Skimming along only feet above the ragged Baghdad roofline the reality of my locale seems to sink in. From the Sniper emplacements that dot the roofs of the skyscraper buildings to the unmistakable American Military vehicles, tents and equipment that cover many key locations throughout the city. This was a Mecca of large proportions make no mistake about it. Without too much imagination one can almost visualize what life before OIF in Baghdad was like. Many homes look very much like many in the Southwest U.S. Many still sporting green lawns and some even with swimming pools. These are obviously the elite…many likely the doctors or businessmen that were selectively allowed to function under the rule of Saddam. There are many city parks with playgrounds for children and fountains that lay still baking in the desert heat. One of the largest buildings I’ve ever seen is in the heart of Baghdad. It looks like it was to be a huge Mosque for worship. Having never been completed the tall construction cranes stand still in an eerie ghost town like presence over the structure.
The presence of the U.S. Military in our loud, dark, mysterious and speedy Helicopters skimming along above the desert has not scared off the Iraqi children I can assure you. On almost every flight we make dozens of “Candy Bombs”, a simple zip-loc baggie filled with a variety of hard candies, lollipops and Tootsie Rolls with white streamers attached to the bags. When the children hear us coming you can see them running out of every corner and crack of every structure in sight. Hands waving, cheering and smiling faces likely hoping for another special delivery from the hearts of families all over the States that have mailed goodies to soldiers who in turn donate to the “candy bomb” makers.
I know we will never win this war on terrorism through words or fancy speeches. We cannot hope to suppress centuries of repression in one fell swoop. But, through the eyes and hearts of those little Iraqi children one thing is for sure. Those Americans with their loud, dark, mysterious and speedy Helicopters dropping goodies with smiling faces and waving hands truly are…one by one…winning the hearts of many.
LT Sims
“The men who have changed the universe have never gotten there by working on leaders, but rather by moving the masses…Working on the masses…is the stroke of genius that changes the face of the world.”
NAPOLEAN BONAPARTE 1769-1821
