Letter from an Iraqi Soldier

Well Kids, its official...

Actually its been official for a couple of days, I just haven't
had the balls to write everyone. We're being extended until December.
Not much else to say except a lot of profane things. A lot of self pity
too. So I'll save you all from that. Since I do have all your attention
I will say this...Do not believe everything you see on TV. Whether it
be Fox, CNN, the networks, NPR, Jesus or the PTA. Be smart, think
independently. I'll share some of the things I learned so far and I'll
debunk some rumors and B.S. for you: The Sunni's and Shi'ite's really
hate each other.


But they hate us too. Alliances change daily. Most Americans
don't ever know who they are fighting and who are their friends. US
troops will have to deal with this distrust for their "allies" for an
additional 3 months.

Most of the Iraqi Police are corrupt and untrustworthy. Most
US troops who work with them, sleep armed and post a guard, just to look
out for IP's trying to kill them. They must work with them for 15
months now. Most of the Iraqi Army are Shiite militiamen. US troops try not to
release Sunni insurgents to them. The troops will have to continue it
for 15 months.

Nothing stops EFP's. Nothing. They rip through up-armored
Humvee's like driving a steak knife through a beer can. Not much left of
the US soldierafterwards. I've handled the recent dead. I know. Those poor
kids will have to go into hell for an additional 3 months.
Unless we deploy 500,000 US troops, the surge will not make a
difference, except to provide more cannon fodder for the enemy. Over
170,000 US troops have served more than one tour in Iraq, however,
everyone in country now must serve 15 months. Draft anyone? Contrary to
popular belief, US troops do not shoot at everything and/or anything.

This year in particular, the Rules Of Engagement (ROE) is so strict that
most units that get engaged out in sector NEVER fire a shot. I've talked
to one company who recently lost four men. Not one gunner shot one
bullet in response to being attacked. Not one. But four were lost. They
were extended to 15 months too.

Route clearance is performed by 20 year old combat engineers.
The same guys that cleared paths for the infantry on Omaha Beach in
1944. Well, they go and look for the EFP's and the IED's on the route's
used by military convoys. They complain that the roadside bombs are so
well hidden that its not whether they find them in time. Its a
matter of time when the bomb finds them. One group I worked with got hit
by a large one, but instead of killing Americans, it misfired and killed
about 2 dozen small school girls walking back, hand in hand, from
school. You never heard about it on the news, but the soldiers I
counseled couldn't stop crying over it. Most of them are daddies, you see. But
because they were on a rescue mission to save a stranded American squad
under fire, the soldiers couldn't stop to render aid. They will never forget
it. They were extended to 15 months too.

Private sector contractors (profiteers) start, with less than 3 years of
experience, at a salary of $86,000 for a warehouseman. I'm a medical
sergeant with 5 years of service and I make about $32,000. The
contractors don't get extended 3 additional months.

Mental healthcare and medical care is only at the DoD's attention now
because they got caught at Walter Reed. In Iraq, the care is abyssmal
for our troops. I could go on for days, but why bother.

Most of the insurgents who get arrested are released back into the
communities, due to lack of space or due to political affiliation.
Women are in equal danger as men. Female Military Police and often
leading patrols into the city, as do females in support roles.
There are no "front lines" anymore. Substance abuse occurs here all the
time. So does murder. So does rape. But you don't hear about it because
it would make the military look bad.

Our country is amazing and a place worth holding dear, but very
insidious things lurk in our government. Things we see here. Things you will never
hear about. Things that you would never think could come of America.
Be careful what you believe.

Not everyone here dies the way the paper says they do.

Some people aren't as brave as they say.

Some people were more heroic than you will ever know.

The "All Volunteer Army", isn't.

The human spirit can be broken, but it needs time to heal.
Here, it can't.

It might take a village to raise a child, but it takes a world
to teach him and only one man to kill him.

If one person hopes and dreams and cares enough for another
human being, they can save a life.

Self identity is more than knowing yourself. Its being yourself.

Wars end. Memories can't.

The veterans of this war won't have welcome home parties or parades in
their honor. They'll be thanked for their service and sent on their way.
Sometimes its better to have a car with no rear window. That way you
can't look into the rearview mirror as you try to drive forward. Maybe
that's all that will ever matter... looking forward.

Sorry, with the exception of my R&R I haven't had a day off
since August 31st. Looks like I won't get another one until Christmas,
so I'm a little tired. Tend to babble a bit. But that's how I'm looking at
the world right now. Just a few lessons I learned the hard way so I
thought I'd share them with you all.

Thanks to my beautiful wife for being so supportive through all this
crap. She never once wavered or left my side, even though she's 10,000 miles
away. I certainly couldn't do this alone.

So, I probably won't be as talkative anytime soon. Know that I'm
thinking of you all and that I wish you all the very best. Someday I look forward
to seeing each and every one of you. But until that time, take care of
each other.