Reflections on Iraq

Photo By Sgt. Omar Estrada | Pfc. Jared C. Heath, a native of West Palm Beach, Fla., and a command driver assigned to the Joint Visitors Bureau, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, utilizes several vehicles to drive the Greywolf Brigade commander Douglas C. Crissman, and Command Sgt. Maj. Ronnie R. Kelley, to and from the flight line before and after missions in and around Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq, Oct. 17, 2011.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ

10.17.2011

Story by Sgt. Omar Estrada 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – The infrastructure of Iraq has morphed several times since the United States led liberation in 2003 when the Saddam Hussein regime was overthrown.

There are many beliefs of what Iraq was like before the war, and how it is now.

Many people agree that the war was beneficial for the Iraqi people and their country, while others believe that Iraq was fine or better before it. However, most believe that a free country with democracy is the best way for its citizens to grow; a democracy that won’t be embraced in a year, but will probably take generations for it to become what it is truly meant to be.

“At that time life was beautiful and easy as long as you didn’t scratch their noses. No one will touch you, no one will say anything to you, everything was under control, there was no democracy; you could not say anything. Democracy was zero but it was good on some things and bad on others.” said Nadia.

Nadia, a linguist with 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq, where she spent the first 37 years of her life. She supported her family by working for 13 years as a chemistry teacher at a high school for girls. Then at the end of 1991, she decided to move to the United States with her family to search for a better life.

“I agree with the liberation 100 percent,” said Nadia. “But the United States should have handled this a different way. If there is a better way than war, they have to do it for the goodness of Iraqi people.” she added.

Troops from the 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division have had their personal experiences in this war, since the early stages of the “Liberation of Iraq” to the latest campaign, “Operation New Dawn."

“My family understands, they know this is what I signed for and they support me 100 percent. I’m not going to say that they agree with everything that’s going on over here, nor am I going to say that I agree with everything that has transpired here, but this is my profession, this is what I chose and my family backs me on what I’ve chosen to do.” said Master Sgt. Sean Carroll, the intelligence operations supervisor for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop and a native of Elk Grove, Calif.

Before 2008, U.S. soldiers were able to defend themselves no matter the circumstance and act alone. Now they have to abide by the Security Agreement, where soldiers rely on Iraqi rule of law.

“Now we have the Iraqi army and Iraqi police, which is part of helping them take the lead on the defense of their country.” said Carroll. “You have to figure out who is doing [illegal activity] then get with the IA’s and request warrants be issued for them.”

Carroll said that by signing some of the agreements with the Iraqis such as the SA, he thinks U.S. soldiers lost the ability to proactively defend themselves, and although he understands why, he believes the conditions make this deployment difficult for the average soldier.

Soldiers have witnessed the several stages that this country and the U.S. Army have gone through. The citizens of the new democratic Iraq are free. Free to express their views and opinions. After going through a storm that has lasted for eight years, the waters have calmed and now it is time for Iraqi citizens to repair their country and improve it.

“I don’t know much of how it was before the war, but I know that they are free now, they can choose their leaders and they don’t need to be scared anymore.” said Pfc. Jared C. Heath, a native of West Palm Beach, Fla., and a command team driver with the brigade on his first tour to Iraq.

After war, peace follows, as well as reconstruction of the broken political structure. Iraqis have been allowed to vote for their representatives in governmental offices by following democratic standards.

“There are good things and bad things that have happened. I hope that the good things supersede the bad things because Iraq is going through a lot of changes.” said Nadia. “This country didn’t even have a democracy, you couldn’t even breathe because you were scared that someone will interpret it the wrong way. Now they are not scared, there is democracy, if they don’t like something they don’t have to agree with you, they have their own mind to say it loudly and be heard.” she explained. The U.S. government has plans that both countries can share a robust and enduring partnership. The country of Iraq now has cabinets and ministries and with the help and guidance of the U.S. Department of State, they can continue to grow.

“Leading people to democracy will not happen overnight, this will be a long process, it’s better for citizens of Iraq to have democracy,” said Nadia.

• Date Taken: 10.17.2011
• Date Posted: 11.07.2011 03:11
• Story ID: 79653
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ