BAGHDAD, Iraq - The "Green Zone" movie is out in theaters. The movie is inspired by the book "Imperial Life in the Emerald City" by journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran, the Washington Post's bureau chief in Baghdad during and leading up to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.
The book is popular with many of our officers in Baghdad. It's great historic background on our area of operations set during Operation Iraqi Freedom's start.
However, according to several Internet sources, "Green Zone," the film version of the story, is a fictionalized drama on the occupation and governance of the heart of Baghdad by the Coalition Provisional Authority. The plot deals heavily with the U.S. search for weapons of mass destruction.
Fast forward to today. The Green Zone is a 5.6 square-mile-area in the heart of Baghdad that is the center of power for new Iraqi government. And, to be totally clear, Iraqis are not interested in calling it the Green Zone anymore.
The proper name for this area is the "International Zone" or the IZ. During the rougher periods of recent U.S. involvement in Iraq, "the green zone" worked as title as it connoted safety or a more relaxed weapons posture for our military.
An equal and opposite comparison is a "red zone," which signifies danger and requires a loaded weapon and a heighted state of readiness for soldiers. To get away from these language issues associated with the old name, again - now Iraqis want to call it the IZ.
So, how are Texas Army National Guard soldiers involved in the IZ today?
After leaving Houston in late 2009, the 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team headquarters deployed to Baghdad. The unit is currently operating as the Joint Area Support Group-Central, responsible for the security, administration and transfer of properties back to the Iraqis in the IZ.
Currently, Texas Soldiers move around the IZ today in relative ease, going from different U.S.-controlled sections of the IZ to conduct missions. We keep our protective gear close as the risk still remains for indirect fire and improvised explosive devices.
Overall, Iraqi soldiers are running the IZ security efforts with support on request from U.S. soldiers. The IZ entry control points are all run by Iraqis now, with minimal American presence, unlike several years ago.
And it's a welcome change as it means the U.S. drawdown is well underway.
As U.S. troop numbers continue to diminish to 50,000 by August 2010, our soldiers in the IZ are actively preparing by conducting property transfers and continuing to train and assist the Iraqis when needed.
Over the next several months, we're anxious to see how the new government will be seated followed March 7th's national elections.
What was once the nerve center of Ba'athist Iraq, is now the birth place of the new beginning of Iraq and Texas Soldiers are here as witnesses in the IZ.
That's the news here. And, for God sakes, don't call it the "Green Zone."
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.11.2010 10:39 |
| Story ID: | 46519 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 380 |
| Downloads: | 334 |
This work, The Green Zone: More Than a Movie, by 1LT Darryl Frost, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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