Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Times
April 8, 2008 By Richard Tomkins, The Washington Times
FORWARD OPERATING BASE NORMANDY, Iraq — Behind the recitation of facts and figures by Gen. David H. Petraeus in Capitol Hill testimony beginning today, the fluctuating moods and emotions of U.S. troops here are much harder to gauge.
Do the Americans — many of whom have survived multiple deployments of more than a year at a time — see the surge as a success? Do they see Iraqis making progress, taking responsibility for public safety, their own lives and their nation's future?
Responses vary from day to day and often depend on when the questions are asked.
When soldiers return from a mission outside the base, the frustrations come fast and furious. Later, when the tension eases and soldiers are a bit more relaxed, responses are far more reflective.
"[The Iraqis] were shocked when we came. When we got here, we walked around and the people didn"t even want to make eye contact with us," said Sgt. Rudy Parreno of the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. "They were scared. All they heard from al Qaeda were these stereotypical things about American forces. It took them a little while to gain a sense of trust.
"An older man with his family came up to me the other day and said that for the first time, he and his family have been able to have a good night's rest. That means a lot. That lets you know that everything you're doing in sector is paying off. You're making a difference."
The Stryker regiment has been involved with both urban kinetic combat and rural operations that goes back long before President Bush announced the troop surge more than a year ago.
In 2004 to 2005, the unit was deployed in the northern city of Mosul from their home base in Vilseck, Germany.
In September and October 2007, they fought pitched battles in southeastern Baghdad. In January this year, they chased al Qaeda out of Diyala province's "breadbasket" region, where al Qaeda had ridden roughshod for the previous two years.
Their mission today is not only to keep terrorists out of the Diyala province, just northeast of Baghdad, but also to help Iraqis take control of their own security, bridge sectarian divides and learn the ropes of local democratic self-governance.
When they left Baghdad, the East Rashid and Dora neighborhoods were returning to life, an early indication that the buildup of U.S. troops was improving public safety in some of the capital's most dangerous neighborhoods.
Residents driven out by sectarian and terrorist violence were returning; schools and markets were reopening.
"I definitely think what we've done has been worth it," said 1st Lt. Brian Evans, from Oregon. "Just seeing the change in communities from the time we, for example, entered Dora; the effect we have had by our work and just our presence — reassuring people [of their safety] and helping and allowing the [Iraqi army] and [Iraqi police] do their jobs better because we were there.
"The real test of time will be when the surge is over," Lt. Evans said. "Will the advances made during the surge and the big steps we took forward last, even when we go down to a lesser number of soldiers?"
By and large, soldiers interviewed during the past month are positive about what they have accomplished. They are also disheartened by the 15-month deployment schedule. Most take it in stride — most, but not all.
"I'm getting out" of the Army, a specialist by the name of Allen interjected while a reporter was talking to another soldier.
"We should just get the [expletive] out of this country. We never should have come here in the first place. We're spinning our wheels. This place has been war-torn since the beginning of time."
Sgt. Jeremy Brown from Wyoming gave a less-emotional assessment:
"I want to leave. Obviously, there would be repercussions, but it wouldn't be overnight," he said.
Sgt. Brown, on his second tour in Iraq, said he was frustrated by "having to hold [the Iraqis'] hands. When I came back, I expected that a lot more IA and IP would be doing the things I'm doing now — policing," he said, using military acronyms for the Iraqi army and Iraqi police.
Spc. Allen's anger and Sgt. Brown's disappointment, however, may be more reflective of outlooks that inevitably fluctuate with the rapid cycles of stress and release during month after month in combat.
A re-enlistment officer said that at the halfway mark in the fiscal year, 90 of the 250 soldiers up for re-enlistment in the unit have done so. The goal is 188, and he has little doubt that will be achieved.
"We almost lost this thing early on by not understanding the human domain, and I hate to say it but I was as guilty as the next guy," said a captain on his third tour who requested anonymity.
"In 2004, we were fighting out of the [forward operating bases] trying to win this by clearing or destroying the enemy. Now we understand the human dynamic of the counterinsurgency fight. We understand that to win this thing, we must leverage the population.
"I truly believe we are making progress. ... It takes time. But if you watch American politics, it would make you think we don't have a lot of it."
April 8, 2008 By Richard Tomkins, The Washington Times
FORWARD OPERATING BASE NORMANDY, Iraq — Behind the recitation of facts and figures by Gen. David H. Petraeus in Capitol Hill testimony beginning today, the fluctuating moods and emotions of U.S. troops here are much harder to gauge.
Do the Americans — many of whom have survived multiple deployments of more than a year at a time — see the surge as a success? Do they see Iraqis making progress, taking responsibility for public safety, their own lives and their nation's future?
Responses vary from day to day and often depend on when the questions are asked.
When soldiers return from a mission outside the base, the frustrations come fast and furious. Later, when the tension eases and soldiers are a bit more relaxed, responses are far more reflective.
"[The Iraqis] were shocked when we came. When we got here, we walked around and the people didn"t even want to make eye contact with us," said Sgt. Rudy Parreno of the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. "They were scared. All they heard from al Qaeda were these stereotypical things about American forces. It took them a little while to gain a sense of trust.
"An older man with his family came up to me the other day and said that for the first time, he and his family have been able to have a good night's rest. That means a lot. That lets you know that everything you're doing in sector is paying off. You're making a difference."
The Stryker regiment has been involved with both urban kinetic combat and rural operations that goes back long before President Bush announced the troop surge more than a year ago.
In 2004 to 2005, the unit was deployed in the northern city of Mosul from their home base in Vilseck, Germany.
In September and October 2007, they fought pitched battles in southeastern Baghdad. In January this year, they chased al Qaeda out of Diyala province's "breadbasket" region, where al Qaeda had ridden roughshod for the previous two years.
Their mission today is not only to keep terrorists out of the Diyala province, just northeast of Baghdad, but also to help Iraqis take control of their own security, bridge sectarian divides and learn the ropes of local democratic self-governance.
When they left Baghdad, the East Rashid and Dora neighborhoods were returning to life, an early indication that the buildup of U.S. troops was improving public safety in some of the capital's most dangerous neighborhoods.
Residents driven out by sectarian and terrorist violence were returning; schools and markets were reopening.
"I definitely think what we've done has been worth it," said 1st Lt. Brian Evans, from Oregon. "Just seeing the change in communities from the time we, for example, entered Dora; the effect we have had by our work and just our presence — reassuring people [of their safety] and helping and allowing the [Iraqi army] and [Iraqi police] do their jobs better because we were there.
"The real test of time will be when the surge is over," Lt. Evans said. "Will the advances made during the surge and the big steps we took forward last, even when we go down to a lesser number of soldiers?"
By and large, soldiers interviewed during the past month are positive about what they have accomplished. They are also disheartened by the 15-month deployment schedule. Most take it in stride — most, but not all.
"I'm getting out" of the Army, a specialist by the name of Allen interjected while a reporter was talking to another soldier.
"We should just get the [expletive] out of this country. We never should have come here in the first place. We're spinning our wheels. This place has been war-torn since the beginning of time."
Sgt. Jeremy Brown from Wyoming gave a less-emotional assessment:
"I want to leave. Obviously, there would be repercussions, but it wouldn't be overnight," he said.
Sgt. Brown, on his second tour in Iraq, said he was frustrated by "having to hold [the Iraqis'] hands. When I came back, I expected that a lot more IA and IP would be doing the things I'm doing now — policing," he said, using military acronyms for the Iraqi army and Iraqi police.
Spc. Allen's anger and Sgt. Brown's disappointment, however, may be more reflective of outlooks that inevitably fluctuate with the rapid cycles of stress and release during month after month in combat.
A re-enlistment officer said that at the halfway mark in the fiscal year, 90 of the 250 soldiers up for re-enlistment in the unit have done so. The goal is 188, and he has little doubt that will be achieved.
"We almost lost this thing early on by not understanding the human domain, and I hate to say it but I was as guilty as the next guy," said a captain on his third tour who requested anonymity.
"In 2004, we were fighting out of the [forward operating bases] trying to win this by clearing or destroying the enemy. Now we understand the human dynamic of the counterinsurgency fight. We understand that to win this thing, we must leverage the population.
"I truly believe we are making progress. ... It takes time. But if you watch American politics, it would make you think we don't have a lot of it."