I got this from The BBC forum:
Posted by Bryan Suits Baghdad, 10 December
This has been a valuable experience. I've enjoyed reading comments from Iraqis. I don't have a lot of patience for the opinions of those who are not here to see things for themselves. When I was home on leave I was dumbfounded by the disconnect between reality as I knew it in Iraq, and the American television punditry. All were carrying on about "The Arab Street" and other bits of silliness. I know it sounds like a cop out, but I've never felt more strongly that people who haven't been a part of this need to give some credit to those of us who have.
Regardless of what you think you know about the US Army in Iraq, I guarantee it's come to you through the media's filter. I spend the vast majority of my time amongst Iraqis. I respect most of their culture and the rest bewilders me. I know that we Westerners are confused by much of what happens in this part of the world. But I continually try to understand. I have forged real friendships with the people who are supposed to hate me the most.
In the end, they've learned that Americans are idealists. My men aren't here for the money. With one vocal exception, my men want to leave here knowing they made it better. America didn't install Saddam. Any of the cynics out there who persist in that fiction have no real understanding of what kind of man Saddam was.
Why isn't the UN here helping this place prepare for its first real election? I have no idea. I can only guess that lingering bitterness over the American decision to go to war with Saddam has clouded their ability to see the larger good. I hope Afghanistan changes their mind. As for me, I can report that in my area of responsibility today, no one was killed for opposing the government. No one was killed because of the way they worship. No athletes were tortured because of poor performance. No ethnic minorities were gassed. And no cheap limestone palaces were completed for the price of 200 schools.
What did happen was that an American lieutenant and his eight men from the west coast of the United States drove south from Baghdad at 0800. They drove in the near freezing morning air to review a water line which will bring tap water to a town that hasn't had it in years. They arrived at 0930 and were recognised by a man who brought them coffee instead of the traditional tea. He remembered the lieutenant from three weeks ago when he gave the man a pound of American coffee called "Seattle's Best". Through a translator the man said that soon he'll make the Americans' coffee from fresh tap water, not bottled water. The coffee was thick and sweet, flavoured with cardamom. The aroma and flavour were luxurious. After a few minutes the inspection was complete and the Americans went on their way to their next stop. The man with the coffee and the lieutenant shook hands and the man pulled him closer to kiss his cheek. The lieutenant was once uncomfortable with this, but after 10 months this feels like an old custom.
Posted by Bryan Suits Baghdad, 10 December
Regardless of what you think you know about the US Army in Iraq, I guarantee it's come to you through the media's filter. I spend the vast majority of my time amongst Iraqis. I respect most of their culture and the rest bewilders me. I know that we Westerners are confused by much of what happens in this part of the world. But I continually try to understand. I have forged real friendships with the people who are supposed to hate me the most.
In the end, they've learned that Americans are idealists. My men aren't here for the money. With one vocal exception, my men want to leave here knowing they made it better. America didn't install Saddam. Any of the cynics out there who persist in that fiction have no real understanding of what kind of man Saddam was.
Why isn't the UN here helping this place prepare for its first real election? I have no idea. I can only guess that lingering bitterness over the American decision to go to war with Saddam has clouded their ability to see the larger good. I hope Afghanistan changes their mind. As for me, I can report that in my area of responsibility today, no one was killed for opposing the government. No one was killed because of the way they worship. No athletes were tortured because of poor performance. No ethnic minorities were gassed. And no cheap limestone palaces were completed for the price of 200 schools.
What did happen was that an American lieutenant and his eight men from the west coast of the United States drove south from Baghdad at 0800. They drove in the near freezing morning air to review a water line which will bring tap water to a town that hasn't had it in years. They arrived at 0930 and were recognised by a man who brought them coffee instead of the traditional tea. He remembered the lieutenant from three weeks ago when he gave the man a pound of American coffee called "Seattle's Best". Through a translator the man said that soon he'll make the Americans' coffee from fresh tap water, not bottled water. The coffee was thick and sweet, flavoured with cardamom. The aroma and flavour were luxurious. After a few minutes the inspection was complete and the Americans went on their way to their next stop. The man with the coffee and the lieutenant shook hands and the man pulled him closer to kiss his cheek. The lieutenant was once uncomfortable with this, but after 10 months this feels like an old custom.
