On this particular day, the task was to clear a large number of homes in an area that hadn’t had any security, Iraqi or US, for several months. During the previous week, in the same vicinity, these soldiers had been engaged by insurgents on a regular basis, including when I was with them. That means there was little time to wait outside a gate for people to answer; possibly a matter of life or death for any of us there.

However, it was the little things I noticed that bothered me as a person. One example: In a living room of a house, two women and three children were inside. Two of the children were sound asleep on the floor beneath blankets. As we walked into that room, the women folded over the sleeping mats so that they wouldn’t be stepped on. A soldier walked past me and just walked right over their bedding without a thought. As soon as he did, the women moved it more to make a better path. The problem is, there was no effort, at all to avoid the bedding; as if it didn’t exist.

Now, the question is: Is that being too sensitive of me to think that is completly disrespectful (on top the fact 12 other soldiers just barged in and made their way through this home)? Is it reasonable to think these men should pay attention to that detail considering the environment? This is what I want people to think about: What is reasonable given ALL the facts surrounding the situation?

I have a great deal of empathy for all human beings in moments of distress. I put myself in shoes that I can only hope to God I never will fill. Am I too sensitive?

If I had suggestions for the commanders of any unit it would be this:
1. Make sure the guys have translators.
2. Treat the women and children with the respect you would want your mother treated with.
3. Do not assume everyone is a terrorist or sympathizer.
4. Imagine when you enter these houses that it’s your home and think about how you would feel.

Problem is, the last two may not be realistic all the time. It’s a tough line to walk and I’m not sure certain environments would make this civillian advice work. The fact is, in war, complacency kills.

Another certainty is this: Had this been just about any other journalist, the way this story would play out would’ve been much different and the headline more damaging. Mainstream media would never take the time to ponder the situation as we are here; they would go straight for the jugular.

Can’t fault the grunts from following their training and orders but some higher-up officer-types (especially LTC and above) don’t seem to have learned the lessons of what works and what doesn’t in COIN.