News from Iraq...

My friend, Coby, has been 'in country' for several months now serving as a medic as part of an attachment of body guards for VIP's who visit from the U.S. Namely, he covers politicians' posteriors who come to see what "all the fuss is about" when it comes to why Iraq is not able to stabilize itself from the standpoint of infrastructure, politics, culture and socio-economic reforms. Coby's background is not medical, it's policing. He was a training officer of a S.W.A.T. unit for several years- and is WELL TRAINED on tactics, weapons, and keeping people safe when the you-know-what hits the fan. Soon after Coby arrived in Iraq, his supervisor had the entire squad visit the weapons range to see how his crew stacked up. When the smoke cleared, it was quite evident that Coby had beaten everyone else on the line- handily. The firing range officer was overheard to say: "Who the h@ll shot that perfect target!?" (When he found out it was a 'lowly medic', he nearly had a heart attack on the spot.)

Recently, I heard from Coby via e-mail and I vented my frustration at the lack of information coming from the major networks as to what is actually happening on the ground by our people who are stationed there. He had some interesting insights that none of us will ever hear on the nightly news networks. Here is his reply - unedited:

Where to start about here, geez. I know that whatever the dems have done with our funding its affecting only the troops. We have no ample water supply and have to ration it out, our food supply is horrible and gets guys sick beyond all belief and yet every "VIP' we watch after while they're here gets to stay in the best rooms and eat the best food while we go to our rooms that sometimes don't have power, if the water works then the power runs the pumps wont be so we swelter in our rooms. We run a vehicle motorcade of "multiple guys and vehicles" to do nothing more than carry luggage for these democrats who dont want to ride the same road we just came in on because "its too dangerous for them" and then we run right back down the same route carrying their luggage while they are ferried around in blackhawks at government expense to the tune of a lot of $$$ for no other reason than to come here and complain about the lack of security. The Iraqis that I deal with are basically no more than school yard bullies with rockets and really have no idea who theyre fighting or even why, its just because thats all theyve known for centuries.

The new US Embassy here is in construction and is in shambles because were having to use local contractors to do the work in an effort to "spread the wealth" and once they get the $$$ they are gone and never seen again. Its just a mess here but there are some good points Im sure. Imagine all the public utilities we have in the US being controlled by rival gang members who openly shoot and torture the other and thats what we have here, no one can agree on anything. But yet, the Democrats want to pull our funding and support and even give the bad guys a departure date, Ive never seen a war run by a final deadline date, but then they are democrats. I just hope and prey HC doesnt get elected because we will have a war beyond all belief because she will reduce all troop strength and abilities to support her agenda of only embarrassing GW and all the work he did and has done and will do because of the 8 years of BC padding his own pockets, getting kicked out of his own states Bar Association, nearly impeached and a general shame to the Office in my opinion. But theres always tomorrow and more "VIPS" coming in to do reports for surveys, and surveys for reports and follow up reports for more surveys.

We dont have running water, power or even a stable power grid to leave the country before it turns into a scene from Mad Max, or even support from other countries. Were not fighting Iraqis here, were fighting Iran, Syria, and maybe even China, but the media doesnt say that, yet the proof is launched into our camp everyday in the form of those countries rockets, but our own army cant respond back because of the cuts and needing to get permission from some nimrod whos in 9000 miles away and trying to calculate the political ramifications of a counter assault. Its the US govt at its best, the two parties cant get along so since the dems control the $$$ now they can decide what goes where or will make it so hard for anything to get done quickly with out requiring multiple copies of reports and surveys and projections that its just simpler to ignore the whole thing.

Thats my take on this, its a shame when as a superpower our own country stands divided and unsupportive and broadcasts this everywhere including our sworn enemies houses. Its more of a war in the house and senate than it is here...and dont get me started on the idiots in hollywood who make their money because we are a free country, there is no movie or music industry or even professional sports industry here, theres just lots of people with weapons ready to harm us at any chance.


There is a rawness here in his prose that makes me sit up and take notice. Forget the fact that his grammatical precision is less than perfect, it's 120 in the shade over there and he's getting shot at while he's typing on his laptop. Actually, I'm surprised I got this much at once!

Coby, I, for one, appreciate what you and your colleagues are doing. I'm thankful that my family enjoys the freedoms we have because of self sacrificing folks like you and your comrades. I pray that your family will know peace until you return safe! Come home soon, friend. Come home soon...

-TMS