All,
I haven't sent an update in a while, and as we are in the 13 1/2 month of a 15 month deployment, frankly I am a little tired which minimizes my energy to write e-mails just to write. I know all of you are busy doing what you do (it isn't easy preparing your "unit" to win the National Championship -- but I am pulling for Coach to do it). But I figured that if I gave you a quick heads-up as to what is going on here, you would find the time to read it and "stay informed."
What really spurred me to write was any of the multitude of articles relating to the testimony of General Petraeus to Congress last week. I cannot comment on what he said point for point, nor can I comment on what he was asked point for point -- not only do I not have TV for the most part where I am out, I don't have the time to read the transcripts either. The truth is, I really don't want to. We have hosted multiple congressional delegations down here South of Baghdad and in every case, those who wandered far away from the Green Zone all walked away with a more positive view of the progress being made. A few weeks ago, REP Baird (D-WA) visited us and told us that he absolutely voted against the war on multiple occasions, but that after a brief (by yours truly) and a tour of our market he said he had changed his mind. True to his word, when he returned back to the states, he announced the same to the media, much to the chagrin of many of his peers. As for those who "visit" but never venture far from the Green Zone, well I am not sure that they were over here to see any progress made anyway.
Now while I would rather not get into the political fray (it is so polarized right now that I don't think either side really cares to pay attention to what is happening) what I do want to do is tell you how things are for me and my Soldiers right now.
We haven't had an IED in our area since May (since shortly after the May 12 attack when our Soldiers were ambushed and two were taken prisoner). We haven't had any major attacks on our Soldiers in almost three months and we haven't had a casualty since we lost one on an air assault the beginning of August (and it was May for the last one before that).
Since our Soldiers were killed in May, the tribal leaders have stepped forward and have committed to fighting Al Qaeda with the Iraqi Army and with us. This occurrence was much more subdued then the more publicized "Anbar Awakening" but it has the same effect. We have established personal relationships with all the major tribal leaders in our area and that has enabled us to secure our area, improve the essential services and help these people get on with their lives. Every area has power now (for more hours a day than Baghdad and higher than 2004 levels) and that also equals better water. We have rebuilt 4 schools and are rebuilding all the rest in our area -- two more should being construction this week. Roads are open to civilians for the first time in 4 years and the kids are all back to school. In fact, this morning the local school minister conducted make-up testing for the school kids that missed the tests at the end of the last school year.
Where we had on average 10 attacks a day, mostly lethal attacks that resulted in death or injury, for the first 10 months we were here, we now AVERAGE less than one a day for the last 3 months.
Commerce is so much better -- the largest market in our area (where the congressmen toured) was hit by a vehicle IED last October and has been operating at about 20% capacity until about June. Well now it is at about 85% capacity and the locals are actually building new stores to keep up with demand.
I would be lying if I told you that I would rather be here than home with my awesome kids and lovely/wonderful wife. But I am enjoying myself and I never imagined that we would make and see as much progress as my unit has experienced over the last year+. I also talk to so many of my friends and peers all over the country. Some are still sustaining casualties, but even in those areas, everyone agrees(in my circles) that things are so much better today than they have been in a long time.
I read an article in the Stars and Stripes newspaper by Adrianna Huffington that said that there is only one side of this story and that no matter what anyone says, we are losing over here. Maybe I just had a bad night's sleep for one article to bother me so much. I have never met Ms. Huffington but I can say with certainty that she has never visited Southern Baghdad, nor has any of the naysayers that seem okay with the United States quitting and leaving the Iraqi to fend for themselves.
Now even if you don't agree with war, or if you don't agree with why we went to war, I do believe that all of you support the Soldiers -- heck I hope you all at least support one Soldier and his unit). Well, be proud in what this Army has done with your support behind us. In the last 6 months, we have really turned this country around and headed in the right direction. We have reached out and are bringing Iraqis together for the first time in years.
The next time you are at your favorite Starbucks and the discussion turns to Iraq, speak with confidence that the men and woman who represent our great country are doing well and doing it right. With time, we will be able to leave Iraq in the capable hands of Iraqi security forces, with the hope that the region is a little more stable in the hands of a proud people and not in the hands of a dictator.
I tell the Sheiks around here that my next visit to Iraq, I want to bring my son to visit them all and show him how the tribal systems work and how beautiful and historic a country Iraq is. Now that is a few years off, but the point is, there is an optimism around here that hasn't been prevalent in probably a few years (though I am always optimistic).
I hope to be home sometime in November and if I am lucky I will be able to see many of you over the next many months. I hope all of you are doing well. Even though I have not done a good job of keeping you all updated on a more frequent basis, know that you all are in my thoughts constantly.
Thank you again for all of your support and most of all, your friendship.