submitted for approval (Iraq letter)

I have decided to close out my Yahoo account. I know, it's crazy, but I'm beginning to enjoy this blogging thing. It has allowed me to connect with people on a level that I never thought possible. I can read people's daily activities, understand who they are, and actually talk with them about topics that they are concerned with! Amazing.

I have had a lot of experiences in my life. Some exciting, some dangerous, and some just plain boring. Over the next few days, I would like to share some of these with you. Most of these I found on my yahoo account, in my saved file, and I wanted to permanately keep them, and I thought that putting them on the blog was the best way to do that. I'll start with some of my Iraq correspondence:

Things have been going well over on this side of the world. Tikrit, thankfully, is a very quite place right now. Attacks have been minimal, and casualties have been few and far between. We credit most of the improvements to the fact that we are pumping a ton of money into the Iraqi economy. Now, I don't know about you, but most people I know have never held two million US$ in their palms. We are approving projects here in the 1/4 million to 1/2 million dollar price range. New schools, new roads, new hospitals. Each day I am astounded at how much money is being contributed to the reconstruction effort.

What is the Civil Affairs role in all of this you may ask? (Some of you are asking what civil affairs is, that's my job.) We go out each day and meet with the locals to ensure that the commanders mission is being accomplished (reconstruction efforts), and that projects are being proposed and submitted for approval. It's amazing to think that the work of forces in Iraq today will have a drastic effect on foreign policy between America and Iraq in ten years. The way that we impact these children and young adults here will determine if they grow up to become "bad guys" or democratic, free thinking adults.

To get a bit more personal, I find much enjoyment in what is being accomplished here. My dad has informed me that the news back home is filled with anti-war sentiment. I've seen some of that, in what little news I get here, and it saddens me. The other day I heard Al Bore, I mean Gore, talk about how "American forces have no idea what their mission is over there, and commanders are not instructing them on proper procedures". He was referring to the prison abuse. Well let me say that we have a very good idea of what our mission is and I for one feel very well trained in my profession. We are here to win the war on terror and free an oppressed people. What better mission can there be than that?

All in all, things are going well. My faith in the Lord has brought me through many difficult times here. He is very good, and blesses me richly each day. I look forward to seeing you all soon, and will maintain contact through this newsletter.

Love in Christ,
Jonathan Anderstrom

"I will be strong and courageous,
I will not be terrified, or discouraged.
For the LORD my GOD is with me
Wherever I go."

-Joshua 1:9