Lieutenant Colonel (Chaplain) Peter Baktis at "He Brews Cafe," Camp Liberty, Iraq. Click the photo to read "Coffee with the MP Brigade at 'He Brews' Cafe."

SFC Stephen Mudge, 59th MP
Company, works with Iraqi Police at
a Salman Pak station. Click the photo
to read "The Changing Streets
of Salman Pak."

2nd Lieutenant Geneva Arnold uses the scope on her M-4 rifle to check for possible enemy activity on nearby rooftops. Click the photo to read "The Face of War: Women in Combat."

Soldiers at the 18th MP Brigade befriended this wounded seagull.
Click the photo to read the article
"A Seagull Named Rocket."

Who is that Masked Man?
Iraqi Interpreters Who Support Our Soldiers

He may call himself "Mike," or "Ali," or another alias; always a first name, never a last. He appears with a green baklava covering face, head, and neck despite the intense heat. He wears dark, wrap-around sunglasses and a floppy hat pulled low over all. He has gloves on. At first glance he might be the Invisible Man, the film character who wrapped himself up with clothing in order to be seen and recognized. But in this case, the object is quite the opposite: this man does not want to be identified at all.

Who is he? He is one of many Iraqi interpreters who risk their lives - and the lives and welfare of their families - by working with American and Coalition forces. The death toll by targeted assassination of those supporting the Iraqi Government and Coalition has been high enough to convince some Terps that anonymity is the first line of defense. It is a cold reality of this war that the enemy - whether it is al Qaeda or militia - makes war on civilians. Almost every interpreter that I met who was an Iraqi resident has suffered personal losses.

Standard procedure for interpreters who wish their identity to remain secret is to don protective gear when the unit clears the wire. Usually while the soldiers are charging their weapons the interpreter will adjust his mask. Interpreters are unarmed and rely completely on soldiers to protect them.

A few interpreters actually reside in the U.S. and many are American citizens. They are less likely to be concerned about retaliation against them or their families than their colleagues who still make their home in Iraq. Almost always when you see an interpreter with no face covering he or she is from the States.

These interpreters perform a necessary task because while some Iraqis have a bit of English, few Americans know Arabic. After getting past initial greetings it is vital that serious information be exchanged and relationships constructed. This is where the interpreters begin to earn their pay.

Interpreters also can do much more than simply translate. By being part of the culture they act as coaches for Americans wise enough to listen and learn. And a good interpreter can sense the emotion of the moment and will convey that to his American boss.

Dust in the Wind

We all remember the photos from the very earliest days of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. Terrible dust and sand storms covered everything. Visibility was reduced to mere feet, and combat operations halted.

While not reaching that level of intensity, sand was a factor almost every day that I was in Iraq. During the week I spent on Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah the dust levels grew intense. During the worse periods U.S. indirect fire early warning systems are degraded, so the enemy takes advantage of conditions and will increase the frequency of rocket and mortar attacks.

Dust and sand get into everything, and after awhile you get accustomed to feeling it on your skin, in your hair, and on your equipment. Quite often I carried my Cannon digital camera in a sealed plastic bag to keep the sand away.

On the last day that I rolled out of Rusty the air was so thick with dust and sand that I donned my old, green cravat from Vietnam - known as a "drive-on rag" - to protect my lungs. By the time we reached Camp Liberty and I removed it, there were solid patches of sand where my nose and mouth had been.

Bad Air - Cigars at FOB Rustamiyah Colonel John Bogdon has a few thoughts on why the air is so bad around FOB Rustamiyah, and it "ain't" the cigars.	The Face of War: Women in Combat Though it may still be controversial, Military Police women are potentially engaged in the fight every time a convoy rolls outside the wire. Hear the stories of several MPs in Iraq.	Who is That Masked Man? Despite their intimidating appearance, Interpreters are unarmed and rely completely on soldiers to protect them.
An ally and a favorite resource...

The contents, images, and all features of this website. are copyright 2008-2009 by Gordon Cucullu, all rights reserved.
About this website + how to submit your articles • Contact information • How to help • Articles • Cigar Chronicles • Privacy statement •