http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...AR2007101500841.html

"The Real Iraq We Knew

By 12 former Army captains
Tuesday, October 16, 2007; 12:00 AM

Today marks five years since the authorization of military force in Iraq, setting Operation Iraqi Freedom in motion. Five years on, the Iraq war is as undermanned and under-resourced as it was from the start. And, five years on, Iraq is in shambles.

As Army captains who served in Baghdad and beyond, we've seen the corruption and the sectarian division. We understand what it's like to be stretched too thin. And we know when it's time to get out.

What does Iraq look like on the ground? It's certainly far from being a modern, self-sustaining country. Many roads, bridges, schools and hospitals are in deplorable condition. Fewer people have access to drinking water or sewage systems than before the war. And Baghdad is averaging less than eight hours of electricity a day.

Iraq's institutional infrastructure, too, is sorely wanting. Even if the Iraqis wanted to work together and accept the national identity foisted upon them in 1920s, the ministries do not have enough trained administrators or technicians to coordinate themselves. At the local level, most communities are still controlled by the same autocratic sheiks that ruled under Saddam. There is no reliable postal system. No effective banking system. No registration system to monitor the population and its needs.

The inability to govern is exacerbated at all levels by widespread corruption. Transparency International ranks Iraq as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. And, indeed, many of us witnessed the exploitation of U.S. tax dollars by Iraqi officials and military officers. Sabotage and graft have had a particularly deleterious impact on Iraq's oil industry, which still fails to produce the revenue that Pentagon war planners hoped would pay for Iraq's reconstruction. Yet holding people accountable has proved difficult. The first commissioner of a panel charged with preventing and investigating corruption resigned last month, citing pressure from the government and threats on his life.

Against this backdrop, the U.S. military has been trying in vain to hold the country together. Even with "the surge," we simply do not have enough soldiers and marines to meet the professed goals of clearing areas from insurgent control, holding them securely and building sustainable institutions. Though temporary reinforcing operations in places like Fallujah, An Najaf, Tal Afar, and now Baghdad may brief well on PowerPoint presentations, in practice they just push insurgents to another spot on the map and often strengthen the insurgents' cause by harassing locals to a point of swayed allegiances. Millions of Iraqis correctly recognize these actions for what they are and vote with their feet -- moving within Iraq or leaving the country entirely. Still, our colonels and generals keep holding on to flawed concepts.

U.S. forces, responsible for too many objectives and too much "battle space," are vulnerable targets. The sad inevitability of a protracted draw-down is further escalation of attacks -- on U.S. troops, civilian leaders and advisory teams. They would also no doubt get caught in the crossfire of the imminent Iraqi civil war.

Iraqi security forces would not be able to salvage the situation. Even if all the Iraqi military and police were properly trained, equipped and truly committed, their 346,000 personnel would be too few. As it is, Iraqi soldiers quit at will. The police are effectively controlled by militias. And, again, corruption is debilitating. U.S. tax dollars enrich self-serving generals and support the very elements that will battle each other after we're gone.

This is Operation Iraqi Freedom and the reality we experienced. This is what we tried to communicate up the chain of command. This is either what did not get passed on to our civilian leadership or what our civilian leaders chose to ignore. While our generals pursue a strategy dependent on peace breaking out, the Iraqis prepare for their war -- and our servicemen and women, and their families, continue to suffer.

There is one way we might be able to succeed in Iraq. To continue an operation of this intensity and duration, we would have to abandon our volunteer military for compulsory service. Short of that, our best option is to leave Iraq immediately. A scaled withdrawal will not prevent a civil war, and it will spend more blood and treasure on a losing proposition.

America, it has been five years. It's time to make a choice.

This column was written by 12 former Army captains: Jason Blindauer served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Elizabeth Bostwick served in Salah Ad Din and An Najaf in 2004. Jeffrey Bouldin served in Al Anbar, Baghdad and Ninevah in 2006. Jason Bugajski served in Diyala in 2004. Anton Kemps served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Kristy (Luken) McCormick served in Ninevah in 2003. Luis Carlos Montalván served in Anbar, Baghdad and Nineveh in 2003 and 2005. William Murphy served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Josh Rizzo served in Baghdad in 2006. William "Jamie" Ruehl served in Nineveh in 2004. Gregg Tharp served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Gary Williams served in Baghdad in 2003."

Have to agree with these 12 former Army Captains (guess they didn't take the $35K bonus to stay in another three years). For all that needs done in Iraq the United States needs to enact "compulsary service". If the President and/or Congress don't have the guts to do that, then they need to bring the troops home. The little by little approach by the to small U.S. military is going to bleed it to death by a thousands little cut, well before the Iraqi politicans and people can get their act together. And it's also about time for the other 99 1/2% of Americans to start contributing to the effort in Iraq.

They didn't make their case for a draft. How many more troops are needed; 10K, 100k? A Draft is not designed to conscript ten+ thousands, but hundreds of thousands. How will they be used and where and for what reason? How will extra troops stop corruption? Crime fighting is not a military function. There are hundreds of thousands of policmen in the USA and we still have corruption. Complete withdrawl will be complete chaos. The USA presence does stabilized the area. It may not be perfect, but it is reaching an acceptable level. No one promised utopia in five or six years. The US had armed rebellions well after the War between the States. New Orleans' locals fired cannons killing Federal troops in 1874, nearly 100 years after the signing of the Dec. of Independance. For twelve O-3's to offer only two options to end the conflict, doesn't say much for their political talents. Does their "draft or retreat" solution apply to the Korean conflict and fighting in the Phillipines, Haiti, and Afganistan?

Having just got back and being a CPT I can say that a lot of what they say is true. The corruption is HUGE there, on a level most of us cannot imagine.

I don't have an answer to the war - I am not surrounded by people who should know what they are talking about before briefing me and giving me solutions like those in the White House. I am - like these 12 - simply on a Company level seeing what REALLY goes on.

There will never be a draft for Iraq. America won't stand for it. If they feel like they have been fed lies from the government about the war in general they will not sit back and allow their sons and daughters to fight it.

Just an observation.

How sad that so long into this war there is still so much to be done and so little to do it with. The US has taken a really bloody nose in this fight even though our forces have kicked the snot out of insurgents and AQI at ever turn in the road. I can't tell you how many times I've cried as I read the casualty lists in VFW Magazine and mourn the loss of all our brave and committed men and women. I don't know anymore....the longer it goes on, the worse it seems to get. I just wish that the hands of our military would be untied so that they can do what needs to be done, and let the Iraqis have their lawless and corrupt land back. No doubt, they will cry for us when we leave there. I will continue to support our troops and our CinC, but with too much sadness in my heart.

quote:

Originally posted by Persy:
Having just got back and being a CPT I can say that a lot of what they say is true. The corruption is HUGE there, on a level most of us cannot imagine.

I don't have an answer to the war - I am not surrounded by people who should know what they are talking about before briefing me and giving me solutions like those in the White House. I am - like these 12 - simply on a Company level seeing what REALLY goes on.

There will never be a draft for Iraq. America won't stand for it. If they feel like they have been fed lies from the government about the war in general they will not sit back and allow their sons and daughters to fight it.

Just an observation.

Ma'am, I concur.

On corruption: the COIN manual says that one of the hallmarks of a legitimate government is a "culturally acceptable level of corruption" - a concept that recognizes that ALL governments encompass corruption, and that other cultures may have more or less tolerance for it than we do.

Nevertheless, the level of corruption in Iraqi government at all levels is staggering.

S7

Iraq must follow the Alaska model on distribution of oil revenue. Taking the money out of the hands of the politicians and into the public should stop most of the corruption.

quote:

Originally posted by RBruce:
Iraq must follow the Alaska model on distribution of oil revenue. Taking the money out of the hands of the politicians and into the public should stop most of the corruption.

I agree that the "Alaska model" (establishment of a Permanent-Fund type capital investment with distribution of the dividends to the citizens) would be great for the Iraqis - IF there were a reliable way to distribute the funds to the citizens.

In the present condition of the Iraqi banking system and the level of corruption present in all levels of government, getting the funds into the pockets of the Iraqi people would be very difficult.

S7

Replace all the officials with US Military personnel. Learn the job, set the management strategy, screen and hire replacements and create strict enforcement codes. The problem is you are dealing with the BS artists and not replacing them. It would be hard for them to manage a civil war without position, power and influence. If they try to organize a counterstrike to retake they're position, use military force. My method of dealing with them.

Hmmm,

Jason Blindauer: O-3, IRR (Individual Ready Reserve)
Elizabeth Bostwick: O-3, IRR
Jeffrey Bouldin: O-3, IRR
Jason Bugajski: DoD Contractor
Anton Kemps: COL, AR Reserves (No captains with this name)
Kristy (Luken) McCormick: No record on AKO
Luis Carlos Montalván: IRR
William Murphy: (four: 2xCPTs and 2xMajors): All either Guard, Reserve, or retired
Josh Rizzo: O-3, IRR (Record Incomplete on AKO)
William "Jamie" Ruehl: No record on AKO
Gregg Tharp: No record on AKO
Gary Williams: One CPT (O-3) in the National Guard, 2x Maj (O-4) one retired, one in Reserves

none in iraq since 2005, blindauer wrote it , the others signed on , blindauer is also a hack for Vetsvote, a weasely clark front, and is harping for a Draft