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By Ralf W. Zimmermann, Defense Watch
One year after our Blitzkrieg victory in Iraq, it’s time to
reflect on the realities confronting our troops. It now seems,
the war is far from over – maybe it has just begun in earnest,
with many troops extended on combat duty and others alerted to
return.
With that situation confronting us all, I was appalled to read
a recent commentary on the situation in Iraq by Colorado Sen.
Wayne Allard, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
In an interview with the Colorado Springs Gazette, he
demonstrated that he hadn’t lost any of his well-known
political naiveté. Allard was absolutely convinced that the
recent uprisings against the occupation forces were merely the
work of a few thugs and that it would soon be
all over. Allard furthermore insisted that US troop morale was
sky-high, even after the Army announced that the 1st Armored
Division and the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment would longer in
Iraq.
Who is he kidding?
Then the Senator “glowingly” elaborated on his recent visits
to Mosul and Balad, and especially praised the corrupt
Halliburton gang for doing a splendid job in feeding our
grunts: “They have four main courses. Then they had fast foods
– hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, and they had desserts. Everyone
was happy and had high morale,” Allard insisted. Yes, the
Iraqis loved us being in charge.
Look, I’m a non-political ex-grunt and I don’t deny that our
troops are doing the damn best to make candy out of crap in
Iraq. I talk to them all the time. Yes, schools are being
rebuilt and in many ways life is becoming more normal for
Iraqis.
Still, Allard and many of the political cheerleaders of war
have no clue what tough conditions the Army grunts and brave
Marines are really experiencing in beautiful Iraq. Too often,
our politicians fall victim to the head-table syndrome and
only associate with handpicked troopers who are well-rehearsed
in sweet-talking VIP visitors.
Had Allard talked to the troops in the muck and on patrol, the
story could sound different. The job out in the red-zone
remains tough and dangerous. Cities are like jungles –
three-dimensional battlefields. Inside, bad people, many not
identifiable with uniforms, are trying to kill you in any way
possible. GI Joe and Jane must return fire, often causing
civilian casualties, further increasing the hatred of the
locals.
Even with shoddy intelligence, we should know by now that the
resistance movement is growing and it’s organized. Each
operating cell has its own weapons cache. Operational orders
are issued in decentralized fashion.
When interviewed by a western reporter a few months ago, one
group leader gave the guerilla strength as around 100,000
human bombers. He quoted weapon supplies as including seven
million Kalashnikovs, two million hand grenades and about
80,000-100,000 rocket-propelled grenades. Many of the fighters
are former Fedajeen Saddam who’ve learned their lessons – not
to play open warfare against America’s high-tech killing
systems. They appreciate the city jungle where their AK
rifles, the homemade bomb and the RPG are miraculous
equalizers.
And does the population love us as Allard stated?
I don’t buy it! I just came across a report by another
European journalist who has followed several American patrols
through Baghdad. One patrol led by a young sergeant was
greeted in a downtown bar by many happy Iraqis. The Iraqis
offered the troops gratuitous alcoholic drinks, which they
happily accepted. The Americans felt good to be loved. But as
soon as the troops left the place, the bar crew threw the
Americans’ shot glasses against the walls, rendered the one
finger victory salute and swore to kill more Americans during
the night.
That’s the reality of guerilla war and we must come to grips
with it. The Iraq War ain’t over – the recent religiously
motivated uprisings and the continuous road bombings
demonstrate it. This is a war that will take time and is best
judged by those in the frontlines, not by politicians enjoying
four-course Halliburton meals.
Nonetheless, as the Iraq War drags on, Americans must continue
to do right by our grunts, the ones paying the price in
precious life, blood and devastating injuries. Please make
their homecomings honorable and heartfelt, not superficial
sales gigs – especially since many of those troops might be
sent back to the kill zone again.
And while on the subject of Sen. Allard, who is determined to
save the $300-million-a-copy F/A-22 air-to-air fighter, I’d
gladly sacrifice that piece of pork to better fund all
agencies dedicated to helping our injured vets and their
families. That’s truly giving hope and care to fellow
Americans.
DefenseWatch
Senior Military Correspondent Lt. Col. Ralf W. Zimmermann, USA
(Ret.) is a decorated Desert Storm veteran and former tank
battalion commander. His recent novel, “
Brotherhood of Iron,”
deals with the German soldier in World War II. Zimm can be reached at
r6zimm@earthlink.net or via his website at
www.home.earthlink.net/~r6zimm. © 2004 LandserUSA
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