Dragon Soup: Dr. Muoyad- True Iraqi patriot & other “Soup Bones” and Observations from the front

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Dr. Muoad, Col Gibbs

Dr. Muoyad, Col. Gibbs with a homemade Iraqi-style pizza. It’s topped with chicken, and Dr. Muoyad hopes to open Dora’s first-ever pizzeria (to go along with a thriving hamburger joint) on Airplane Road in the next 30 days.

If you’ve closely followed the events in Iraq since the troop surge in 2007, then you’ve no doubt heard the term ‘counterinsurgency’ or the military acronym ‘COIN’ and how our forces have adapted to the complex and challenging environment in Iraq by applying the various COIN principles.

Getting to know the local leaders is critical to success here; finding out who the real men of influence, the neighborhood power brokers and getting them on board has been an essential element of Task Force Dragon’s ability to get past the dark days of early and mid-2007 when we averaged more than 30 attacks per day against our Soldiers and were in the fight of our lives (as of the 13th of Feb., we’ve not had 30 attacks total for the month yet).

While every neighborhood in the Rashid Security District is distinct and different, one common denominator is that the local tribal and religious leaders have a major say as to whether progress will take root there by how actively they work with our troops and the various elements of the local and national-level Government of Iraq (GoI) functionaries to improve quality of life.

Dr. Muoyad Muslah Hamid al-Jubori is one such leader who has stepped from the shadows of the fear and intimidation campaigns that al Qaeda waged in the predominantly Sunni neighborhoods which comprise Dora, on the eastern side of Highway 8, nestled along the banks of the Tigris River as it snakes it way southward and east through Baghdad’s warrens of buildings and homes.

Muoyad, a member of the sizeable Sunni Jubori clan,  is a cardiologist by trade, a medical doctor who once successfully treated one of Saddam Hussein’s sons (Uday) for a gunshot wound during one of the several attempts made on the eldest Hussein’s life before he was killed by U.S. forces in July 2003.

He has lived in Dora for much of his life, and while it took us awhile to discover Muoyad’s influence and abilities as a uniter, not a divider of his people, he has become a symbol of the progress being made in his neighborhood.

Not one attack has been launched against U.S. or Iraqi Security Forces in the area since September, 2007 and under Muoyad’s guiding hand, the streets are clean, electricity and power runs nearly 24 hours a day, which is a drastic improvement over the 2-3 hours per day that we saw when the 1-4 CAV first showed up there in mid-summer.

Dr. Muoyad

Dr. Muoyad talks to visiting stategic studies professionals from the United States while entertaining them in his home.

The cynics out there might say something along the lines of, “Well, sure- Dr. Muoyad is probably lining his pockets with U.S. cash and getting rich in the process.” I find that these same cynics normally invoke their rights of free speech, or hide behind the blanket of the word “opinion” when launching into their anti-war, anti-Iraq, anti-troops screeds even though they themselves  have no real understanding of how these people were living just six months ago, and how completely different things are today thanks to the efforts of Muoyad to get essential services restored and the people back on their feet by providing honest jobs that not only put money in his people’s pockets, but instill a sense of pride in self and community.

Muoyad has spent thousands of his own dollars (dinar) to funnel resources and materials into play parks for the children, school supplies and furniture for his neighborhood’s schools, and to local businessmen to help them get on their feet. He does this because there is a lag and a disconnect between the large bureaucracy of the GoI, but Dr. Muoyad understands that the investment is worth it if he can keep his people on the path to security and stability.

That anyone out there would read about this Iraqi patriot who has put his own life and that of his family and associates on the line by courageously coming forward to help drive the al Qaeda out of his home and then step up to rebuild, and then have the audacity to opine that he is profiting from the funds and assistance he’s getting from the coalition forces here boggles my mind.

You know, I’ve always wondered about the kind of spineless, moral coward it takes to simply criticize a person or dismiss an idea out of hand because they don’t happen to agree with it. No matter how much evidence we provide about how much better things are for Iraqis, there are always those people out there who would rather see us fail so that their own warped worldview can remain intact, rather than simply acknowledge that there is more happening here than meets the eye. I’m not looking to change anyone’s fundamental beliefs here, but you’ve got a black heart indeed if you openly profess peace, but hope inside your soul that our efforts here will end in defeat and abject failure. 

But, I digress…

For more on Dr. Muoyad, read Michael Yon’s excellent RUBS dispatch from the 4th of February. Yon has seen a lot of leaders in his months spent in Iraq, and I’m sure he would tell you how important a figure Muoyad is to his fellow Iraqis living in Dora. The fact is- if every neighborhood in Iraq had someone as courageous, dedicated and bright as the good doctor, Iraq’s future would be assured.

As it stands, we still have a lot of work to do, but in Muoyad, we’ve seen what can and should be. He’s a true Iraqi patriot- and someone you should know.

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Dragon Soup Bones and Observations

SecDef Gates
SECDEF Gates climbing down from the back of a 4th Brigade MRAP. He was instrumental in getting these vehicles to us in timely fashion. (Another good news story)

The Secretary of Defense, the Hon. Robert M. Gates visited our humble Forward Operating Base this week to personally check on the situation in Rashid. Although it was a quick visit, it meant a great deal to the Soldiers of Task Force Dragon that he stopped by.

SecDef Gates & Spc. Burkhalter

Spc. Roy Burkhalter recites the oath of enlistment administered by the Hon. Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense during a visit to Forward Operating Base Falcon 11 Feb.

No single troop had more of an exciting day than Spc. Roy Burkhalter of Rome, Ga. and the our Signal Company of the 4-1 Special Troops Battalion, who by virtue of the SECDEF’s visit and the fact that he was the brigade’s 1,000th Soldier to re-enlist since we arrived in Baghdad one year ago, had the privilege of having Mr. Gates administer his oath of re-enlistment.

For Burkhalter, it was a memorable event in his young career, but taking a step back and looking at the fact that 1,000 troops have signed on for more service is a statement in itself. We only have about 3,600 total Soldiers in our organic formation, and when you remove officers and senior noncommissioned officers (who are not subject to the standard re-enlistment process) from the pool of folks, you’re talking about almost 2 of every 3 Soldiers in the Dragon Brigade has decided to stay in.

Stick THAT one in your “Army morale is decimated” pipe and smoke it!

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Speaking of Michael Yon, he gave my section a nice tribute in one of his recent dispatches

That kind of honest feedback is welcome, and as public affairs nugs, we normally report the story and are rarely if ever part of the story. For him to give a shoutout to my Ghostwriters- Sgt. 1st Class Rob Timmons, Cpl. Ben Washburn and Spc. Nathaniel Smith- was a classy move. My boys have generated more product (that is- written and video releases, articles, stories) than any other brigade in Multinational Division-Baghdad by a long shot. At last count, we were approaching 800 total command information products in 12 months- not bad for just a four-man section. I’m very proud of them, and when I see others taking notice of their outstanding work, I know we’re making a difference.

 

 

 

Ghostwriters-- Task Force Dragon

The Ghostwriters of the Task Force Dragon PAO shop: Clockwise from Back: SFC Rob Timmons, SPC Nathaniel Smith, CPL Ben Washburn, MAJ Kirk Luedeke (the author).

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I don’t know that I have seen a more moving tribute to seven Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division who lost their lives in Samarra in March 2007 than the one posted at the Fayetteville Observer. Granite Stater Spc. Justin Rollins of Newport was among the lost. These are their stories and bring a box of Kleenex with you when begin reading- you’ll need it.

Godspeed
and AIRBORNE! Justin, Rob, Dutch, Josh, Ryan, Corey and Andrew- we will never forget you.

Special thanks to Rhonda, NH Goldstar Mom, Proud Mother of Spc. Justin Rollins for her Hero son and for sharing the link with Sue Peterson

*  *  *

Shifting gears here- Congratulations to the New York Giants, even though it pains me greatly to say so.

The truth is, though- I got over the New England Patriots’ devastating crash to earth in Super Bowl XLII pretty quickly. I watched the game along with Capt. Mike Loftus, who’s a good Massachusetts guy and on the brigade staff with me, and we both saw the writing on the wall when Eli Manning and Co. kept making the plays on that final drive. Neither one of us was irate about the way the Pats’ defense failed to make a big play at the end to keep the tenuous lead their offense had given them…we just shrugged and got on with it.

You know, when I was younger, I used to live for sports and would get so wound up when it didn’t go my favorite team’s way. Now, I’ve got so much more of a stoic outlook. Sports should be a fun diversion. If you’re one of those people who puts the weight of the world on your shoulders in every game and feels so much stress after a loss, I don’t know what to tell you other than- perhaps you should take a deep breath, hug your kids, kiss your significant other and be grateful that you have them. Trust me- I would give up 10 Super Bowl wins by the Patriots just to be able to pick up my daughters right now. Sorry for pontificating, but good friends I know were literally on suicide watch after that game, and I just can’t understand why. Sports = enjoyment. If you can’t enjoy the kind of contest SB XLII was, then maybe you need a different hobby.

And while I’m on the subject of sports, let’s get behind the Boston Celtics and Bruins! The Celtics are the easy team to focus on right now because they’ve got the stars and the gaudy record, but the B’s deserve some kudos as well. They’re without their top young player (Patrice Bergeron) but are a scrappy, opportunistic bunch. The Big, Bad Bruins of the 70’s and 80’s they ain’t, but they don’t deserve the open dismissal they’re getting in some circles.

Oh, and can you believe that pitchers and catchers are about to report? Spring training and the defense of the World Championship for our beloved RED SOX just around the corner? Wow, time *does* fly when you’re having fun.

And on that note, this wraps up another edition of Dragon Soup. Thanks to all who support our efforts with the kind emails, packages and words of encouragement. You guys are the ones who put the “G” in Granite. Play Ball!

 

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