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Cheered GIs Get Down To Business of Peacekeeping
April 25, 2003


The edited, published version of this story is here.

They could be movie stars:

They are cheered in the streets as they drive by. Passing drivers give them the thumbs up or hoot their horns. Children wave at them frantically. Old men come up to shake their hands or kiss their cheeks. Even women wave at them from high windows or lift their veils to show a flirtatious smile. When the Scouts - or any of the U.S. troops that now take part in foot patrols here in Baghdad - pull up in their humvees they are immediately mobbed by Iraqi civilians.

And the euphoric crowds are as enthusiastic in their greetings now as they were a week ago. So much so that it's a disorienting experience for soldiers who very recently were in fierce combat but are now expected to keep the peace and win hearts and minds in the liberated Iraqi capital.

"I couldn't believe it, these guys came up and kissed the flag on my shoulder!" said Specialist Steve Beaman, 21, of Gretna, Nebraska. "They kissed my hand!" said Specialist Tim Flagg, 26 of Prescott, Ontario.

Both are becoming veterans of dismounted "presence patrols" that the U.S. Army, initially extremely cautious about sending its troops out of heavily guarded headquarters, is now sending into a variety of Baghdad neighborhoods to stop looting and to make contact with the people.

Indeed, like many of their buddies - and like celebrities at home -- these G.I.s are beginning to find the constant, unrelenting attention from children and adults, a little wearying, though all were surprised and delighted by the warmth of their reception here.

And they still have to be careful not to let the locals crowd them or get between them and their vehicles: as Staff Sgt Darren Swain keeps reminding the troops, "that's one way things got f***ed up in Somalia, where he served as a tanker.

Today, when the Scouts turn up to the New Market neighborhood, one of the poorer quarters on the West Bank of the Tigris, the crowds are even more enthusiastic than in the more middle class areas. vIndeed after a while the Scouts have to put white tape around the area in which their Humvees are parked to keep the kids from swarming the vehicles.

"Hello Mister! Hello Mister!" "What's your name?" is the English that all the children seem to know. Most of the adults in this neighborhood don't know much more.

Unfortunately the troops have no interpreter with them. Much to the annoyance of the soldiers on the ground, the folks at CENTCOM fell down when it came to recruiting Arabic speakers for post-conquest operations.

But eventually an English speaker is found: Mr Hazeh Raheed, a chemist by training. Through him a meeting is arranged with community leaders which takes place in the local barbershop.

Outside the barbershop, the crowd begins to call out "Mike Tyson1" and "Michael Jackson!" at the only black soldier present, Staff Sergeant Darren Swain. (Again and again Baghdadi crowds react with amazement when they see black soldiers) When he tells them his name is Swain, the kids start chanting "Swain! Swain! Swain!"

The Scouts' Staff Sergeant Craig Hobbs - who has considerable experience of peacekeeping and policing operations in Bosnia - is the man who represents the army in the meeting. Meanwhile his men guard their vehicles, casting a watchful eye down the trash-choked streets.

Initially they are wary. But even those soldiers for whom this is their first foray into the city begin to relax as little girls give them flowers, and a baker comes out with warm fresh round bread.

The meeting goes well despite arguments between the 7 or 8 local men at the meeting, and despite the fact that there is still no water or power in this area. "We are so happy you are here" Raheed tells Sgt Hobbs.

For his part the sergeant asks Raheed for his five main needs. Number one turns out to be security. Number two is medicines - the local hospital was looted - though it was never well equipped in the first placed. Number 3, surprisingly is "currency": the locals are worried that the Iraqi dinar will soon be worthless and want a new one. Number 4 is power, when will it be turned back on? There is no number 5.

Sgt Hobbs tells Raheed and his people that Security is now a major U.S. priority. He and his men will be back to patrol the area later tonight. But the men who have been guarding the neighborhood must not walk the streets with their Kalashnikovs.

As for medical supplies, army medics will be brought tomorrow. Currency is a matter for the State Department (and none of the troops here have heard anything about the currency question from Washington or from CENTCOM).

And as for power, Sgt Hobbs says that he doesn't want to promise what he can't deliver, but that he hopes it will be on soon. The meeting ends with smiles, handshakes and hugs.

Then, making sure that no children are in danger of being run over, the soldiers pull out in their four humvees. v"I was impressed by these people" Staff Sergeant Hobbs tells the Post, "they're more together than people were in Bosnia five years after the war."

As the patrol drives back to their base in the Presidential district they are cheered the entire way by the children of Baghdad, while cars hoot their horns and flash their lights at their armored humvees.