VietNow
National Magazine
Letter From Iraq
VietNow member,
Chris Buscher, son of National Treasurer,
Terry Buscher, writes home from the war.
By Army PFC Chris Buscher
25th Infantry Brigade Stryker Division.
It has been a while since
writing from the “Raq.” I would
call it some other names, but I am sure
Momma#1 would not be too happy with me.
Since the last update I have been busy
playing security cop/CSI/guard dog. We
have destroyed the remaining members of
the terrorist cells here just south of
Baquba, and only a few remain in Baquba
actual. The only action in the area these
days is for normal crime, like back home
in the States. There is a big farming area
in our sector that we have been working
with of late. This area used to be rich
in produce, but years of neglect have crippled
the local economy, and left the land littered
with mines and traps that the terrorists
used while they were here. As the areas
are cleared of explosives, all the local
farmers are doing what they can do with
the limited amount of equipment. The rich
people are all starting to buy combines,
which is a true sign of wealth here.
Less
then eight months left in this country.
It seems
like yesterday I got off the plane in one
hundred and
fifteen degree weather. I was scared and
wary of what
was to come. I never would’ve said
so, but heck yeah,
I was. Many, many things have changed here,
and in my
life. I look at the progress made here
and it is simply amazing. I watched several
young kids spend an afternoon trying to
learn how to fly a kite. They have very
creative imaginations to put together the
broken pieces with debris that lays around.
I see guys trying to ride motorcycles that
were never allowed ten years ago. It is
pretty funny watching them get on them.
You can tell some of them have never been
on one before.
Satellite dishes, once banned
by the Saddam regime, are popping up in
every home. Internet cafes are coming alive.
Cell phones are the hottest item around,
next to satellite TV. Women walk freely
without their traditional veil. Now it
is a personal choice and not the law. Many
younger kids are dressing to emulate the
western fashion world. The markets are
slowly coming back up, and if we stay here
long enough some may make Forbes magazine
for fastest-growing companies
due to our frequent visits.
With our help,
the government is building a census database,
and working to issue personal identification
cards. The power is restored and lines
are being added all over this country.
Water is still an issue. Many of the locals
use the canals for their water source.
One huge improvement is the schools. Yes,
some are still in need of some work, but
there are parent-teacher conferences being
held every other week in one of the major
schools here in our area. That is a huge
improvement, since many of the schools
had no supplies when we arrived here. This
Saturday, Iraq has elections. I believe
there are eighteen provinces here. The
elections are provincial. They are not
voting for President and Prime Minister.
The three majors: Shite, Sunni, and Kurdish
will have a safe place to vote, and it
is up to them to choose religion or education.
Many see this as a chance to get their
areas improved. The positives are that
the younger generation is
looking for an educated Iraqi that has
the best interests of the people and land,
as opposed to the religious tribe they
belong to. What happens from here on out
isn’t about religion but who can
change the landscape of their future. It
sure will be interesting to see. We are
simply overseeing there elections and polling
locations.
I have seen many events that
have changed my views
and values on life. We all take for granted
the simplest things, from water, electric,
gas, clothes, shoes, school supplies, transportation,
and communications. What I can’t
get over is the drive and joyfulness these
people have to excel with as little as
they have. You can see that the majority
of people are taking advantage of their
new-found freedoms, and making the best
of it. I feel that in the years to come
this place will still have rough times,
but the majority are ready to end the violence.
They see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Regardless of how we feel, we should thank
the former President for his dedication
to fixing his own mess, and most importantly,
thank the fallen men and women who paid
the ultimate sacrifice that, God willing,
will be justified (to the extent that it
can be) when this country one day rises
from the ashes and succeeds.
So what is
my mood here in Iraq? I am happy, bored,
and tired. I want to get home to see the
people that matter most in my life. I have
R&R sometime in
May. I can’t begin
to explain how I feel about that. You may
or may not see
me during that time. I may be off sipping
on tea in some beach resort, playing multiple
rounds of golf, or sleeping
on mom and dad’s couch. Who knows?
But I assure you
I will have a blast in whatever I do.
Landing
at the airport will be like seeing a beautiful
girl
for the first time. Maybe? Well, that sure
sounded nice. I have been looking forward
to this for some time now. I plan to eat
and eat and eat, and throw in some sleep
as well. For now,
I will say this. Remember what we all have
in life. It may not be everything you want,
but it is more then enough to make you
prosper. Charlie Mike.
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