U.S. pilot serving in Iraq reveals first-hand experiences
Changes after fall of Saddam have come fast for Iraqi civilians, he said
11:48 a.m. Friday, July 13, 2007
Lt. Col. Greg Zehner, who is deployed in Iraq and home briefly for some R&R, said optimism in Iraq is guarded.
Zehner spent the first eight months of his deployment in the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk with a transition team. He and his crew flew with an Iraqi air force reconnaissance squadron.
In the past, if an Iraqi air force member seemed too happy about the American presence in Iraq, then terrorists have threatened violence on an extended family member, he said. And, it gets worse.
"I've had two or three of the Iraqi pilots who have had extended family members, cousins or even brothers killed," he said.
That complex environment where Iraqis are not only risking their lives, but also their family members' lives surprised Zehner. He was also surprised at the Iraqis' resilience to keep working despite all those threats.
More on Zehner
Read more about the Coalition Air Force Military Transition Team at DefendAmerica.mil
He also says the media reports on the Iraq war is not the full picture. Yes, there are kidnappings, bombings, violence and disappointments, but some areas of Iraq are improving, he said.
"People are cautious. They've had a couple of times in the last few years, and over the last decade, where people have come in, given them protection, and then left," he said. "They are waiting to make sure that they are safe, that they can trust everybody, before they start ... their normal lives."
When he returns to Iraq, he will be stationed in Baghdad.
"Iraq is a beautiful and complex country. Up north you'll have areas that are agricultural just like Kansas, lots of fields, but when you get to the cities, even the small towns, I was surprised how many satellite dishes there are," Zehner said.
For Iraqis, the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime meant more access to consumer goods and media, which they are still trying to get acclimated to.
"Everything is coming at them so fast, and they have very little time to take it in and filter out what things the culturally can accept and what things they want to learn after having been under a dictatorship for many years," he said.
Ten years ago Zehner was deployed in Kuwait, flying A-10s, in Operation Southern Watch. He's logged more than 2,000 hours in A-10s. He is now getting to fly F-117.
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