Uneasy quiet on the Iraq front

This could be Robert Trahan's last overseas post.

On Monday Robert Trahan celebrated 20 years in the United States military, although there wasn't too much to celebrate. He is with his unit at Camp Victory, near Baghdad's airport, and he writes by email that "life here has become pretty routine".

The more important anniversary is today, 10 years married to Doreen, and "hopefully it will be the last one I am away for".

Trahan is a combat medic and platoon sergeant from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, whose 256 Battalion of reservists has been called up for a year's tour of duty in Iraq. They arrived "in-country", as they say in the military, last October. Trahan says that despite recruitment being down back in the US, his contingent still expects to leave on schedule.

"No one has mentioned anything about us being extended. We are actually starting to plan for our departure. It is still months away, but logistically it's an awesome undertaking.

"The majority of people in my unit who are approaching the end of their service commitment are re-enlisting. They are doing this with the understanding that they may be back here at some point in the future.

"The mood and morale of the troops is still very good. My guys know their jobs, have adjusted to the routine and know that they are helping people. Most have made a decision to stay in the medical field and continue their education to a higher level. It has been a life-changing experience for many here.

"I have another year-and-a-half on my enlistment but won't make any commitment beyond that at this time.

"This is my second time here already. I will probably retire, let the young guys handle things."

Trahan was in the first Gulf War as a medical logistics officer and arrived in northern Iraq just before the ceasefire when Operation Desert Storm became Operation Provide Comfort. He worked with the Kurdish people for six months and has a good understanding of the knotty politics of Iraq.

Although he rarely ventures beyond Camp Victory, he is aware of what is happening outside the wire from news reports, military papers and from people passing through.

"We may not be out there daily, but others are and they come into the clinic for colds and so on, so we get the latest info on what's happening."

He reports that, based on what he sees at his clinic, coalition casualties are still down and overall the atmosphere is quieter than it was leading up to the elections.

"I went into the Green Zone a fortnight ago, near the US Embassy, so I got to see a lot of downtown Baghdad. We travel with heavy security, but most of the time when I go out it is into rural areas.

"This was my first venture into the city. I got to see a lot of the bomb damage to the Iraqi military-government infrastructure, and we went to the parade field where the crossed sabres are and saw the Iraqi Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

"None of their monuments have been damaged that I could see. The targeting seems to have been military headquarters buildings. The city itself is strewn with trash from end to end. We passed a gas station where the line was incredible. I was told some people wait 20 hours to buy gasoline."

He expresses regret at the death two weeks ago of Italian secret service agent Nicola Calipari, shot by American troops at a checkpoint near Baghdad airport. "But I understand the perspective of the soldiers at the checkpoint ... there are clear guidelines in place for engagement."

There is much Trahan cannot say, yet he candidly talks about changes in the command structure - the 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart in Georgia taking over from the 1st Cavalry Division, which has returned to Fort Hood in Texas - and says he is not surprised that Iraq is not in the international news that much anymore. The war just goes on.

"Now that the elections have been held, there is not that much to report here, until the trials start."

He has a fortnight's leave in May and will go home and take the kids - Dustin, 17, Brittany, 16, and Taylor, 8 - to Disneyworld in Florida and to see his father, Jim.

At the centre of one of the most controversial wars in recent memory, Trahan is like most soldiers - he wants to get the job done and then get home safe. And enjoy the simple things again.

"I'm looking forward to a big juicy steak and an ice-cold beer and to be able to walk around without a uniform and weapon."

* Graham Reid's previous conversations with Robert Trahan were published last October and December and in late January.