{"article":{"id":70537,"heading":"Letter from Iraq","author":"Eric Rydbom","created":"2003-07-08 12:35:01","modified":"2003-07-11 15:02:29","last_modified":"Fri, 11 Jul 2003 22:02:29","article":"

Listen to what is being said by an Army Major (Engineer) who is in Iraq.

OPEN LETTER TO FRIENDS OF RICHMOND BEACH

It has been a while since I have written to my friends about what's really going on here in Iraq. The news you watch on TV is exaggerated, sensationalized and selective. Good news doesn't sell.

The stuff you don't hear about? Let's start with Electrical Power production in Iraq. The day after the war was declared over, there was nearly 0 power being generated in Iraq. 45 days later, in a partnership between the Army, the Iraqi people and some private companies, there are now 3200 mega watts (Mw) of power being produced daily, 1\/3 of the total national potential of 8000 Mw. Downed power lines (big stuff, 400 Kilovolt (Kv) and 132 Kv) are being repaired and are about 70% complete.

Then there is water purification. In central Iraq between Baghdad and Mosul, home of the 4th Infantry Division, Water treatment was spotty at best. The facilities existed, but the controls were never implemented. Simple chemicals like Chlorine for purification and Alum (Aluminum Sulfate) for sediment settling (The Tigris River is about as clear as the Mississippi River) were in short supply or not used at all and when chlorine was used, it was metered by the scientific method of guessing. So some people got pool water and some people got water with lots of little things moving in it. We are slowly but surely solving that. Contracts for repairs to facilities that are only 50% or less operational are being let, chemicals are being delivered, although we don't have the metering problem solved yet (It's only been 45 days).

How about oil and fuel? Well the war was all about oil wasn't it? You bet it was. It was all about oil for the Iraqi people because they have no other income, they produce nothing else. Oil is 95% of the Iraqi GNP. For this nation to survive, it MUST sell oil. The Refinery at Bayji is at 75% of capacity producing gasoline. The crude pipeline between Kirkuk (Oil Central) and Bayji will be repaired by tomorrow (2 June). LPG, what all Iraqi's use to cook and heat with, is at 103% of normal production and WE, the US ARMY, at least 4th ID, are insuring it is being distributed FAIRLY to ALL Iraqi's.

You have to remember that 3 months ago, ALL these things were used as weapons against the population to keep them in line. If your town misbehaved, gasoline shipments stopped, LPG pipelines and trucks stopped, water was turned off, power was turned off.

Now, until exports start, every drop of gasoline produced goes to the Iraqi people, crude oil is being stored, the country is at 75% capacity now, they need to export or stop pumping soon, thank the UN for the delay. ALL LPG goes to the Iraqi people EVERYWHERE. Water is being purified as best they can, but at least it's running all the time to everyone.

Are we still getting shot at? Yep

Are American Soldiers still dying? Yep, about 1 a day from the 4th ID, most in accidents, but dead is dead.

If we are doing all this for the Iraqis, why are they shooting at us?

The general population isn't. There are still bad guys, who won't let go of the old regime. They are Ba'ath party members (Read Nazi Party, but not as nice) who know nothing but the regime. They were thugs for the regime that caused many to disappear in the night and they have no other skills. At least the Nazis had jobs they could go back to after the war as plumbers, managers, engineers, etc...these people have no skills but terror. They are simply applying their skills....and we are applying ours. There is no Christian way to say they must be eliminated and we are doing so with all the efficiency we can muster. Our troops are shot at literally every day by small arms and RPGs. We respond and 100% of the time, the Ba'ath party guys come out with the short end of the stick. The most amazing thing to me is that they don't realize that if they stopped shooting at us, we would focus on fixing things and leave. The more they shoot at us, the longer we will stay.

Lastly, Realize that 90% the damage you see on TV was caused by IRAQIs, NOT the war. Sure we took out a few bridges from military necessity, we took out a few power and phone lines to disrupt communications, sure we drilled a few palaces and government headquarters buildings with 2000lb laser guided bombs (I work 100 yards from where two hit the Tikrit Palace), he had plenty to spare. But, ANY damage you see to schools, hospitals, power generation facilities, refineries, pipelines, was ALL caused either by the Iraqi Army in its death throes or the Iraqi civilians looting the places. Could the army have prevented it? Nope. We can and do now, but 45 days ago the average soldier was lucky to know what town he was in much less be informed enough to know who owned what or have the power to stop 1,000 people from looting a building by himself.

The United States and Britain are doing a very noble thing here. We stuck our necks out on the world chopping block to free a people. I've already talked the weapons of mass destruction thing to death, bottom line, who cares, this country was one big conventional weapons ammo dump anyway. We have probably destroyed more weapons and ammo in the last 30 days than the US Army has ever fired in the last 30 years (Remember, this is a country the size of Texas), so drop the WMD argument as the reason we came here, if we find it GREAT, if we don't, SO WHAT? I'm living in a \"guest palace\" on a 500 acre palace compound with 20 palaces with like facilities built in half a dozen towns all over Iraq that were built for one man. Drive down the street and out into the countryside 5 miles away (I have) and see a family of 10 living in a mud hut herding two dozen sheep. Then tell me why you think we a re here.

Respectfully,

ERIC RYDBOM MAJ, ENGINEER Deputy Division Engineer 4th Infantry Division<\/p>\n","contact":"","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"Here's a bit of really accurate information on what's actually happening in Iraq. None of the Pacifica style disinformation here.","numcomment":31,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2003\/07\/70537.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":70592,"heading":"What are your sources?","article":"On what do you base your analysis of the damage in Iraq? "Lastly, Realize that 90% the damage you see on TV was caused by IRAQIs, NOT the war. Sure we took out a few bridges from military necessity, we took out a few power and phone lines to disrupt communications, sure we drilled a few palaces and government headquarters buildings with 2000lb laser guided bombs (I work 100 yards from where two hit the Tikrit Palace), he had plenty to spare. But, ANY damage you see to schools, hospitals, power generation facilities, refineries, pipelines, was ALL caused either by the Iraqi Army in its death throes or the Iraqi civilians looting the places. "\r\n\r\nOh really? Are you saying that the Iraqi army staged the "Shock and Awe" campaign, the largest single assault on a country since the bombs hit Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Or that the cluster bombs that hit residential neighborhoods and killed families as they slept were self-imposed? Get a grip on reality. The hospitals were too busy performing triage and trying to save lives without medical supplies to save victims of US bombs. There was looting after the major military campaign, but only because US "peacekeepers" turned a blind eye.\r\n\r\nYou mention "the damage seen on TV" Are you referring to the sanitized, propagandistic reporting from "embedded" journalists working for the same corporations that profited from the war?\r\n\r\nI have read enough first-hand accounts by journalists and peacekeeping teams to know that serial numbers of US manufacturers were found on bombs that hit residential quarters.\r\n\r\nI commend you on your efforts to restore utlities and waaater supplies. Do not try to act, however, as if it is the victim's fault for its own destruction. The whole world now knows that is not true, now that the Bush administration's lies are being publicly exposed.","author":"Roger","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-08 14:08:30","modified":"2003-07-08 14:08:30","fileurl":""},{"id":70602,"heading":"Circle = Moronic PsyOps","article":"Recycling PsyOps \r\nMaking no point \r\nRecycling PsyOps \r\nMaking no point \r\nRecycling PsyOps \r\nMaking no point \r\nStuck in Langely.","author":"Detector","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-08 14:17:54","modified":"2003-07-08 14:17:54","fileurl":""},{"id":70613,"heading":"Gee look at that!","article":"News straight from the front lines.\r\n\r\nLooks like this "alternative media" news stuff can be of some useful purpose after all!","author":"Eric","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-08 14:33:52","modified":"2003-07-08 14:33:52","fileurl":""},{"id":70660,"heading":"Fuck Major Mo-Mo","article":"Compare this letter with testimonials of Nazi soldiers in Warsaw in the 1940s. This brainwashed\r\nidiot would have you believe everything you see on CNN and all the major networks. But \r\nhe doesn't mention Fallujah, the marketplace bombings (with the Rocketdyne serial numbers)\r\nthe civlian casualities, all that. Worst, he speaks with a subtly racist sense of self-righteousness.\r\nNo wonder our soldiers are fucked. They use self-deluded morons like this who spout generic\r\nstatistcs, regurgitate shallow arguments, and give orders (?)\r\n\r\nObviously this fool isn't protecting my freedom. ","author":"citizen","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-08 16:31:38","modified":"2003-07-08 16:31:38","fileurl":""},{"id":70662,"heading":"Forrest","article":""This brainwashed idiot would have you believe everything you see on CNN and all the major networks."\r\n\r\nIf the main stream media reports it, it must not be true. And that's all if have to say about that.","author":"Forrest Gump","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-08 16:41:53","modified":"2003-07-08 16:41:53","fileurl":""},{"id":70663,"heading":"bogus post?","article":"How is it that "Eric Rydbom" is able to post a letter on the IMC talking about himself sending\r\nan "open letter" from Iraq to a community in the US? Do army majors really keep track of \r\nwhat's being said in the US on Pacifica Radio, especially when they are all the way in Iraq?\r\n(Wow, then Pacifica must be more powerful than I thought--the Anti-War Movement\r\nIS having an impact for sheezee!) \r\n\r\nOr Is this letter just a schizophrenic creation of its author.","author":"mediawatcher","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-08 16:46:49","modified":"2003-07-08 16:46:49","fileurl":""},{"id":70669,"heading":"To that assclown that calls himself a "citizen".","article":"Obviously you don't know the definition of the word. You're no citizen. You're a collaborator.\r\n\r\n"Compare this letter with testimonials of Nazi soldiers in Warsaw in the 1940s."\r\n\r\nIt's your allegation. Why don't YOU do it for us.\r\n\r\n"This brainwashed idiot would have you believe everything you see on CNN and all the major networks."\r\n\r\nNo he wouldn't. He very specifically states:\r\n\r\n"The news you watch on TV is exaggerated, sensationalized and selective. Good news doesn't sell."\r\n\r\nNext time, read the article before spouting off at the keys. You're less likely to look like an imbecile.\r\n\r\n"But he doesn't mention ... blah blah blah."\r\n\r\nWhy should he comment on things he doesn't know about. Not everyone chooses to opine on things they are ignorant of (like you liberals so frequently do). Those things aren't in his job description. This man is an Engineer.\r\n\r\n"Worst, he speaks with a subtly racist sense of self-righteousness."\r\n\r\nOh gee. A leftist buzzword worked into the pseudo-rebuttal. "Racist". We'll give you an extra two points for that one.\r\n\r\n"No wonder our soldiers are fucked."\r\n\r\nYeah. No wonder. Not like you leftists\/anarchists. You guys are archetypes for all to follow. No problems in your domain. You guys are all about getting things right. That's why you're all so highly respected and held in elevated regards here in the USA. We just worship your opinions.\r\n\r\n"They use self-deluded morons like this who spout generic statistcs, regurgitate shallow arguments, and give orders (?)"\r\n\r\nCan you say "irony" folks?\r\n\r\nI knew that you could.\r\n\r\n"Obviously this fool isn't protecting my freedom."\r\n\r\nI sure hope not. If he's doing what he's doing for you, he's setting his sights too low.\r\n\r\n","author":"Eric","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-08 17:06:29","modified":"2003-07-08 17:06:29","fileurl":""},{"id":70697,"heading":"sad","article":"How sad that the shattered lives and mangled bodies of war are reduced to the bickering, slogans, and mindless chatter of people such as you.","author":"roger","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-08 18:19:21","modified":"2003-07-08 18:19:21","fileurl":""},{"id":70702,"heading":"And furthermore...","article":"since I have nothing of consequence to add to this discussion, I will simply put in my two cents worth of blathering, babbling, and a smidgeon of smattering.","author":"roger","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-08 18:33:21","modified":"2003-07-08 18:33:21","fileurl":""},{"id":71045,"heading":"roger","article":"Blathering and babbling are my specialties.","author":"Dagny","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-10 11:38:33","modified":"2003-07-10 11:38:33","fileurl":""},{"id":71325,"heading":"mr","article":"thanks for pointing all that out. saved me lots of typing.","author":"basil feebowitz","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 03:51:28","modified":"2003-07-11 03:51:28","fileurl":""},{"id":71353,"heading":"mr","article":"aahh yes.. sanitized letters delivered to the populace.\r\n\r\nI am sure that I do not need to define propaganda.","author":"sir","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 11:25:54","modified":"2003-07-11 11:25:54","fileurl":""},{"id":71366,"heading":"It's like no letter I've ever see written.","article":"And due to the education level of most joes, I've seen a few.\r\nUn real.","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 12:04:11","modified":"2003-07-11 12:04:11","fileurl":""},{"id":71368,"heading":"I Accept Cash & All Major Credit Cards","article":"If you REALLY want to read sanitized propaganda, pick up any of my writings.","author":"Noam Chomsky","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 12:12:39","modified":"2003-07-11 12:12:39","fileurl":""},{"id":71374,"heading":"Yup","article":"Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media \r\nEdward S. Herman, Noam Chomsky. Pantheon Books, 2002. The Culture of Terrorism Noam Chomsky. ... \r\n\r\nhttp:\/\/www.synaptic.bc.ca\/ejournal\/chomsky.htm","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 12:24:16","modified":"2003-07-11 12:24:16","fileurl":""},{"id":71376,"heading":"^","article":"I will. I will. Nothing brings me more pleasure than to read material written by the unknowing regarding things they coundn't possibly begin to comprehend. Noam Chomsky's material is the perfect place to start. Thank You. ","author":"yes","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 12:28:32","modified":"2003-07-11 12:28:32","fileurl":""},{"id":71378,"heading":"some one is down on Compsky","article":"Tisk.\r\nSuch disdain. Perhaps you would be so kind as to dispute some conclusion or reference in which you brlieve he has erred.\r\nPerhaps not....\r\nI could but you can't.","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 12:40:06","modified":"2003-07-11 12:40:06","fileurl":""},{"id":71383,"heading":"How about this one.","article":"http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/TRANSCRIPTS\/0205\/30\/ltm.01.html\r\n\r\n>>>>>>>>>>>>\r\n\r\nBENNETT: ...Of course, there is a mixed record in this country, why do you choose to live in this terrorist nation, Mr. Chomsky? \r\n\r\nCHOMSKY: I don't. I choose to live in what I think is the greatest country in the world, which is committing horrendous terrorist acts and should stop. \r\n\r\n>>>>>>>>>>>>>\r\n\r\nHe chooses to live in the "greatest country in the world". There you have it sheepdog. He thinks America is number 1, numero uno. What the fuck could he possibly know?\r\n\r\nAnd apparently we can commit horrendous terrorist acts and not be considered a "terrorist nation".\r\n\r\nChumsky is an idiot. Fortunately for him there are a lot more idiots out there buying his crap.\r\n","author":"Eric","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 12:54:35","modified":"2003-07-11 12:54:35","fileurl":""},{"id":71390,"heading":"It is a great country","article":"personally I love this place and the people.\r\nI've raised my hand twice to prove it. I just hate the weasels maggots and roach droppings feasting off the gore behind the curtains. But enough about me.....\r\nHe continues to use the freedom of his popularity to address the \r\nhistorically accurate framework of his lectures and written works\r\nconcerning events known in reports from open source information like the TIMES etc,. You have zeroed the problem I have with him however.\r\nHe doesn't address the underlaying strategy of terror right here directed against the less popular or protected. \r\n More?","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 13:08:17","modified":"2003-07-11 13:08:17","fileurl":""},{"id":71393,"heading":"not just "a great country."","article":""I choose to live in what I think is the greatest country in the world<\/u><\/b> ..."","author":"Noam Chumpsky","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/html","created":"2003-07-11 13:14:15","modified":"2003-07-11 13:14:15","fileurl":""},{"id":71395,"heading":"So What?","article":"He disagrees with me.\r\nIn degree. Your point?","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 13:18:00","modified":"2003-07-11 13:18:00","fileurl":""},{"id":71401,"heading":"I guess my point is...","article":"He agrees more with me than he does with you. That would make him a patriot and a nationalist. We all know that that can not possibly be true.\r\n\r\nYou asked for a place where he erred. I gave you one.","author":"Eric","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 13:28:45","modified":"2003-07-11 13:28:45","fileurl":""},{"id":71403,"heading":"We all know that that can not possibly be true.","article":"And your proof?\r\n\r\nThat 'letter' didn't smell like a real joe, writing home. IMO.\r\nI've helped to write and correct basic grammar to a few.\r\nBelieve it or not. Not at all like that piece of fluff at the top of this thread.\r\nNoam's got his own thing. He does it well.\r\nYou believe he erred yet you support his positions 'agreed with you'\r\nas it were. Also your post seems a bit contradictory. More coffee?","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 13:37:06","modified":"2003-07-11 13:37:06","fileurl":""},{"id":71410,"heading":"Contradictory? I don't get it.","article":"I'm a patriot and a nationalist. I believe the USA is the GREATEST nation on this Earth. And apparently, so does Noam.\r\n\r\nHowever, I do NOT believe America is committing horrendous terrorist acts. If I DID believe such a thing, I couldn't claim that it was the greatest nation, now could I? \r\n\r\nFurthermore, if a nation commits terrorist acts, that makes this said nation, by definition, a terrorist nation.\r\n\r\nApparently, Noam doesn't think so.\r\n\r\nSo why do you think I'm being contradictory?","author":"Eric","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 13:57:02","modified":"2003-07-11 13:57:02","fileurl":""},{"id":71413,"heading":"And that piece of "fluff"","article":"Was written by a college graduate, and Engineer, and a commisioned officer.\r\n\r\nNot by some grunt, ground-pounding, small town hick high school drop-out in the Mekong jungles of Vietnam.","author":"Eric","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 14:02:44","modified":"2003-07-11 14:02:44","fileurl":""},{"id":71421,"heading":"aww don't hurt me","article":"yeah, a gold leaf at that. No possible ulterior reason to send a letter about all the good things his command is doing.\r\nNow that's what I call on the ground reports.\r\n\r\nDon't you like rice bugs or fuckyou lizzards?","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 14:11:54","modified":"2003-07-11 14:11:54","fileurl":""},{"id":71438,"heading":"I prefer tunnel rats.","article":"Yeah. That's it. All officers eat shit sandwiches for the chain of command, hand over fist. Nothing they ever might have to say could possibly be credible. They're all a bunch of worms that only get their bars after they get their spinectomies. Don't believe a word of it.\r\n\r\nFirst, the letter was a fake.\r\n\r\nThen, it was written by someone that's not credible.\r\n\r\nDeny.\r\n\r\nDeny.\r\n\r\nDeny.\r\n\r\nDon't you EVER get tired of performing the same act, day in and day out. You're my dancing monkey. I say dance, and you dance.\r\n\r\nEach and every day.\r\n\r\nDance monkey! Dance!!","author":"Eric","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 14:27:47","modified":"2003-07-11 14:27:47","fileurl":""},{"id":71443,"heading":"Sweet Eric","article":"Is there a rose on your cheeks?\r\nOkay, it's both fluff and butt kissing. Happy now?","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 14:39:14","modified":"2003-07-11 14:39:14","fileurl":""},{"id":71451,"heading":"Well sheepdog.","article":"You would know. You're an expert on fluff and butt-kissing. You're our little fluff-boy!","author":"Eric","parent_id":70537,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-07-11 15:02:29","modified":"2003-07-11 15:02:29","fileurl":""}]}