Kids in Iraq

One thing that many soldiers comment on and few Americans thing about are the Iraqi children. There is a lot of discussion about them as they make themselves quite visible to coalition forces in Iraq - it seems the US ARMY especially ( maybe because we drive such large vehicles?).


I usually see children while on convoys between FOBs.They usually stand at the side of the road and wave at us - or wave within a vehicle pulled over at the side of the road. Seeing them is a good sign that you will not be attacked. Not seeing them where you usually do is a bad sign.
When I am in the lead vehicle I usually see them running up to the roads so they can wave at us and see our convoy drive past. It is almost like a kid seeing an ice cream truck or parade drive by their home in America. It seems to mean a lot to the children here to see the ARMY vehicles drive by. I am sure they understand the significance of our presence and realize we mean them no harm.

Other times I see children is when we visit their towns. It is not very often that we visit these towns, but usually we bring gifts for the children. And like the Grandpa or Uncle who gives gifts to kids in America - we are inundated with children asking for things. It is rather annoying having a child ask you for your watch or anything else you have. Some are downright greedy taking what they please, while other kids are left in the background with much less.

Many soldiers comment that the children in Iraq are the greediest and most spoiled children on Earth. Of course if all you do is shower these kids with gifts, they are not going to see you as anything but a gift-giver. Some will want more - and so I see no difference between these children and American. I have seen children disciplined by their parents or even told they cannot take anything from us. So I do not think that all the parents here condone greediness. In fact I am sure the local population blames us just as much as we blame them for such greedy children. I just know when I was younger I was a bit greedy for candy and other things when with my grandparents. ;)

Another thing about the children here is that they want to have a conversation with us. The problem is that they do not speak English. So one thing that they have asked soldiers repeatedly is one that is difficult to ask nonverbally. The kids point to their crotch asking a question. Usually soldiers first encountering this are confused and eventually the kids pull down their pants to show that they are circumcised. Yes - they want to know if all of us soldiers are circumcised or not. Sounds odd - but a lot of soldiers have been shocked to have little boys show them their privates.