Letter from Iraq

I'm in Baghdad, Iraq.

I'm a soldier with the U.S. Army serving in the 16th Combat Engineer Battalion.

The news you are hearing stateside is awfully depressing and negative. The reality is we are accomplishing a tremendous amount here, and the Iraqi people are not only benefiting greatly, but are enthusiastically supportive.

My job is mostly to be the driver of my platoon's lead Humvee. I see the missions our Army is performing, and I interact closely with the Iraqi people. Because of this, I know how successful and important our work is.

My battalion carries out dozens of missions all over the city -- missions that are improving peoples' lives. We have restored schools and universities, hospitals, power plants and water systems. We have engineered new infrastructure projects and much more. We have also brought security and order to many of Baghdad's worst areas -- areas once afflicted with chaos and brutality.

Our efforts to train vast numbers of Iraqis to police and secure the city's basic law and order are bearing fruit.

Our mission is vital. We are transforming a once very sick society into a hopeful place. Dozens of newspapers and the concepts of freedom of religious worship and expression are flowering here. So, too, are educational improvements.

This is the work of the U.S. military.

Our progress is amazing. Many people who knew only repression and terror now have hope in their heart and prosperity in their grasp.

Every day the Iraqi people stream out into the streets to cheer and wave at us as we drive by. When I'm on a foot patrol, walking among a crowd, countless people thank us --repeatedly.

I realize the shocking image of a dead soldier or a burning car is more sellable than boring, detailed accounts of our rebuilding efforts. This is why you hear bad news and may be receiving an incorrect picture.

Baghdad has more than 5 million inhabitants. If these people were in an uprising against the United States, which you might think is happening, we would be overwhelmed in hours. There are weapons everywhere, and though we are working hard to gather them all, we simply can't.

Our Army is carrying out approximately 1,700 convoys and patrols each day. Only a tiny percentage actually encounter hostile action. My unit covers some of the worst and most intense areas, and I have seen some of the most tragic attacks and hostility, such as the bombing of the United Nations headquarters. I'm not out of touch with the negative side of things. In fact, I think my unit has it harder than many other Army units in this whole operation. That said, despite some attacks, the overall picture is one of extreme success and much thanks.

The various terrorist enemies we are facing in Iraq are really aiming at you back in the United States. This is a test of will for our country. We soldiers of yours are doing great and scoring victories in confronting the evil terrorists.

The reality is one of an ever-increasing defeat of the enemies we face. Our enemies are therefore more desperate. They are striking out more viciously and indiscriminately. I realize this is causing Americans stress, and I assure you it causes us stress, too.

When I was a civilian, I spent time as a volunteer with the Israeli army. I assure you we are not facing the hostility Israelis face. Here in Iraq, we Americans are welcomed by most Iraqis.

I'm not trying to sound like a big tough guy. I'm scared every day, and pray before every mission for our safety and success. This is a combat zone. We are in the heart of the world's leading terrorist birthing society. I remember well how families of suicide bombers who attacked in Israel received tens of thousands of dollars from Saddam for their kins' horrendous crimes. A generation of Iraqis was growing up in a Stalinist worship of such terrorism.

They are no longer.

Instead, Iraqis today are embracing freedom and the birth of democracy. With this comes hope for the future.

Yes, there are terrorists who wish to strike these things down, but this is a test of will we must win.

We can do this, as long as Americans at home keep faith with the soldiers in this war.

We are Americans, after all. We can and must win this test. That is all it is.

# # #

Joe Roche serves with the U.S. Army's 16th Combat Engineer Battalion in Iraq and is an adjunct fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research, a Washington think-tank. Comments may be sent to him via info@nationalcenter.org

Those last few lines tell me that he is clearly a biased Republican.

Because he believes in America? Believe it or not democrats are patriots, too.

But if you want to dismiss it go ahead. I mean, since you can read a "biased republican" from a mile away. Let's ignore the fact that the points he made in the letter are factual and valid.

From his point of view. Obvoiusly, there are many points of views, it's just nice of you to pluck one that fits your ideology

How real can this letter be?
It could be written by someoneelse..
Or it could report false things to mislead people into thinkin that..
Iraq is a safe place and so they can encourage more soldiers to go there.

He is going by his own experience and feeling. You hear all the negative stuff on CNN and in the newspapers because that is the stuff that sells. You never hear about the schools and hospitals being renovated and in operation, or the shots being given to the children.

Most Americans believe we must win the war. So if you think the last line gives away that he is a biased Republican than 98% of America are biased Republicans. We can't lose the war, and we won't lose the war. A democract can say, a green party tree hugger can say that and a republican can say that. He might just be a biased republican but that line doesn't give anything away.

I just don't like the fact that a majority of Americans believe that Iraqi's don't want us there. When in reality, most of the Iraqi's do want us there and President Bush has an extremely, extremely high approval rating in Iraq. Does that sound like a nation that is against freedom? Does that sound like a nation that wasn't begging for a rescue?

The bottom line is we have been making a lot of progress in Iraq. I read an article on the internet about how Al-Queda hasn't been able to hold an election for over two years or so. The American influence in there has drove them out of Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries (for the most part). However, Iraq has been able to hold elections for their presidency and constitution with little violence or resistence. Pretty soon, the terrorists will have to move south to northern Africa because the American influence in the Middle East will hinder their recruitment and growth.

Yes, I picked this letter because it depicted what was really going on in Iraq. Like I've said probably 300 times on this forum before, I know people who were personally in Iraq. I know someone who was a MP in the United States Army and was patrolling the streets of Baghdad, Iraq a few months ago. The stories I've heard, the letters I've read and the conclusions I've made are from first-hand, primary sources that I know and trust. I heard it coming from their very mouths, nothing was lost in translation.

Of course, you can come up with your own mind and I wouldn't expect anything less. However, the media is protraying and covering the war so awful that it makes me puke. On the day of the election CNN decides to state how many people died in the past 6 months. What the hell does that have anything to do with election day? And that number was less than how many people die in America in a year, and America isn't excatly a hot-bed for insurgents. Atleast, not yet.

Maybe I'm one of those "biased Republicans" too because I believe in the mission. I suppose those 50 million Iraqi civilians are "biased Republicans" too. I bet America paid them to go to the polls and vote to pass the constitution that the Iraqi people drafted. I bet they are all American pawns and puppets to get us cheap oil. Forunately, I've been able to keep some of my sanity. I don't believe in that crap, but you have the ability to choose. And thanks to America, so do the Iraqi people.

How real can this letter be?
It could be written by someoneelse..
Or it could report false things to mislead people into thinkin that..
Iraq is a safe place and so they can encourage more soldiers to go there.

It is a legit letter by a US Soldier in Iraq.

How do you "encourage" more soldiers to come to Iraq? If you are in the Army and your post is called up you have to go. It's not like soldier volunteer to go to Iraq, although and you can.

You can talk to your Army recruiter and tell them when you finish Basic and AIT to send you over to Iraq. That's probably the best way to go if you want to fight over there. However, your post really doesn't make any sense unless you are talking about trying to convince recruits to tell their recruiters they want to go to Iraq.

I'm not just stating that this letter came from a biased Republican, but I'm implying that there's more to the story than a one sided perspective. There's another side that shows an Iraq that's suffering, war weary, and unsupportive of the US actions. Sure, it's nice to be optimistic about things, but pushing it to the point where it's an illusion of happiness is just unrealistic.

Edit: A lot of patriotism there, it'd be an effective propaganda tool for recruits. By the way, recruits are down these days, eh?

But the thing is, the media is pushing it towards an illusion of sorrow. Most Americans don't know this side of the War in Iraq. Most of them think US Soldiers are fighting non-stop with 50 million Iraqi civilians trying to force our own democracy and style of government on them. When in reality, it's nothing like that at all.

Most Americans have no idea what's going on in Iraq. I blame the media because they are covering this war awfully. Most Americans are in the dark when it comes to the war. I'm willing to bet 80% of Americans didn't know half the stuff in that letter. The media knows it's going on but that stuff doesn't sell.

Riot, this kid could just be like your second half. Over patriotic & unrealistic. Don't try to covince others that the war in Iraq is the pwn because one person wrote a letter. I mean, what about the dozens of other letters saying they can't stand it over there?

Letters such as these are meaningless. Now quit making these fucking threads for you to ramble off on. Soon enough, because of you, the NLSC will have to invoke a no politics rule.

If the U.S.A didnt blow the living crap out of the country then they wouldn't have to rebulid it. There are better ways then war.

There's another side that shows an Iraq that's suffering, war weary, and unsupportive of the US actions. Sure, it's nice to be optimistic about things, but pushing it to the point where it's an illusion of happiness is just unrealistic.

Care to show any legitimate quotes from the iraqi public (not terroists)

If the U.S.A didnt blow the living crap out of the country then they wouldn't have to rebulid it. There are better ways then war.

What did you want them to do? The tried diplomatic solutions for years. They tried getting something done with the un for years. Nothing happened so they took it into their own hands.

But if you're going to criticise, what would you have done?

There's another side that shows an Iraq that's suffering, war weary, and unsupportive of the US actions. Sure, it's nice to be optimistic about things, but pushing it to the point where it's an illusion of happiness is just unrealistic.

Care to show any legitimate quotes from the iraqi public (not terroists)

Why bother? It's pretty logical if somebody lost a home, wife, parents or a child, could just move on and look forward to a fresh start. To experience terrorist bombings going off on a regular basis and living in fear is gradually becoming the norm. To witness their soverignty slowly being taken away with American occupation is a beauty to watch.

There's sarcasm, granted, but you get my point

you should read the letters published in the book 'Will They Ever Trust Us Again?', those are pretty deep and moving...

I just don't get why are the US Troops in Iraq? I thought they were bombing Afghanistan and lookin' for Bin Laden. They bombed all the mountains and couldn't find him, so they decided to go hunt for the Biological stuff? Wtf, I really don't get it... Why are they even hunting Sadham? Riot please explain.

just try not to think too much

Why are they even hunting Sadham?

I guess they could always just let him go and follow him around again?

I just don't get why are the US Troops in Iraq? I thought they were bombing Afghanistan and lookin' for Bin Laden. They bombed all the mountains and couldn't find him, so they decided to go hunt for the Biological stuff? Wtf, I really don't get it... Why are they even hunting Sadham? Riot please explain.

America currently has over 18,000 troops still in Afghanistan. We are still in extensive searches for Osama Bin Laden. The only problem is Afghanistan is a very rugged country and the terrain is tough. There are millions and millions of places for Osama to be hiding in, if he is even in the country still.

But we aren't in Afghanistan to catch Osama and then leave. We were there to run the taliban out of Afghanistan (which we did) and then rebuild Afghanistan. Afghanistan is now a free country too, thanks to America.

We're in Iraq for numerous reasons. Obviously, the most popular reason is the WMD's. Which, was a justified cause to go into Iraq. He admitted to having WMDs in 1998 and refused to let inspectors in his country for 4 years (1998-2002). He never accounted for the weapons he claimed he had and the weapons the inspectors found in 1994.

But, believe it or not there are a lot of other reasons for the War in Iraq as well. The tyranny in Iraq is one, the oil is another. You could add Iraqi's government was pro-terrorism and terrorists camps were inside Iraq with Saddam's knowledge. Not to mention Iraq was in violation of atleast 12 sancations and policies placed on them by the United Nations.

Do you genocide is a good reason to invade a country? I think so. Saddam was torturing and murdering his own people. He would gas his own people with chemical weapons. The majority (a very high majority) support the removal of Saddam, support the American military in Iraq and support a democracy.

Saddam is a very lucky man. His people want him to be hung and murdered, but he is in a democracy now. He has the right to a fair trial. He has the right to defend himself. He should kiss Lady Liberty everynight when he goes to bed.

And Jackal, this is the general forum. I can post whatever pleases me as long as it follows the rules. I don't think there is an anti-political rule anywhere in the NLSC rulebook, is there? Thank you for respecting my opinion, Jack. Keep it real.

Saddam is a very lucky man. His people want him to be hung and murdered, but he is in a democracy now. He has the right to a fair trial. He has the right to defend himself. He should kiss Lady Liberty everynight when he goes to bed.

I read in Dose magazine that if Saddam is convicted guilty for the 1982 killings, he will be sentenced to death by hanging. Even though he's given a fair trial, I find the death penalty of hanging quite interesting. The trial is supposed to be today, but I read that he's asking for three extra months to prepare his defense better, since he fired most of his lawyers.

And Jackal, this is the general forum. I can post whatever pleases me as long as it follows the rules. I don't think there is an anti-political rule anywhere in the NLSC rulebook, is there? Thank you for respecting my opinion, Jack. Keep it real.

Uh oh...

Yeah, Saddam is trying to prove he shouldn't be in trial. He is a lost cause.

What I meant was instead of killing him on the spot he has the right to a free trial. Of course he's going to die and he should die. I don't know about hanging though, that seems kind of intense.

Yeah, it kinda echoes the infamous Mussulini hanging, but there's more mass media these days now, so it'll be all over the papers making it more known. He should kill himself like what Hitler did, only if he can find matches...

I expect he's probably in a yellow, padded room with no sharp objects.

Here's another letter from Iraq, and guess what? It's not the only one, they just keep coming and coming ever yday.

Four US soldiers have been killed and more were injured in two separate bomb attacks north of the Iraqi capital.

Three soldiers were killed and another was injured in a blast late on Wednesday near Balad, 80km (50 miles) north of Baghdad.

The attack happened a few hours after a US soldier was killed and four were wounded in a roadside bomb near Tikrit.

At least 1,980 US troops have been killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion in March 2003.

Thats not a letter from an Iraqi civillian.

Thanks Riot.