by Jessica Harper
Thisweek Newspapers

Every day, Americans see images of death and destruction in Iraq on their TV screens, but this isn't the whole story, National Guard Maj. Michael Murray said.

Murray will talk about his experiences and viewpoints on the issues surrounding the war in a presentation called "Chronicling the Iraq War: A Solider's Perspective" at 1 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Scott County Historical Society. The event is free.

"My goal is to show one person's perspective that is different from the normal media's," he said.

While serving a year and three months in Iraq, Murray did more than dodge bullets and battle the enemy.

When he first arrived in Al-Anbar Province, Iraq, in April 2006, the area was overrun by insurgents who attacked the guard base and villages weekly with mortar shells.

"People were saying that Al-Anbar was lost to the insurgents," he said, "But what they didn't see was that more Iraqis were standing up to take control of their country."

So many Iraqis lined up to be trained as police officers, Murray said, the battalion ran out of funding for them.

By the time he left, al-Anbar in July 2007, Murray said, the area was primarily controlled by the Iraqi police and Iraqi and U.S. soldiers.

"We made a lot of progress," he said.
Rebuilding

Murray spent much of his time securing the U.S. military base and villages within al-Anbar, training Iraqi police and assessing infrastructure needs.

One village sewer system was so badly neglected after deposed Iraqi Prime Minister Saddam Hussein's fall that it had mature palm trees growing in it, he said. The battalion assessed the work that needed to be done and hired Iraqis to do the job.

With the average pay being about $10 a day in Iraq, people are desperate to find jobs anywhere, Murray said. If the United States can provide those jobs, fewer people will join the insurgency, he said.

"Most insurgents are just looking to make a quick $200 to build an (improvised explosive device)," he said. "It's a misconception to think they are all fundamentalists who want to get rid of an oppressor."

While many Iraqi men work as contractors and police, women risk their lives as informants.

"There are good, honest people who are making a better Iraq," he said.

Murray said his experience working with the people of Iraq has given him a better understanding of the people and made him appreciate what he has at home.

"I hope people here (in the United States) understand that many people are working with the U.S. soldiers and that these are great people," he said.
Media perspective

Murray said he is often frustrated when the mainstream media refrains from telling the positive stories in Iraq.

"People (in the United States) saw the civilians killed when a mosque was attacked in Habinea, but they didn't see the 300-plus soldiers donating blood to save the victims," Murray said.

Too often the news is overwhelmed with violence and scandals, he said.

"Sex and violence sells, and when you throw a corrupt politician or a dead celebrity in the mix, it consumes the news," he said. "Notice how nothing happened in Iraq when Anna Nicole died."

He said it was refreshing when he saw one story that had an interview with a police chief he knew in al-Anbar who said, despite recent assassinations, he was determined to move forward.
Many friendships

Murray said he developed friendships with many of the people he worked with in Iraq.

He and the battalion's interpreter, an Iraqi native, would share stories about their families in the United States.

The interpreter has since left Iraq to join his family.

Murray said he hopes that, through his presentation, he can convince people that some of the stereotypes they may believe are not true.

"I'd hate to see people accuse the interpreter of being a terrorist when he's far from it," he said.

In addition to working with Iraqis, Murray worked side by side and built friendships with allies from Romania and the Slovak Republic, who were once seen as his enemy during the Cold War.

Murray and one Romanian solider would joke about their early days in the military during the 1980s; they would train how to fight pop-up "Ivans" or Americans.

Murray said talking to him about the old days of communist Soviet Union has given him a better appreciation for democracy and his opportunities in the United States.

In addition to sharing stories with the Romanian solider, Murray also would often play cards with soldiers from various nations and have Turkish barbecues with the soldiers from Turkey.

"It was amazing to see how many things we had in common," he said.
Looking ahead

Although he is no longer on the front lines, Murray said he still keeps track of the progress being made there.

"Progress is occurring in Iraq," he said, "But one of the hardest things to overcome has been that we never set what victory looks like early in the invasion. It's hard to have hope when you don't know what the end looks like."

Murray said, to him, success in Iraq means that the country is able to maintain a nonpartisan government that can settle differences among the various sects, as well as establish a stable economy and educational institutions.

"I hope in the future, Iraq is allowed to be open to the West but doesn't have to change to be the West," he said.

For instance, Dubai has had successful trading with the West while maintaining their Eastern Muslim identity, he said.

"It shows that that part of the world can participate with the rest of it without losing its culture and sense of identity," he said.

Jessica Harper is at priorlake.thisweek@ecm-inc.com