Baghdad Blues

Living the Legacy of Abu Ghraib

By Charlie

Monday, June 23, 2008

Unlike Fort Leavenworth or Fort Riley there are no “Welcome to Camp Cropper” signs to leading you to this tiny little part of the Victory Base complex, I doubt if many of the GI’s on this Bagdad complex could tell you how to get there. Welcome to my world. Camp Cropper is the replacement for Abu Ghraib, the “Theater Interment Facility” that now houses “Detainee’s”. Most folks in Kansas might call it a prison and its prisoners POW’s. In this war with all its political correctness and Geneva conventions we are not allowed to call them by those names. Although it is small, about the size of the Prairie Park Nature Center in an area the size of Lawrence, it is a hub of activity for thousands of people. VIP visits seem are the norm here; media, all manner of Politicos, military and civilian dignitaries visit this place at a dizzying pace.

How I arrived at my job is something of a mystery to me. I was attempting to transfer to a different guard unit because of a job change when I was informed that my unit was being mobilized for duty to Iraq. At first I assumed (incorrectly) that those who had been on a previous deployment less than two years ago would not be going. I was wrong. I am stationed in Baghdad. During most of the pre-deployment training it was assumed that I would be going with my unit as a supply troop and would be responsible for things like getting spare parts for the fix it guys. I was sent to school to learn new computer systems and many things about how to get my job done. On my first trip to Iraq, I was one of the many Kansas troops who set up a resupply yard in Balad. So, I knew something about that job before getting there. As the training progressed, it became less clear what my job or where I would be. In the end I was sent with the headquarters unit to Camp Cropper as one of many who work as part of the command cell.

My job could be compared to a project manager position helping oversee the enormous amount of construction projects, except I carry a gun. Mundane, redundant meetings and paper work are part of the job; however, I do get to spend a considerable amount of time visiting the other camps that comprise the Victory Base Complex. My job affords me an opportunity to work and interact with many people from all over the world. This is what makes my job interesting.

While home on Rest and Relaxation Leave, I have been talking with friends and acquaintances about this blog and have been given many ideas about what people want to hear my perspective on. Given the sensitivity of the place I work, there are some things I will not discuss. I am open to topics others would like to hear about. Feel free to post your suggestions in the comments...

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Posted by smerdyakov (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Overseeing construction projects, eh? Are you privy to the price tags? Million dollar toilets and all that.

Who's your contact at Halliburton? My congressman really needs to chat him/her up...

Posted by quisp (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Heh heh heh.

Posted by alm77 (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Charlie, thanks so much for doing this blog. I had a friend die in Iraq last year and there is so much I don't know about what his life was like over there. Or what anyone's life is really like over there, for that matter.

I have some basic questions.

What's the weather like? Is the whole thing really one big dessert?

What are the houses like, and the other basic buildings?

What amenities do you have? What does the typical Iraqi citizen have?

We see a lot of pictures of total destruction, so obviously, that's part of it, but it's my understanding that there is also a lot of "normal" life going on too. What's your perspective on this?

Posted by OnShakedown (Chris Tackett) on June 24, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

alm,

"The local climate is mostly desert, with mild to cool winters and dry, hot, cloudless summers. The northern mountainous regions have cold winters with occasional heavy snows, sometimes causing extensive flooding."

via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq

And I'd recommend the movie "I know I'm not alone" by Michael Franti (you'll have to tolerate some of his songs, if you watch it) but I found it gave a perspective of daily life there I had never seen elsewhere. http://www.iknowimnotalone.com/

Posted by alm77 (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Awesome, Chris, thanks!

Posted by alm77 (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Chris, one of the things I guess I keep forgetting is how *small* Iraq is and so yes, it can have just the one climate.

Which leads me to another question then.... What about water? The people who live in desserts in the US seem to take water for granted (every house with a swimming pool, for instance), but I'm guessing that's not the case in the Middle East.

Posted by DOTDOT (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Charlie:

I second alm's list, and would like to hear your perspective rather than wikipedia's. Anything you post about your first hand experience will be appreciated.

Baghdad Blues

Living the Legacy of Abu Ghraib

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