Photo: Danfung Dennis/WPNThe American forces responsible for overseeing "volunteer" militias like Osama's have no illusions about their loyalty. "The only reason anything works or anybody deals with us is because we give them money," says a young Army intelligence officer. The 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, which patrols Osama's territory, is handing out $32 million to Iraqis in the district, including $6 million to build the towering walls that, in the words of one U.S. officer, serve only to "make Iraqis more divided than they already are."
(Nir Rosen, Rolling Stone)
(Nir Rosen, Rolling Stone)
Did the snippet above catch your eye? It did mine...I have been expecting an article like this to appear.
I am surprised it took this long...
The info hounds tipped me to The Myth of the Surge, written by Nir Rosen and posted on the Rolling Stone web site.
Parts of it provide an interesting look at life on the street in Baghdad...while other sections paint a not-so-flattering picture of our warriors with Eagle Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and their work in the Dora District of Baghdad.
If you have taken your blood pressure medicine and are interested in reading a perspective that may be slightly biased and written with an agenda...give it a read. If not, close my blog down now and come back tomorrow...
Fair warning, you may find yourself gritting your teeth and counting to 10 by the end of page 3 of the article...
If you only want to see the pictures for this feature, which were taken by Danfung Dennis/WPN, click here.
For those who read the article I am interested in your thoughts. Use the comment portion of the blog and tell me what you think. Yes, you can comment as an anonymous user...your thoughts are what count.
Chris, I love you buddy - be encouraged and stay safe!!!
From a grateful father...
Love, Dad
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8 comments:
Thanks, Myron, pretty depressing, but I fear for the most part true in the area of Iraq the author chose to go.
A few weeks after arriving in Iraq, my soldier son wrote that it was clear to him that whether the US left in 35 days or 35 years that there was a civil war to be had and staying there wasn't worth one more American life. He said he had gone there thinking the Iraqis deserved a break after Bush Sr abandoned them. Since that communication from him saying the war couldn't achieve its goals for Iraqis, who were more interested in revenge killing than a new life, he's not mentioned the pending civil war again. I've sent him this article and asked for his feedback. I'll send it along if he has time to comment.
God bless our troops who like faithful spouses serve their country and Commander in Chief "in sickness and in health...". Our wise warriors who make it home will guide the next generation in this proud land, hopefully more wisely than we did.
Proud Mother of a US Soldier
Evening Myron,
Wow. I am still in tears. My heart is broken for the suffering. I am so overwhelmed living in America right now. There are so many things civilians do not understand.
I pray our men come home safe and that Iraq does not become a safe haven for terrorists to expand and conquer.
I hope Chris is doing well. His commander, Dog's CO, is a friend of ours and a great man. I enjoyed your pictures very much.
Thank you for the article. While it breaks my heart to see opinion pieces like this, I am reminded that the liberty the author has is what my husband is fighting for. While many may not want a life full of freedom and worth living, I continue to believe all men are deserving of this! And should be freed from a life of oppression. It is up to the Iraqi people now to live it, and earn the freedoms that have been paid for in blood. My treasure is getting ready to start his day, paying people he used to fight, so they can feed their children. Maybe someday their culture will realize the sacrifices that have been given for them.
I keep you and all our families in my prayers. My best to you and your wife and of course Chris.
Sarah
My son has also said to me on several occasions that an American presence will be in Iraq for many years to come. Without American troops the violence will only erupt again and that terrorists will return.
Many of those that are being paid American dollars to join these security groups are not to be trusted. Often, our troops are being sniped at by Iraqi police or being given false information. My son said that many Iraqis join security groups in order to lead us into traps.
Although we would like to think the author of this article is only giving his opinion much of what he is saying occurs on a daily basis. Freedom comes with a price and the Iraqis who are old enough to fight for theirs need to begin to do so. If freedom from dictators and terrorists is what the Iraqis truly want then they have to begin to take ownership in obtaining it.
God bless our troops who get up everyday to give freedom to a people who may or maynot want it.
Shame on me for not being more familiar with the intellectual icons of the anti-war movement. I had never heard of Nir Rosen before. And after an hour's research on the Web, I can't tell you much more about him aside from the fact that he has vehemently opposed American actions in Iraq since 2003. (No family background, no educational background... nothing except the fact he speaks fluent Arabic and he's an American from New York City. His name suggests that he may have an Arab mother and Jewish father, but who knows.)
Rosen has written many articles in the mainstream media over the years... all painting a very dark and grim picture of the US presence in Iraq. He has argued passionately for a quick end to the occupation since it began. He also blames America for the country's present troubles, arguing there was no friction between Sunni and Shiite under Saddam.
Given all this, the newest article in Rolling Stone is no surprise. The surprise would be for this particular journalist to find a glimmer of hope in what Americans are doing there. Most journalists have no problem finding anecdotal evidence to support their passion, and Rosen appears to be a master at it. I have no reason to doubt that the incidents he writes about are real. But so what? This is nothing more than what the American military itself has been saying.... That it will take years to overcome Iraq's problems. Rosen has argued in the past that Iraq would become a peaceful place if only we'd leave. I don't know of any other analysts that agree with him on this.
The headline, too, I think is silly... "The Myth of the Surge." If you want to argue it's not working, fine, but the surge is no "myth."
Note: I also found out he contributed footage and was interviewed for the anti-war movie, "No End in Sight."
Thanks, Myron. A very interesting story framed to support his agenda of blame, anti-war, and anti-USA. The reality is that tribal hatred and conflict has existed in that region for thousands of years and likely to continue.
If they Iraqi people want a peaceful society, then at some point they need to stand-up, let go of the past and embrace that future. -Joy
I have read "The Myth of the Surge" several times, and have counted to ten each time; here are my thoughts on Mr. Rosen's work: this article contained about 54 paragraphs, and 45 of them were clearly negative toward our troops or America.
His article contained numerous quotes by unidentified sources, and contained numerous debatable assertions. While he cited many instances of the difficulty of this effort, I agree with the comment of "so what". Nobody expects this to be easy, and I recognize that success is not guaranteed or assumed.
I did not detect any credit from him toward the brave effort of our troops, which I presume is an intentional oversight intended to express his contempt for their bravery and sacrifice. He was given access to them, and undoubtedly protected by them while doing his "research."
Consequently, I must conclude that it is his goal to further the opposition of the Anti-war Bush-hating crowd, and to discourage and dishearten our troops and their families. This puts him in the company of the propagandists of previous wars, who I recall were tried for treason.
Accordingly, we can label him as "Tokyo Rosen." Just my observations, for what they are worth.
While history is a reflection of the writer, perhaps we should still look at the content as well as recent experiences. My son who is with the 3/2 SCR emailed me today and reported shots were fired at him while standing at his guard post the other day. Any guess as to the shooter? If you said, one of the Iraqi Militia members we are funding and arming, you win!
God Bless Our Troops and Bring Them Home!
My son is actually apart of Eagle Company and his picture was in the photo gallery. I was so upset over the way he protrayed our Hereos. It is very obvious to me that all of these people that want to talk negatively don't realize that it is the sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers, and sisters of proud americans that give them the right to write such disgraceful articles.
He experiences the war at arms link. I think alot of the people that print negatively don't truely experience the reality of war. Like us that have personal experiences.
I am a Proud Mother of a US soldier of Eagle Company.
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