Iraq developements

Developments in Iraq:

Two developments that have taken place in Iraq that I think are a going on in Iraq right now are that the Sunni tribes in the Al Anbar province have started to form their own police forces. And that the DOD has decreed that all non American contracts with the DOD shall be done by Iraqi companies. I personally think that both these developments are a great thing, and that they are long overdue.

Some see the fact that the Sunni tribes have started fielding their own police as a failure. A failure of the authority of the Iraqi government in Baghdad and of the US military. And a failure locals to work with and report to the US and Baghdad. I see it as a good thing because government should always be at the lowest possible level. And the tribe‘s need to provide protection from day to day crime and from insurgents, has at best been incompetently addressed by the US military and the government in Bagdad. So far these local police have had moderate successes. In the areas where they operate insurgent attacks have diminished. I hope that these local forces don’t grow into their own demon, and that they can stay the smallest force necessary to be effective, and that they don’t start violating the rights of the citizens they aim to protect. Also that they don’t get involved in power plays with the Baghdad government.

Contracts going to Iraqi companies also is a good thing. Iraqi capital and human resources have been fleeing the country, leaving unemployed and criminals behind. Capital from the US military in the non-handout form would be a good thing. It would give many Iraqis a stake in the Iraqi economy, and would maybe build some bridges in the great divide between Iraqis and Americans in Iraq.

If it were up to me, Iraqi companies or at least Iraqi workers would replace KBR and all the contractors and in Iraq. The military type contractors would go to only US and Iraqis.

I would probably do away with the big chow hall and all the amenities of the big bases, and get rid of the 100,000 pogues that never leave the wire. I would award each soldier over here $50 to $100 bucks a day more (easily a bargain having gotten rid of the hundred thousand pogues), and I the troops could get their meals and services with their dollars, and a whole Iraqi economy would arise from this. The American fighters would establish business and personal relationships with the host nationals, relationships other than the ‘at the other end of the gun’ relationships. And Iraqis would do the same with Americans. It would save billions of dollars, and I bet out of all the interaction a much better intelligence network would sprout up.