TangneyK

Having spent almost a year in Iraq, and about 6 months in the "real" world to process what I experienced down there, I'm going to start writing some experiences and observations I've had on this thread. Please feel free to attack my observations (as they are subjective), but please don't attack the validity or integrity of my experiences (as I've tried as hard as I can to keep them objective and truthful to the best of my abilities/memories). I have no POLITICAL PURPOSE for this, however, many of my opinions will probably lean one way or the other. (They're opinions... DUH.) I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything. Rush Limbaugh and Al Franken get paid way too much to do that as it is. So, here we go...

One of my many jobs "downrange" (a combat zone, in this context meaning Iraq) was to escort Iraqis on and off the Forward Operating Base (FOB) and supervise them doing work. After I got to know a lot of the guys, I asked them the question that I think is/was on everyone's mind:

"Are you glad that the US came in here and kicked Saddam out?"

To which they ALL replied:

"Yes. Saddam muzien (no good)."

I prefaced that question by saying none of them would get into any trouble as a consequence for their answer. I'm 99% sure that they were telling the truth, because the next day I asked another question:

"Ok. You're glad that Saddam is out, right?"

Iraqi's: "Yes."

"Now, is your life any better because of it?"

Iraqi's (paraphrased): "Not really. We have a little bit more money now, but we have no security (physically or financially). We are afraid. It is a different fear than with Saddam, but we are afraid all the same."

Huh.

--Kevin

__________________
__________________
Gear:
--CD Player
--LOTS of Recordings
--A Trumpet
--A Flugelhorn