Individual Augmentation: Is it May already?!

Hello, friends and family!

Well, I finally did it... I let a whole month go by without a blog post. For those of you "regulars" that subscribe to my blog, you probably saw it coming. I am most motivated to write when interesting or exciting things happen to me, but here lately it has really been like "groundhog day" for several weeks now. I will do my best to bring everyone up to speed, though.

I got back to COB Speicher from my R&R leave on or around April 9th. Really the whole traveling process gets really blurry when I try to recall... but of course the six days I was enroute seemed to run together as they were happening. Jenna dropped me off on Saturday afternoon at Honolulu International Airport for a direct flight to Atlanta. (Wouldn't you know that I had several layovers on my way home, but was "lucky" enough to get a direct flight going back?) In Atlanta I waited 15 hours for the military contract flight that would take us all back to Kuwait. Leaving Atlanta on Sunday the 5th, we had a layover in Eastern Germany (much different from my layover in Western Germany back in November) and then finally touched down in Kuwait sometime in the evening on Tuesday the 7th. Literally, April the 6th did not exist to me. (Coincidentally, that was my sister's birthday, so as far as I am concerned she is still one year younger than what her driver's license says.) Anyway, I got stuck in Kuwait until the morning of the 9th due to dust storms and some Air Force logistical problems (not enough seats on the flight I was supposed to take on the 8th). We finally arrived back here at COB Speicher, Iraq in the afternoon on April 9th and I took the rest of the day and all of the next day off. My "internal clock" just didn't seem right, but our commanders also allow us one full day of recovery before we jump back into things.

As far as "jumping back into things" was concerned, while I had been gone nearly 40 different projects to improve the infrastructure (water, transportation, electricity, schools, clinics, governance centers, etc.) in and around Tikrit had been nominated and forwarded up the chain for funding. Was I surprised to find out that I was coming back and inheriting those projects as the Civil Affairs Team Leader and Non-Lethal Effects Coordinator! Apparently, while I was at home enjoying my time off with my wife, the Commanding General of Multi-National Division North was told to "clear out the coffers" of the Iraq-Commander's Emergency Response Program funding. So the process to get projects funded was all of a sudden streamlined, and the subordinate brigades and their battalions answered the call. To date, my battalion has 3.9 million dollars worth of projects funded with more on the way. Now before everyone gets upset about that kind of spending during our recession, let me tell you that the majority of that money is actually from the Iraqi budget surplus. Albeit, that surplus is shrinking as the price per barrel of oil is declining. As it turns out, those lowering gas prices at home are great for the average American, but are not so great for the average Iraqi citizen. Over here the government owns all the oil that comes out of the ground, and all the revenues generated by oil sales go directly to the Iraqi budget. They don't collect income taxes, so that is really the only way that the government gets any kind of operating budget. For the most part, Iraq is a very socialist country. True, they have elections for their local, provincial, and national leaders, but that is the only way in which Iraq appears democratic to me. Everything is provided by the government at little to no cost to the citizenry.

Medical treatment costs 500 Iraqi Dinar (about 45 cents) per visit. That is if you are getting open heart surgery or just getting your blood pressure checked - 500 Dinar. Granted, there are very few doctors that can actually perform open heart surgery, and medically speaking, this country appears to be stuck in the dark ages. The hospitals and clinics all have no smoking signs that are not enforced, so the halls and rooms are hazy like smoking parlors. In addition to the no smoking signs, there are "no talking on your cell phone" and "no weapons allowed" signs that are just as equally ignored. That really cracked me up the first time I saw the classic circle/line symbol over a pack of cigarettes, a cell phone, and an AK-47 just as I walked into the Tikrit Teaching Hospital. I really should have gotten a picture of it. Could you imagine a hosptal in the U.S. with that same sign at all entrances? What's more, could you imagine those rules not really being enforced?

So getting back to my point about all those projects for all that money, it is now my job to manage the contracts and make routine trips to each project throughout our Area of Operations (AO) and make sure work is proceeding as scheduled. I am really hopeful about all the improvements we are bringing to this part of Iraq. My only prayer is that the people of Iraq really start to take the intiative and develop some ownership over their own country. I have discussed this point at great lenghts with the Mayor and Council Chairman of Tikrit, and they agree with me that the ultimate problem that leads to all others in Iraq is that lack of personal responsibility. In my opinion (and I have read a few scholarly essays that also support it), the phrase "Insha'a Allah" alleviates one from having to take responsibility to be actively engaged in making one's own situation better. That is, "If God wills it" or "God willing." I have never had a conversation with a local national during which "Insha'a Allah" wasn't repeated over and over again by my Iraqi counterpart. I doesn't matter if it was a government leader, military commander, police chief, or farmer. Everyone adheres to this mantra. "We will be at the meeting on Thursday... if God wills it." "The project will be compete in two weeks... if God wills it." "The council will vote on your proposal at our next meeting... if God wills it." This has been one of the most frustrating facets of working in Iraq. This mindset carries over into every part of their existence. The streets get filled with trash, but will be cleaned if God wills it. The water treatment facility will get fixed if God wills it. No one wants to take the initiative. No individual wants to take ownership of a problem and fix it... because it will get fixed on its own if God wills it. The only aspect of this culture that doesn't stand idle waiting for Allah to carry out his will is when it involved an attack on Coalition Forces. Insurgents will take the initiative to set an improvised explosive device (IED), throw a grenade at a passing convoy, or to take cheap shots at unsuspecting Americans. I guess in those cases, Allah willed it. Don't get me wrong, those incidents are fewer and far more between than ever. I have a cautious feeling of safety when I am "outside the wire." As long as I remain alert and my soldiers are doing the same, then we could hardly be surprised in most of the neighborhoods we visit.

I also don't mean to fault the Iraqi population or the entire culture on their devoted religious beliefs. You have to give credit to a people who are so focused and hold such an unshakeable faith in their god's provision that they go out of their way not to interfere. I actually admire that about them. These people exhibit an immense devotion... to religion, to tribe, and to family. I don't see that in America these days... a devotion to God, country and family. And you don't have to be a Christian to be devoted to God. In fact, in a secular sense, I am using "devotion to God" as a general calling to be generous, kind, and neighborly to those around you.

Since getting back from leave, I have witnessed some spectacular electrical storms. On a few dry nights, I have witnessed lightning bolts hit the desert without even a sound. I assume it was just "heat lightning" but it is still eery. Also amazing is the immense cloud lighting. Huge clouds light up with what appear to be hundreds of miles worth of lightning all woven within. Again, no thunder... not even a hint. A few weeks ago, we had what I assume will be the last thunderstorm with rain for the rest of the spring and summer. The dry season is definitely upon us and the level of the Tigris is dropping. Iraq has been in a state of persistent drought for around eight years. When that is combined with the surrounding countries diverting mountain streams and rivers for drinking water before they flow into Iraq, it creates a big problem. That is probably the biggest "battle" we are fighting here, especially as the hot dry months are approaching. We are doing the best we can to get water to all towns and villages. During the winter, electricity was the priority. During the summer, water is at the top of the list.

Well, I guess I will wrap this up. I have included some pictures of the most recent dust storm we had. It was a bad one. And of course I had to include a staged patriotic photo of me. I hope and pray all who are reading this are in good health and happy spirits. Your love and support for us mean more than you could ever know.

God bless,
Jonathan

LT Jonathan Gandy, USN
HHC 448th CA BN
COB Speicher
APO AE 09393