First Hand Report from Baghdad

NightTrain

VIP Member
Aug 29, 2003
1,425
88
83
Wasilla, Alaska
Here is an up-close perspective from a reserve JAG officer, LTC Mike Sawyers, on active duty in Iraq. It's always interesting to read first-hand accounts that are not presented by, and filtered through, the media:



You may read many things about the recent deaths of Sadaam's two sons here in Iraq. Let me tell you, as an eye witness, what occurred here in Baghdad.

About 2130 hours (9:30 p.m. for you civilians) last night, about six of us were huddled around a DVD player watching a movie. Sustained, small arms gun fire was heard outside. We all put on our flak vests and helmets, grabbed our weapons(, and headed outside. What we saw was amazing.

The entire down town Baghdad area skies was full of red and yellow tracer gun fire. It looked like the 4th of July celebration we had all missed a few weeks ago. The use of weapons in this manner, for the Iraqis, is an expression of celebration. The level of this celebration was obviously intense for they had just heard the news that the two sons were dead and their reign of terror was over, for good. The celebration lasted well into the night.

As mayor of this installation near the Baghad International Airport, I employee about 18 local nationals to work on our electricity, plumbing and to do manual labor. This morning, they were obviously tired from no sleep, but very happy, they had been celebrating all night. They offered their supervisors extra locally made bread and several kinds of fruit, their way of saying thank you from them and their families.

In one short day, the atmosphere and attitude of those locals around us has changed, for the positive.

For those of you or your colleagues who still question why we are here, they should have the opportunity, like I have, to look into the eyes of a people who were truly repressed and now sense that their liberation is really at hand. In the last war, the U.S. let them down by not ousting the dictator. In this war, they did not trust us because their tormenters were still at large and they were not sure that the military would close the deal. Yesterday, the military proved that this liberation is for real.

If you are asked why we are still here, yesterday's action is the reason. We are still here because the mission that we started is not over, but it will be soon. If you think our presence here is not warranted, you have the misfortune of not being able to see the faces of a liberated people.

I have complained about our presence here, I am going to stop doing that now because last night gave me renewed hope that our actions are having a tangible affect on the lives the Iraqi people. I am not naive enough to believe that the violence is over and that the resistance is dead. Instead, every American fighting in this country has seen with their own eyes the fruits of their sacrifice. And for that, I am proud to be here.

Take care and I hope by Christmas to be e-mailing from home.

Mike Sawyers
 
Message from Iraq,

I want to tell you how much I loved my brother. He was an father, a painter, a collage student, and a solder. he was killed when guarding the home of our president, by a guided missle. he lived 7 days after being hit, until he died of infection. Our family has not laughed in months, mother lost her job as a secratary in the police station, father was a gardener, but the home of his employer was distroyed by a American tank, and then they ran to India.

I wanted to be an engineer, my life is over.

We have no money, nothing for food, nothing to check the asthma of my child who goes all night trying to breath, I can't help her!

So very hard to see your children sick, I can't stand it, my life is over.

we tried to borrow money on our small home, but the land title office was looted, NO TITLES REMAIN! We can't prove ownership of our home, who knows who else will make a claim on our only posession.

I have nothing left, my life is over.

I could complain that i have been reduced to begging , but my neighbors are no better off, whom would I ask for money?

To my great shame, my sister was raped, she walked home from the market nude, all the neighbors saw her. She said it was solders, solders who have no leader. there are no police! Nobody to complane to. I could not protect her, there is no protection possible. Who will marry her now? How will she have a family? how will she live?

I do not want the Americans to leave iraq, my life is over, who cares if they steal the oil? Us and everybody we know has lost everything good. Soon they will tire of playing occupier, and leave what is left of Iraq to the iraqi's, except the oil of course, and saddam always owned that anyway.

My life is over, and now, realators in the USA can drive SUVs, why O Allah... WHY?
 
Welcome Abu,

I am very sorry for all the horrible things happening in your life. You say America can stay and steal the oil, as mentioned was by NightTrain, why wouldn't this have been done until now?? so you say??? and would it have been better to leave Hussein in power and have the women in Iraq have no life at all? no school, covered up, no jobs??? I don't think it's the life I could live.

The Americans, did not go there to deliberatly kill your family, friends, etc.. and if some innocent have died, that's ashame and it is sad. But I think I would rather the Americans come and take out the sick disgusting pig of a President the Iraq people had to deal with, then leave him in charge. My opinion!!!
 
Especially since Achmed here lives in San Jose, California.

Nice try, you liberal weinie! Go smoke another doobie with your Berkeley buddies & dream up more injustices.
 
Guess I should have checked that first, dammit! ok, it is my opinion of some of TRUE ARABS those!!! Now for you ABU, if this is the case that your in CA, your an idiot!
 
Damn, you bastards ruined it for me! I knew he was a fake little brown Iraqi when I made my post! I wanted someone to play with!

Come back little brown man! I'll lend you my camel!
 
Well, I don't feel so bad then Jim, you thought it was a camel jockey too ha? :)
 
Originally posted by janeeng
Well, I don't feel so bad then Jim, you thought it was a camel jockey too ha? :)

Stupid, reread my post! I said I knew he was fake and I wanted to toy with him. Now shutup! :D
 
I think I need sleep, I am losing it tonight!!! been staring at this board for too long! :) and who you telling to shut up? And just because he is in CA, doesn't mean he's not a little brown person. They are all over the US.
 
True Janeen that he may be an Iraqi living in the US..but the post makes it sound as though he is living in Iraq. I have to believe that is false!
 
For sure Chuck, now for that, I had to do the same in the Iraq forum! hahahahahaha!
 
He said his momma was a secretary for the police station. Women can't do anything over there!!
 

Forum List

Back
Top