Kaloogian's New Photo: Foggy "peaceful" Baghdad dawn from 3,000 feet up!

On Wednesday July 13, 2005 I had the opportunity to go out on patrol with the US Army stationed in Baghdad 3 times, including foot patrol with the New Iraqi Army.

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The International Zone in Baghdad is considered the “Green” Zone. Green in military terminology means that the soldiers weapon is unloaded, amber means loaded with no bullet in the chamber, and red, loaded and ready to fire. There have been very few incidences of violence in the IZ or Green Zone over the past several months. Security is strict and has been successful at keeping out the terrorist murderers. (There was an attack at the gate where I interviewed the sentries about security procedures to enter the green zone the day after I was there. In this attack one US soldier and several Iraqi citizens were killed. An Iraqi Army sentry killed a second suicide bomber before his bomb could go off.

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It is apparent that the Iraqi children do not fear the US soldiers walking in their full military gear carrying weapons and driving armored humvees. Of course this policy of providing gifts, food and candy to children and citizens has now come under attack as making the innocent citizens the target of the Iraqi suicide bombers. While on patrol, less than one half mile from us, a murderer took advantage of this and rammed a stopped humvee, surrounded by civilians, women and children, and killed more than 20 of these innocents as well as one of the US soldiers at the humvee.

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One of the Iraqi interpreters was wearing an American Flag handkerchief on his head. I asked him if this made him a target for the terrorists. He proudly pointed to the Iraqi insignia on his arm and said, “I am Iraqi. I love America.” The US soldiers I was with told me he would probably not live through the year.