are not in vain – that the end will justify the means (this quote is paraphrased from a wife of a fallen hero from the 410 MP CO read during the funeral).

I have been to the hospital in the “Green Zone” many times, met many Soldiers soon after losing part of their body… or watching their buddy die, and there commitment to duty could not be any stronger. The word “Hero” does not come close to describe these Americans, yet they (to the person) do not see themselves that way… but just as a man jumps onto the subway tracks to save someone who has fallen; these soldiers have placed their life between you and the enemy. It is such an honor for me to serve next to these men and women.

Most Least Known: What is really going on in Iraq. Understanding the complex combinations of peoples (Arabs and Kurds) religious sects (Sunni and Shia). What makes them different and why they hate each other so much?

Both Sunni and Shia Muslims share the most fundamental Islamic beliefs and articles of faith. The division between Shia and Sunni dates back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632, and the question of who was to take over the leadership of the Muslim nation. Sunni Muslims agree with that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job. Shia Muslims believe the leadership should have passed directly to his cousin/son-in-law.

It should be interesting to note here that although these two sects have co-existed for centuries, yet the extent and gravity of sectarian violence has never been felt more than during the present times. The basic reason for this change in the situation is that a number of prominent scholars and knowledgeable personalities of both these sects have changed the roles that they played in the past. In the past, the differences of both the sects were a matter of intellectual debate between the scholars of these sects. The gravity of these differences was also fully known, but the scholars never promoted violence against each other. The situation has tremendously changed during the past few decades. The scholars of these sects now sit on their respective pulpits and use these differences as flames to burn the emotions and feelings of their addressees against the people of the other sects. They promote the killings of the followers of other sects by labeling these followers with various derogatory terms. They call such killings a part of Jihaad and they promise their followers the everlasting bliss of Jannah (paradise) if they take part in such killings. Leaders on both sides using religion to promote their own political gain.

Kurds have faced harsh repression in Turkey and Iraq because of their desire of an independent state. After the Kurds supported Iran in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, Saddam Hussein retaliated, razing villages and attacking peasants with chemical weapons. The Kurds rebelled again after the Persian Gulf War only to be crushed again by Iraqi troops.

Most ignorant: Those who do not understand history and understand it to keep from repeating it. I do not wish to be over simplistic… but: this part of the world is important to the security of America and the world– not just from the terrorist (who by the way has NOT been able to attack on our soil after 9/11. This is amazing to me given that this enemy would happily give up his life to kill you) but also from a collapse of the world economy. This conflict could very easily go regional – bringing in the world… we are facing the same situation our leaders did prior to WW I and WW II – they were NOT proactive, and so 40 million people died in WW I and then 62 million people died in WW II. And we (and in we, I mean the whole world) have gotten much, much better at mass killing each other since then. This cannot be allowed to happen again, but it could…

70 years ago would anyone have thought we could be friends with Germany, Japan, or Italy. The active mission in West Germany lasted until 1989 (over 40 years after WW II) and took 500,000 of our military (that is more than the total amount of Soldiers in the active Army today). It also took four times as long in Germany, compared to Iraq, to adopt a constitution. And it was worth it.

25 years ago (still today, in some isolated cases) we were still fighting our own civil war and genocide. There are many similar comparisons (albeit to a less extent) to the issues in Iraq and racism we have seen in America. Fought by leaders like Dr King and President Johnson; it was worth it.

15 years ago, no one could have guessed the peace that could be obtained in Yugoslavia… it was considered impossible because of the sectarian civil war (sound familiar?). President Clinton said we would be out in just one year – did you know we still have Soldiers in that country? You have not heard about this because great success does not make for good sensational “breaking” news. “Bosnia is doing well” is not a headline that grabs attention, and in turn, sells ads ($$$). Within the same analogy, Arab news is not evil – it is as simple as making America out to be the evil empire (sound familiar), sells ($$$). Yugoslavia is similar in many ways to Iraq, and was a major reason for the start of WW I. Our continued involvement in this region is worth it.

5 years ago I did not think I would see so many American Soldiers making Iraqi friends and cooperation from the highest to the lowest level of this newborn (from non-existence) freely elected government. I just do not understand those who think progress is not being made. Comparing this endeavor to anything else comparable, we are progressing at lightning speed. I blame microwaves, skipping commercials with TiVo, drive thru everything, etc… we expect instant solutions – it is difficult for many Americans that some things worth while, take time… but are worth it.

Most obvious solution: We are taking away the abilities of those who want to kill our wives, children, friends, etc and do not mind killing themselves in the process – we have taken the fight to them, and this has worked. Try to imagine our world today if for the past five years our enemy had the freedom to develop unabated in this region.

Training and equipping the new Iraqi Security Forces to do this job for us is also working and have slowly given them more and more of the responsibility; soon we will be only providing a supporting role. Backing this up is the progress that is being made developing essential services (water, sewer, trash pick up, etc) to the common Iraqi citizen. We also could use US industries investing in this country – a lot of these people want to work, they are a proud society and being out of work is demoralizing. Also, much of the violence here is akin to inner-city gangs in the US. Unemployed, poor youth with idle time is a bad combination no matter where you live in the world.

This is not a clever, fancy, sensational solution… it is basic and takes patience. Failing is not an option – it just isn’t- period.

And – Most Absurd: Most of the people who complain about our mission here have never even attempted to join the military or civil duty. I think anyone can and should have an opinion (and I'll fight for your right), but I very much dislike those expressing themselves to the masses that have no understanding of what they are talking about. One can not speak of how hard it is on the Soldiers here, unless you have been here yourself... can not speak of how hopeless it is here, without taking residence here - live with the people. Have an opinion, and discuss this with your friends and family. Watching the media, and getting an opionion from that is about the worst way to find the truth... Discover the truth with experience.


I wrote a bit more than I attended, but this has been the first chance I had to organize some of my thoughts on paper. I have also updated the photos at http://www.georgeandsandra.com/ It is a guarantee that I got more out of writing this than you did reading, so thanks for indulging me… if you even made it this far.

I’ll hop off my soap box now and get back to the mission.

George