From Chief Wiggles, currently stationed in Iraq:
Today, as usual, my day started with a flood of calls informing me of the arrival of one source after another at the front gate, right up until dinnertime, now 6pm. I didn't have time to eat breakfast or lunch, getting one of my interpreters to bring me a plate of food so I could eat during my debriefings.But during the course of the day I was forced to pause for a moment, even making my sources wait, while I attended to an issue more important than anything else. While out at the front gate I noticed a young girl crying behind the barbed wire that separates us from the throngs of people waiting for their chance to speak with someone. Her mother, only having one leg, had hobbled in on her crutches a few moments earlier. The young girl separated from the only person she was familiar with, began crying, now hiding behind the rest of the crowd, I searched through the mass to see where the crying noise was coming from.
She was obviously very poor, in her tattered old dress, totally worn out plastic flip-flops, her hair matted against her head indicating she hadn't had a bath in a long time and her skin blistered from the dirt and weather.
Once I saw her I quickly told the MP's to move the barbed wire back to let her in to join her mother. Her crying stopped as she darted in to grab a hold of her mother's long black dishdasha, torn and frayed from years of use. As she stood by her mother's side, grasping her dress, I moved over slowly to brush her stringy hair away from her eyes and to pat her gently on the head, as I told the guard to make sure they don't leave before I could return.
I quickly loaded up the sources in my car and returned them to my office in the palace. I told them to wait for a moment, while I rummaged through my FedEx box full of toys sent my by my teammates back home. I grabbed a comb, a brush, a pair of new flip-flops, a whistle, a stuffed monkey whose arms hang around your neck, and a new toothbrush and tooth paste and dashed out the door, telling my interpreter to come along.
As I made my way back over to the front gate, I saw the little girl and her mother waiting patiently anticipating my return, not knowing why I had asked them to wait. Bending down I handed her the items one by one, as I explained what each item was, to insure she knew what I was giving her, especially as I gave her the toothbrush, asking her to be sure to brush everyday.
Her eyes lit up with such joy as I put the monkey arms over her head. She was so excited to receive everything, being somewhat shy though, not having dealt with an American before. She was so precious as her big brown eyes looked up at me, causing me to almost breakdown into tears as I walked away quickly so as to not bring too much attention to the little girl from the on looking crowd.
What a moment! In my own little way, I am influencing and affecting the attitudes of Iraqis one person at a time, taking baby steps, one experience at a time. My sphere of influence is small in comparison to the task at hand, but who knows what the ripple affect will be of my small effort to calm the tears of one sweet little girl. Thanks to my team mates back home who made this moment possible by sending me the toys to hand out to Iraqi children. I have only one request of them and others please send me more toys.
Wiggles is conducting a campaign to collect toys for Iraqi kids. I'd suggest you hop on over there and help him out.
Oh thank you so much for this post Dean. I will go to the dollar store tommorrow for crayons, construction paper and stickers, Then I will head over to Toys R' Us, they are having a nice sale. I believe it is buy two toys and get one for free, gosh I am really excited to just be a small part of helping those children.
My husband works all over the city of Chicago and we are going to print some flyers and give a pick up date. Once again, thanks for this post.
Toys? How about food and clean water? How about flak jackets?
I'm sure there are plenty of American children who could still use toys.
Oh, try not to be such a damned cynic, John.
Most of Iraq has food, medicine, and drinkable water, and very few parts of Iraq are still experiencing any conflict. Hell, much of the country is electrified and has phone service again. Hospitals and schools are open for business across the country, and most people haven't heard a gunshot or an explosion in months.
But the little things, they mean a lot. Especially to kids.
1) A crucial aspect of this conflict involves winning the hearts and minds of the inhabitants of the Middle East.
2) There is a strong likelihood that the conflict will not be fully resolved for decades.
Might not this be seen as one of the more critical investments we can make towards winning the larger war?
The entire "hearts and minds" argument is . . . I mean, it's so past that point right now. If all other aspects of the conflict were equal, then toys might really make a difference; yet economic and medical hardship are still more germane to the daily lives of Iraqis than toys. I honestly believe that direct-action charity -- food, clothing, medicine -- might be more meaningful at this point.
Whatever the approach, non-governmental contact between Americans and Iraqis, on a one-on-one basis, will be more meaningful in the long-term than government- or charity-level interaction. I'm lucky to be in correspondance with Iraqis and to get their perspectives on what's happening there. Maybe more of us Americans need information right from the horse's mouth.
Since the NGO's are abandoning Iraq for political reasons, donating to such charities won't help. The US government is working to its capacity to improve Iraqi infrastructure. In the spirit of one-on-one action, I think Wiggles' campaign is the perfect way to support the initiative of soldiers on the ground.
I'd love to hear some of those stories from real Iraqis, John. But as with anything, individuals vary in their experiences depending on both their mindset and location.
We know from various press accounts that most hospitals are up and running, that electrification is proceeding apace, and that violence is only happening in the zone from Tikrit to Baghdad, leaving most of the country violence-free but still with issues.
Well whatever. Yes, they need clothing and medicine. But kids need to play, too.
Chief works for CPA in Baghdad, everyone raises concerns that things are not moving fast enough in Iraq. Problem is **** heads like chief who are doing everything except what his country is paying him for. So Chief again for security reasons please take the pictures of the camps off your web page and think just a little. While you are getting mail for the Iraqi people it is slowing down mail for the US Soldiers deployed over here. Plus you just opened another threat access for the enemy to get mail bombs and other devices into the APO system and to CPA. For an S-2 type you really suck at best.
Ranger Joe.
Ranger Joe,
I've tried to send you email but you seem to always post a bogus email address.
I would like to address your concerns though.
First, the Chief works his tail off doing his job. He writes his journal during his FREE time. Yes, he does get that you know. He doesn't have to work 24/7, although, at times, it seems that he does.
Second, the pictures are not a security risk. They have been viewed by folks above him and those in charge of keeping things safe. They are considered to be fine.
Next, the APO address. The Chief was given that address for this project and the military folks working with him on the toy project are excited to see it work.
Next time, you might try actually emailing your concerns or leaving a valid email address. Slandering the Chief in open forum about things you clearly know nothing about is just rude.
One other thing I might add, the Chief's blog is read by many in the military, both of high rank and experience and by those new to the service. It has been highly praised for its portrayal of daily life and the duty of a soldier. Those in the military seem to LIKE his journal and don't see a problem with it, including people who work in military intelligence. If there was a problem, they would contact us immediately. So far, there has never been one.
Regards,
Plunge
Chief's Blog administrator