Interview with a warrior
Ron Coleman
Mike Fitch passes on this link to an interview with one of the guys "doing the heavy lifting to engage an enemy that would rather be here blowing up your shopping malls."
(Are we at war with Howard Roark?)
Excerpt:
What gives you the greatest satisfaction with your current mission? What gives you the least?
The best part is seeing the Iraqis take charge of situations in the area. From IED discoveries to crowd control to providing security for pilgrims moving through the area, the Iraqi Army and Police are performing more and more of those tasks with less involvement from Coalition Forces. We are able to mentor and guide more than having to take charge and lead them by the nose. The least satisfaction comes on days when we can’t do what we planned, for example, our medic planned and coordinated for a three-day combat lifesaver course for the Iraqi Army troops. The IA medics would train the IA Soldiers under his supervision. He coordinated this training several weeks prior and even confirmed the training the day prior. At the appointed time, nobody showed for the training, not even the medics. When the IA battalion staff was asked what was going on, they simply forgot. Frustrating. Not the end of the world, I know, but a distinct challenge in maintaining motivation and mission focus. Is it merely a cultural difference? I’m not sure, but I am disappointed by it.
Related Posts (on one page):
- Interview with a warrior
- Americaphobia: Final Thoughts
- Discuss: Should I Put Eteraz.Org In Hiatus?
- Americaphobia
The article was in Den Beste's essential library, I think. It should be easy to locate.
That remark reminds me of story of a friend of mine who once told me about taking some German officers prisoner during World War II.
He was yakking with one of the German Majors who was amazed that so many American GIs seemed to be so fully aware of so much of the American tactics regarding objectives, troop movements, mapping, etc.
The German told my buddy (who is older than me by the way but I like to hear him tell his war stories) that the Wehrmacht would never entrust important information to inferior grade troops. That only officers need know important military objectives. That that was why the German Army had thrived in the early stages of the war.
My buddy told him that Americans treated every soldier as being worthy of knowing anything that might possibly be useful and that was why the American Army was pushing on across the Rhine to win the war.
I don't know if the Kraut knew what he meant, but I sure did.
When you treat men like men, they each act like it is their business to remember that.
I told ya!
It's true, it does...
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.