In Washington, politicians are debating whether the US presence in Iraq is enflaming or calming the almost daily violence in that country. This week, New Hampshire Public Radio presents the views of people who have spent significant time in Iraq. We begin with reporter Dan Gorenstein's conversation with New Hampshire National Guardsman Ray Valas. Valas lives in Bow. He served in Iraq for one year as an Infantry Company Commander for about 250 soldiers.
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1:25 during the time I was there from March '04 till Feb. '05, if halfway through that tour I was told to leave, and all the US forces had to leave, I think it would have been terrible for Iraq. And that's all I can speak to...Leaving there after a year, I felt a tremendous satisfaction, we had left it a better place than we found it. and if we had to leave early, it would not have been good.
Valas says his unit worked combat patrols, escorted convoys and manned checkpoints.
The Commander and his soldiers also trained Iraqi police and National Guard troops north and south of Baghdad.
He still remembers what an Iraqi police station looked like during his first few days.
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3:37 one thing we noticed when we got there back around April 04, officers would show up in their civilian clothes. Go inside the building, and change into their uniforms and go about their work day. At the end of the day, they would change back into civilian clothes, b/c they were afraid to be seen in uniform.
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2:19 the toughest part of the training for those Iraqi security forces getting up and running was getting up the confidence to go out and operate on there own.
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1:07 we would equip them with everything from bullet proof vests to flash lights to basic safety equipment, road guard cones and whatnot that you would use in law enforcement kind of scenario. And then set up the training. Ensure they were hiring the right kind of folks, get them through the academies that were run down in Baghdad. Bring back those trained law enforcement officers and soldiers and work along side them in their communities, their sector.
Valas says Iraqis working with experienced US troops helped Iraqi police officers' gain confidence.
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:14....... By the time we left, a year later, there were 36 security forces there. Police patrols out in the community, helping us to deliver school supplies, and ultimately responding to incidents out on the road before we had to respond to alone.
Valas says he could hardly recognize the police department from its early days where he had found six Iraqi men afraid to wear their uniforms to and from work.
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3:37...... Guys were proud to be in their uniforms, they were confident. And they knew they could do their job. And just the change, seeing a guy show up in his uniform made a huge impression.
The transformation at the police station was just one example to Valas of the improvements in Iraq.
He saw Iraqis begin to fill previously unmanned checkpoints.
And he watched other Iraqis line up for police and National Guard positions hours after car bombs had killed their predecessors.
Valas believes these efforts are thanks to the US military presence and assistance its providing.
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4:13...Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel... I couldn't put a time on it. all I know is that you see that curve of progress. And you see things like the transfer of authority...and you see these things, and when you leave there, you have this sense of optimism. And I felt like things were on the up-swing. And I still feel that way now.
