Laying Down Gravel and the Foundations for Peace

Apologies for my absence....

After reading Curt's post on Murtha's latest, I thought I'd spread some of the good news coming out of Iraq.U.S. Army Maj. Jeff Pugh helps Iraqi children put gravel on the new playground at the Al Shrooq Primary and Secondary School in Taji, Iraq, April 19, 2006. Pugh serves as a civil affairs officer with Company A, 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Ronnie Reece (left), Iraqi school children, the school’s headmaster, and U.S. Army Sgt. Lucas Murray pose for a photo after completing work on the playground at the Al Shrooq Primary and Secondary School in Taji, Iraq, April 19, 2006. Reece serves as civil affairs noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Company A, 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; Murray is assigned as an infantryman with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, Rhode Island National Guard. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt

Skye brought this news to my attention. Troll left a comment regarding the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, mentioning that those re-enlisting are on a 3-6 month waiting to list to return to Iraq. That doesn't exactly sound like a demoralized military to me. According to Michael Fumento, in his experience, morale appears to be highest amongst the combat soldiers. Skye links to Those Whacky Iraqis, who has this to say:

While I was in Dubai the USS Ronald Reagan was in town. I went into a bar full of sailors and they saw the 1st CAV patch on my 3-Day bag. We got into discussions about the war and I was not surprised to hear from them that they only hear the worst of what happens here. Just like everyone at home, they don't read anymore, they just get all their news from electronic sources like CNN, and CBS, et al.

These MSM entities don't publish good news because "If it bleeds, it leads". Bad news is page one, good news is page three filler. As a result most people don't know about the good that has been done here or how the Army goes about it's day to day business.

I have posted the first in a series of photos showing some of our Civil Affairs group putting gravel down at an Iraqi school. That may not seem like a big deal to you but to a child who has nothing but a dirty, dusty place to play, it is wonderful. I know these soldiers and I know the photographer. These are not staged photos. This is the real Army and these are real smiles.

I also know EXACTLY where that gravel came from. For the rest of the story check out this link.

In the comments section, flythemig29 makes the point that even if the current generation of Iraqi adults are not all friendly toward Americans, and are suspicious of our motives, Iraqi children will remember the kindness and goodness of our soldiers whether it be passing out candy, school supplies, soccer balls, building playgrounds, or doing the seemingly innocuous act of laying down gravel for the purpose of rebuilding a brighter future for them. And "if the children see us in a different light and do not want to fight us then our children will not have to fight either."