Original post date:
Friday, March 30, 2007
I have been in the International Zone or Green Zone for about a month now. This is one of the most different tasks I have ever being told to do in the military. When I was first told that I wasn't going to deploy on a team heading for Kirkuk, Iraq and I was switched to the team going to IZ in Baghdad. I thought doing Law Enforcement in the "Heavily Fortified" Green Zone would be almost a waste. "They want me to do Law Enforcement in the middle of a war zone? This is going to be a crappy mission. I rather be doing base security than dealing with military members stealing from the BX," I thought.
One of my first days I experienced something I remember from my past deployment, a rocket attack. However, this one was different. I was driving down one of the main roads in the Green Zone, a 120mm rocket hit a building within 50 meters from where I was. If it wasn't for the building and a barrier wall between us, the rocket probably would have hit in front of me. It didn't phase me much since it wasn't my first time in Iraq and was accustomed to dealing with mortar or rocket attacks. I cordoned off the area, looked for any other wounded, and secured with the scene.
Other than the rocket, the first three weeks were pretty calm. I found out mostly what we deal with are escort violations, which are Iraqis that are in the Green Zone, that need a escort, and are not with them. I found out a lot of Iraqis are not supposed to be in IZ. I realized that I was not patrolling a secure base like Davis Monthan in Tucson AZ, but it is more like a city. That there are so many different groups, US military, coalition forces, Iraqi Government, civilian contractors (Lots of them), and squatters (Iraqis that aren't allow in the IZ). Also everyone is armed from the US military, US government contractors, Iraqis officals, to PSDs (Private Security Details). Some of the civilians here have guns illegally. My first week we had the biggest bust to date, We seized over 115 weapons from a illegal armory owned by Private Security firm.
I also meant our Iraqi Translators. I really can't say much because of the risk they take by helping US forces try to better their country. I have learned much from them since I have been here, especially one called "Lisa." She has taught me a lot about what is going on here. All the hardships she has dealt with in her life she still has time to smile and enjoy some parts of life. All the stories the translators have told me make me realize that I am extremely fortunate to have been born in the US. I realize that our country owes these Iraqis that have risked and lost so much for the mission over here.
I have never written a private journal before. I thought it might help me deal with some of the stuff I feel over here. This deployment will be with me for the rest of my life. I will try to write more about my first month later.
Showing posts with label Security Forces. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Security Forces. Show all posts
Monday, April 12, 2010
My Drunken Rant.
I wrote these blogs in 2007 when I was being deployed to Baghdad. I wrote them on Myspace while I was overseas, basically just to vent while I was over there. They were all private until now. Just in case they are lost on Myspace somehow, I thought I would post them here. This first blog was a drunken rant I wrote before I was deployed. It was after watching the nightly news and seeming the whole country was against what I and my friends were about to do over there.
Original Post Date:
Saturday, February 10, 2007
If you don't want to read a drunken rant from a disgruntle soldier don't read the rest..
I was just thinking about stuff, since I am watching ALOT of my friends getting ready to deploy and I am personally getting ready to go down range also. Some of them of people that don't support this war in Iraq, however everyone I work with understands the importance that the world needs to confront the biggest threat of our time of Radical Islam. I understand that there are millions of Muslims that don't feel the way that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Osama Bin Laden, Sadr, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah (Hisbollah Leader). However in Middle East many Muslims don't stand up for their moderate beliefs and those that do need the support of nations that oppose this radical ideology. I have met many Arabs, Turks, Persions, Pakistanis that I was proud of knowing them. Every time I come back from the Middle East, either from Qatar, Oman, Iraq or Saudi Arabia, I understand the value of the way of life many of us take for granted. Because basically everyone I have ever met ask me how they could come to the United States.
I see the overwhelming opposition of the war in Iraq. I do understand their concern, because since before this conflict began the Bush Administration have made bad decision after bad decision when conducting this war. However, I agree that Bush does understand the threat that is growing in the Middle East and the rest of the world. Most of people I work with do believe that we need to send more troops, the only thing that is getting to us is that increased ops tempo that our career field is getting repeatedly hammered by multiple taskings in the war. Which has cause my career field to have to do 7-9 month deployments back to back. Basically meaning people get back to the home station and within 4 to 6 months they are either going to training to deploy half way across the country away from their families or going directly to the war zone. I myself and some of my friends are going to deploy and are not coming back until Halloween. The problem isn't that we are leaving so often, but how most of the Air Force is only doing 4 month deployments every 12 to 15 months. Some don't ever deploy for their whole enlistment. Personally I feel some people don't pull their weight in my service.
Another thing that is hurting moral to my friends and myself is that we know we don't have the support of the people in this country for our mission. Don't get me wrong I do meet a lot of people that respect our servicemen. I do feel you can still be patriotic and still don't support the war. Most people I feel that don't support this war still love this country. I posted in a previous blog these feelings...
"I believe alot of people that is against the war are still for the troops. The ones are impatient on us winning the war and establishing democracy. I tell them be patient, let us do our job. I just see that alot of people seem to find satisfaction in when they hear that there is a set back in Iraq. Because in their opinion that is making the Bush Administration look bad. Overall everyone should want us to win the war. I can understand if people, not because they want the Bush Adm to fail but because the think that the cost is to high for the results. But like I said, if you ONLY want us to lose this war to make our current govn't look bad there is something wrong with you. In Iraq there is alot more at stake than that."
However I wish people would give us the support we need over there. I wish that the United States would be united against people in Iraq that are tormenting, torturing and basically murdering people in Iraq that are putting their lives and the lives of their families on the line for the future of their country. The Iraqi soldiers that truly are fighting against the people that are against allowing people to pick the pursuit of happiness. It pisses me off when people say that the people that are using IEDs, suicide vests, and mortars to kill people shopping for food "fighting for Iraq" The soldiers I worked with are fighting for Iraq. They are the patriots in Iraq. I was honored to have a small part of being on patrols with them help defending their families and their country that over half the Iraqi population risks their lives to vote for.
Please I beg for the people to just allow us to finish this or at least give us the support we need to try this last time to help the Iraqi people take control of their country against radical clerics like Sadr and his militia and the Sunnis that are repeating attacking Shiite mosques. I have been thinking these last few weeks on how hard it is going to be to be over in Iraq, when most of this country doesn't care anymore if the US wins this. Don't let the 3 deployments I have been on in support of Iraqi Freedom and the years I have spent away from my wife be in vain. Iraq is the central front against this radical ideology and if we don't succeed it will prove the words of the Mao Zedong.
"In appearance it is very powerful but in reality it is nothing to be afraid of; it is a paper tiger. Outwardly a tiger, it is made of paper, unable to withstand the wind and the rain. I believe the United States is nothing but a paper tiger."
The United States can not be a Paper Tiger in the 21st Century. Our children need more than that. I an willing to do anything to win this fight. I am willing to put my marriage and my life on the line for this, I wish to god that this country would be united to support this.....
Original Post Date:
Saturday, February 10, 2007
If you don't want to read a drunken rant from a disgruntle soldier don't read the rest..
I was just thinking about stuff, since I am watching ALOT of my friends getting ready to deploy and I am personally getting ready to go down range also. Some of them of people that don't support this war in Iraq, however everyone I work with understands the importance that the world needs to confront the biggest threat of our time of Radical Islam. I understand that there are millions of Muslims that don't feel the way that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Osama Bin Laden, Sadr, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah (Hisbollah Leader). However in Middle East many Muslims don't stand up for their moderate beliefs and those that do need the support of nations that oppose this radical ideology. I have met many Arabs, Turks, Persions, Pakistanis that I was proud of knowing them. Every time I come back from the Middle East, either from Qatar, Oman, Iraq or Saudi Arabia, I understand the value of the way of life many of us take for granted. Because basically everyone I have ever met ask me how they could come to the United States.
I see the overwhelming opposition of the war in Iraq. I do understand their concern, because since before this conflict began the Bush Administration have made bad decision after bad decision when conducting this war. However, I agree that Bush does understand the threat that is growing in the Middle East and the rest of the world. Most of people I work with do believe that we need to send more troops, the only thing that is getting to us is that increased ops tempo that our career field is getting repeatedly hammered by multiple taskings in the war. Which has cause my career field to have to do 7-9 month deployments back to back. Basically meaning people get back to the home station and within 4 to 6 months they are either going to training to deploy half way across the country away from their families or going directly to the war zone. I myself and some of my friends are going to deploy and are not coming back until Halloween. The problem isn't that we are leaving so often, but how most of the Air Force is only doing 4 month deployments every 12 to 15 months. Some don't ever deploy for their whole enlistment. Personally I feel some people don't pull their weight in my service.
Another thing that is hurting moral to my friends and myself is that we know we don't have the support of the people in this country for our mission. Don't get me wrong I do meet a lot of people that respect our servicemen. I do feel you can still be patriotic and still don't support the war. Most people I feel that don't support this war still love this country. I posted in a previous blog these feelings...
"I believe alot of people that is against the war are still for the troops. The ones are impatient on us winning the war and establishing democracy. I tell them be patient, let us do our job. I just see that alot of people seem to find satisfaction in when they hear that there is a set back in Iraq. Because in their opinion that is making the Bush Administration look bad. Overall everyone should want us to win the war. I can understand if people, not because they want the Bush Adm to fail but because the think that the cost is to high for the results. But like I said, if you ONLY want us to lose this war to make our current govn't look bad there is something wrong with you. In Iraq there is alot more at stake than that."
However I wish people would give us the support we need over there. I wish that the United States would be united against people in Iraq that are tormenting, torturing and basically murdering people in Iraq that are putting their lives and the lives of their families on the line for the future of their country. The Iraqi soldiers that truly are fighting against the people that are against allowing people to pick the pursuit of happiness. It pisses me off when people say that the people that are using IEDs, suicide vests, and mortars to kill people shopping for food "fighting for Iraq" The soldiers I worked with are fighting for Iraq. They are the patriots in Iraq. I was honored to have a small part of being on patrols with them help defending their families and their country that over half the Iraqi population risks their lives to vote for.
Please I beg for the people to just allow us to finish this or at least give us the support we need to try this last time to help the Iraqi people take control of their country against radical clerics like Sadr and his militia and the Sunnis that are repeating attacking Shiite mosques. I have been thinking these last few weeks on how hard it is going to be to be over in Iraq, when most of this country doesn't care anymore if the US wins this. Don't let the 3 deployments I have been on in support of Iraqi Freedom and the years I have spent away from my wife be in vain. Iraq is the central front against this radical ideology and if we don't succeed it will prove the words of the Mao Zedong.
"In appearance it is very powerful but in reality it is nothing to be afraid of; it is a paper tiger. Outwardly a tiger, it is made of paper, unable to withstand the wind and the rain. I believe the United States is nothing but a paper tiger."
The United States can not be a Paper Tiger in the 21st Century. Our children need more than that. I an willing to do anything to win this fight. I am willing to put my marriage and my life on the line for this, I wish to god that this country would be united to support this.....
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