Okay, I have been thumbing through the news and I check on the Iraq situation quite frequently. At present the US military is at a reduced capacity in
an advisory and assistance role in operation called
New Dawn.
Moqtada Al Sadr, Shiite firebrand and
ringleader of the Mahdi Army returned to stir the pot politically and is now back in Iran. His stay was only brief. The feuding
Iraqi Parliament has reconvened, with a
coalition, and a National-Unity government after months of bitter and bloody negotiations with embattled Prime Minister
Nouri Al Maliki remaining at the helm. Iraqi infrastructure is in disrepair
and last year there was
widespread energy protests over shortages of
electricity. The violence has continued with scores being killed daily in attacks and bombings.
So, Iraq is as it was when the US and allies arrived. In the melancholy known as Iraq both now and when the US pulls out, what will become of those
missing on both the military and civilian side of the US involvement there? An article shown in the Washington Post via the Associated Press,
Search goes on for missing Americans in Iraq, brought
this crucial element of the drama known as the Iraq War to my attention, as it should everyone else regardless about how we feel about the conflict
personally or politically.
To heighten the grim nature of this predicament, if some forgot another person who vanished without a trace in another of America's military
adventures in the region was downed Navy pilot
Scott Speicher from the First Gulf War. His
remains were only recently discovered in 2009. Then we have stories of those who went missing during other conflicts like the Korea and Vietnam War,
some have never been recovered to this day. In the present another conflict is drawing down and what will happen to others who met fates of being
abducted during times of heavy US involvement in Iraq?
One situation that brought this issue to my attention is a case involving a US Army Reservist, Ahmed Kousay al-Taie. He is an Iraq born interpreter,
and US resident who went back to his country to help out. Like other service members of the past, he fell in love and ventured off post amid warnings
by his superiors. We all know what the outcome was for that reckless act. He remains missing along with others, but he is last remaining US military
member whose whereabouts are unknown. At present, there is a US Army unit called the Personnel Recovery Division that is tasked with the recovery of
the missing as the US forces gear-up to leave entirely.
Search goes on for missing Americans in Iraq
The military said it is developing a plan to transfer the cases concerning American citizens to the U.S. State Department, which has promised to
maintain a strong diplomatic presence after the troops leave. The other cases will be turned over to their respective countries.
It is getting dangerously close to zero hour, and when that happens how will the US State Department tackle this issue once the firepower is gone and
they have to negotiate with an Iraqi Government that seems to be taking a stance of becoming distant from the US? Before, they could rely on armed
troops, drones, gunships, and other fire power if needed to recover a hostage, secure the remains of fallen comrade or civilian, and other search and
rescue efforts. That capability will be gone when the US departs, and will the Iraqi government cooperate with ours when the time comes? It would be
another insult to those who participated in this conflict if this matter remains unresolved. So, will these people's whereabouts remain a mystery as
the US leaves Iraq, and with time will they fade from memory completely?
edit on 22-1-2011 by Jakes51 because: (no reason given)
edit on 1/23/2011 by 12m8keall2c because: edited spelling and grammatical per post author's request