The e-mail below is from a platoon leader in Iraq about the recent shooting "incident" of a Quran in Iraq. The President recently apologized for the incident as has the senior military leadership in Iraq (Video of 'mea culpa' ceremony here). Clearly it is a setback to the "hearts and minds" campaign that has shown such success in the last year.
The soldiers on the ground recognize that this has the potential to blow back on them too. It is but one small example, greatly amplified now, of the kinds of leadership challenges that small unit leaders face everyday. It is also a great example of how a small lapse in leadership down at the squad level can end up having national level consequences.
[E-mail message]
Of course the first question everyone asked the shooter was, "What the Hell were you thinking?" The only answer could have been, "I wasn't."
But this story opens the door to some interesting possibilities. Once, soldiers who desperately wanted out of combat situation would self-inflict a non-life threatening wound to get removed from theater. Now they have another way ... fire up the Quran. Once they realize this, it may prove to be a tough year for Quran's in Iraq.
One last thought here. While a lot of us ol' troglodyte types recognize the impact of this, there is another lesson too. That is, when one shoots up a Quran, don't ever leave anything recognizable of the target. To do so, is even more stupid than the act itself.
The soldiers on the ground recognize that this has the potential to blow back on them too. It is but one small example, greatly amplified now, of the kinds of leadership challenges that small unit leaders face everyday. It is also a great example of how a small lapse in leadership down at the squad level can end up having national level consequences.
[E-mail message]
I wanted to send you all a quick note regarding the incident in Iraq this past week in which a soldier shot a Quran. I am a platoon leader at the COP where that soldier (an NCO from the sniper section of HHC, 4-64 AR) was assigned. There are two tank platoons out here plus that sniper section. The other platoon leader is 1LT XXXXXXX (class of '06 -law major). Anyhow, I just wanted to let you all know what had happened and what we have done since as I imagine it has been, or will become, a topic of discussion (even if classes are already over).
Our COP is located in Radwaniyah, a rural, mainly Sunni area that sits on the edge of the West Rashid neighborhoods of Southwest Baghdad. It is a mix of rural farmers and some urban neighborhoods. In the past 9 months, relations with the locals have improved dramatically - with the establishment of 5 more Iraqi 'volunteer'- manned checkpoints two weeks ago, we now have 1700 locals on the payroll securing the company AO. The soldier shot the Quran at a shooting range at the local IP station, which is located just a few hundred meters away from our COP. The incident happened on the morning of the 11th of May and by the afternoon we had the two groups of soldiers that had fired that day back at the COP determining what had happened. Everyone seemed to understand the impact that an incident like this could have on our relations with the locals here (and nationally). Once we found out who had done it, swift action was taken with that individual- I will not say any more on that subject as it is not my place. I will simply comment on the work that my platoon is now engaged in trying to mitigate any damage to our objectives in the region.
The formal ceremony for the apology (that was reported by CNN and other media outlets) took place over the weekend. As part of that ceremony, there was a peaceful protest organized by the Iraqis and held at the IP station. We have since visited the Iraqi checkpoints, talked with locals, and, in some cases, gone house to house, telling our neighbors here that what happened was an isolated incident and was extremely wrong. The program seems to be working and the locals have been cooperative. I think what I have been most impressed by, however, is the response by the soldiers of my platoon and the other one out here. They are very upset about this entire episode because they understand the potential harm that could have occurred in our relations with locals and also the potential harm to CF.
I just wanted to take a minute to let you all know how this happened and what is taking place on the ground now. The incident occurred due to a lack of discipline in the section that the soldier was a part of. That has since been fixed, but it is lapses like it that can have potentially harmful effects. I read recently that the President apologized to the Govt. of Iraq for the incident. I simply wanted to get that out to the cadets as they will be dealing with this very soon.
Well, everything else is going well and I will write you all later. I hope that the year has been productive for you all.
Our COP is located in Radwaniyah, a rural, mainly Sunni area that sits on the edge of the West Rashid neighborhoods of Southwest Baghdad. It is a mix of rural farmers and some urban neighborhoods. In the past 9 months, relations with the locals have improved dramatically - with the establishment of 5 more Iraqi 'volunteer'- manned checkpoints two weeks ago, we now have 1700 locals on the payroll securing the company AO. The soldier shot the Quran at a shooting range at the local IP station, which is located just a few hundred meters away from our COP. The incident happened on the morning of the 11th of May and by the afternoon we had the two groups of soldiers that had fired that day back at the COP determining what had happened. Everyone seemed to understand the impact that an incident like this could have on our relations with the locals here (and nationally). Once we found out who had done it, swift action was taken with that individual- I will not say any more on that subject as it is not my place. I will simply comment on the work that my platoon is now engaged in trying to mitigate any damage to our objectives in the region.
The formal ceremony for the apology (that was reported by CNN and other media outlets) took place over the weekend. As part of that ceremony, there was a peaceful protest organized by the Iraqis and held at the IP station. We have since visited the Iraqi checkpoints, talked with locals, and, in some cases, gone house to house, telling our neighbors here that what happened was an isolated incident and was extremely wrong. The program seems to be working and the locals have been cooperative. I think what I have been most impressed by, however, is the response by the soldiers of my platoon and the other one out here. They are very upset about this entire episode because they understand the potential harm that could have occurred in our relations with locals and also the potential harm to CF.
I just wanted to take a minute to let you all know how this happened and what is taking place on the ground now. The incident occurred due to a lack of discipline in the section that the soldier was a part of. That has since been fixed, but it is lapses like it that can have potentially harmful effects. I read recently that the President apologized to the Govt. of Iraq for the incident. I simply wanted to get that out to the cadets as they will be dealing with this very soon.
Well, everything else is going well and I will write you all later. I hope that the year has been productive for you all.
Of course the first question everyone asked the shooter was, "What the Hell were you thinking?" The only answer could have been, "I wasn't."
But this story opens the door to some interesting possibilities. Once, soldiers who desperately wanted out of combat situation would self-inflict a non-life threatening wound to get removed from theater. Now they have another way ... fire up the Quran. Once they realize this, it may prove to be a tough year for Quran's in Iraq.
One last thought here. While a lot of us ol' troglodyte types recognize the impact of this, there is another lesson too. That is, when one shoots up a Quran, don't ever leave anything recognizable of the target. To do so, is even more stupid than the act itself.
1 comments:
Just curious what the response from any Arab nation would be if an Arab soldier were to have shot a Bible? I personally think the soldier was an idiot. Why do something so charged as shooting a Quran. That sniper should be subject to a serious punishment. And removal from the area is not my idea of punishment. A lot of young men and women have suffered greatly to bring us to where we are today.
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