9.26.2004
A Military Lawyer's Perspective from inside Iraq.
Anyone who reads international news on a daily basis is quite aware of the United States and its ongoing struggle in Iraq. Much of the American population -- it seems -- is dead set against our presence there (it's all based upon a 'lie', you see). Just as many Americans, on the other hand, while cognizant of the lurching feeling of war and its uncertainty, believe the cause is right, just, and moral -- for reasons amply stated in the blogosphere.
Most of us who are interested are far away from the theater of operations, and get our news the best way we can. One of the greatest sources is the individual blogger in Iraq, be he or she Iraqi, or military personnel. One such blogger is Eric of Dagger Jag. He is an attorney within 1st USArmy Div, 2nd Brigade.
The excerpt below is from a post which responds to a concerned commenter's fundamental questions over the basis of the US Military's presence and purpose in Iraq:
You see, there's a viscious cycle of violence here in Iraq that, in many cases, feeds off of the poor, unemployed, and disillusioned. The projects we initiate are contracted to Iraqi companies that employ thousands of laborers and provide a much needed infusion of cash into the local economies. (Our soldiers don't actually go out and build all these projects.) We're trying to tackle the economic issues because, as the economy improves, so will security.
We advise local leaders because they really do need some assistance in figuring out how to run a government outside of a dictatorship. Again, it may seem strange that soldiers are advising government officials on democracy, civil society and the rule of law. But I think many Americans would be surprised at the talant and skills that our soldiers and officers have. In addition to being able to "find, fix and destroy the enemy through fire and maneuver" we have engineers, scientists, economists, doctors and, yes...even lawyers whose skills are being used each day. There are undoubtedly other organizations that would be better suited to advise local Iraqi leaders but, for some strange reason, none are willing to come and lend their expertise (at least not outside Baghdad).
This young officer may not be a polished journalist, but he writes well enough, and he is in Iraq, on the ground. I'll take his 'take' any day over NPR's Daniel Shore spouting off Pugh research statistics which indicate all of the Arab world and most of Europe despise our efforts to do the right thing.
Anyone who reads international news on a daily basis is quite aware of the United States and its ongoing struggle in Iraq. Much of the American population -- it seems -- is dead set against our presence there (it's all based upon a 'lie', you see). Just as many Americans, on the other hand, while cognizant of the lurching feeling of war and its uncertainty, believe the cause is right, just, and moral -- for reasons amply stated in the blogosphere.
Most of us who are interested are far away from the theater of operations, and get our news the best way we can. One of the greatest sources is the individual blogger in Iraq, be he or she Iraqi, or military personnel. One such blogger is Eric of Dagger Jag. He is an attorney within 1st USArmy Div, 2nd Brigade.
The excerpt below is from a post which responds to a concerned commenter's fundamental questions over the basis of the US Military's presence and purpose in Iraq:
You see, there's a viscious cycle of violence here in Iraq that, in many cases, feeds off of the poor, unemployed, and disillusioned. The projects we initiate are contracted to Iraqi companies that employ thousands of laborers and provide a much needed infusion of cash into the local economies. (Our soldiers don't actually go out and build all these projects.) We're trying to tackle the economic issues because, as the economy improves, so will security.
We advise local leaders because they really do need some assistance in figuring out how to run a government outside of a dictatorship. Again, it may seem strange that soldiers are advising government officials on democracy, civil society and the rule of law. But I think many Americans would be surprised at the talant and skills that our soldiers and officers have. In addition to being able to "find, fix and destroy the enemy through fire and maneuver" we have engineers, scientists, economists, doctors and, yes...even lawyers whose skills are being used each day. There are undoubtedly other organizations that would be better suited to advise local Iraqi leaders but, for some strange reason, none are willing to come and lend their expertise (at least not outside Baghdad).
This young officer may not be a polished journalist, but he writes well enough, and he is in Iraq, on the ground. I'll take his 'take' any day over NPR's Daniel Shore spouting off Pugh research statistics which indicate all of the Arab world and most of Europe despise our efforts to do the right thing.
// posted by HunterByrd @ 8:54 AM 
