I had the opportunity to meet with Iraqis at every level. The Iraqi people are really just like us. They want their kids to be raised in safety and to be successful. They do not want violence. They do not want terrorism. They want to build a peaceful life. Their biggest thing to overcome was to know whom to trust. They had a hard time trusting us because our folks would be in their village during the day and then go home at night. The terrorists would come in when we went home. And the people had a hard time trusting us because we wouldn’t protect them. To make the situation worse, some of the mayors and local leadership were corrupt. General Petraeus’s motto was: “Don’t Commute to Work.” That was a change in doctrine. Our troops started living with the Iraqi military. They were living among the Iraqis, and it changed everything. Living and working with the Iraqi troops allowed the Iraqi people to have more confidence in our troops.
Many people talk about the “surge.” There were four parts to the surge. It was more than just increasing the numbers of boots on the ground. The Sunnis calling themselves the ‘Sons of Iraq’ started fighting the terrorists instead of the Shia. The Shia Muslims began fighting the terrorists instead of the Sunnis. The military began to move out of the bases and into the cities and living with the Iraqis. And there were increased numbers of troops in the problem areas. General Petraeus put our men and women out in the community, and the people were able to see who we really were. We were not oppressors. The terrorists were. They raped and stole from the people and destroyed the places they were at. We built up and healed. The contrast was too great.
The people of Iraq understand the cost of freedom. They want it for their children. They are just like us.
Dear God, I want to love you with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind, and I want to love my neighbor as myself. Please fill me and increase my love day by day.
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:18)