Get Some!
Colby Buzzell's 'My War: Killing Time in Iraq' is an engrossing and highly readable account of his two years in the army. The book appears to be a compilation from his blog of his experiences as a M240B (Variant of the FN MAG) gunner with the experimental Stryker brigade in Iraq.
Buzzell was deployed on the Stryker IAV (Interim Armoured Vehicle) based in Mosul and saw a considerable amount of action.
Buzzell's droll observations, his sarcasm, his wit and take on life make for a great read. He was not a stereotypical compliant, brain-washed patriotic Christian redneck, he was human. He was real, very real.
I notice that as a high school graduate, Buzzell appears to be a lot more well-read than many Singaporean and Malaysian with graduate and post-graduate degrees. What can I say?
Concord Publications has released a pictorial of the Interim Brigade Combat Team (ICBT) in Special Ops: Journal of the Elite Forces & SWAT Units Volume 30. The volume specifically features Buzzell's unit, the 1st Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment 'Tomahawk' and has excellent photos of the troppers, vehicles and detailed information. Highly recommended.
4 comments:
The "My War" book looks very interesting. It's great to get some insight into what some of these guys are thinking and feeling during their tours of duty (especially if they have some genuine intelligence). I can't even fathom what it must be like out there for anyone. It's such a whole other world and so many grey areas. And now in America we have to contend with handing over control of our ports to a middle-east company who had links to the 911 terrosits! Have you heard about this recently? If our current idiot administration has its way this can soon become a reality (and a very grim one since only about five percent of what arrives at our ports is properly checked--and if "something" does arrive it would be too late to check anyhow). Anyhow, sorry to rant about the absurdity of this all and our idiot President. I'll have to take a look at this book. Henry Rollins' "Shock and Awe" dvd gives some good and even humorous insight into his visits with American troops in Iraq if you ever want to check it out. The guy's an absolutely incredible speaker.
P&O is a British firm which currently owns those US ports. Dubai is part of the UAE as you know. Like a lot of conservative Arab oil states, there are certainly extremists in their midst. However, collectively, commercial entity or otherwise, you can't really think that shadowy people are going to own and control US ports and allow them in? In one sense, no offense intended you appear decry the effort to reduce Islamic terror, on the other hand, you appear to exhibit a heightened (and exaggerated in my eyes) sense of fear. I guess I don't understand.
To put things in perspective, over 30% of the world container ports is controlled and owned by Hutchinson, a massive company from Hong Kong, in other words, a Chinese company. Some conservatives have placed China as the next potential American adversary. (Personally, I think the Chinese are more into trade than anything else). Yet, there is no alarm. I think this recent ruckus is a political ploy from people seeking to gain political mileage. It is also reflective of a sense of isolationism (typically associated with Isolationists)and protectionism and hysteria-cum-paranoia.
Singapore, my nation, was another competing buyer which dropped out of the P&O bid. That's why I know this somewhat.
Buzzell is a skateboarder or skater and is into punk and the beats writer. Is he anti-authority and establishment? Up to an extent. His book is laced with sardonic humour and funny observations and I think is reflective of a segment of society. He is not a ra-ra supporter and neither is he a savage critic or adherent of Chomsky.
Personally, I know my views on the Iraq War is a world away from yours. At least, from my impression. I do think that the War in Iraq is a necessity. Likewise, Afghanistan. I also think that strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities is necessary eventually.
Buzzell wanted to vote for Ralph Nader and he tore up his vote if I recalled.
I think Anthony Swofford is a better writer than Buzzell though Buzzell is more down to earth and does not posture when he writes.
Buzzell sounds interresting and though Nader is a good and smart guy, I don't think he'd make a good President (though our current President and politicians should try and adopt some of his views on environmental issues here).
As for the Iraq war, for me that's a grey zone, as is for many Americans. As you know, I believe that war in general is a sad and sorry way to deal with differences and disputes--primitive in prinicpal and high-tech in weaponry. However, I'm not dumb enough to beleive we can live in a utopian society (though the human race as a whole is failing miserably to work itself out and has been for eons unfortunately--I guess I'm still holding onto a glimmer of hope that things can change on some level).
I'd hate the U.S. to become an isolationist nation, which Bush has been so criticized for in the past. And yet, he makes a deal that is obviously putting Americans in a nervous position. The fact that these ports can hardly be monitored and the fact that so many Americans are losing jobs is cause for major concern. I hope my reaction very much does prove to be alarmist here. I guess that time will tell.
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