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by Most everyone has witnessed the major events of the conflict in Iraq through the eyes of CNN and other major news networks. We watched as Saddam was captured, his sons killed, and his regime toppled. We've seen the countless reports of roadside explosions, suicide bombers, and hostage executions. But what you seldom find on the major networks are the stories of individuals. Far removed from the strategic events reported on the news are the individual soldiers on the ground at the tactical level. Their daily lives consist of 'patrolling,' which is the primary method the military employs to seek out everything from intelligence to the enemy. Patrols are probably the most demanding and frightening things that soldiers have to do. With the successful completion of each patrol come the joy of survival and the fear of tomorrow.
Matthew Vea provides us with a first-hand look at the daily patrols conducted by the U.S. Army. With his camera, he paints a vivid picture of how the seemingly serene environments that soldiers patrol are often the future scenes of the horror and tragedy presented by the major news networks. Hopefully, this article will leave you with a better understanding of the difficult routines that soldiers face on a daily basis.
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0 Nerd-Its
Camera?
Matt, what sort of camerea did you use for these photos? ...external lens? I really like the depth in the image of the men pushing the truck, but my cheap digital camera doesn't offer anything in the way of focusing like that.
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0 Nerd-Its
Patrolling for the sake of patolling
Matt,
Great article and pictures. I couldn't agree more that 'a day in the life' of the common soldier is something grossly neglected in media coverage. I know the American people support the troops but it's unforntunate that they know more about what the insurgents are doing than their own soldiers.
As for patrolling, I think it's important for people to know that sometimes soldiers are sent for no reason, in other words simply for the sake of patrolling. Many times there is no mission, no task, no clear purpose, no translator, no threat update of the area you are going to, and sometimes the given route takes you places where your radio won't even reach back to the headquarters element. Concerns that my leadership didn't know what to do and simply sent me out to see if my patrol would come into contact (aka get shot at) was a constant source of frustration. I think anyone who has been to Iraq can relate to that situation at least in part.
Possibly even more frustrating than not having a mission on a patrol was second guessing about your reaction to an IED or contact with the enemy by staff officers or leaders who rarely left the comfort or safety of the bunker back at the base.
Despite all this, the patrol, whether mounted or on foot, is a necessary means to combat the insurgents that continue to plague Iraq and it will remain a part of the soldier's daily life until the last soldier comes home.
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0 Nerd-Its
Reader Question About Sewage
I was stopped in my rapid pace through and internet seach by the words, "The Baghdad suburbs are often flooded with raw sewage after the Iraqis allowed the treatment plants to fail."
I just was wondering if you understand the connection, between the bombing campaign on Iraq in 1990, and the 12 years of ensuing sanctions, to all of this.
Actually, there is very little connection at all. Baghdad is, after all, the capital city of Iraq. Despite the sanctions, Saddam lived in quite luxurious conditions himself and a lot of "reconstruction" existed ... on his properties. The money there went largely into his own personal interests, the interests of his close advisors/allies (aka best friends), and into buried vaults. There is absolutely no question that the opportunity for Iraqis to have fine living conditions existed, it just wasn't given to them. Look no further than Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and UAE (amongst others) for states that do allow oil wealth to filtrate to their citizens. And thirteen years is more than enough time for such an action to transpire.
And the statement is actually quite accurate. The military sponsored many improvements to the townships (electricity, rebuilt schools, sewage & waste treatment, etc). After turning control of the facilities over to the Iraqis ... they largely let many of them devolve into non-functional utilities. Or the insurgents destroyed them as a "lesson" for accepting aid from the West.
If you want to look at the damage incurred by bombing operations, do not picture bombing runs as you see them in the movies (largely WWII and Vietnam style). Those munitions are barely in use for the operation striking cities these days - the damage is quite localized and definitely repairable given the money that exists there. There simply was not an interest by the regime in the citizens.
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The Iraqi Situation by americanorganist :: NR0 :: Show
Thank you for an excellent article. I plan to sit down later and read it in more detail.
I'll admit I think this action on the part of our government was a mistake, but not because the decision became a military one. The military is taking the correct action, and those who serve are doing the right thing.
What would I have done, had I been in Bush's position? I would have hounded Osama bin Laden to the ends of the earth and made a public spectacle out of him. Do I support military action in Afghanistan? You bet I do.