Elections-Part III

    Once the mermites were stacked away the Soldiers who weren’t manning positions settled into a satisfied torpor, and several rooms filled with soldiers sprawled out like vagrants. Security is far and away the most critical element in a defense, but that duty also shares the distinction of being one of the most onerous. The difficulty with pulling guard doesn’t stem from any physical exertion; in fact it’s quite the opposite. When you stand guard behind a fortified position your awareness collapses down into a single lonely arc. As the hours wear on focusing on the same narrow shard of earth starts to weary the eye and numb the brain. Although you won’t read it in any book there are thousands of techniques to wile away the time. The techniques are passed down from Soldier to Soldier, forming a oral tradition that a Zen monk would envy.

    But however apt the technique, over time it becomes increasingly difficult to remain focused and alert. An hour or two after the off shifts had settled into sleep I walked between positions to check up on the Soldiers. The moon glittered in the winter sky like a silver lantern, and it drenched the area with its cool light.  As I settled into each site there would be a short whispered exchange and then the troop on duty would point out the highlights of the last few hours. They would point out the houses with generators, and note how often the occupants would slip out their doors to refuel their growling engines. They would point out the packs of haggard canines, and point out their pack hierarchy as if they were safari guides describing mysterious denizen of the African plains. Each conversation was carried out in soft whispers, despite the fact that our positions were unmistakable. Our subtle conversations weren’t based on tactical necessity, they just seemed appropriate in the silvery light of a desert moon. After a few hours I returned to the pink classroom that served as our CP and settled into a restless sleep.

     The next morning announced its arrival with waves of burnt orange that seemed to crash against the horizon like waves breaking on a reef. The fiery light of dawn leeched into the Eastern sky like dye spreading in a still water, and eventually the colors condensed into the bright eye of morning. The soft light did little to improve the local aesthetics, the area around our position still seemed raw and unfinished. The one and two story homes in the vicinity were in various stages of decay, and they all shared the same general look of disrepair. The slipshod appearance had little to do with economic prospects, there were several glittering cars sitting outside some of the careworn buildings bearing testament to their owners financial acumen. There just seemed to be an unspoken agreement that the aesthetic qualities of a home were secondary to convenience.

     As the day wore on the driving ban went into effect, and as it did the streets started filling with laughing kids playing riotous games of soccer. The kids would carry out random pieces of garbage to serve as goals, select their teams, and start boisterous games back and forth along the empty asphalt. We conducted several dismounted patrols with the POB soldiers to secure the local area, but other then the children playing soccer the area seemed strangely vacant.

     The highlight of the morning was watching the antics of an midget donkey just outside our security perimeter.  Physically the donkey was a rather plain animal, standing a shade higher then a Great Dane. But it wasn’t the donkey’s small stature that attracted so much attention, it was the creatures ridiculous displays of territorialism. It didn’t matter what wandered into the little donkey’s patch of dusty earth – if it came into range the bitter little animal bared its ridiculously blunt teeth and charged like a Spanish bull. The little animal seemed to lack any real maliciousness, choosing to butt its victims instead of trampling them under it gangly hooves, but that just made its ridiculous attacks all the more amusing. Regardless of whether the victim was a chicken, a stray dog, or a small child the donkey’s tactics remained the same. As the prey approached the donkey would bow its head and act like it was grazing on the dead underbrush. As the target drew closer the little donkey would bend its knobby knees as if it were attempting a feeble imitation of a jungle cat. When the victim was in range the donkey would make an ungainly leap into the air and clumsily gallop towards its cross species rival. I can think of no less fearsome sight then a temperamental midget donkey, but somehow the little animal managed to ward off all rivals.

     By the afternoon the election officials arrived in a sputtering column of ancient cars and trucks. As they stepped out of their vehicles they nervously scanned the area, their heads craning about like a frightened herd of elk. As they took in their surroundings their gaze seemed to settle on the array of armored vehicles and weapons ringing the compound. Their eyes darted from vehicle to vehicle and from position to position, and as they did their nervous ticks dropped away like a winter coat. Emboldened by the unyielding forces deployed around them the election officials started to download equipment off the overburdened trucks. For almost an hour a steady stream of material spilled into the school, and when they were finished the lower floors were awash in cardboard boxes. The officials took a few moments to rest in the wide hallways, and for the next few minutes they splayed out across the haphazard array of cardboard. Eventually one of the lead officials got them all moving again, and the motley assortment of workers started setting up the polling site. I found it mildly ironic that the cardboard boxes were filled with… cardboard.  The officials took the folded sheets of cardboard and quickly slotted them together into individual polling booths. It was a little like watching a display of origami writ large, and it was repeated over and over until several classrooms were lined with cardboard booths the size of an Egyptian sarcophagi. It was strange to think that in these narrow boxes, little bigger then a child’s play fort, the next chapter in Iraq's history would unfold.

     After all the preparations were complete the election officials gathered into a small room and drank steaming cups of tea the rest of the afternoon.  The officials didn’t share any common uniform, they were dressed in a mixture of western and traditional garb. In fact the only evidence they were election officials were the laminated identification cards each official wore around their neck. If you squinted your eyes to blur the bright identification cards they could have passed for a random gathering of friends chatting about old times. As I watched them casually rest behind our curtain of security I had to smile, their lackadaisical posture was proof positive that our mission was succeeding. During the last two elections the election officials flatly refused to show up for fear of their lives, but now they were lounging around the election site without a care in the world.

     As the sun settled low in the sky I breathed a sigh of relief, our second day had passed without incident. All that was left was the big day…the day Iraq would become a true democracy.

Comments

[Lenny]

Dean Barry is an idiot, just a sky is falling leftest well trained by his blow hard narrow thinking Professors from College. An idealest without morales, who doesn't understand the need to stand up against agression in the world or it will come to our door again. Such as Pearl Harbour and New York City, and unlike Nazi Germany we liberated milions. There descendants have all benefitted from their freedom with thriving economies and a near utopian lifestyle. There will always be useful idiots of the left who will champion moronic notions such as Comrade Barry, to try to lower the morale of those protecting us from a very violent world. Danjel, you and your men must remember that your work is unbelievably important. That fools like Barry are a distinct minority who wallow around in the mud sling it at those who have to the hard work of the world. We support and love you all for your tremendous sacrifice and successes for making the world a better place. Stay Safe, you Guardians on the wall for it is you who protect us through the long night.

[David M]

Hahahahahaha, I just love how they attempt to take some moral high ground by daring T6 to delete their post by calling it censorship. OH the leftist darlings are out in force today, it isn't even worth my effort to deconstruct his incoherent ramblings for the falsehoods that they are. But just for the record, censorship would be the removal of the post before it was published. Allowing it to be posted without moderation is called freedom of speech, deleting it afterwards is called cleaning up the thread. Merry Christmas Danjel.

[MissBirdlegs in AL]

Trolls should find some place else to spew their filth! Just checkin' for a new post, T6. You know what worrywarts some of us are... Hope all is well with y'all. Best, Katy

[AubreyJ]

Merry Christmas to all of you over there this Christmas Day... AubreyJ.........

[Beth Lamm]

We will be praying for you all at Mass tomorrow. Our sincere thanks to Mrs.Bout and to your family for what they have given on behalf of the Iraqi people and our nation. Merry Christmas Danjel! Beth, Jim, Danny and Helen

[MissBirdlegs in AL]

Merry Christmas to you and your troops, T6! It's still Christmas Eve here, but wanted y'all to know we enjoyed our day, thanks to y'all. We'll never forget! Katy

[Tom]

Thank you very much and Merry Christmas. Do what you need to do.

[Lenny]

Merry Christmas, I hope its a quiet one for you guys. God Bless.

[Andi]

T6, just wanted to drop by to wish you and your fellow soldiers a Merry Christmas. Thanks to all of you for your service. I hope 2006 brings you many blessings.

[Weaser]

Thanks again T6 for sharing your world with us, and thank you and your team for all you do. Our thoughts and prays are with all of you this holiday season and on this blessed Christmas Eve.

[PebblePie]

Deck The House! http://www.powerpres.com/xmascard03.html Merry Christmas, Pebble

[madtom]

Hey you got mentioned in a news story. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=20990

[Kat in GA]

Well, it's christmas eve now... I wanted to pop by and wish you and all our heroes out there a very merry and safe christmas... please know that you are close to our hearts and in our prayers always!!!!! We love you and are proud of you!

[Lorene]

Another great installation! T6 you and your men will be thought of and honored at our family Christmas table. May God continue to watch over you. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays to all of you. Thank you for all you do.

[crobnson]

Stopped by to wish you and your soldiers a peaceful, Merry Christmas. And also, thank you Danjel. Christine

[crobnson]

Stopped by to wish you and your soldiers a peaceful, Merry Christmas. And also, thank you T6. Christine

[Wild Thing]

I just want to wish you a Merry Christmas and thank you for ALL you do.

[The Combat Warrior]

As my fingers move across the keyboard like a leopard stalking It's prey I am reminded of the hunger within Thunder6 that night, a hunger that could only be satiated by the Quick Reaction of the Blanco Lemmings who carry with them salvation wrapped in styrofoam. As the Lemmings were consumed by the shroud of darkness their way was lite by a beacon of light, not unlike the emerging democracy represented by multitudes of index fingered papers delivered safely to their final destination. As the shockwaves of Thunder6 tore away into the still night air, back toward FOB Blue Condor the Blanco Lemmings furiously scrambled to keep within the envelope of security without slipping into the turbulance of the unknown left in his wake. In the end the Blanco Lemmings knew that the danger they faced running the Gauntlet of Death, very well could have rendered them into something not dissimilar to the gravy covered meatloaf encased in plastic that was their mission to deliver, but nevertheless they faced that danger in the name of Freedom, Democracy and growling stomachs everywhere.

[Subsunk]

T6, The descriptions of staying alert on watch brought back vivid memories. Many a midwatch passed using those techniques. Many an alarm would have been raised if we weren't as alert as you gents were during these times. It always seemed like the hardest thing to do to keep young men from boredom and sleep during those long cold nights. But the price of their unwatchfulness would have been Death visited on our door, or loss of prestige and mission compromise otherwise. Sometimes the hardest thing to do as leaders was to make an example of one of the Men when he would fall asleep on watch. Captain's Mast, loss of rank and pay, extra duties as penalties truly hurts a Man's morale and further use to the service. Officers did not take these charges lightly. They were a reflection on us, so you found new ways to keep the troops awake and from the Captain's reluctant wrath. Men are only human. They have to laugh, love and have a purpose to their existence. You gents have given many of us a purpose in our lives. The support of you and your mission with every word, every thought, and every prayer of our day. God bless you all. Keep up the great work. Come home safe and well, honored and idolized by all Americans and all small children throughout the world. Press on. Subsunk

[Anna]

T6, I just wanted to say thank you for all that you do on behalf of kin and country. You are an example to all of us. Stay strong and stay safe!

[Kat in GA]

God bless you, sir...and thank you.

[CJ]

You all are awesome! Can't wait for the next chapter. =)

[MissBirdlegs in AL]

Steady as rocks, all of you. We couldn't be prouder!

[PebblePie]

.** . * . . . . * . * . .. * . (\ *** /) * . * .* . * ( \(..)/ ) * * . .* . * (_ /|\ _) . * . .* . * . /___\ * . . * *. * . * . * . . * . * Merry Christmas

[Lenny]

Confidence is hard earned especially in such a violent situation inwhich you work. Your steadfast effort has proved more powerful than fear, only the soldier can instill such an emotion in so dangerous a postion. You and your men are a credit to all that is unfolding around you. You are all truly blessed. Stay Strong, Stay Fierce. May God keep you all safe in his protective arm, till you arrive home to the loving arms of your families. And the deepest pride, respect, and love we feel for you all.