Reality and dreams
Wednesday, 22 November 2006 | 301 readers so far
My life has resumed its normal pace. I once again find myself fully engulfed in the terminology of technology, which I much prefer to the terminology of war. SAN, LAN, WAN and others are much more comfortable than FUBAR, SNAFU and VBIED. I’m not sure why military/government acronyms tend to be longer than private sector ones, but they do.
As I absorb the changes at my company - rapid growth, a larger staff under my management and new office locations, I am busy enough that I don’t think much about Iraq. Except when I’m sleeping.
I’ve dreamed about the place a number of times. The dreams are vivid, lucid and haunting.
Once, I was with my family in a market, and a mob formed. Once, I was in a convoy desperately trying to avoid being blown up. I don’t know what my subconscious is doing, but I do know Iraq will always be with me.
The path ahead seems unclear. Could we have used more troops? Yes. Doubling the troops would change the equation drastically. Half a million troops would be even better. The problem is we don’t have the raw numbers. There simply aren’t that many available troops. Can political negotiation still solve Iraq’s low-intensity civil war? I’m dubious.
American troops are doing some good but the security situation for common Iraqis is abominable and Americans don’t seem to have the will to follow through with what we started. Iraqis pay much more dearly for our mistakes and lack of willpower than we do - for now.
And I keep dreaming my dreams.
1 November 23rd, 2006 at 1:07 am
alisa says:
I’m happy you’ve made it back safely in time for the Thanksgiving holiday!
Hopefully, there will be some form of change, soon in regard to our policy in iraq. In my mind they have not proven they can accept the challenge a democracy presents and I think you are right, planting 500,000 troops in Iraq would be the best alternative even if the most publicly unpopular. There must be security before there is freedom.
2 November 23rd, 2006 at 4:55 am
SK says:
Happy Thanksgiving Trevor and Barb, I hope it’s wonderful!
3 November 24th, 2006 at 11:16 am
Fiona says:
Talk about an indelible mark left
At least you at home and with loved ones on this holiday.
(I understand it’s a major one for Americans!)
4 November 28th, 2006 at 10:57 pm
Trevor says:
Well, Thanksgiving was good
We didn’t do the standard fare, but I’m slowly trying to learn to cook and I made a chicken dish that my wife requested - some sort of marinade. It was pretty good I guess. We’re busy ripping out floors and so on in a minor remodeling…
And yes, Fiona, Thanksgiving is a major holiday for Americans, in very different ways, depending on which sub-culture you are a part of. We all celebrate very differently I think.
5 March 7th, 2007 at 12:00 am
the will to exist says:
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