Column: A Soldier’s Notebook; Insurgents, smugglers and Al Qaeda: Student soldier provides USU students with breakdown of groups fighting in and for Iraq
It is a very interesting thing to be in a combat zone. The sights and sounds here mix together to create an experience all its own. Random gunfire, near and distant explosions and the whistle of incoming rockets are just a few of the many things you experience here in Ramadi.
Every morning and night, you can hear the call for prayer coming from the mosques – something not common in a Utah neighborhood.
But when you look around at the landscape, it is not a completely foreign place. There is a freeway nearby, buildings and markets all full off people going about their business. Minus the dirt and garbage, it’s not entirely unlike something you might see in the states. The big difference here would be the fact that there are people out there wanting to kill you. Here’s just a quick rundown of those who share this desire.
The insurgents. These are the ones who had it good under Saddam’s rule. They are Sunni Muslims like Saddam himself, or former Ba’athist party members. They had money, power and a lifestyle higher than that of the general populace. It’s no wonder why they want Iraq back the way it was.
Then there’s the foreign fighters (Al Qaeda in Iraq). The want nothing more than to kill the American infidels at any chance they get. They couldn’t care less about Iraq – their motivation is religion. Often they are younger illiterate men who have been fed propaganda by Islamic extremists. They believe it is their call from Allah, to carry out their Jihad (holy war) against the non-believers.
Another smaller group operating here is the smugglers and illegal business dealers. They are roughly the equivalent of the mafia in America. Their motivation is nothing more than good ol’ money. A lot of these smuggling groups have been operating in Iraq for hundreds of years. They stand to lose a great deal if the U.S.-led coalition is able to bring security and stability to Iraq.
And then you have our motivation. For some, it is the cause of freedom for the Iraqi people. And some believe it is necessary for stability throughout the region. And of course there are those who are motivated by economic factors. I imagine there are even many Americans who believe that in the big picture, this is about opening up the Middle East to freedom of religion.
So you can see the religious and political turmoil that surrounds this conflict. Sounds complicated, right? Well, for politicians and tribal leaders in Iraq, it is complicated. As for a soldier on the ground, not so much.
To us, it’s a simple two-step process. 1) Doing the job we’re asked to do. 2) Coming home alive. I guess the key for us simple-minded soldiers would be in step number two. Does anyone really need any more motivation than that? I would think not.
Comments or questions can be sent to Sgt. Jared Johnson at
jaredj@cc.usu.edu.