Battle Rhythm

From Left: Iraqi interpreter, my predecessor, and me

Saddam's Throne (above) in the Al Faw Palace

Greetings from Camp Victory Complex, on the west side of Baghdad. I landed eight days ago, and hit the ground running. Battle rhythm is a term used here to describe the work environment. It consists of working 12-16 hour days, with one half day off per week. Today is my half-day and I will go into work sometime after lunch. This is the first opportunity I have had to add a new post, and I have a lot to talk about.

First things first, here is my mailing address:

ENS Jeffrey J. Watson
MNC-I C7 RECON
APO AE 09342

I have been placed in a staff officer position in the engineering section of Multi-National Corps Iraq. I work near the Al Faw Palace, one of Saddam's luxurious playgrounds. My job has not been fully defined yet, but it is very likely that I will be covering infrastructure security, specifically electricity. I am quickly coming up to speed on the subject.

Most Iraqis only have electricity to their homes for a few hours each day, depending on the stability of a very frail and insecure power network (frequently targeted by extremists). Clean water is in high demand, and trash removal and sewage treatment are major problems. Iraq has the third largest oil reserves in the world, yet its infrastructure is so damaged that it cannot export enough oil to generate the revenue required to rebuild itself. After decades under a ruthless dictator, 12 years of international sanctions, and now an infestation of radical extremists, the Iraqi culture is plagued by an ingrained sense of fear. Al Qaida in Iraq is on the run, after an awakening of concerned local citizens in 2007 in the Anbar Province who stood up to the enemy. With the assistance of Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces, the people of Anbar effectively forced Al Qaida out by helping find and eliminate numerous weapons caches, hideouts, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). This, in combination with a ceasefire announced by the Shia extremist group Jaysh al Mahdi (JAM), led to a relative calm in violence in the second half of 2007. Prime Minister al-Maliki has stated that 2007 was the year of security for Iraq, and 2008 will be the year of services for the Iraqi people. As we continue to hunt down al Qaida while they scramble to take hold of other regions through the country, resources are shifting from providing security to the people to increasing essential services. Electricity will be at the forefront of this initiative, along with development of the oil and transportation infrastructure.

I have experienced the best and the worst in Iraq in only the first week. I am blessed to have a warm bed to sleep in at night, hot showers, free laundry service, air conditioning, you name it. There are many soldiers and marines on patrol bases here who do not have these amenities. Please let them know you care by sending them a care package here.

I love you all and miss you very much! It's great to be able to hear from everyone through your comments. Take care everyone!