Ron Barr and Sports Byline USA LIVE from Iraq

The Al Faw Palace, another of Hussein’s palaces, is now a U.S. Command headquarters. Like his other palaces, it’s opulent on the surface, but that covers shoddy construction under the surface. Like Hussein, that opulence was mostly for show. One of the highest-ranking commanding officers in Iraq is Lt. General Austin. An African American and a West Pointer, his imposing stature grabs your attention immediately. As a courtesy, he granted us a scheduled 10-minute meeting. Gracious, in that he turned down two other requests for meetings and we were the only ones to see him. I'm sure it had something to do with his being a sports fan and the stature of Brian, Randy and Spencer. Our 10-minute meeting turned into a 30-minute meeting. Brian Billick, who stands 6-4, got the General’s attention immediately when we entered his office, and he told Brian what he had heard many times since arriving in Iraq, “You’re bigger in person then you are on television.” Brian’s response was, “You’re big enough that I would have recruited you to play tight end for us." However, the General played real man’s football at West Point, rugby. Continue Story...

There was a natural comfort among us. Stilted introductions gave way to easy banter and then questions and answers. General Austin had a unique perspective about the war and the current state of the country. In 2003, he had been part of the invading force, and now he was back trying to put Iraq back together again. One of the nice things about being in Iraq with no agenda except entertaining the troops and talking sports was an openness and willingness to talk candidly and directly with us. We weren’t the media per se and certainly not a political or Congressional group. With that in mind, General Austin seemed sincere in saying that he believed that within 10 years Iraq will be a great success story. He said he based that belief on the fact that Iraq had an infrastructure, educational and financial institutions, and a financial resource (oil) that would allow it to prosper once agitating elements are removed and controlled. From conversations I’ve had with Iraqis, and others, and using that criteria for his evaluation, I agree with him. Before we left his office, General Austin presented all of us with certificates of appreciation and his Commander’s medal of appreciation. After we left Austin’s office, it was apparent that we all were impressed with the man as well as the officer.

Over the last 3 days, two other things have become apparently clear about our military. One is that the real power to get things done in the military lies with the Sargent Majors. Sargent Major is the highest ranking non-commissioned officer in the Army. These are the kick ass, take no prisoner, military men who have the respect of the officers as well as their fellow foot soldiers. Sgt. Major Richardson was assigned to us. A 6 foot, completely bald, bundle of energy, he made things happen for us. A football fan by nature, his favorite NFL team not to be named here, he had a Sgt. Bilko bite to his voice and commands that made our life easier, and made us laugh a lot. Sgt. Major Richardson, you can be on our team anytime.

The second thing I noticed was the change in the working relationship between the regular Army and the Reserves/National Guard. In the past I observed a standoffishness and somewhat lack of respect of the Reserves/National Guard by those in the regular Army. In many ways it was deserved and understandable. In the early going of the war, the regular Army was working side by side with part time military types whose primary military training and practical experience was one reserve weekend a month and two weeks of summer training. In today’s no draft, professional Army, that didn’t cut it. The regular Army soldiers were concerned that the guy he was serving with and possibly fighting with, and depending on, might have been a school bus driver last month. Confidence in your fellow soldier is paramount. That attitude seems to have lessened, if not changed. The reason is simple. Most of the Reserve and National Guard units have been to Iraq on their second or third rotations and they’re now Iraq theater and combat experienced soldiers. They’ve now proven themselves, and with that has come acceptance. It adds to the credence of the Army slogan, “Army of One.”