ElaineG's Space

Here is the latest direct from my brother in Iraq:

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Hey all, I wanted to drop a note to let you all know things go continue to go well for us here.  I finally have some great news!  We have begun the long process of turning over the reigns to the Iraqi people to govern and care for themselves.  We have a prepared statement that we have been asked to share to get the word out to all of you back home.  The information (a bit lengthy)is free to distribute, so please do so!  I've also attached the slide if you choose to print it. 

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The 278th Regimental Combat Team in partnership with Iraqi elected officials and security forces assist in the formation of a central government, representing all the people of Iraq. This new government will provide a common defense force, establish justice, and secure the blessings of peace and opportunity for the all Iraqi citizens and their children.              

The Iraqi security forces are steadfast and resolute in their fight against the enemy. They continue to be better armed, better trained, and better equipped.  They will not back down from protecting the rights of the Iraqi people to live free of fear and intimidation. 

Iraqis have cast their votes, but this was only the first step in a long journey to a new government.  All Iraqis have the responsibility, as members of society, to support the new government of Iraq. 

The insurgents have lost their war of intimidation.  They failed to prevent Iraqis from exercising their right to vote.  Iraqis have won this war for the future of Iraq.   

The Iraqi government and coalition forces are committed to helping Iraq complete its transition to a new government and economic recovery.  This process may take several years, but Iraqis are prepared to devote the resources necessary to ensuring the job gets done right. 

Coalition forces will work with the elected Iraqi government and Iraqi security forces to ensure that access to water, electricity, and essential services for all people continues to improve. 

Coalition forces work in partnership with local elected Iraqi government officials and businesses to expand employment opportunities for the Iraqi people. 

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We embark on a mission Sunday, very appropriately on Easter, to begin our engineering part of this new mission.  Our unit, along with Iraqi Engineers, other Iraqi and coalition forces, will repair a major roadway that is traveled to protect a major pipeline.  Although this unit will provide much of the equipment, it is our goal to demonstrate to the Iraqi people, that once properly equipped, their own engineers have the know how and desire to provide for Iraq's needs.  I know this goes without saying, but please, continue to pray for the success of this and all future missions.  The media usually spins the dark side of things here in Iraq, but missions such as this are going on everywhere, everyday to improve the lives of the Iraqi people.  Slowly but surely, we continue to march on doing great things and seeing the rewards of our efforts. 

My love to all, 

Michael

Here's the latest update from my brother who is in Iraq:

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Hello everyone,

Just wanted to let you all know that we continue to do well and are accomplishing a great deal for the Iraqi people here.  We've been involved in training the new Iraqi Army, the Police and Border Patrol.  Lately we have spent a great deal of time doing joint training with the Iraqi Engineers, teaching them more of what we do (minus expolisves training of course) and how to use some of the heavy equipment we have.  I want to thank you all for the support, especially the cards of encouragement that many from the church family have sent.  They have really helped lift my spirits during a pretty difficult month.  I want to thank you all for taking the time to write a few words, you would be amazed at the difference a few words can make in one mans life.  We continue to work hard and do great things, but we have a long road ahead of us.  Each day we see the Iraqi government and people taking more and more control of their country and we are required to do less.  To answer one of the many questions I'm asked, yes I do see an end to our involvement.  However, it will be several more years.  I hope this finds everyone well and in good spirts.

Take Care,
Michael

According to MSN Search:

Abominable Snowman or Yeti, legendary wild man of the Himalayas. Reports of sightings have come from Nepal (where the creature is known as Yeti) and from parts of China, Siberia, and other areas in Asia. Sightings have also been reported in North America, where the Abominable Snowman is called Bigfoot in the United States and Sasquatch in Canada. These creatures are said to be elusive; to be heavily built, apelike, hairy, and malodorous, with facial features resembling those of a human being; and to communicate by grunts, cries, or whistles.

So why the reference to Yetis?  Well, take a look at the photos.  I went home last weekend with my younger brother to surprise my dad while he was King of Winter Carnival.  The deal is, the Yetis are the bad guys.  They steal the King's crown, the Primeminister's sword, and if you're not careful...they'll kidnap you.  It's the job of the Vikings to protect the common folk, and a simple kiss on the cheek and the famous "V" demarcation means the Yetis can't get you.

My younger brother, (he's 30), says he's still afraid of Yetis.    They used to freak him out as a child.  He even got the kiss from a Viking diva so the Yetis wouldn't get him this year. 

On another note, as I mentioned to many of you, Winter Carnival is a big deal where I'm from.  Take a look at the photos and notice the "Closed for Parade" sign.  This was a common sight downtown Whitefish on parade day...really makes you miss small-town America

I loved being home for the Carnival.  It's been a number of years since I've been able to attend, and I was reminded how much I love it.  And it was so much more special just to be there for my dad.  I don't think he quit smiling and laughing all weekend. 

Here's a photo of my brother passing out school supplies to Iraqi children, as well as an Iraqi classroom.  It's a little surreal to seem him all decked out in his gear strapped with a gun.

But What About The Sunnis?

By Gary Anderson

When the votes are counted in Iraq, it's almost certain that the majority of members of the assembly chosen to draft the new constitution will be Shiite Muslims, with a strong representation of Kurds. At that point, they will face a question that they must deal with quickly: What to do about the Sunnis?

It's likely that the nation's Sunni minority will be grossly underrepresented in the outcome of Sunday's elections, in part because of insurgent intimidation and in part because of a deliberate boycott. Sunni resistance to the concept of majority rule is real. Much of it is fed by a fear of Shiite and Kurdish retaliation for centuries of Sunni domination. The Sunni insurgency is not a national resistance movement, despite the efforts of some in the Arab world to portray it that way. But it is a full-fledged guerrilla campaign to deny democracy to Iraq.

Some officials in Washington are contenting themselves with quibbling over what to call the present security emergency in Iraq. This is somewhat like the passengers and crew on the Titanic arguing over whether the ship hit an iceberg or an ice floe. The resistance is coming from a significant portion of Sunnis who, if they are not actively involved in it, are tacitly supporting it.

The new government has two clear courses of action open to it, and a relatively short time to choose between them. The first approach is simple, and I'd advise against it. The Iraqi government could treat this challenge as a civil war and try to crush the insurgency by force of arms alone. We Americans did this once. It worked, but the price was the greatest bloodletting in our nation's history. The majority imposed its will on the minority, and the nation looks the way it does today because of that choice.

The problem with a civil war analogy is that our Civil War was fought in a relative vacuum. With a weak Mexico to our south and a British Canadian colony to our north, we could shed blood with relatively little worry about immediate interference from our neighbors. Iraq does not have that luxury.

The second alternative is to act quickly to bring the homegrown members of the Sunni insurgency back into the tent and to the bargaining table as partners in crafting a constitution. In keeping members of the Sunni resistance out of the process we run the risk of making the same mistake we made in Somalia. By giving the other side no option but to fight, we ensure a long, bloody struggle.

There is good evidence that some of the more competent Baathist leadership on the insurgent side is made up of relatively young mid-level members of the former security services, rather than the discredited members of the Hussein clique. By automatically excluding them from the process, the Iraqi government would give them very little choice but to keep fighting.

By offering an immediate amnesty and allowing for the former mid-level Baathists to form a legitimate party to represent Sunni interests, the new Iraqi leadership can drive a wedge separating nationalist Iraqi Sunnis who might want to participate from the foreign fighters and hard-core former members of the discredited regime.

When interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi made this offer to the Sunni resistance before, the caveats he put on it -- at the insistence of hard-line Shiites and in response to bad advice from some Americans -- were clearly unacceptable: Anyone who had waged a successful attack on the Americans or government forces was automatically excluded from the process. This left the opposition with a choice between continuing to fight and capitulating. The new government has the temporary advantage of being able to ignore such pressure.

The opposition in Iraq is a fragile coalition of forces with incompatible views as to its goals -- other than the goal of getting the Americans out of the country. In fact, some of the most radical members probably want to see us remain, since shooting at Americans is their sole claim to legitimacy. Fracturing that coalition is the key to success.

The writer, a retired Marine Corps officer, has been an adviser to the Defense Department on the creation of Iraqi security forces and has traveled to Iraq in that capacity.

Here's the most recent update from my brother, Michael who is stationed at Camp Caldwell, Iraq.

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Hey all,

Well the elections went well and the intial reports are encouraging.  The only downside is it appears that there is going to be a Sunni landslide.  I'm not sure how that will affect this country, but Sunni's have close ties with Iran.  I guess only time will tell.  My guys have had more relaxed week this week and I actually was able to take some time for myself and get some rest.  The only exciting event was that one of my platoons was fired on by friendly forces.  It just so happened to be the NAVY!  Gee Maggie, what are we gonna do with your boys! LOL!  Fortunately, the no one was hurt and everyone is okay, the guys just had there feathers ruffled a bit.  The guys continue to plug away at thier missions.  One of our groups helped dispose of nearly six tons of ordanance yesterday.  I'd like to see that candle when they lit it off! 

I want to thank all of you for your prayers and those from the church family that have taken the time to send the cards of encouragement.  I can honestly say, when I read the cards, it's the first time in several weeks that i've felt any kind of emotion.  I just take things here in stride and try to get through the day.  It's amazing what a few words will do for a person.  So again, thank you ALL for your support.

Well, we continue to do well and work hard.  I hope you all have a great week.

CORRECTION:

Hey All,

I just wanted to make a correction in the my last update.  I was misinformed about the the election count here.  The prediction is that the Shiites will win by a landslide with the Kurds also winning many of the seats and forcing the Sunni's out of control.  That's what I expected to happen and misunderstood the information that was provided to me.  There is a great deal of concern among the Sunni's that the Shiite and Kurds will be taking control and drafting the new constitution and getting even with the sunni's for centuries of domination.  I've attached an article written by a retired marine officer that explains current circumstances in more detail than I can.  Hope this finds everyone well!

Michael

Love to all,
Michael

Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will.

SFC Michael J. Gilman
A Co. 386th EN BN
Camp Caldwell Iraq
APO AE 09374

Here's what my brother Michael had to say from Iraq this week.  Please keep him and all the others in your prayers.

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Hey all,

Sorry I wasn't able to send out a message last week, but we had to upgrade the network and I was down for a bit.  Today is election day and we all hold our breath.  We've been busy, but not as busy as anticipated.  Things started to pickup for us last night and have maintained so far through this morning.  The good news is, we're busy because the guys are finding the bad stuff before it can harm anyone and they call us to take care of it.  Although the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) are providing the security around the polling sites, our
forces did the initial sweeps and then pull back to support if needed.  I pray that all goes well today and ask for you to do the same. 

As for our soldiers, they are doing a bang up job.  They continue to work hard and are getting the missions done.  We have yet to see it slow down enough to get these guys some time off, but their spirits are up and doing well.  To give you an idea of how buys we've been, we've destroyed over 40 weapons cache's, over 40 construction missions to improve force protection and have disposed of over 20 roadside bombs.  Amazing we are able to do this without injury or incident.  We've certainly been blessed.

The weather has left a lot to be desired.  We've had a great deal of rain and mud to deal with.  The tempratures have been dropping into the 30's and 40's with pretty mild days.  I guess I shouldn't complain, come summer time we'll be seeing daytime temps of 130-140 degrees.  I can't believe people live here in this kind of extreme temps.

I hope this find everyone well.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Take care,
Michael

Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will.

SFC Michael J. Gilman
A Co. 386th EN BN
Camp Caldwell Iraq
APO AE 09374