SPC Jeff Cole, 21, takes a break at a small outpost in eastern Baghdad / Photo: David Botti
As Senator Barack Obama arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan today to meet with military commanders and U.S. troops, anticipation is brewing in the media and among campaign watchers for his expected arrival here in Iraq.
But for U.S. Army soldiers at a small outpost in the Beladiat section of eastern Baghdad, hardly anyone even knew he was coming. Until three weeks ago they were without Internet access. Two months ago, back at their main base, a deadly rocket attack knocked all of the flat screen TVs off the mess hall walls, leaving them with no television. And even if they do have a moment to check on the status of the presidential campaigns, no one here gives it much of a thought.
"When I'm not doing anything for the Army, I'm trying to sleep," said twenty-year-old PFC Cory Kenfield, who pointed out he's been deployed in Iraq for most of the campaign season.
In fact, by the time these soldiers return home (the newest rumor is January or February), the United States may already have a new president – and a new policy on Iraq.
Until then it’s business as usual.
Over the past few nights the soldiers have been involved in two raids on suspected militia members. They’ve installed a new air conditioner for their spartan living quarters. They’ve found themselves disciplined by their platoon sergeant, and made plans for an upcoming re-supply.
The biggest news on this particular day seemed to be that a coffee shop opened back at their main base to replace the one damaged by a deadly rocket attack in April.
After hearing of Obama's intended arrival, some said they simply didn't care about politics. Others, like 21-year-old Specialist Jeff Cole, didn't see how it would affect their day-to-day lives as a platoon of infantryman partnered with a unit of Iraqi National Police.
"It's good for his campaign, but it doesn't really matter for us," he said.
Cole, like most of his other comrades, followed up his answer with a question of his own: “where’s Obama going to be in Iraq?” If Obama's visit were to have any impact on the troops, the soldiers all agreed, it would depend on where in Iraq he goes.
"He'll probably go to the Green Zone and say he hung out with the troops. When really all he'd be doing is hanging out with mechanics and colonels," PFC Cory Kenfield said of the general absence of infantry troops in the Green Zone.
"If he actually comes out here with us, I'll just laugh," chimed in eighteen-year-old PFC Daniel Mullineaux, as he grabbed a water bottle from a refrigerator that barely cools.
Sergeant Eric Chan joked that the only reason he’d go see Obama speak was if the speech were actually given in the comparatively posh and safe Green Zone, far away from the garbage-strewn lots, half-built houses, and perpetually barking packs of stray dogs that comprise the platoon’s area of operations. Chan, a wiry 25-year-old veteran of Afghanistan on his first tour in Iraq, saw Obama’s visit as being more meaningful for the folks back home.
“To the people in the States I think it's a good thing to see a possible future president come out here,” Chan said. “It's good for future leaders to see what's going on – to see what they're not used to. It's like, being a leader you’ve got to step up, and he's stepping up.”
Further up Charlie Company’s chain of command, First Sergeant Brian Disque also saw Obama’s visit as being primarily a opportunity for the candidate to educate himself.
“When I hear certain peoples’ interpretations of what’s going on in Iraq, it concerns me,” Disque said.
The first sergeant figured once Obama gets to Iraq, and sees the types of progress being made here, the senator may have to take back some of his criticisms of the war – a move Disque thinks could make him look like a flip-flopper.
Even though this December’s election will be the first in which he’s eligible to vote, 18-year-old PFC Steve Machell will pass on voting this time around. He said none of the candidates are worth voting for, and the hype surrounding Obama’s visit was unfounded.
“People are making a big deal out of it, but I know tons of guys that have been over here,” he said. “It’s not a big deal for someone to be here. The important thing is mainly just making it through.”
No matter where Obama ends up in Iraq, or what he actually says, none of the soldiers saw the visit as something to give more than a passing thought. Sergeant Mario Garcia, who was born and raised in Ecuador, said because of that country’s own political problems he’s developed a mistrust of all politicians.
Then the 25-year-old paused for a moment.
“I guess it's good for Obama to see how much progress is in Iraq right now,” Garcia said quietly. “Maybe he'll say: 'alright it's time to get these guys outta here.'”
