An Army from Nothing

If you look at the Continental Army of 1776-1783, you see some similarities between them and the Iraqi Army (IA) today. I say this with some caveats: The Iraqis are fighting the counterinsurgency; back then the Americans were the counterinsurgency. The Iraqis are a fledgling Army, struggling to fill big shoes, fight a very different war, and stay centered despite being pulled in many directions from many different agencies and people.

But both Armies started from scratch, particularly since Paul Bremer dissolved the Iraqi Army and Ba'ath Party affiliation (the only bureaucrats and guys who knew how to run stuff in the country). George Washington's Army had no equipment, no logistics, no training, no barracks, no training area. They scrounged, begged and borrowed everything they had. They endured harsh weather, and they built the Army out of nothing.

Such is the same with the IA. Today after a clearing operation/hide and go seek mission for insurgents, we visited one of the Battalions that was in on the search. They have a building in the middle of town with some barriers around it. No aid station, no dining facility, no plumbing, electricity sometimes, no heat (not to mention AC), and the "barracks" they do have are tiny, cramped rooms with waaaay too many people living in them. Most of the buildings leak. The architectural style/theme of everything they are building seems to be rubble. They make the best out of what they have, and on the whole, it isn't too bad. They don't complain about it-- they just do it. And they have been doing a very good job of it-- our town has enjoyed relative peace for a substantial amount of time.

We get asked for vehicle parts, wood, boots, and barrier material almost every day. While the goal is to exercise the infant Iraqi Logistics System, sometimes it's better to throw them a bone and let them taste success. The IA soldiers and leaders I talk to are genuinely appreciative for everything America has done over here. Most are excited about their new future. Some are impatient, but nowhere near the quantity you would think.

On another note, here is a story about the coalition unit that we work with.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gaNB-PUaA-f81WAERLWIUhKCnBGAD951ATP80

Iraqi soldiers are sometimes funny. A lot of what they do is image-oriented. Like having four different guns sticking out of the top of a truck, but two are broken, and only one has ammo. One guy had an American Army Wet Bulb thermometer designed to measure true air temperature on a tripod strapped to the back of the truck turret, as if it were some magical device that would keep him from getting hit by direct fire or an IED. He didn't know it was a thermometer, but a credit to his reasoning is that no one else knew it was a wet bulb thermometer. Funny, in a strange Iraqi sort of way.

12 more shopping days...

Hope you are well-- take care.
Ron