When the United States went into Iraq in 2003, Americans had a very limited understanding of the country. Political pundits tended to reduce Iraq to neat categories: an oppressed Shiite majority; a Sunni minority linked to Saddam Hussein's regime; and the Kurds, who had no interest in remaining in Iraq. The strife between these supposedly monolithic communities was often portrayed as permanent and violent. Thank you, Main Stream Media.
Much has happened since 2003. Iraq has emerged as a complex and sophisticated society with layers of identity and a diversity of loyalties and interests, all of which are in a dynamic state of change as the country makes an untidy yet fundamental transition from absolute dictatorship, through occupation and violence, to the beginning of a functioning parliamentary democracy.
The significance of the recent local elections must be understood within the context of this transition and change. What these elections reveal is far more than the relative strength or popularity of the various political players - though this is important and should be studied carefully. These elections have shown that, finally, those who refused to accept the new order and were determined to defeat it by rendering the country ungovernable through violence have come to realize that they have lost; that the political process is the only game in town and that it is in their best interest to play by the new rules.
Those who had descended upon Iraq to defeat the United States through terrorism, initially finding favor and support from the "rejectionists," have themselves been rejected by the Iraqi people. Their strategy to ignite a sectarian civil war has failed. And though they still pose a threat to security, those extremist Islamists were comprehensively and strategically defeated in a Muslim country, a development of profound significance. Don't forget your own Prime Minister and police and military forces assisted.
The elements in Iraq who thought that they could dominate and create a new form of dictatorship with the trappings of democracy have discovered that they must accept the principles of power sharing. Even including Mookie?
Furthermore, the elections have proved wrong those who had claimed that Iraqis could not comprehend democracy and therefore could not abide by its rules. The world watched as millions of ordinary Iraqis, proudly displaying their purple forefingers, declared their desire to choose their leaders, and the leaders themselves demonstrated their ability to make adjustments and compromises.
This is not to say that Iraq has finally and irrevocably arrived at a perfect form of democracy. Far from it. Iraq is still beset by daunting external and internal challenges. It does, however, mean that after defeating the extremists and terrorists among its people and demonstrating a repulsion for sectarianism and a will to stay united, Iraq is set to consolidate all that it has achieved, with considerable help from the United States and others. It was, perhaps, wise to delay the credit to the Americans until late in the piece.
At the most critical junctures of this transition, Iraqis have demonstrated their independence and unity. This has given them more confidence in their future. Those who thought that they could dominate Iraq from outside, directly or by proxy, surely have realized that their influence will always be limited.
Looking ahead, the exact speed with which American troops are withdrawn must be determined by joint consultations between the political and military leaders of both countries within the parameters of the status-of-forces agreement. One can only hope your intelligence will prevail.
But the continued engagement of the United States in Iraq will be vital to ensuring that what has been achieved is not jeopardized, though the emphasis will inevitably shift from military issues to economic and diplomatic matters.
Our nations have mutual interests in Iraq's future. The success of Iraq would be an outstanding success of American foreign policy. If Iraq succeeds, it has the potential to become one of the most important assets and allies of the United States. This is the beginning of a new era in our relationship, one that opens the way to a flourishing economic, cultural, political and diplomatic partnership that augurs well for the future.
The writer is Iraq's ambassador to the United States.
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/07/2009 06:59 ||
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#2
I beg to differ. I have seen this clip on various websites - being praised as some sort of example of effective leadership. I say bullshit.
I've been a US Army Infantry officer, and I've more recently created and built a company staffed by foreign employees from a different culture (Thais, in my case) - and I will categorically condemn 90% of what goes on in this clip.
It would take much more time than I feel like expending on this embarrassment, but to just tick off a few items:
*As a leader, you criticize behaviors of people - not the people themselves.
*You don't condemn a group for the failings of just certain members of the group.
* You never criticize junior leaders in front of their subordinates.
*If you habitually call out subordinates to go mano-a-mano, you are eventually going to get your ass handed to you.
*Constructive criticism consists of identifying behaviors that need to be changed, and clarifying preferable alternatives - not simply saying "you are all fucked up".
I suggest that this NCO be referred to: http://www.howemilitary.com/JROTC/refereneces/schofield.htm
#3
I hear you 5x5. Unfortunately, we're not talking about the Royal Thai Army. We're talking about Muslim miscreants who WON'T FIGHT and are probably reporting their unit's activity to the enemy. This guy has probably lost good men to these slime balls and he's trying to shame them into getting off their dead asses.
#4
I don't know about military leadership methods, but this resonates w/the sentiment of US civilians who became disillusioned w/the fecklessness of the Iraqis we willingly expended blood and treasure to liberate.
Posted by: regular joe ||
02/07/2009 9:38 Comments ||
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#5
He's lecturing Iraqi police, not a unit of the Iraqi Army.
#7
Lone Ranger, normally Praise Publicly Criticize Privately is the better way. When dealing with westerners or in a western setting.
First consider that unlike your multi-national corporation a) its not a business and b) this is in a monoculture (Arabs). And also consider that it is not a western culture.
Arab Culture practically demands "big gestures". Their society is very much to the "drama queen" end of the scale (completely opposite, say, stern Germans or taciturn Swedes), and as such, loud public berating is expected, and if you do NOT do it, then they that that as a tacit approval.
The video may be a reaction to repeated incidents of failure of the Arabs to respond to traditional western-style leadership.
I'm not excusing this, but pointing out that that there may be no need for an excuse -- the situation and culture there may be a completely valid reason for someone to tear into them 1960-boot-camp-style
#8
Here's my answer. The NCO's performance may have resonated with disgruntled westerners, but if anybody thinks that this "pep talk" motivated the Iraqi police audience in attendance, I will simply tell you that you are dreaming.
Had the NCO so much as picked out one single policeman who had done something right, and built an argument toward having the rest emulate that conduct, he might possibly have made some points.
And - for anyone who offered the argument that "well, the NCO might have lost some buddies to Iraqi police duplicity" - then this NCO should not be put in front of Iraqi police until he has worked through his personal "issues".
Professionalism as a leader is about suppressing your natural personal urges in order to maximize your ability to motivate your subordinates to accomplish the mission. It most certainly is not about venting your spleen, to get your personal frustrations exorcised.
Being an Irqai policeman is probably not a particularly rewarding job. There has not been much of an "Iraqi nation" to be proud of in recent memory.
I cannot imagine any Foreign Military Forces Training Team scenario in which I would endorse the leadership style depicted in the video clip.
#9
then this NCO should not be put in front of Iraqi police until he has worked through his personal "issues".
RANGER, no problem. I'll take this NCO along with his...... "personal issues." Have him throw his gear in my truck. As you well know, things... they be a bit different in the big suck than they are on Smoke Bomb Hill or Bldg 4 at Benning. Particularly after the 2nd or 3rd tour.
#10
I've been there, my buddies have done SPTTs, I understand the frustrations but I'm not sure as I would've used the same verbage or started disparaging police chiefs in front of their subordinates. If these were all Marines it would be one thing, but dealing w/iraqis is a little different. You can get them to do what you want but as w/most things it's all in how you say it. Threatening to kick someone's ass in a formation is not that big a deal to me, but as soon as you start calling out their officers in front of the men you're probably off target. Threaten to kill them, fine, do it behind closed doors - they'll get the picture. One of my buddies had a huge bowie knife he'd pull out on occassion behind closed doors for effect. Compliance & motivation from there on out was solid amongst the locals.
#11
Ha ! Standard plt. sarge lingo. Said and done frequently. Works for US soldiers because they have some pride and gumption. Won't work on these useless shitbags. They are ALL probably in Mahdi army, if you can call it an army. More like a criminal gang. Unfortunately, this gentleman probably got a ticket stateside, a reprimand in his file, or possibly a demotion. But I'll bet he doesn't give one shit. You could hear it in his voice. He's had a bellyful of these useless clowns and he's done with them. This should have happened at the highest level. Someone should have kicked the Clown Maliki in the sack, and after he got his breath back, said "listen up, F**knuts, we have a few issues to discuss." Course, nothing like this will happen, and nothing is gonna change in that shithole.
#12
Hooah Woozle! You hit it dead on. Having it video taped was NO accident, it was a message to higher. I remember an incident years ago on North Fort Lewis where, after repeated warnings, a SGM got fed up with soldiers bringing their dogs to the Bn area and leaving piles all around to step in. One morning a young trooper was walking his Doby near the orderly room and the dog took a bite outta the SMG's leg. The SGM instructed the young trooper to bring the dog to the PT formation the following day. At the formation the SGM called the young soldier and dog front and center and in front of the entire Bn, he pulled a Browning High Power and PCS'd the dog to dog heaven. Caused quite a stir at Fort Lewis and resulted in the immediate reassignment of the SGM to Fort Bragg and retirement. The SGM accomplished his point quite effectively however and the unit commander went on to make General. Pay attention to your NCO's.
#13
Besoeker, Smoke Bomb hill, now that brings back some old memories...
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
02/07/2009 14:08 Comments ||
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#14
hell i agree with everything he says. And he was spot on about some of them probably being in the mahdi army, i just wished he would have kckd the guys ass whop kept laughing and talking
Aswat al-Iraq: Iraqi army forces seized a weapons cache and arrested two suspects in southern Mandili, Diala province, on Friday, a security source said. "The Iraqi military launched a raid on Friday (Feb. 6) in al-Nada area, southern Mandili district, (55 km) east of Baaquba, seizing a cache and arresting two suspects nearby," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. "The cache contained 80 improvised explosive devices, six explosive belts, 40 mortar shells, 25 Katyusha rockets, dozens of bullet magazines and several light weapons," the source added. "The detainees are under investigative custody," he said, not giving more details.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/07/2009 00:00 ||
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Aswat al-Iraq: Policemen in Missan arrested two men wanted on "terrorist" charges in central al-Amara city on Friday, a senior security official said. "Policemen from the 3rd Emergency Police Department arrested two men wanted on terrorist charges in the old neighborhood of al-Hussein, central Amara," Col. Sadiq Sallam, the Missan Police Department's Relations & Information Director, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/07/2009 00:00 ||
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Aswat al-Iraq: Two persons were killed in an armed tribal dispute in a village west of Mosul city on Friday, a security source in Ninewa police said. "Two young men from al-Asi clan were killed on Friday (Feb. 6) in an armed feud in the area of al-Ulwaniya, northeast of Talafar district," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. "The two relatives came under fire while they were in a sheep souk (market)," the source added.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/07/2009 00:00 ||
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Aswat al-Iraq: Two wanted men were captured while C4 explosives were seized and an improvised explosive device dismantled near a mosque in northern Basra province on Friday, a police spokesman said. "Two wanted persons were arrested during a search raid in different areas of Basra," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. "The bomb squad seized a bag containing 25 kg of C4 explosives and TNT and defused an IED weighing 5 km in the area of al-Ablah, (8 km) northern Basra, near the mosque of Ali al-Safi, a top aide of Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani," the source said.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/07/2009 00:00 ||
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Aswat al-Iraq: Iraqi army forces found to unidentified bodies in Diala province on Friday, according to an official military source.
"Iraqi army soldiers found two bodies of people aging 20-30 years old in the area of al-Saadiya, (35 km) southern Khanaqin district," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. "There were no signs of the bodies having been shot. We don't know how they were killed so far but the investigations will show all details," the source added.
He said that the two corpses were left in the open for several days before they were found.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/07/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
He said that the two corpses were left in the open for several days before they were found.
"Hey, Mamoud. What's that Smell?" "What smell, Abdulla?" "Something smells REALLY bad.". "It always smells really bad here, Abdulla.?
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
02/07/2009 13:28 Comments ||
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Aswat al-Iraq: Two wanted men were captured while C4 explosives were seized and an improvised explosive device dismantled near a mosque in northern Basra province on Friday, a police spokesman said. "Two wanted persons were arrested during a search raid in different areas of Basra," the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. "The bomb squad seized a bag containing 25 kg of C4 explosives and TNT and defused an IED weighing 5 km in the area of al-Ablah, (8 km) northern Basra, near the mosque of Ali al-Safi, a top aide of Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani," the source said.
Aswat al-Iraq: Iraqi army forces found to unidentified bodies in Diala province on Friday, according to an official military source.
