Dispatches from Baghdad - a soldier's view on Iraq
9 Jan 07
Lieutenant General Graeme Lamb CMG DSO OBE is the Deputy Commanding General for the Multi-National Force-Iraq. He is also the UK’s Senior Military Officer in the country. Based in Baghdad, he frequently operates around the country. Here he gives his thoughts and an honest appraisal of Iraq's unfolding story:
Lieutenant General Graeme Lamb CMG DSO OBE, Deputy Commanding General for the Multi-National Force-Iraq
[Picture: British Army]
"This is my fourth deployment. So I have, if nothing else, a reasonable (albeit soldier’s) perspective on Iraq and its people. I have, as you would expect, in these four tours got around a great deal and in the process I have drunk more tea (it’s very good, but not at all English) and broken more bread than I would care to recall.
But I have enjoyed an honest engagement with Iraqis from all persuasions whose hospitality is humbling, and on each occasion that I return to this country have seen progress being made that rarely gets reported.
It is often the small things that get lost. For instance, in February of this year the Business Association of Fallujah (the city most famed for the large US operations in 2004, and the devastation that it had been previously left in) consisted of some 20 members. Yet today, less than 10 months on, it has a healthy members’ list of some 340.
Earth shattering it most certainly is not; and unlikely to break into the FTSE index, missed also by the multi-national media most likely.
But for those people living out in a city that was only 2 years ago claimed, and broadly controlled, through murder, torture and brutal intimidation by Al Qaeda insurgents, it is a real Iraqi step forward, and this is just one of many little successes taking place all over this country.
Reason to be optimistic
So from what I have seen, it is my strong conviction that, as bad as the situation may sometimes appear, there is still good reason to be optimistic for Iraq’s future. That is why, we, and numerous other countries continue to maintain troops here. Progress is being made (and daily), but it is not without human cost.
In recent months, the British have taken a number of casualties in Basra. For the United States, and also the Iraqi Security Forces, this burden has been even greater. During the month of October more than 100 US service personnel and three times more Iraqi security forces were killed in action; in addition to scores of civilians.
These are not just another casualty statistic to be easily discarded. They are our family, they were our friends, and they are the people of Iraq we are striving to bring a better life for. Every one of us feels their passing deeply, and no more so than their families.
This is a brutal business and therefore all the more reason to see this sacrifice in a context that we do not often read or hear - the Iraqi people today have a choice. They have a unique opportunity that did not exist before - to seize their freedom and future.
"The average citizens in Iraq want jobs, electricity, and streets where their children can play without fear; and there is certainly more of this than a glance over the newspapers would portray."
Lieutenant General Graeme Lamb CMG DSO OBE
But do not lose sight of where the blame for this trouble today lies, and who sets out to plan for this human carnage. What I see is a tiny minority of extremist architects of chaos who construct nothing, but by design and evil intent they inflict suffering upon the vast majority of Iraqis who look towards a better and certainly more prosperous future – one free to choose their own destiny, their own way of life, and not one pre-determined by radical malcontents.
The average citizens in Iraq want jobs, electricity, and streets where their children can play without fear; and there is certainly more of this than a glance over the newspapers would portray.
What is encouraging is how hard the Government of Iraq is working through Iraq’s political, religious and tribal leaders to unite all factions of Iraqi society.
For example, in October alone, the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, key ministerial leaders, and sheiks from Al-Anbar Province met in Baghdad to tackle tough security, cultural, and economic problems in that province.
Reconciliation
Earlier in the month a conference of tribal chiefs in Anbar ended with a pledge to support the national government’s campaign against Al Qaeda insurgents. The Prime Minister also announced a four-point plan to establish committees in Baghdad districts to oversee and create trust in Iraq’s security forces.
So despite the significant obstacles facing the Iraqi government (and we should bear in mind that this is the first democratically elected Government in Iraq), it has progressed forward on many reconciliation initiatives.
Some of these initiatives have faltered, but none have failed, and many have been grasped by all parties and dragged forward. It is real progress and we are helping this battered country and this bruised population choose where they wish to go to.
"These are people who deserve a chance. Their hopes and their dreams are, I believe as they do, worth fighting for. And it is this that this coalition does every day."
Lieutenant General Graeme Lamb CMG DSO OBE
In July, a poll by the nonprofit International Republican Institute found that 94% of Iraqis said they support a “unity†government. Nearly 80% opposed Iraq being segregated by religion or ethnicity, and even in Baghdad where sectarian violence is heightened, 76% opposed ethnic separation.
Similarly, according to a September WorldPublicOpinion.org poll, 97% of Iraqis said they “strongly disapprove†of attacks against Iraqi civilians, and 96% of Iraqis disapproved of attacks on Iraqi security forces.
These are the voices of that huge, so often forgotten, and silent majority of Iraqis who deserve a better life. They are good people who struggle and fall, but pick themselves up every day and continue to move on. These are people who deserve a chance. Their hopes and their dreams are, I believe as they do, worth fighting for. And it is this that this coalition does every day.
Development efforts bringing results
There are also numerous signs of economic, health and communications development since the fall of Saddam. Just a few are listed below:
In 2005 alone, 98 percent of Iraqi children between 1-5 years old (3.62 million) were immunised against measles, mumps, and rubella. Also in 2005, 97 percent of Iraqi children under five (4.56 million) were immunised against polio.
The average monthly teacher’s salary has increased from a pre-war amount of $2 a month, to $100 a month in 2006.
Since the ousting of Saddam Hussein, an additional one million children have enrolled in primary school.
Since the war, some 268 newspapers, 54 television stations, and 114 radio stations have officially registered. No independent newspapers, commercial television stations, or radio stations existed under the restrictive regime of Saddam Hussein.
Hundreds of Civilian flight operations from Baghdad International Airport each week.
Four mobile phone operators have now reached 7.2 million subscribers. This represents a dynamic expansion of Iraqi civil liberties as mobile phone usage was forbidden under Saddam’s regime.
There is now a record number of marriages taking place.
"Iraqis are making progress, and the Coalition Force remains steadfast in its support of Iraq through its transition to a more unified, secure, and prosperous country."
Lieutenant General Graeme Lamb CMG DSO OBE
But if Iraqi leaders are rejecting violence and the vast majority of Iraqis seek unity, what will it take to reduce the violence?
Military efforts can only set the conditions for a political solution for the reconciliation needed to reduce violence. But first, the Iraqi leaders and their people must reach a point where they actively, not just passively, renounce the extremists creating violence and work with security forces in getting rid of those extremists.
For this to happen, Iraqis must trust their security forces. So second, the government must deal with the serious problem of militias, which undermine Iraq’s police and military. Furthermore, the government must continue to train those police and military forces and rein in rogue elements within these forces that contribute to violence.
On the first point, Prime Minister Maliki has stated his government will not tolerate illegal armed groups. He has formed a committee to begin transition and reintegration of militia members into society. This is not an easy task.
As for building security capacity, the Iraqi forces have come a long way in three years, with over 320,000 trained forces. Prime Minister Maliki recently stated his desire to immediately form several new rapid deployment units as part of an aggressive modernization program. He also authorised the Iraqi military to add more than 30,000 troops to the existing force structure.
Independent momentum
As for the Iraqi police, the Minister of Interior is putting all nine national police brigades through a transformation plan, which is designed to instill national allegiance and weed out corrupt elements.
In terms of Nation building, these are only small steps, but nevertheless are important and just maintain that independent momentum.
Iraq will not be completely free of violence - no country ever is. But as the Iraqis begin to learn to trust their security forces and actively work to rid the country of extremists, violence can be reduced to acceptable levels. Iraqis are making progress, and the Coalition Force remains steadfast in its support of Iraq through its transition to a more unified, secure, and prosperous country.
Can this still fail to meet our expectations? Of course it can. I personally do not believe that it will, and I am inclined to believe that greatness will eventually return to a country long overdue its sovereignty. But it would be a shame to fail simply because we all grew tired of trying."
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