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I've seen great progress since I've been here and I'm proud to have been a part of it!

One thing I've learned during my tour in Baghdad is that there are no
easy answers. I read in the press a poll that asked Americans if we would be
better off if we were to lose the war and I wonder what "war" they are referring to. I came here hoping to make a difference and I've been fortunate enough to have a job overseeing projects positively impacting the lives of Iraqi families.

I've ridden in humvees, strikers, and bradleys with brave, honorable
soldiers who patrol Baghdad neighborhoods day in and day out, many of them
on 15 month orders, and many of them living at Combat Outposts, where they
only get two hot meals a day. One Soldier once told me that he slept on the
hood of the humvee because the berthing was too crowded meanwhile, I've
had it relatively easy. These are the sacrifices our Service Members are
making.

But when an EFP kills everyone in a vehicle you can't
help but ask "why?" Why are we here? It's easy to focus on the
humanitarian efforts bringing water, electricity, and functioning
sewers to communities ignored under Saddam's reign. I'm
proud of my contributions in that regard. A politician said that
Iraqis are no better off today than they were in 2003. With all the
work we've done with schools, hospitals, and services, I have to
disagree. I asked one of our Iraqi employees what he thought of
that statement and he responded, "better off in what way?" I
didn't know. I thought it was a good question.
He explained that his family's security was his number
one priority. I don't blame him. He explained that pre-invasion,
he didn't have to worry about his wife coming home from a party
at 1 a.m. Now, they lock their doors and stay
inside after 8 p.m. He says electricity and
water can come later. Safety is his first concern. So I'm back to "why are we
here?" That's when I realized that although the projects themselves bring about
improvement, the real value is nurturing a fair government that supports her
people. That's no easy task. I've seen the influence of corruption, kidnappings, and intimidation here. Will we be successful in our mission? I don't know. In Iraq there are no easy answers we just go out each day trying to take a few more steps in the right direction. Essayons.
Personally, I will take with me the memories of meeting excited Iraqi children, seeing their smiles and hope for the future.
I'll remember the handshakes from the town elders thanking me for the U.S. removing Saddam Hussein and giving them their freedom. I'll also have the proud memories of working with some of the bravest people I will ever know, both American and Iraqi the people who risk their lives on a principle we call freedom.

Someone wrote and asked me these questions. I decided to let everyone read my answers even if some are repeats.

What kind of projects have you been working on?

You name it. I have roads, gas stations, public health clinic, a childrens hospital, a national electrical collge campus, a court house, a witness protection facility, finished up a rule of law prison compound, electrical substations, raw water pump station, 25 MGD water treatment plant, several water network projects, several sewer projects both storm and sanitary, electrical distribution projects, a police college, sever school renovations, and three new school construction projects.

Are there US construction companies doing the work or Iraqi companies?

There are. Most of the large projects are design build. Ironically enough, the project that is getting the most attention lately and costing me the most time and energy is the R3 water treatment plant. It's a 25 MGD treatment plant that was originally contracted to Parsons Engineering about three years ago. The treatment plant will serve the residents of Sadr city. At some point security became too big of an issue and Parsons pulled out. The remaining project was awarded to Washington International. So where's the irony? The company I work for (URS) is recently acquired Washington International. I had to write my superiors, the contracting officer, and council to recuse myself on any decision making or management actions that might have a direct impact on the company as it may be seen as a conflict of interest. The project is being managed by Stanley Baker Hill, who has a contract with the US government. We actually have several SBH employees working on our teams. I share an office with one. Some of the other firms doing business with us are Turkish companies.

If US, do they use a lot of locals or Americans that have been sent there?

The US firms use Americans and foriegners willing to work overseas including britts and aussies. They also employ locals.

If Iraqi companies how has the communication been? I would believe there would be a potential for a lot of mis-communication. Is that the case?

Communication can be slow. The Iraqis that work for me communicate adequately verbally. Sometimes their writing leaves me laughing. Most of the time I understand what they are saying even if the spelling is off and the choice of words a bit bizaar. I had to ask what a "healthy accident" was because that was the reason given for a contractor not working. The supervisor had a "healthy accident". It meant he was ill. The forms for concrete they call molds.

When negotiating with the contractors or local government officials, it's done with a translator which doubles the time a meeting takes, but gives me time to work what I'm going to say and how I want to say it.

How do you like what you are doing? Is it just a job or are there some enjoyable parts to it?

The humanitarian aspect of the job is very rewarding. Building new schools in
neighborhoods previously ignored by Sadam's rule for instance, providing electricity to families that are used to only getting one or two hours of generator power a day, or providing water to houses that had never had it before, building sewers where it currently runs in open ditches or in the streets, is something I can feel pretty good
about.

The trouble comes when I spend time really thinking about it. You see, we aren't really here to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure. We are here to rebuild Iraq's government. To be successful at that, we shouldn't be doing it for them. We should be facilitating and assisting them in doing it for themselves. Unfortunately we do have to intervene. For instance if left to the government 3 years ago, instead of building 16 schools at $1 million each, they would have built one $16 million school in one neighborhood which would have been where who ever had the most power. We are just now seeing reaction at the local government levels. They are starting to have more of a say in where the projects will go and what their needs are and in some cases they are able to do it themselves.

That's what this is really about. It's easy to provide the engineering solutions, but it's really the government solutions that is the real goal. We are simply using the civic projects as a means to accomplish that goal and to show them how a republican government works.
One that supports the people equally.

Trust me, when I hear about a HMMWV coming in that has been hit by an EFP with 3 KIAs and 1 WIA, I wonder if it's really worth it, and I question again, why are we here? But I dutifully go back to work to make sure those young soldiers didn't die in vain.

It's also tough, because during my deployment I've had one of my Iraqi inspectors shot in the nose as he was driving, one was kid napped, threatened, and released after 6 hours of intimidation, and a third was kidnapped tortured and held for $40,000 ransom and released

after 3 days. My inspectors won't go to neighborhoods where the contractors are being kidnapped and released after a ransom is given. Without surveilance on the projects, we have to terminate for convenience, which is exactly what the insurgents want.

The Army is sometime effectively using money like artillary. If neighborhoods cooperate with us, they get a school. If they don't and there are too many bombs being planted, then the projects get cancelled.

I don't hate the job. Everyday is a new challenge. I can't say I enjoy it, but I am honestly proud to be doing the job I'm doing. I know that I'm building memories that I'll never forget, both the good and the bad, and that's what life is all about. I'm glad I'm only here for 7 months, because that does make it bearable. I an awe of my Army counter parts who have 12 month orders or the soldiers who really put their lives on the line
every day who have 15 month orders. I don't know how they do it. I like my staff, I like my surroundings, I love my living quarters.

Is there much danger where you are at (I know there is potential danger everywhere, I'm trying to understand the level of danger where you are at)?

The first 3 months of my deployment I was at a FOB (Foward Operating Base) that had a reputation. Folks at other FOBs don't want to come here because of it. Earlier last year it was pretty bad. The indirect fire from motars was accurate, diliberate, and sustained. Lately it's poorly aimed pot shots that come in one's and two's and most of them fly over the base (we're a small base). You get used to it. It's been quiet lately. Well, there was a rocket that I'm told flew over last night just as I landed in a Blackhawk returning from my trip to Liberty. And while I was at liberty they shot something the sent ball bearings in t