Can you name one thing about Iraq that says we are making any progress at all?

Question

My brother has been there since August. He was wounded in October.
He tells me in an e-mail that he's depressed. From his perspective (being there) things are getting worse, not better.

Perhaps it is a matter of perspective. If you deal with the danger and crap day in and day out, it does all become a blur, as he tells me.
Perhaps some armchair warrior with rose colored glasses can paint a prettier picture of the situation? At least it will provide him and his comrades a laugh, so you'd finally be supporting the troops...

Answer 1

There are many signs of improvement:

-Insurance offices are opening up in Baghdad and they sell personal life insurance policies that pay out if the insuree is killed by an insurgent or terrorist attack.

-Local Morticians are hiring people left and right to process corpses.

-Body bag and coffin manufacturers can barely keep up with demand.

Money is being made and that is all that matters, right?

Answer 2

Well, I can try.

It's my understanding that the Iraqi Army is getting quite a bit better at doing its job. If this is true, and I fervently hope that it is, then the day we're outta there is coming up much faster than it would otherwise.

Remember what the current plan is: train the Iraqi Army to do the job we're doing and then bug out for home after leaving some folks behind to deal with the al-Qaeda types.

As I say, my understanding is that we're making progress in this direction. I've gleaned this from snippets of reporting here and there. Obviously the mainstream media and most of the rest of the media continues to be focused on what's not working - so if in fact the Iraqi Army is standing up and fighting effectively we won't hear about it from those "news outlets" until some time after their effective standup has occurred.

Please thank your brother for his service. Words alone cannot express how grateful many of us are that there are men like him to answer his nation's call to duty.

Answer 3

With article 140 being signed there is a bigger parcel of land, which is being given to the Kurds in Iraq. After all of the concessions are signed, a portion of all oil revenues will go to Kurdistan. For those of you who do not know, the Kurds in Iraq were being decimated since the 1980's. Now, Kirkuk, which in the past always belonged to the Iraqi Arabs and has the largest oil reserves and most oil refineries in Iraq, belongs to the Iraqi Kurds. I say Iraqi Kurds because approximately 1,000 years or so ago, Kurdistan was destroyed and separated into what is currently IRAQ, IRAQ, TURKEY, and SYRIA. I think this is progress. The real progress will not be seen for many years to come. Look at the past wars we have fought, from fighting the British in the 1700's to fighting Hitler’s forces in Europe and continuing to to the end of WWII by dropping atom bombs. I say again, it will take time to see the real progress. Of course, you can ask any Iraqi if he likes it here in Iraq now or if he liked it better when Saddam was in charge. The vast majority, to include those Iraqi's who do not want the US in Iraq now will say it is better now than before. Again, I think that is progress. I think that should cover my two cents for this question.

Answer 4

There are lots of things going on here that we can consider as making progress. You might not be able to see it from the states but being here, I can see a big diference. I am currently in Baqubah, Iraq. One of the worst cities in the country. When we got here, there were never any stores open in the streets. People wouldnt walk freely. It looked like a deserted city and people lived in fear. We've been here for 3 months out of 12. The first 6 we were in Mosul the next 3 we were in baghdad and 3 here so far and gonna spend 3 more additional months here. We have taken many weapons off the streets. Freed many innocent people from capture, and have given the iraqi people enough freedom in their city to be able to open up their shops and businesses. Im not saying that when we pull out it wont go back the the way it was, but while we're here, we're gonna do our job until we reach our goal of going home.

Answer 5

Yes I can

Your country is slowly getting closer to impeaching the monkey boy President that was not elected by the majority (he was put in power by the Electoral College).

So much for the "Democracy and Freedom" you're spreading around the world. Something is getting spread pretty thick, but it ain't democracy and freedom!

Twenty years ago when it was the Russians invading Afghanistan and the US supplying arms they weren't called "Terrorists", they were called "Freedom Fighters".

What changed? Osama? He's Arab .. has the US held Saudi Arabia responsible or declared war against them? Not on your life, they OWN 1/8 of everything you call home.

Is the US a liberator or a colonial invader? George Bush ... Jr and Sr (cuz Jr ain't smart enough to think of it on his own) ... should be arrested and tried for war crimes. Bloody GOP Nazis.
.

Answer 6

I ain't never had no rose colored glasses.
I don't even speak like that, normally- but I've had two very rosy people close to me...
All I can tell you is that The Empire State Building and The Golden Gate Bridge still stand, and everything in between has been left alone by That Area.
Bio fuels are coming very much en vogue; screw Bush and his oil companies.
One day, the war will cool down some. (There's never been peace over there. They need to turn down the heat like in the heating system commercial- you know the one?- the woman is complaining to her husband: "YOU! You're always breathing... in and out, out and in, day after day..." Then he lowers the heat, and she's suddenly chipper, ordering pizza and suggesting they go bowling.- Yeah, well, there's no turning the heat down over there, or in Africa.)
The thing is, the whole planet will eb better off for the reduction of oil consumption.
And we are well on our way to going green in myriad other ways.
If your poor brother never sees the end of Middle East conflict (and after 7000 years, who bets on it, truly?), then at least the next generations of your family will be protected from some of the hurricanes, some of the tornadoes, some of the pollution, some of the skin cancer, that has left so many families bereft of their loved ones.
Much as you feel threatened to lose your own, I know.
May you and yours and your children to come be healthy and happy.

Answer 7

My brother is in special ops. and my sister is in military intelligence; they recently returned from Iraq and Kuwait. They both said that our efforts have helped the people over there tremendously; they said that some children and adults would run after them thanking them and the Americans for ridding them of their tyrannical dicator and bettering their economy. However, I know that this perspective is not shared by everyone. I suppose it just depends on who you're talking to.

Answer 8

How dare you ask about good in Iraq! The media doesn't want anyone to know anything good can possibly happen there. I have spoken to about a dozen troops about their opinion of Iraq. Some were friends and some were people I have met. They speak of both good and bad but all of them are angered by the medias negative portrayal of events in Iraq. Most purposly do not listen to the media because of this. Some believe this media negativity is the fuel that starts most of these problems. But yes they have noticed good things also.

Answer 9

I know from personal experience from talking to the local people and civilians in Iraq... What they appreciate the most from the U.S. being there is... We brought Satelite TV to their homes... as well as cell phones and new technology. Also a sense of hope that one day they will have a better living. Sounds funny but its very true.

Answer 10

tell him that right now its not looking great but it takes time for a country to heal and grow after spending decades under one singular ruler who opressed his people. Tell him that it takes time to paint a picture it dosent happen over night and years from now when iraq has stabalized down and the people are free and running their own country he will feel better knowing he took part in helping free those people

Answer 11

I still can't understand why Iraq is any of our business? Let Iran, Seria, Saudi Arabia, etc. take care of their own brothers in the faith. Why don't we just mind our own business. Putin said it right, "you can't export democracy." Our way of life is not for every culture. Especially when it is embedded within a cruel and harsh religion. Americqn lives and money are being wasted. Let's take care of the human condition in our own country.