Just Another Day In Baghdad

On Fourth Anniversary Of War: More IED Casualties, Reports Allen Pizzey

(CBS)  Allen Pizzey reports from Baghdad on what it's like there on the 4th anniversary of the Iraq war.

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If you want to know what it's like to be in Iraq four years after the war started, take a ride with the 410th Military Police. Based out of Fort Hood, Texas, the 410th now makes its home on the edge of the Baghdad International Airport in a sprawling base known as Camp Victory.

Several days a week, its members make the treacherous trip to an Iraqi police post that is being turned into one of the Joint Security Stations. It's where American and Iraqi forces will live side by side, 24/7, to make the new security plan a reality.

It's in Ghazaliyah, arguably the most dangerous of Baghdad's many suburbs. The road leading to it is "interesting," as one of the MPs cheerfully says.

"There was a catastrophic hit on it yesterday," he says. The 410th's MPs are attacked "on a regular basis" with small arms fire or improvised explosive devices, known as IEDs.

The "hit" under discussion was an IED that wrecked a Humvee, killing four soldiers. Their deaths would not be officially announced until later in the day. The military waits 24 hours after a fatality so next of kin can be informed before they read about it in the paper or hear about an attack on TV and have to wonder if it is a loved one.

Getting off Camp Victory and onto that road takes half an hour. There is a briefing, and the pause at the gate to "lock and load." The driver of the Humvee I'm in hefts a belt-fed machine gun out to slap ammunition in place. It weighs about the same as she does.

Private First Class Shalimar Fischetti, who cheerfully answers to the nickname "Fish Sticks," is half-Puerto Rican, half-Italian. Her helmet hides a haircut that would make Sinead O'Connor look hirsute, and she handles the heavily-armored Humvee with deft confidence.

It's not just driving, she explains. "I have to keep my eyes in the houses for snipers, watch for IEDs, and potholes."

It's Fischetti's first deployment in Iraq, but many of the soldiers on this outing are on their second and even third tours. It's different each time.

"The first time I was over here," says Staff Sergeant Robert Engelemeir," then you knew who the enemy was. Now, you don't really know. Now everything evolves everyday."

He even concedes what might be taken as a grudging bit of respect for his enemy's abilities.

"His tactics have got a lot better," says Sgt Engelemeir. "They're getting a lot better at improvised explosive devices, things like that. Not so much small arms fire, but roadside bombs are getting a lot better."

The road to Ghazaliyah is an insurgent's idea of the ideal battlefield. Garbage and other refuse ideal for hiding IEDs line the road. Potholes abound. Most of the houses are abandoned, the result of mutual ethnic cleansing by Shiites and Sunnis who used to co-habit there.

The convoy is barely into the suburb when it stops. A group of Humvees from another patrol has come across a suspected IED.

Ten minutes wait and the convoys move on. The object turns out to have been a bit of wreckage from the previous hit.

"Looked lie the seat of the Hummer," someone says over the static-riddled radio.

Ten minutes later we pull into the police station, all safe and accounted for … just another commute to work.

[drlandus]

The U.S. troops are risking their lives everyday in Iraq. General David Petraeus%u2019 idea of %u201Cneighborhood outposts,%u201D or %u201Cjoint security stations%u201D are tested by the reality everyday.

Iraq has one of the most difficult neighborhoods on earth (for this plan to work) for several reasons: (1) Almost every household in Iraq has one or more AK47s. (2) The Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds used to live relatively in peace, but they started killing each other after the U.S. invasion due to political reasons, and it%u2019s getting more and more like a civil war. (3) For 4 years since the U.S invasion, Iraqis have been living in the war zone, a virtual hell on earth, and the stress has taken a toll on everyone.

Only time can tell whether General Petraeus%u2019 plan will work. Many more U.S. troop%u2019s lives will be lost in the process. If the plan works, the sacrifices of the U.S. troops will be appreciated by the Iraqis. If not, it will be remembered as a purposeless war that achieved nothing. And all the sacrifices of the troops will be in vain.

[DannyWR]

Direct '911' culpability was never given as a primary, or even a secondary rational behind the Iraq War. The fear that Saddam was supporting Moslem terrorists who might be affiliated with Al Qaeda or even be Al Qaeda itself and the further projected fear that he might provide WMD to those terrorists was the prime reason for the invasion. Before his Kuwait debacle, Saddam was even a useful tool that the U.S. could employ invarious ways against Iran.

Since the Iranian mullahs are insane 'holy' jerks (and even the American Left knows it is very hypocritical of themselves to be against opposing the cabal of religious zealouts in Iran) who are wearing out their welcome with the people of Iran, the hope is that a democracy of one sort or another in Iraq would spur non-Islamic forces in Iran to reclaim the leadership there.

Since 1979's Iranian takeover of the U.S. embassy in Teheran, a very dishonorable act, the U.S. has sought various degrees of revenge. The developments in Iraq may yet lead to fulfillment of this long-range objective but, if Iran pulls off a nuke, all bets are off and the U.S. shall be taking a temporary back seat to the Israeli destruction of the Iranian capabilities.

[scott4261]

I have to ask the question again: HOW has the war in Iraq been worth it? Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden couldn't have conspired to attack the U.S. because they hated each other. Saddam was secular and Osama is a religious extremist. This war was not worth one drop of American blood. And the very occupation by the U.S. has created a vacuum for terrorist activity where there was none before.

And for what? To benefit Exxon/Mobil, Halliburton, and KBR? I believe that one need only to follow the war profiteering money trail to find out just how much is wrong with this war and why I detest what is happening now.

And before the Bush apologists start bashing my post, let me say this: I get irritated when I am told that I am somehow undermining troop morale, that I hate America, that I'm a traitor, that I'm unpatriotic,.....whatever...you name it....just because I choose to speak out against the actions of this corrupt administration. I love my country and that is why I am willing to speak up.

This war has been a grave error.

[one_american]

Terrapin78:

Remember, Allen Pizzey works for CBS.

It doesn't get past the CBS censors unless it paints a bleak picture for the troops, or takes a swipe at the President.

Leftist propaganda, to be sure.

[hangelle]

When will this madness end??!!

[terrapin78]

This is your success story. I don't see any Fox News reporters walking down the street showing all the successes.

The 410th's MPs are attacked "on a regular basis" with small arms fire or improvised explosive devices.

How much success can we stand?