Outlook: Helping Iraqis Construct a Better Country

New Plumbers, Carpenters Are the Stuff of Real Progress in Iraq

Capt. Jim Golby, an company commander with the 25th Special Troops Battalion near Tikrit, Iraq, was online Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. ET to describe the project he works on, which provides on-the-job training and access to U.S. contracts for Iraqis near Saddam Hussein's hometown.

The transcript follows.

Archive: Transcripts of discussions with Outlook article authors

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Capt. Jim Golby: If anyone is actually out there...good morning. I'd like to thank the Washington Post for giving me the opportunity to tell this story about my Soldiers and the courageous Iraqis we have worked with through the IBIZ project. I originally did not intend to submit this article for publication, but it has been exciting (and exhausting) to receive all the feedback, both positive and negative, that I have received. I don't intend to discuss national-level policy; I am a company commander responsible for a small group of Soldiers. My mission has been to help stabilize the local economy by working with several Iraqi villages. I would like to keep the focus on that or on my other personal experiences here if possible.

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Fairfax, Va.: What is your reaction to Gen. Sanchez's comments about the Iraq war, and Gen. Abizaid's suggestion that the war is all about oil?

washingtonpost.com: Ex-Commander In Iraq Faults War Strategy (Post, Oct. 13)

Capt. Jim Golby: Unfortunately, I have not had the chance to read either of their remarks. That topic is also far outside the scope of my influence and responsibilities in Iraq.

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Boston: Capt. Golby, thank you and your family for your service. We are very grateful for all that you and your men do on our behalf. I am curious for your thoughts about what message is sent to the Iraqis we are asking to stand up for themselves (and stand up a government) when they see us building Ramstein-like permanent U.S. bases in their country? Tactically, it is great that local Iraqi companies are getting contracts on this work, but strategically shouldn't they be building Iraqi army bases, not U.S. bases? Lastly, is there tribal competition for these contracts and, subsequently, tribal fighting for those that don't win?

Capt. Jim Golby: The IBIZ project I am involved in focuses on 3-4 local villages and towns near the base on which I reside. Different tribes participate, but it has been a very cooperative process so far. We do our best to maintain equity between these groups and have not had any significant issues with tribal violence as a result. In fact, it may have increased their cooperation.

By training many of these Iraqi workers and helping other Iraqis start their own companies, I think we send a terrific message of self-reliance.

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Detroit: Have you had instances in which Iraqis you work with later were found to have been aiding insurgents? If so, how common a problem is this?

Capt. Jim Golby: During my first deployment, I did have some experience working with Iraqis who later turned out to be aiding or supporting insurgents. That realization was extremely frustrating. However, this deployment I think I have developed a better appreciation for what we hope to accomplish and the risks involved. We have put many security and screening processes in place that help ensure that these Iraqis are sincere and willing to work to build a better life and hope for their own families. As a result, we have had very few known experiences with this problem over the last few months. I think it has only happened on 2-3 occasions that I remember. In those cases, we identified these problems and implemented successful measures to ensure that those problems wouldn't happen again.

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Princeton, N.J.: Is there any evidence that the many divisions in Iraq are being overcome? I do not mean only the Shia-Sunni division, but also the Kurd vs. Arabs and Turkmen in Kirkuk, the problem of the 1,000,000 (mostly displaced) Christians, the 500,000 Yazidi who are hated by all, the Badr vs. Mahdi conflict roiling the South, the local Police vs. the National Police, etc., etc., etc. Plus the problems of rampant corruption and the 4.5 million displaced refugees.

Capt. Jim Golby: I can't talk to larger issues of reconciliation throughout Iraq. However, in the IBIZ project in which I am participating we have Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites working in several programs. Initially, we faced some problems, but their cooperation has increased out of a mutual understanding that they could all help each other be successful.

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Washington: Capt. Golby: How much contracting authority do you have? How much procurement training have you had? And, how much contracting authority do your peers have at the O-3 and O-4 levels?

Capt. Jim Golby: Personally, I have very little direct involvement in the actual contracts or dollars that are obligated. That task falls primarily to the Joint Regional Contracting Center-Tikrit, a unit consisting of trained Army, Air Force, and Navy officers with experience and training in contracting. Most are members of the U.S. Army acquisition Corps.

My soldiers and I help provide security and coordination among the different units and groups involved and we have assisted a great deal with the practical implementation and construction of the site.

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Ashland, Va.: I hear that in the wealthier Arab states, such as Saudi Arabia, that much of the manual labor is done by foreign nationals, particularly people from Pakistan, a poor Moslem country. Is that an issue in Iraq? What about skilled jobs, such as bookkeepers or engineers? Do the people have these non-manual skill levels? Or have the skilled people largely left?

Capt. Jim Golby: We work with many engineers. Both the concrete batch plant and the rock crusher have trained engineers with degrees from universities in Tikrit, Baghdad and Jordan.

In addition to training many Iraqis as plumbers, electricians, and carpenters, the JRCC forward contracting office has helped train an additional 43 contractors or companies in Tikrit that help develop management and skilled labor for the area. These contractors and companies are, in many ways, the real future of the IBIZ program and the local economy. Their hard work to develop successful businesses in conjunction with support from the local Iraqi government will help create capacity, capital flow, and demand in the Tikrit area.

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Kewanee, Ill.: I think that your article was remarkable and you and your soldiers should be commended for the job that you have done so well. Our country is asking a lot of its soldiers and of their families. Thank you for your service to our country. Given your background and experiences, do you see the diplomatic, policy, and humanitarian efforts in Iraq appropriately complimenting the efforts of our military? The problems to be solved are clearly multifaceted and cannot be resolved by solely by our military.

Capt. Jim Golby: I have only served in a small part of Iraq near the cities of Tikrit and Samarra. The operations I have observed, or participated in, have truly been full-spectrum operations that help build security, local government, the local economy, and the Iraqi Police/Iraqi Army. The IBIZ project is a great example of that in that we help train Iraqi workers and contractors, work with local government officials, and cooperate with local Iraqi Police while ensuring that we maximize security to our Soldiers and the Iraqis working with us.

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Princeton, N.J.: Twelve former captains have a column in today's Post. Could you comment on their piece?

washingtonpost.com: The Real Iraq We Knew (Post, Oct. 16)

Capt. Jim Golby: Obviously, I appreciate the dedicated service of those 12 former officers. My purpose in publishing my article only intended to comment on the small part of Iraq in which I have served and the hard work of my Soldiers, while it seems that they commented on broader topics.

I definitely think the environment changes in Iraq from city to city and from month to month. My perception of the progress in this area has changed in a positive way this year, particularly in the last 8-9 months. From what I can tell, most of these former captains have not served during that time period though I may be incorrect.

Again, I thank all of them for their service and respect their rights to participate fully in our democratic processes as private citizens. But I am focused solely on completing my mission as effectively as I can so that I can help these local Iraqi villagers build a more positive Iraq.

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Ashland, Va.: How much of the experience that you provide leads to income from outside the IBIZ? Are products being made in IBIZ that can be sold outside IBIZ, or is it self-contained and isolated?

Capt. Jim Golby: Right now, the income created from the outside economy is limited. However, we did see progress this week in that the rock crusher plant has been awarded three contracts by the provincial government to help with a water plant, a hospital, and a school).

The project also infused several million dollars into the Tikrit economy and the local villages. That helps create demand from the local citizens who have a significantly increased buying power as a result. Many of the companies and contractors have also developed to the point where they can take on more projects in the local economy that have been created by the infusion of money.

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Baghdad, Iraq: Today in The Washington Post, there was a letter signed by 12 Army captains (including at least one of your classmates). The op-ed argues that we are failing in our larger Iraq policy and the resulting strain on our military isn't worth the tradeoff. They recommend either expanding the military through a draft or complete withdrawal from Iraq. Assuming you weren't prohibited by regulations, would you have been a signatory to that letter?

Capt. Jim Golby: No. I had the choice to end my service a few years ago, but I decided to stay in and continue to help lead my Soldiers and do the best I can to help Iraqis make this small part of their country as good as it can be.

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Lyme, Conn.: Do you observe any significant shifts in the views of Iraqis? Are formerly pro-Saddam Hussein Iraqis becoming any more likely to accept a pro-American government? Have there been any major shifts in any direction in the political sentiment of the Iraqis with whom you are familiar through the duration of the current war, and if so, what have been those shifts?

Capt. Jim Golby: I have developed many positive relationships with local Iraqis. As my Soldiers and I have been able to help them improve security and jump-start their economy, we have developed strong relationships built on mutual respect and increasing trust.

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Hughesville, Md.: Capt. Golby, I salute your service and dedication to our country. The obvious question that needs answering is whether things are really getting better or are we just playing "Whack-a-Mole," as Sen. McCain once alluded to. The general news coming out of Iraq from the news services, in addition to retiring service members, does not sound good. What is your take on this? Do you feel safer now versus say one year ago when you walk down the street in your patrol district? My other question I really would like to get your opinion on: Do you consider Iraq now to be a war, or a peacekeeping operation? Stay safe.

Capt. Jim Golby: Thank you so much. It is extremely difficult to remove myself from the emotion and intensity of the situation in which I am involved. Things in this local area are improving, but I am not qualified to comment articulately or accurately on the broader situation.

As stated in my article, though, I have enormous confidence in the officers appointed above me and my gut feeling is that we have gained some positive momentum these last few months.

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Harrisburg, Pa.: What is your opinion of the private contract armed employees? Given that their mission primarily is to guard private facilities, do you believe they should do more to coordinate their operations and appearances with the U.S. military? Do you believe they should be held to a higher accountability than they currently are?

Capt. Jim Golby: I am sorry I have only worked on a limited basis with contracted security employees during this deployment. I'm not sure I could answer that question with any real expertise.

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Englewood, Colo.: Capt. Golby, thank you for you (and your family's) sacrifices for me and the rest of us sitting safely in the states. How widespread is the IBIZ program? Is the one you are involved in a pilot program, or typical across much of Iraq?

Capt. Jim Golby: The IBIZ program is part of a broader concept throughout Iraq which is promoted and tracked at the highest operational levels in Iraq. There are 6 working IBIZ programs currently, and there are 11 new initiatives in the works the last I knew. Some of these are larger and more developed than the one on which I have worked.

IBIZ also works directly within the guidance published by General Petraeus in March of this year to promote the Iraqi economy through the Iraqi First program.

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Laurel, Md.: Do the soldiers with which you serve believe that people who oppose(d) the invasion are either uninformed or less than patriotic?

Capt. Jim Golby: I cannot speak for my Soldiers, but personally, I do not believe that one's patriotism is measured solely by one's opinions. I am thankful that I can see a vibrant political process in my own country that helps our citizens work to find viable solutions to extremely difficult challenges.

I hope that my efforts will help protect those freedoms by making the best personal decisions I can about my duty and my service. Thanks.

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Austin, Texas: Capt. Golby, first, I would like to thank you and your family for your service to our country. Next, a couple of questions: What opinion, if any, do you have on the reaction of local Iraqi citizens to Blackwater and its contractors in the region? Secondly, re: Iraq's attempts to hold Blackwater accountable for the death of its innocent citizens -- does the Iraqi government have any credibility when it tries to expel Blackwater, only to have our State Department override the decision?

Capt. Jim Golby: Again, I have not worked much with Blackwater, if at all, this year. I really have not followed that story all that closely since I have focused on my own operations.

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Herndon, Va.: Capt. Golby, I just want to thank you for your service to our country. I also want to thank you for writing something positive about what is going on over in Iraq. We know that it is happening, but most of what is reported is the negative. I also thank The Post for giving you the opportunity to write it. I'm the proud mother of a Marine captain serving in Iraq. God bless you.

Capt. Jim Golby: Thanks. I applaud your son's service and I thank you for your support. I understand well the sacrifices you have to make to help support your son, and I greatly appreciate them.

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Clinton, Md.: Are you involved in ... public relations?

Capt. Jim Golby: I work with soldiers from a Military Public Affairs Detachment to support and promote our story. We also work with local Iraqis to try to create as positive of a public affairs message as we can about the work local Iraqis are doing in cooperation with us.

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Dwight, Ill.: Capt. Golby, what do you see as the future of the IBIZ project? Will they continue to pursue contracts within that region, and do you see this project expanding in any way? Thank you for your dedicated service! Be safe!

Capt. Jim Golby: Our project is currently in the process of an expansion. We have requested to add 55-60 additional workers who will be trained in welding, air conditioner repair, and small engine repair. We hope this will fully operational within the next few months.

We also are looking into the possibility of adding some additional industrial plants and the contracting office continues to expand and help train new contractors every day. One exciting new development is the expansion of a micro-loan program that will help local Iraqis (many of them trained through this program) start their own small businesses to provide services in their own towns or villages.

The original concept of the IBIZ was to start small and build to reinforce success.

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San Francisco: How much Arabic have you learned since you have been in Iraq?

Capt. Jim Golby: I have learned enough to carry on basic conversations, identify numbers, and ask simple questions. My written Arabic is horrible, and I barely can identify all the characters of the Arabic alphabet. I wish I had been able to learn more.

Shukran (or thanks).

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Capt. Jim Golby: I would just like to thank everyone again for your questions. This process has been a great experience for me. Again, I would like to note the contributions of all my Soldiers as well as those of all the contractors, Air Force officers, Naval officers, and dedicated public servants who were involved in helping get this project off the ground in my area. I am proud to be a part of this success.

Lastly, I would like thank Maj. John Henderson (the driving force behind this project here) and my commander, Lt. Col. Patricia Frost, for all the support they have given me before, during, and after this article's publication. I cannot thank them enough.

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