Archives » Saturday, July 19, 2008
-
David Botti
|
Jul 19, 2008 11:55 AM
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.'”
More
Loading Menu