Got a couple of friends in an Engineering Company of the 1st Cavlary Division.
Acording to them, much of Iraq's water and power infrastructure, especially in the southern part of Iraq, was destroyed by Saddam's forces as part of a "scorched earth" policy.
That doesn't surprise anyone, does it? Saddam's hatred of the Shi'ites knew no bounds. He didn't give a dam about nearly 70% of the population of his own country. The current power shortages are the result.
Their current task is blowing up damaged structures and building bases for the new Iraqi security forces. Or maybe "rebuilding" would be a better term. My friends stated that the old Iraqi bases were a mess...horribly designed from the standpoint of security or normal utility.
One of these men is my "third son." A young gent who is a close friend of my college age sons who has adopted my wife and I as secondary parents and refers to us as "mom" and "dad." He came home from Iraq unexpectedly this weekend. The celebration is still in full roar.
He told us about their rules of engagement. The Iraqi citizens are permitted to own Ak-47s and pistols, and evidently are allowed to carry them in the streets, as long as they have a permit. If U.S. forces see them with any other type of weapon, they are permitted to open fire on them immediately. He's referring mainly to RPGs, grenades, or other military type weapons.
He's got to go back in two weeks, and will be there until December.
Keep him in your prayers.
Regards, Shuckins/Leggern
