Cyndi Scarlett in Baghdad

The situation in Baghdad according to my local friends appears to be calming down.  They say there is an  obvous increase in troops both American and Iraqi - more road blocks and my assistant said that for the first time ever, he was actually stopped and his car searched, which by the way, he said he welcomed.

Thing is, according to these same Iraqis, there are huge concerns about a couple of things - 1) the American people and the Congress appear to have made it very clear that we don’t have the will to stay here until things are really on the way towards a bright, democratic future.  They get it - at some point, we WILL cut and run….

They believe that the insurgents and particularly Iran know this and are very patient and will bide their time all the while training up new troops and developing even more sophisticated weapons.  The other thing they’re worried about is the numbers of troops that have been asked for in the surge.  They don’t think it’s nearly enough and that while we might get Baghdad somewhat under control, the insurgents and clerical armies will just move operations to other parts of Iraq and then what?

I believe their concerns are valid.  I have to wonder if no one has paid attention to or learned from our past mistakes most recently in Afhganistan…. we went into Afghanistan with the help of the Northern Alliance.  Does anyone know that most if not all of the Northern Alliance were/are made up of the warlords that the Taliban had overthrown for many good reasons years before?  They are evil, extremely dangerous men who rule Afghanistan by sections funded mostly by the production of poppies for heroin.  Anyone who knows, knows that Karzai (the President of Afghanistan) doesn’t have any control of the country outside of Kabul.  We left Afghanistan in part because we needed the troop strength to invade Iraq, didn’t finish the job there and have now left a vacuum where the Taliban are coming back in, better, bigger and stronger than ever.  We’ll eventually have to go back.  Mark my words.  Or, should I say, we should eventually go back if we are to do the right thing by the Afghans but I doubt we’ll have the political will to do so.

Another Apache was shot down yesterday late afternoon.  There is no doubt the insurgents are fighting back the best way they know how.  As the ground becomes more safe, it appears that the skies are now quite vulnerable.  I hate this and admit that I have a somewhat selfish motive as this is the way I get around the country.  I used to not give much thought to jumping on a helo and going from point A to point B.  It’s not that simple anymore.  To do my job, it’s really important that I be able to get around the country.  I hope the skies won’t become so dangerous that we aren’t able to travel readily that way as well.   This is all so tragic.  It makes my heart hurt.

I will tell you that the soldiers on the ground have the will to make this work.  Everyone I’ve talked to both a State and AID and other USG agencies want to see this work.  Normal everyday Iraqis like you and me want to see this work.  The only people it seems to me, that don’t want to see this work - possibly because they believe we’ve already lost are the politicians. 

Please, please write your congress men and women.  I can’t stress this enough.  They DO listen to the American people.  They currently believe because of the big Democratic win in the last elections, that there is a mandate against the war…  well, the American people need to be better educated - and not just by the biased media.  We have to do our part. 

We could get this right - we actually have a chance in fact, I believe with the Iraqis that this is our only chance.  I would ask all of you reading this to do the following:

• Call your congress men and women - in the house and the senate and tell them you expect them to support the war in Iraq - particularly over the long-term both with the increase in troops and support funding.  This includes approving far more troops including enough to control the borders.  Pay attention to the fact that Congress is getting ready to vote on support of the war effort.  Time is critical.  Fire up the emails and phone lines.  I sit here and listen to what’s coming out of our capital and it makes me ill.  These people fly in and out for a couple of days or hours and come back thinking they know everything there is to know.  They don’t know - they don’t live here - they don’t talk to ordinary Iraqis.  They don’t spend hours talking to the troops.  If they did, they wouldn’t have the opinons they are espousing. 
• Write letters to media editors print, radio and TV asking them to start reporting the facts in an unbiased way - it is especially important to contact the media that is not traditionally considered “conservative”  People need to understand the role that Iran has been playing and continues to play in destabilizing Iraq. 
• Educate yourselves about what is going on here - don’t listen to me alone - read, read, read - hear every side and make up your own minds.   THEN DO SOMETHING!
• Most importantly, pray.  Pray for General Patreus (sp) and his staff.  Pray for our troops,  pray for the Iraqi people and most importantly pray for our leaders. 

I know I’m having an about face in my opinions about this.   This comes after much thoughtful and prayerful consideration and after having talked to scores of people here on the ground.

I apologize to those who don’t want to read policial commentary in my blogs - but I have to speak out.  I find it interesting that people like Hillary Clinton are changing their positions… they are probably well informed - they KNOW what’s going on here.  It’s sad to me that Hillary has changed her position and has been willing to sell out for votes.  Of course this comes as no surprise to me as her husband didn’t seem to have much resolve of his own during his presidency but rather led by poll numbers. 

YOu CAN make a difference and I URGE you to do so.

Blessings to all!