A Plundering We Will Go...

Day by day we continue to build the Squadron in Iraq. As mentioned before, we aren't switching out with another unit, so we have to "build the airplane in flight." Also mentioned before, there are not as many units here as before, but they left a lot of useful stuff around. So as we receive our stuff from the States and we gather stuff that has been assigned to us from other bases around Iraq, opportunities arise for us to fill our shortfalls and get other stuff, and sometimes it is best to not ask where this stuff comes from.

Scouts are great at 'figuring things out.' So today we got word of an abandoned building here on the base that had some stuff in it. What began with an orderly "let's send a couple of guys over there to see what is in it" turned into a full-on Katrina-style grab-and-go by the line Troops. Furniture, office supplies, a weapons rack, some power transformers (convert Iraqi 230 to US 110)--it was all on sale, and all for the right price.

Initially it seemed right: We were 'repurposing.' This stuff had been in that building since the last unit left- months ago. Heck, we were saving the Guvmint money by not spending subsequent tax dollars on stuff that was already available. All seemed right. Sort of.

Then the MPs showed up.

I was not present for the opening of said building, nor did I visit it during its 'liberation.' But had I asked some targeted questions beforehand, all of this would have immediately been revealed as suspect, and we could have gone about a different way to make it right. The following outlines the line of questioning after the incident:

Me: Who told us about the stuff?
Staff guy: A civilian who works at Division.
Me: So who opened the door?
Other staff guy: It was open when we got there.
First staff guy: Well, it was opened for us.
Me: Did he have the key? Did he unlock the door?
Other staff guy: He opened the door...
Me: Did he use a key?
First staff guy: Uhhh, yes sir, about that-- He sorta used a knife....

After some conversations with the MPs, the FOB Mayor, the actual alleged owner (Army guy) of the building, all is fine. In fact, tomorrow the guy who did in fact "own" the building is going to take us to another one tomorrow to take a crack at that one.

"The incident" highlights an important fact: We have been here for eight years, and all of this stuff we have built up here isn't going to magically teleport itself out of theater. There are decisions being made by echeloned working groups that will determine what stays and what gets turned over to the Iraqis. Some of it the Iraqis will pay for, some of it they won't. Most of it would cost more to ship it home than it is worth, so it will get signed over to the Government of Iraq.

One thing is evident, as previously highlighted: Drive around this place for an hour and it is easy to see why the war is as expensive as it is. We did it to ourselves- I think in some ways our government felt they had to 'give the Soldier everything they need to fight the war' so they wouldn't feel guilty for having 1% of the population of the nation do the bidding for the 99% that couldn't stomach it. So units here ordered and contracted everything they needed and wanted to excess, and no one ever really told them no. I am sure KBR had their hand in it too- "you bet we can do that! Sign here and don't ask about cost!!!"

The danger of this (other than a colossal waste of money) is we have created a generation in the Army that thinks a two-man CHU, their own F150 pickup, flush toilets, gallons of contractor-supplied hot potable water, salsa night, internet on demand, and four hot meals a day is now the standard, and anything less than that they are being deprived and somehow persecuted.

Everyone wants to leave, but there is no way we can maintain this standard of living until the end. Services will have to be cut, and it is already starting, much to the dismay of some of the units that have become accustomed to their "entitlements." The way out of Iraq will likely drastically change all of those expectations.

Good times lie ahead! Stay tuned!

Ron