The Castle's Sailor in Iraq - Update 7

In the midst of two weeks of all politics all the time, you may have forgotten there are still two active campaigns on-going in the Long War.  Now that the conventions are over, it's time for another update from LCDR Joe Honan - who is a sailor, deployed from the JFCOM Standing Joint Force Headquarters as a part of Task Force Ramadi who was further seconded to the local ePRT, or "embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team," a State Department activity trying to do their bit.  

They're wrapping up this phase of their deployment.  And apparently doing pretty well, as far as the State Department is concerned: 
 

“Task Force Ramadi has been a breath of fresh air,” said Emery Haskell, senior rule of law advisor for Ramadi. “The programs are a lot more focused, and we are starting to see the tangible results of their efforts.”

Haskell further explained the officers were an ideal fit for the State Department mission.

“It’s been my experience that military officers can easily make that transition from a military role to a diplomatic role,” he said. “The military officers exist in an environment that is results-orientated, and they bring that to the table. We would not have been as effective without their participation.”

Not that I'm surprised, mind you.    You want to read the whole thing - but this is the money graf from Joe's missive:

 "It was really great to see a positive program like that being put on by Iraqis for Iraqis. It was also nice to help them, and very nice to point out that this wasn’t purchased with coalition funds, these were donations by average Americans wanting to help. Most of the time they're a bit taken aback by the thought that strangers care, but that’s America for you. Now I won’t be out again, but I have a point of contact with the Marines Civil Affairs Team if anyone is interested."

Emphasis mine.  You want to read all the way to the end.  There's a little easter egg there for you...
 

Mind you - good thing this isn't an American school - or the student in the middle would be facing mandatory expulsion!

Well it’s been an interesting time. I had what is probably my last official engagement as a member of the ePRT, and what was probably my most enjoyable one.

We were always just a loan from Task Force Ramadi to the ePRT, and with some losses due to people going home we have all been sent back to fill key billets here on the FOB. I’ll be working with the camp mayor, so instead of building capacity out in town I’ll be making sure the troops here have air conditioning and a decent place to live.

Anyway, I was finally able to get out delivering the gobs of school supplies people have sent me. We didn’t end up at any actual public schools, they haven’t started back yet, and the Marine Civil Affairs teams (specifically the interpreter Natalie) said setting stuff out in front of the kids creates sort of a “Lord of the Flies” situation. We ended up in three separate Women’s Literacy Programs, and it was an uplifting experience. Its mostly older women and girls too old to go back to elementary, but they had a few classes for children, and most of the women bring their children, who sit with their mothers. After all this time here, it was a bit uncomfortable being a man with all those women, but it was great to see them working so hard. The programs have sewing classes as well. While we were there we visited a class that had been going on for three months, and an older lady went up to the board to read a few sentences. After we all applauded, she looked at us proudly and said “I could have never done that when we started.” It was really great to see a positive program like that being put on by Iraqis for Iraqis. It was also nice to help them, and very nice to point out that this wasn’t purchased with coalition funds, these were donations by average Americans wanting to help. Most of the time their a bit taken aback by the thought that strangers care, but that’s America for you. Now I won’t be out again, but I have a point of contact with the Marines Civil Affairs Team if anyone is interested.

As some of you know we turned over security lead to the Iraqis here in Al Anbar province on Monday. It’s been a big improvement since the days when Al Qaeda roamed the streets at will. It’s been an amazing change since the bad old days. Someone fired a couple of rockets at us that morning, but in the months I’ve been here we’ve moved about at will, and more importantly, the Iraqis have been comfortable meeting with us, and haven’t been worried about reprisals. I would say that they’re more nervous about coming through our front gate than about being seen as a collaborator. (My joke is: “You just drive until you see a pen flare shoot across your windshield, then stop.”)

Anyway there was a big ceremony and parade, my job was to help escort VIPs from the base to the ceremony, and then wait around to bring them back. So if you see any pictures from this historic event, you’ll see a reviewing stand with a big building in back. Behind that is a smaller building where I was taking a nap. That’s my brush with greatness.


I also went to a luncheon at the fuel distribution point here when it was finished and had an interesting conversation with an Iraqi engineer.

Him: “Are you married?”
Me: “Yes”
“What is your opinion of marriage?”
“I’ve been married 13 years; I don’t have an opinion anymore.”
“In Iraq they say a husband is like a monkey, a donkey and a dog. At first she loves you like a pet monkey, then she orders you around like you are a donkey, then you are an old dog, you bark and bark and no one listens.”
“It’s just like that in America too.”
“Is it true in America you only marry one women?”
“Yes”
“An in America if you leave she gets half?”
“Yes”
He rolls his eyes and says “Thank God I am Iraqi.”