Posted on 03/20/2004 11:19:32 AM PST by RWR8189
Meet the Baghdad volunteers.
Baghdad LIBERALS ARE FAMOUS for claiming the moral high ground for their causes and themselves. They like to pat themselves on the back. But at the scene of today's most prominent humanitarian project--Iraq--they are not a major presence. Conservatives are, hundreds of them. Despite the danger, they have volunteered to serve in the effort to make Iraq a free and democratic country. So many have come, in fact, that Coalition Provisional Authority administrator L. Paul Bremer had to cut off the flow. "There are more than I can possibly take," he says.
It's not pay or creature comforts that attract them. They are a kind of conservative Peace Corps. They live in trailers, four to a unit, surrounded by sandbags. They eat institutional food. They work seven days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day. They spend most of their time inside the six-square-mile "green zone," the guarded headquarters of the CPA and Iraqi Governing Council. They face attacks from mortars and rockets and gunmen.
They have sacrificed to come to Iraq. Shane Wolfe, once a White House intern, had just graduated from the University of Akron School of Law and taken the bar exam when he heard CPA spokesman Dan Senor was looking for help. "I believe in this mission," he says. "I believe in it even more now after having seen the reaction of the Iraqi people." Wolfe was scheduled to leave Iraq in early March. "I committed to stay a while longer." Shortly after he arrived in Baghdad in September he learned he'd passed the bar exam.
Wolfe is 30. His press office colleague Rich Galen is, as he puts it, "a 57-year-old Jewish writer." Galen is also a professional Republican, a former press secretary for Newt Gingrich, a TV commentator, and most recently the author of an Internet political newsletter. Galen got a call from the White House last summer and signed up. He says he had "buyer's remorse" from having avoided Vietnam by serving in the National Guard. Now in a war zone, Galen wears a 9mm Beretta pistol. "I'm an extra gun if they need it," he says half-seriously. "There's a low level of fear here, sometimes a high level. But I don't have any doubt this [mission] is going to work."
Then there's Traci Scott and David Luft. She is a 39-year-old African American who gave up her job with Republican congressman Jon Porter of Nevada and came to Iraq after the bombing of the United Nations building here last fall that killed 22 people. David Luft, 59, is an economic consultant from Austin, who worked on the State Department's policy planning staff and for the International Trade Commission in the Reagan administration. Luft arrived a month ago to help Iraqis develop new businesses.
How did the U.N. blast prompt Scott to volunteer? "I felt people were going to start to leave," she says. "If nobody's over here, there won't be anybody to help. I had to come." She was in Baghdad only six days when a military officer she worked with, Lt. Col. Charles Buehring, was killed in a rocket attack on the Al-Rashid Hotel inside the green zone. Back in Washington for a brief vacation, she visited his grave at Arlington National Cemetery. It was adjacent to the grave of her father, an Air Force officer.
Having advised former Communist countries on creating a free market economy, Luft felt "the skill I had to offer would be something that would be valuable here. I had good success in the past." Luft grew up in postwar Germany before emigrating to the United States. "American soldiers made friends with me. I can relate to what's going on here. I have great empathy with Iraqis."
Two more: Army captain Patrick Swan, 41, of Alexandria, Virginia, and David McDougal of Boise, Idaho. Swan was working in the Pentagon as a civilian when he was asked to join an Army Reserve unit from Orlando, Florida, that had been called up for Iraq duty. "I said absolutely," Swan says. His mother and daughter urged him to get out of his commitment. He says he told them: "You don't understand. I've got 22 years in the reserves. I'm not a sunshine patriot. When it's time to go, I go. It's inconvenient. But it's not as inconvenient as coming to work at the World Trade Center and finding you had to jump from the 100th floor or have your body incinerated. That's the perspective I bring."
McDougal is an odd case--a British foreign service officer on a leave of absence from his job as a producer of the Good Morning, Idaho daily TV show in Boise. He got the job while rafting in Idaho on vacation. "I'm a good Idahoan," he says. He was asked to serve as spokesman for the top British official in Iraq, Sir Jeremy Greenstock. He agreed. Like Shane Wolfe, he's staying on though the term he signed up for has expired. He'll wait for the turnover of sovereignty to an Iraqi government on June 30. His wife is an American.
What do all these people have in common? They're idealistic. They believe the removal of Saddam Hussein's tyranny can lead to a new and better Iraq. They're willing to sacrifice their careers for a spell and leave their families for a cause. What's particularly appealing about them is they don't pat themselves on the back.
Fred Barnes is executive editor of The Weekly Standard.
I have to assume not reading articles before you post is the norm with you.
Um, did you actually read this article, or get no further than the first paragraph?
Then there's Traci Scott and David Luft. She is a 39-year-old African American who gave up her job with Republican congressman Jon Porter of Nevada and came to Iraq after the bombing of the United Nations building here last fall that killed 22 people. David Luft, 59, is an economic consultant from Austin, who worked on the State Department's policy planning staff and for the International Trade Commission in the Reagan administration. Luft arrived a month ago to help Iraqis develop new businesses.
Or this part:
Two more: Army captain Patrick Swan, 41, of Alexandria, Virginia, and David McDougal of Boise, Idaho. Swan was working in the Pentagon as a civilian when he was asked to join an Army Reserve unit from Orlando, Florida, that had been called up for Iraq duty. "I said absolutely," Swan says. His mother and daughter urged him to get out of his commitment. He says he told them: "You don't understand. I've got 22 years in the reserves. I'm not a sunshine patriot. When it's time to go, I go. It's inconvenient. But it's not as inconvenient as coming to work at the World Trade Center and finding you had to jump from the 100th floor or have your body incinerated. That's the perspective I bring."
Or this part:
McDougal is an odd case--a British foreign service officer on a leave of absence from his job as a producer of the Good Morning, Idaho daily TV show in Boise.
Would you like a few more examples, or you going to continue to think of them as hippies?
Your "guess" is ridiculous. I usually refrain from saying that a freeper sounds like somebody from DU, but frankly, that's exactly what you sound like.
All my questions are still relevant. Explain why these folks aren't opportunists or carpet baggers. If they have all joined the Iraqi version of Mother Teresa's caregivers, I will humbly apologize.
You really, really don't know what you're talking about. And you're embarrassing yourself by denigrating people who've made sacrifices to help their country. Since you're so willing to tear others down who are risking their lives to help out in Iraq, why don't tell us exactly what YOU'VE done to help our country since 9/11?
You've been outted, troll. Haliburton? We are in Iraq for Haliburton?
Go back to DU--you will feel much more comfortable there.
It's not pay or creature comforts that attract them... They live in trailers, four to a unit, surrounded by sandbags. They eat institutional food. They work seven days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day.
Tell me what you have done in the fight for conservative values?
Yeah, that's it. And by gosh, it was much better when Saddam was there facilitating the transfer of US taxpayers' dollars to himself and his corrupt cronies in the U.N.
I'm sure there are plenty of proficient IRAQI doctors, plumbers and electricians. What they lack is a group of folks who know how to run an economy that is NOT dependent on the whims of a maniac. These folks are there to teach some new skills to Iraqis who have never had the opportunity to use them!
I can see your concerns. A government desk jockey has nothing useful to teach Iraqis (or anyone else) about starting businesses. And Barnes doesn't show any of these people actually DOING anything to help rebuild Iraq. He's just cheerleading. It's an adventure, it's a resume-builder, but is it for real?
And the piece gets really patronizing here:
Then there's Traci Scott and David Luft. She is a 39-year-old African American who gave up her job with Republican congressman Jon Porter of Nevada and came to Iraq after the bombing of the United Nations building here last fall that killed 22 people.
Classic GOP racial pandering: "We don't believe in dividing people by race, but let's make sure to advertise every minority we have handy."
But I thought that unlike the command model, a market economy is distinguished by NOT being run by anyone.
Sounds like a Kerry for President memo to me.
So, you essentially helped elect Clinton twice with your vote, and contributed to helping Gore win the popular vote this time around. Good work! Yes, it's clear that you've done so much for than these people who are literally risking their lives helping out in Iraq.
I'm sorry Fred Barnes didn't give you enough detail of every little aspect of their jobs. These Americans are risking their lives over there serving their country, and instead of applauding them, and appreciating an article about them, you guys just want to tear them down. We see negative article after negative article about Iraq, and you guys are criticizing a positive article written by a conservative! It really makes me sick.
Spare me. You insulted Americans who are serving their country and you deserved to get called on it. And take me off your ping list, too. I have no desire to read anything by you again.
Spare me. You insulted Americans who are serving their country and you deserved to get called on it.
What a crock. I didn't insult them; I simply didn't act like a brain-dead, GOP Stepford Wife. (Like you, in case I'm being too subtle for you.) My using my brain insulted you, not them. You used them to puff up your own sense of self-importance. You didn't call me on spit, but I just called you on your routine.
No, this wasn't an insult, not at all:
I can see your concerns. A government desk jockey has nothing useful to teach Iraqis (or anyone else) about starting businesses. And Barnes doesn't show any of these people actually DOING anything to help rebuild Iraq. He's just cheerleading. It's an adventure, it's a resume-builder, but is it for real?
Are you aware that all these people gave up their real lives to be over there, so they could have this so-called "adventure"? Did you miss this part:
It's not pay or creature comforts that attract them. They are a kind of conservative Peace Corps. They live in trailers, four to a unit, surrounded by sandbags. They eat institutional food. They work seven days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day. They spend most of their time inside the six-square-mile "green zone," the guarded headquarters of the CPA and Iraqi Governing Council. They face attacks from mortars and rockets and gunmen.
Some adventure, huh? But you just think they're only building their resumes. I guess you're unaware that an American was just killed in that green zone the other day. I'll bet that person's resume looks really great now.
And somebody who's so quick to criticize these people's service to their country, why don't you tell us what you've done to serve your country? Heck, why don't YOU go over to Iraq and show these people how to get stuff done?
If you don't need a job, liquidate all of your assets and purchase Halliburton stock. After all, if the entire war is being fought for Halliburton, that company will certainly become obscenely rich.
You can even go check the stock prices to see how obscenely rich Bush has made Halliburton.
On October 1, 2001, just before the invasion of Afghanistan (and Halliburton reconstruction) the price per share of Halliburton stock was $24.69. On March 19, 2004, the price was $29.48. Not bad stock appreciation, but nothing like the dot.com boom of the 90s.
Fred Barnes: The Postwar Corps Excerpt:Baghdad LIBERALS ARE FAMOUS for claiming the moral high ground for their causes and themselves. They like to pat themselves on the back. But at the scene of today's most prominent humanitarian project--Iraq--they are not a major presence. Conservatives are, hundreds of them. Despite the danger, they have volunteered to serve in the effort to make Iraq a free and democratic country. So many have come, in fact, that Coalition Provisional Authority administrator L. Paul Bremer had to cut off the flow. "There are more than I can possibly take," he says.
It's not pay or creature comforts that attract them. They are a kind of conservative Peace Corps. They live in trailers, four to a unit, surrounded by sandbags. They eat institutional food. They work seven days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day. They spend most of their time inside the six-square-mile "green zone," the guarded headquarters of the CPA and Iraqi Governing Council. They face attacks from mortars and rockets and gunmen.
< snip >
What do all these people have in common? They're idealistic. They believe the removal of Saddam Hussein's tyranny can lead to a new and better Iraq. They're willing to sacrifice their careers for a spell and leave their families for a cause. What's particularly appealing about them is they don't pat themselves on the back.
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