I spent about six weeks in Iraq researching the Army’s Civil Affairs mission: its methods, goals, and effectiveness. Vietnam was my generation’s “war to win the hearts and minds of the people,†and Iraq is that kind of war for a new generation. Here are some impressions. A War of Their Convenience American casualties in [...]
When I saw American soldiers at the back of the trailer under siege, I abandoned the pretense of journalism and joined them. For a few minutes that day I reacted spontaneously, predictably – the way we always react when our team is under stress: the way warlords, kings and presidents always expect us to react, when they consider making war.
Before American invaded Iraq, the White House didn’t say that the our objective was to fix radio stations, build gas stations, or put color-coordinated awnings on privately owned Iraqi shops. All of those things became America’s burden after it occupied the country.
If a father or son, mother or daughter dies out here convincing Iraqis to do what they already know how to do, can we really look at it as a successful mission, a victory? If we’re more than four years into the war, and it still takes a 57-year-old first sergeant to come here and say “OK, turn on the spigot†is it a victory for us when they do?
Unless you have been here, you do not appreciate the extent to which women have been integrated into the Army, and are ready to fight.
This mission became symbolic: American courage and military power reduced to fixing potholes in the middle of the night. Dedicated soldiers trying to do their duty and stay alive on one lonely road, at the end of which Muslims persisted in waging their private war, that had begun long before America was born.
An outsider unaccustomed to the rhythms and vagaries of this frustrating war, and not compelled to make excuses at the end of this particular day, found it impossible to hold back from keeping score
If infantry is “the point of the spear” in a shooting war, Civil Affairs is the spear point in the battle for hearts and minds.
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