September 25, 2004
Soldier says Iraq is turning around
By Greg Bolt
Like a lot of people who work in big cities, Lance Varney puts in long hours, goes to a lot of meetings and spends a lot of time stuck in traffic.
Unlike most people, Varney does his work in a war zone.
A major in the 1st Cavalry Division, Varney spends his days navigating the streets of Baghdad as part of the U.S. military's efforts to rebuild the city. And while Varney, the son of Florence residents Ben and Linda Stovall, doesn't make light of the dangers, he says Iraq isn't the scene of unrelenting chaos and destruction people might think from news reports.
"I think we're already seeing a turning point in most of the communities, despite what may be prevalent in the news," he said during a telephone interview following a long Friday on the job. "The markets are full of people shopping, driving. The open-air markets are completely full, the streets are packed with people driving up and down selling all kinds of stuff. Kids are back at school. Soccer fields are being used that used to be trash heaps."
As a member of what's called a governorate support team, he works closely with top advisers to Baghdad Mayor Alaa Mahmood al-Tamimi coordinating infrastructure projects. Since arriving seven months ago, his unit has been working to repair and improve water and sewer facilities, restore electric and garbage services, and get schools, police stations and fire stations back in operation.
The unit's marquee project is restoring Abu Nawas Street, a former boulevard of parks, restaurants and shops along the Tigris River that once was the gem of Baghdad. Crews recently finished clearing rubble from the two-mile riverside esplanade and are preparing to lay new water and electric lines before putting in new walkways, fountains and lawns.
After that, Iraqi contractors will begin repair and construction of shops and restaurants in the area. The project is a top priority for Tamimi, who sees it as a tangible example of the city's slow return to normalcy and proof of the U.S. military's commitment to rebuilding Iraq.
"He made a commitment to give that park back to the people of Baghdad," Varney said.
Although things are getting better in Baghdad, Varney said there's no question that dangers remain. Troops wear body armor and travel in armored vehicles whenever they leave the relative safety of the well-guarded international zone at the city's center, and when they're not carrying weapons they have them within easy reach.
"I'll just say this up front: There are some bad things that happen here in Iraq, no one can refute that," said Varney, whose unit is not involved in combat operations. "What that means, in our daily routine, is that we have to be extremely cautious when we go places outside our immediate secure area. We go fully prepared, we go with the right armored vehicle, we go with the right force protection, we go with the right personal protective equipment, because it's a lifesaver."
That said, Varney asserts that most of the violence in Baghdad is caused by a very small number of people, many of them fighters from outside Iraq determined to thwart the American effort. The vast majority of Baghdadis seem to support the troops and their rebuilding projects, he said.
"When we drive by in our military vehicles going from Point A to Point B, the people for the most part, especially the kids, wave and give us the thumbs up sign," Varney said. "Women and children wave. That's kind of reassuring to see."
The city itself also is showing signs of recovery, he said. Trash and rubble are being cleared up, business are reopening and the streets are crowded. Even billboards are reappearing along major streets.
The effort has rehabilitated hundreds of schools, rebuilt a hospital and made noticeable strides in restoring basic services. Varney said Army units have put police and fire stations back in operation so that when attacks do occur, Iraqis often are first on the scene.
"Back in March, you didn't see any first-responders out there," he said. "Now when something unfortunate or tragic happens, all the things we would normally see (at home) are there immediately."
Varney works closely with the mayor's staff, so much so that he's made a number of close friends among the engineers and advisers helping to plan the infrastructure projects.
"The people I work with in the mayor's office endured the entire regime of Saddam Hussein," he said. "They talk to me about what it used to be like when everything was rationed, all decisions were micromanaged. There was a great amount of tyranny and fear among the people, and they were destitute, they had nothing. And now they have a lot."
Varney said there's no question that the American effort has a long way to go before life in Baghdad is anything like that in a modern democracy. But he said the people, by and large, believe it will happen.
"It's not a question of, do they trust us. They know exactly what we're trying to achieve, and for the most part we're partnering up to achieve what they want," he said. "They're optimistic. I think they're very optimistic."
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