00.01
It’s night time in Ramada, part of the infamous Sunni triangle. The Americans are on the verge of launching a surprise attack. Ramada is one of the most perilous places for US soldiers, many of whom are slaughtered here, almost on a daily basis. Sgt. Orlando from the first infantry knows this as well as anyone..
00:25 O.T. David Orlando, MG - Private, US army
“When we came here our position was still good. Many people thanked us, saying “Kind America, kind America.” However, the situation has changed dramatically since then. Now the people express their opinions somewhat more freely and what they say about us is no longer so pleasant. Some people may not speak to us; others are more extreme and even shoot at us.”
00.41
The fear of snipers and home-made explosives is all-pervasive for the GIs. The weapons are once again examined. This time the occupying forces are determined to triumph.
00.53
This is Mustafa Sayer’s house. He was a General under Saddam. These days he is reported to be organising the resistance, and so his brother has betrayed him to the Americans for a large sum. US troops storm the house. Weapons and documents that record his work in the resistance are found.
01.30
The general, however, is not in the house. Only a photograph of the inhabitant confirms to the GIs that the correct house has been searched. The documents and weapons are seized as proof.
01.45
The commander of this mission is Captain Robin Saiz.. He thanks his youthful troops for the slickness of the operation. All those who were involved return back to Camp unharmed.
01.52 O.T. Robin Saiz, Captain US Army
“In any case the mission was successful - firstly everyone in the camp is fit and well again, secondly we have made the link to the person whom we are pursuing. He was not at home when we stormed the house. I believe we acted too early - we ought to have struck a little later and then he would surely have been at home. Nevertheless we have his son, who has been arrested. He was taken into detention and immediately cross-examined.
“Our experience has clearly been demonstrated here, for in most cases the father will come of his own accord to the Camp’s entrance the next day and ask why we arrested his son. In this case the father is blissfully ignorant and does not know that he was our goal. If he announces himself, then naturally he will immediately be taken into our safekeeping, and then this final operation shall also be blessed with success.”
02.27
Camp “Junction City“ in Ramada. This was the former barracks of Saddam’s Fedayeen forces. It serves almost 1400 soldiers of the first US Infantry as their place of residence for the next few months. Exactly how long they will remain here nobody knows. Second lieutenant Kevin Morgan musters his troops for the next deployment. This commences with a prayer.
02.46 O.T. Kevin Morgan
“We pray for our allied ones in this city which you have blessed. Protect it, and your name will be glorious. Grant that we may arrest with ease all those enemies with whom you supply us, and may they form confused and muddled plans. We pray to you, bring us back this evening under your protection, holy and powerful God. Amen.”
03.05
This is a patrol in the roads of Ramada. For the Kansas-bred soldiers constant danger has become the routine. A fatal attack might occur at any time. Over 350 US soldiers in Iraq have been killed in attacks that took place after the war. As a result of these continuing assaults, at least one US soldier is dying almost every day.
03.25
A few days ago there was an assay on this armoured jeep, and three of this troop’s soldiers sustained heavy injuries. A bomb that had been concealed by the roadside exploded and pulverised the steel body. The First Sgt. was inside, but luckily he managed to escape unharmed.
03.54 O.T. Staff Sgt. Jeff Garden
“ Du musst hier immer auf der Hut sein wenn du dich hier draußen bewegst. Immer wenn wir aus dem sicheren Camp in die Umgebung fahren beobachten wir genau das Geschehen um uns. Die Leute hier in der Gegend sind zum größten Teil freundlich aber es sind auch Leute hier die uns Probleme bereiten wollen so müssen wir immer auf der Hut sein wenn wir uns hier bewegen. Ich möchte das nicht als paranoid bezeichnen aber wir wissen das hier draußen die Gefahr immer gegeben ist.”
04.15
At night a weapons cache belonging to the rebels was found. After a tip-off from the local people the soldiers made a strike within an urban area. They seized a hundred mortar shells.
04.29
Those who worked there are cross-examined. But nobody wants to appear to know anything or to have ever seen the clandestine contents of this workshop…
04.49 O.T. Joseph Jasper, Hauptmann U.S. Army
“Wir fanden Artillerie und Granatwerfermunition, TNT und Plastiksprengstoff, All das wurde hier in dieser Werkstätte gefunden. Nach weiteren Ermittlungen wurde genau da hinten ein Versteck gefunden. Ein Loch in der Erde , als wir es öffneten fanden wir noch mehr Sprengstoff versteckt. Kommt mit es ist mir eine Ehre es euch zu zeigen.”
05.05
The rebels had attempted to camouflage the hiding place with a motor-car tyre. Yet their efforts were in vain, for the soldiers scented it out.
05.10 O.T. Joseph Jasper. Hauptmann US – Armee
“Das war das Zentrum eines Bienennestes. Alle Biene sind ausgeflogen und wir finden nun all die Plätze wo sie ihren Honig hinterlegt haben. Das heißt wir finden nun alle diese Höhlen und Bunker in diesem Gebiet.”
05.21
Second lieutenant Morgan’s troop try to forge contacts with the local population. Morgan struggles to communicate with the people with the aid of a translator.
05.35 O.T. Kevin Morgan, second lieutenant US army
Hier are Fedajehins and bad people at home? Neighbor: No are more?Sicher there which? Neighbor: No we do not know such people here ?Es is however true? Neighbor: Which, such attack you.... No
06.02
They can’t see anything; they can’t hear anything. They don’t know anything. The constant threat of resistance fighters hangs heavy over the troops. Lt Morgan tries to get help from the local kids.
06.10 O.T. Kevin Morgan, second lieutenant US army
Wir need your assistance. I you are white clever boys and know yourself here out. I white you hear something and see something. Ok one?
06.36
Whether the boys would ever betray their neighbours is unlikely, as even for children, betrayal could be deadly…
06.46
A gas station in Ramada. The long queues indicate that petrol means everything. Since the official end of the war in May, the Americans have largely failed to restore supplies to the oil rich land.
07.02
The black marketeers at the side of the road are making a killing. The US have now launced ‘Operation Syphon’ against the oil hawkers.
07.14 O.T. Mike Cabrey, lieutenant colonel US army, commander
Diese person here. These people increase the prices for the adjacents resident by a multiple. This man sold the gasoline tenfold as the drivers at the gas station for it pays. Which we do now are we punish it and give its gasoline to driving past drivers?
07.32
Yet only very few drivers benefit from such Robin Hood style gestures. The vast majority have to wait several days at the gas station for a tanker to arrive.
07.49
The GIs make a safe return to the barracks, and another day in Iraq rolls to a close.
Report: Gerhard Tuschla
Camera: Veit shopkeeper
It’s night time in Ramada, part of the infamous Sunni triangle. The Americans are on the verge of launching a surprise attack. Ramada is one of the most perilous places for US soldiers, many of whom are slaughtered here, almost on a daily basis. Sgt. Orlando from the first infantry knows this as well as anyone..
00:25 O.T. David Orlando, MG - Private, US army
“When we came here our position was still good. Many people thanked us, saying “Kind America, kind America.” However, the situation has changed dramatically since then. Now the people express their opinions somewhat more freely and what they say about us is no longer so pleasant. Some people may not speak to us; others are more extreme and even shoot at us.”
00.41
The fear of snipers and home-made explosives is all-pervasive for the GIs. The weapons are once again examined. This time the occupying forces are determined to triumph.
00.53
This is Mustafa Sayer’s house. He was a General under Saddam. These days he is reported to be organising the resistance, and so his brother has betrayed him to the Americans for a large sum. US troops storm the house. Weapons and documents that record his work in the resistance are found.
01.30
The general, however, is not in the house. Only a photograph of the inhabitant confirms to the GIs that the correct house has been searched. The documents and weapons are seized as proof.
01.45
The commander of this mission is Captain Robin Saiz.. He thanks his youthful troops for the slickness of the operation. All those who were involved return back to Camp unharmed.
01.52 O.T. Robin Saiz, Captain US Army
“In any case the mission was successful - firstly everyone in the camp is fit and well again, secondly we have made the link to the person whom we are pursuing. He was not at home when we stormed the house. I believe we acted too early - we ought to have struck a little later and then he would surely have been at home. Nevertheless we have his son, who has been arrested. He was taken into detention and immediately cross-examined.
“Our experience has clearly been demonstrated here, for in most cases the father will come of his own accord to the Camp’s entrance the next day and ask why we arrested his son. In this case the father is blissfully ignorant and does not know that he was our goal. If he announces himself, then naturally he will immediately be taken into our safekeeping, and then this final operation shall also be blessed with success.”
02.27
Camp “Junction City“ in Ramada. This was the former barracks of Saddam’s Fedayeen forces. It serves almost 1400 soldiers of the first US Infantry as their place of residence for the next few months. Exactly how long they will remain here nobody knows. Second lieutenant Kevin Morgan musters his troops for the next deployment. This commences with a prayer.
02.46 O.T. Kevin Morgan
“We pray for our allied ones in this city which you have blessed. Protect it, and your name will be glorious. Grant that we may arrest with ease all those enemies with whom you supply us, and may they form confused and muddled plans. We pray to you, bring us back this evening under your protection, holy and powerful God. Amen.”
03.05
This is a patrol in the roads of Ramada. For the Kansas-bred soldiers constant danger has become the routine. A fatal attack might occur at any time. Over 350 US soldiers in Iraq have been killed in attacks that took place after the war. As a result of these continuing assaults, at least one US soldier is dying almost every day.
03.25
A few days ago there was an assay on this armoured jeep, and three of this troop’s soldiers sustained heavy injuries. A bomb that had been concealed by the roadside exploded and pulverised the steel body. The First Sgt. was inside, but luckily he managed to escape unharmed.
03.54 O.T. Staff Sgt. Jeff Garden
“ Du musst hier immer auf der Hut sein wenn du dich hier draußen bewegst. Immer wenn wir aus dem sicheren Camp in die Umgebung fahren beobachten wir genau das Geschehen um uns. Die Leute hier in der Gegend sind zum größten Teil freundlich aber es sind auch Leute hier die uns Probleme bereiten wollen so müssen wir immer auf der Hut sein wenn wir uns hier bewegen. Ich möchte das nicht als paranoid bezeichnen aber wir wissen das hier draußen die Gefahr immer gegeben ist.”
04.15
At night a weapons cache belonging to the rebels was found. After a tip-off from the local people the soldiers made a strike within an urban area. They seized a hundred mortar shells.
04.29
Those who worked there are cross-examined. But nobody wants to appear to know anything or to have ever seen the clandestine contents of this workshop…
04.49 O.T. Joseph Jasper, Hauptmann U.S. Army
“Wir fanden Artillerie und Granatwerfermunition, TNT und Plastiksprengstoff, All das wurde hier in dieser Werkstätte gefunden. Nach weiteren Ermittlungen wurde genau da hinten ein Versteck gefunden. Ein Loch in der Erde , als wir es öffneten fanden wir noch mehr Sprengstoff versteckt. Kommt mit es ist mir eine Ehre es euch zu zeigen.”
05.05
The rebels had attempted to camouflage the hiding place with a motor-car tyre. Yet their efforts were in vain, for the soldiers scented it out.
05.10 O.T. Joseph Jasper. Hauptmann US – Armee
“Das war das Zentrum eines Bienennestes. Alle Biene sind ausgeflogen und wir finden nun all die Plätze wo sie ihren Honig hinterlegt haben. Das heißt wir finden nun alle diese Höhlen und Bunker in diesem Gebiet.”
05.21
Second lieutenant Morgan’s troop try to forge contacts with the local population. Morgan struggles to communicate with the people with the aid of a translator.
05.35 O.T. Kevin Morgan, second lieutenant US army
Hier are Fedajehins and bad people at home? Neighbor: No are more?Sicher there which? Neighbor: No we do not know such people here ?Es is however true? Neighbor: Which, such attack you.... No
06.02
They can’t see anything; they can’t hear anything. They don’t know anything. The constant threat of resistance fighters hangs heavy over the troops. Lt Morgan tries to get help from the local kids.
06.10 O.T. Kevin Morgan, second lieutenant US army
Wir need your assistance. I you are white clever boys and know yourself here out. I white you hear something and see something. Ok one?
06.36
Whether the boys would ever betray their neighbours is unlikely, as even for children, betrayal could be deadly…
06.46
A gas station in Ramada. The long queues indicate that petrol means everything. Since the official end of the war in May, the Americans have largely failed to restore supplies to the oil rich land.
07.02
The black marketeers at the side of the road are making a killing. The US have now launced ‘Operation Syphon’ against the oil hawkers.
07.14 O.T. Mike Cabrey, lieutenant colonel US army, commander
Diese person here. These people increase the prices for the adjacents resident by a multiple. This man sold the gasoline tenfold as the drivers at the gas station for it pays. Which we do now are we punish it and give its gasoline to driving past drivers?
07.32
Yet only very few drivers benefit from such Robin Hood style gestures. The vast majority have to wait several days at the gas station for a tanker to arrive.
07.49
The GIs make a safe return to the barracks, and another day in Iraq rolls to a close.
Report: Gerhard Tuschla
Camera: Veit shopkeeper