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Saturday, April 21, 2007

Shooting your own foot…

Every now and then you run up against a wall that you just can’t climb. You have a choice go back, go around, or tear it down. Earlier this week we hit just that sort of wall – literally. I knew there was trouble ahead when I received questions from the media about a press release distributed from one of the commands about “Gated Communities.” The release told the story of a long wall being built considered the “Central to the strategy of our new security plan” and that this great idea would permanently divide the Sunni from the Shi’a. Problem? - Hell yeah… For one its not accurate… this is absolutely contrary to every message I have heard from our commanders and/or work I’ve done here at HQ. I realized very quickly this was going to create a real challenge. I started raising flags with the team and the boss. You see Temporary Security Barriers are tactical walls built to protect the people in areas with increased or constant acts of violence, such as a marketplace recently hit with a car bomb. They are definitely not a strategy, not meant to be permanent and were never intended to segregate people based on religion. Barriers are put up because they are determined by local community leaders and the commanders on the ground to be a good temporary solution. After reading into all the elements I predicted this was going be an issue.

Sure enough a couple days later and it is a big topic with the media, the local community, the Government of Iraq and even the US public. We’re trying our best to provide correction but the story is out there and building a life all its own. Because everyone has an opinion, bias, or motive, something that was intended to be an innocent “Progress in Iraq” story quickly degrades into a tug-o-war of will. The facts - well they may be another casualty in the war of controversy. Unfortunately due to some oversight or misguidance somewhere down the chain this may be one case where we have to tear down the wall regardless of the benefits. Things are tough enough around here without miss-managing our own messages.

So why do I share this with you? I am fascinated by the power and limitations of communications and its ability to effect change. I am also intrigued by my ability to game this out to its ultimate conclusion (I figured out where this was going while I was responding to the queries.) I am so convinced I even put “my money where my mouth is” and accepted a cash bet on it. Hmmm…and based on an email I just received… looks like my wallet is gonna get a little heavier.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Oh the humanity oh the irony…

NBC’s decision to release a post-mortem video of a murderer only validates my concerns about Western Media. Where is the responsibility and compassion for the victims? Perhaps TV producers and their viewing public have become so desensitized that we no longer know right from wrong. Both sides are at fault. They are looking for ratings and they know everyone will watch. Have our lives become so mundane that we must focus incessantly on the tragedies of others? Just like “rubber-neckers” at an auto accident we are so consumed with seeing anyone else’s misfortunes.
More bizarre is the ironies generated from this tragedy… I sat in the boss’s office today watching a split screen of CNN and Al Jazeera.
CNN – “Breaking-news” of an incident that broke 3 days ago and has been running for not stop. (Not so breaking anymore)
Al Jazeera – 1 minute briefing of a mentally ill student and 29 minutes of other just as important headlines.

How about these Ironies:
Doesn’t the self-produced delusional diatribe released by NBC resemble the “last goodbye” martyr tapes released by Suicide Bombers? Tapes that Western Media typically refuse to broadcast while Arabic media quickly push out as credible?
Contrarian as usual Al Jazeera took the high-road: deciding not to broadcast the post mortem rantings of a murderer and condemning the environment that creates such horrific personalities. What happened to their Martyrdom?
What does it say when you can get more substantial, balanced, and responsible Western Media style news from a Pan-Arab outlet?

Other things to consider:
How many angry youths are now complimenting their weapons cache and disturbed attitudes with a “must-have” video manifesto?
How long until Al Qaeda takes responsibility and praises the actions of their South Korean “brother.”
Just how different are we from the Middle East?
In my desire to defeat extremist in all their forms I suppose I could travel half way around the world to fight fanatical young men with delusional thoughts acting out their homicidal ideas. Oh Wait?!?

Here’s an interesting idea… how bout for once we take a page from the people here in Iraq now do after they lose 200 + people in one day and just let the people in VA grieve without all the many weeks of intrusion and deconstructionist sensationalism.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Blood Money: turning tragedy into promotion

The happenings at VA-Tech only illustrate that Baghdad does not hold a monopoly on senseless acts of violence. Using Anna Nicole as an example we will have 24hr coverage of this incident for at least 3 months. Regardless it is sensational enough that it will take some of the pressure off us for at least a week - probably two. Now I haven’t had too much time to really watch the news on this event but I have seen more than enough of the over exposed “student come CNN reporter.” Someone who happened to be in the right place at the right time with his cell phone to capture a bit of ruddy video. Trust me it is little more than an audio file. Additionally I have seen this new pseudo reporter giving exclusive interviews of what he witnessed which appears to be little more then speculation on the events inside. He couldn’t see much… he was outside with his little cell phone. So why is he suddenly out there so visible as the lead spokesperson? I fully expect he now has an agent and a movie deal. Wait… Is that a new wardrobe? It’s a sad state of affairs that he is using a tragedy to get his 15 minutes.

I have also seen several clips of students wearing branded matching school T-shirts during interviews. I clearly understand that they wore the shirts for solidarity but it dawns on me that those shirts sole purpose are to market a product – VA-Tech. Now I love beating the drum as much as the next marketing guy, but come on… On this occasion I think a black arm-band or simple scarf provides a lot more taste. Wearing matching marketing T-shirts is just too much a slap in the face during what should be a grave and solemn moment. This isn’t a prep-rally after all.
There is a point were shameless marketing becomes inappropriate manipulation of unfortunate circumstance. Hopefully all this will backfire but unfortunately I’m not sure people will see through it. After all this is America; home of Obsessive Compulsive Viewers and the worlds best marketing and promotion minds. I know many of you (Mr. BUA) are saying Mr. Pot Meet Mr. Kettle. Notice you’re both the same color. OK I suppose I am somewhat responsible but even I have my limits.

I mean let’s think about the ramifications here. Strategically where is this going… marketing packages for post catastrophic events such as a high profile car bomb, suicide vest or IED?
“Joes Auto Repair – If we can fix it you don’t want it.”
“This vest sponsored by Al Qaeda custom clothing – serving Iraq, Iran and Syria since 2003.”
“Searching for a loved one? Google The worlds most powerful search engine.”

Perhaps this place has affected my already morbid sense of humor to a point of no return but now more than ever I feel some lines must never be crossed! Lines that I believe are starting to blur…

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

“Heart-wrenching”

I wrote a briefing that used that word… as in the challenges the Iraqi people face have been “heart-wrenching.” The word didn’t make the final chop. Quite possibly for the right reasons. I have no issue with having my work edited. As a matter of fact I welcome revisions. The final product, I feel, always ends up so much stronger when the team inserts their various experiences and perspectives. So today’s briefing went on without that word and as a matter of fact the engagement went great. More over the specific phrase, edited by the team, was so strong and pronounced that it become the quote used in many major outlets. So the team once again was right on the mark

After our engagement we came back to the office to find multiple car bombs with a tremendous amount of Iraqi casualties. As we always do, we jumped into action and begin to ply our trade. However I saw something in all of us. This event really spent us in some way. I thought about our recent experience out with the Iraqi people and I can say that for me this is the first time those numbers are not merely figures on paper. They represent real men, women, and children who were simply trying to live their lives. Soccer players. Studio technicians. Proud Moms. Eager Dads. And nosy smiling kids on their bikes. It all brings me back to one simple word… "Heart-wrenching!"

Monday, April 16, 2007

Vegas or Bust!

One thing that is certain around here is that everyday someone is coming and someone else is going; esp. those short tour Air Force types. You meet all sorts in this small constrained universe and sometimes for reasons explainable to few you build close bonds with folks that may very well last a lifetime. If you’ve read this blog for any length of time you’ve met a couple – Mr BUA, Free, Dave… Well the day has come to say Fair winds and Following seas to yet another such a friend. Tonight Capt Kj heads home. As has become a sort of tradition for me and since she is a glamorous blogger in her own right I asked her to guest blog on her exit. Based on our high-minded, intellectual conversations I fully expected a profound expose summarizing her time her. But true to her blogging form she gave me... Well she gave me exactly what she should have… A true Capt KJ Blog perfect for Glamour Magazine. See you on the other side sis...

OK... you asked for it. Not sure it's that funny, but anyway, it's a snapshot from the mind of a very strange and disturbed individual who uses wars as a way to recover from ended relationships.

My war of breakups

I thought that, in my guest blog for Hollywood, I'd address something sophisticated, in depth, and meaningful. Yeah, so for most people, this whole Iraq war has been about big things--oil, industry, dictators, trans-national terrorist groups, government conspiracies, impending fundamentalist theocracies (take your pick: Islamic or Christian), and that kind of thing. For me? Not so much.

I was discussing this with Hollywood and another friend a week or so ago, and realized that this war has been about my breakups. I remember the countdown to the Iraq War because I'd just broken up with a boyfriend the night before the ultimatum was announced. During the resulting sleepless nights, I kept the TV on and was quite cheered--OK, maybe the word is "distracted"--by signs of chaos and destruction... oh, excuse me, "shock and awe" that lit up our screens all night long during the initial phase of the war.

By the time the "good TV" portion of the war was over, I was done with the worst of the shock and awe of breaking up with the guy and I was ready to move on into the rest of my life. I was going to be moving (from Maryland to Ohio) in a couple months, so my time and energy went into that.

However, my involvement in the war personally was also precipitated by a breakup. This breakup was not my idea (yeah, he sprung it on me out of nowhere--from my perspective, that is), and it was correspondingly hard to get over. I moved (from Ohio to Alabama) and continued to find myself hung up on the guy, so much so that I never really moved into my apartment (after six months I still had unopened boxes sitting around and nothing actually on the walls), and it was getting into that time of year when, the year before, we'd been starting up our relationship...

So when the opportunity to deploy opened up, I jumped on it. I knew that, heck, if I can't avoid the one-year-anniversary of... you name it... then I'd at least be able to be somewhere that would keep me too busy to think about it. And so I landed in Baghdad. And at the year anniversary of my breakup, here in Baghdad, I thought about it briefly (I think?), and then moved on. A day later we had a rocket attack and I forgot all about it.

So this war has started with a breakup and then REALLY started for me with... a breakup. So I'm thinking I need a breakup to announce the end of the war. I'll work on that.

Capt. Kj

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Prison Break…(Part 2)

We pass the make shift check point as the “guards” stare at what I’m certain is an unusual site for them - two troops and an civilian in battle rattle carrying notebooks not rifles. Pen is mightier then the sword? Screw that… I miss my M-16A2 right about now. We continue our trek but now we have picked up a “tail” from the impromptu cp, who is making no effort to hide the fact that his is following us. He is complemented by several Iraqi’s jumping roof top to roof top pointing and watching. The two Iraqis hiding behind a car just ahead and to the right don’t make us feel much better. My little situational awareness voice is definitely talking to me.

Rules of Engagement are clear… Do not fire unless fired upon. I unsnap my 9mm and keep walking. No sense in at least not being prepared. We have a mission as silly as it may be. To be fair there is a large taskforce of US forces about a couple hundred meters before the initial check point we came too. So relatively speaking we are safe. The problem is that the large taskforce is about a couple hundred meters before the initial checkpoint we came through so we are currently isolated and, in a fire-fight, cut-off. The situation now seems so ludicrous the three of us can’t help but crack jokes. By now I’m thinking this is more like Donald Sutherland, Clint Eastwood, and Telly Savalis in “Kelly’s Heroes”… three soldiers behind enemy lines walking down an empty street to meet up with a waiting enemy.

As we come up to the car with the two guys “hiding” I am relieved to see they have a set of tools on the ground. They are fixing the damn car. Never mind that this car is blocking a road and their crouching tiger act looks as suspicious to us as we there stationary toting soldiers walking aimlessly down a deserted street are a curiosity to them… they are just fixing the damn car. Just when I think I can breathe the guy behind us moves up on us and points to us to turn down the road way at the car next to the two guys tinkering on the ground. As I turn the corner I look up to see… An Alley way… An Alley way with a bombed out building at the dead end… A bombed out building at the dead end with no windows and many potential sniper’s nests. Yep… We have now passed directly into hell and this is “Black Hawk Down!” Our impromptu guide urges us on so we tell him “fine you go first we’ll follow.” We walk another 200 meters to a hidden corner and there to the left is a street that leads to a large court yard with a crowd of people…

At first glance I’m taken a back unsure of the reasoning behind the horde. One thing is evident; they are as surprised to see us as we are of them. Just on the other side of the large gathering I can see the bosses’ truck so we continue walking forward. At least we’re in the in the right place. All is revealed as we clear the building on our right. Football… (Soccer) the rest of the world’s national past time. And it’s being played here in the middle of a city on a raised field with green grass - GREEN GRASS! I miss green grass. Talk about absolutely unexpected. This doesn’t look like a war zone at all. Everyone here seems to be having a good time… uh except us. We suddenly had a “One of these things is not like the others” moment. We remove our helmets and try not to look so threatening. We catch up with the rest of the team and begin the long day of production shoots and media engagements in production news studios that could have been Anywhere USA. We completed our work and headed back to the HMMWV where I greet a few children with a smile of confidence. Time to convoy back to the “Prison of Outlawed Children.”

Lesson learned? These are just people trying to live their lives the best they can in extremely adverse conditions. I won’t even try to deny there are dangers here but I guarantee there are places in the US where I would also prefer to have my battle rattle and a M-16 Musket.
The reality is people are really the same all over. Kids will be kids; soccer players - soccer players and families - families. And we all possess our own “special” eccentricities. But at the end of the day, we all just want a safe place to live, play and grow old with dignity. The fact they are out here living their life gives me hope that Fardh Al Qanoon really is making a difference.