Maj. David Waldron with Moe Lauzier

Hey good morning welcome to the 7 o'clock segment of editing want to get together moblog here -- you. Every Saturday from six until nine but we -- heat of the day in each and every Saturday at seven we have a special guest from Iraq. I guess as we've been made to David Walden do you think native of Natick Massachusetts today yet Natick high school -- went on to that point he's enacted.

Duty in the US army married had a couple of kids this is his second deployment in Iraq is working with the third infantry division and among his functions in Iraq is facilitating relationship with tribal shakes major wall -- good morning welcome to WRKO. Morning our experiment on my pleasure believe match when I saw you bio said this guy sounds like he's out there doing the actual grunt work in the idea. In the middle of -- does not really paradise at least not by our standards.

Yes to a degree that's one army jobs appear in that division headquarters are trapped so they're relationships between the government -- Iraq primarily residing in international also the green zone and we try to get them out baptism -- helicoptered to diplomacy get them out to see their people. And vice versa -- now that we we arrange for the shakes the tribal leaders to get into the internationals on and -- there elected leaders so pretty interesting process.

That this is something and may be I'm a little slow on the pick up here but I think a lot of us here on the side of the puddle have a difficult time framing and our mind what. The tribes are that we're talking about. -- only think of tribes here we think of native American tribes living in certain reservations and -- that's pretty much a kitten and we think of the of the shakes it probably the chiefs of those tribes and don't want another which we don't know a helluva lot what is the structure within the with within Iraq in terms of tribes and so on.

They're great question. Tribes here obviously stretched back to invest. Mesopotamia biblical times that is the calls are migrants and yeah maybe just a couple years and share their offense that and that is that we didn't understand completely. There are turning out. Back in 2002 before across the border of three we cannot have a great grasp on -- we knew we hear the -- or tribal culture and you might run into any shape or you mom but it's not till now that we have truly grass the power. Of the tribes one we first cross border we thought we could easily stand up and you government one that was loose free of baptists little we know that baptists you know resell it down -- the basic elementary school teacher at a basic fireman or policeman and they weren't bad people they weren't the right hand. Man of Saddam likely spot just are industries when the last year -- realized that the tribal shapes really just the neighborhood that your. Every now and then year romance called up rents are confederation which the largest grouping of strides. They truly control the neighborhoods the family gathering of families and that's who we should be working war. In addition to building the government so it's kind of a two -- thing on the on the right hand or working with a shake asking what they need. From the government from the left and worked on the government with -- need and so it it's a definite work in progress we've seen a lot of security gains over the last year as he developed the program.

No do you get to deal with many of these people one on one do you need interpreter sure there -- a lot of people who do speak English among the Iraqi people.

Yes we always -- with -- observers. Great help obviously our mission would be severely hampered or without them but every now and then the -- that they may be one and six make -- great effort that strategies and English I think we. Same our side those of us and engagement a real baseline of Arabic we have the common terms. For policemen soldier governments basic grasp of numbers how the tribe is is working -- without observers of the very difficult but we're -- that we're trying as we go we're learning their culture and they're definitely -- western culture.

Give -- get an opportunity to build personal relationship with some of these individuals.

We are met it's easy to have more down at the company level between you know lieutenants sergeants captains the divisional level not so much leader not a actually had more interaction with the government ever -- leadership I walked into a -- term and then. International zone they recognized me which is pretty interesting -- were just there to help now but it's great -- to -- company commanders of the captain down on the grounds -- our patrol bases that truly have interactions for example you go the escorted to shake into the international down it was his first ride and helicopter an eighty year old gentlemen. I shake -- want to larger tribes here in southern Baghdad and I've never seen a smile so so big reject get him on the you know. The black cock but it was great to seeing that company commanders -- taken pictures and reassuring them that this is the good.

That he liked it afterward dude with the area the sense of relief when he landed how did you react to just -- of curiosity. If I remember my first all right.

There is straight yet but the wind obviously and yet it take up his travel address discussion in Iraq -- around we made sure protected that's -- rotors which could be a bad thing I don't know I don't know quite wary. Hector yes -- to a wary staring. It's not the average passenger that used to you know up to sixteen soldiers -- earn their full body armor and -- here comes the man of flowing -- quite older than the average soldiers I'll say that we noticed that he there are more of audience to fly over their tribal lands -- what day I -- with each at a command. I'm really at all looking out the windows of the helicopter all the way into Baghdad flying over the city in and we made a point to point out only. Look at all the people walking around look at how the markets are open we don't know. What you -- brothers sang in Baghdad but that's security at best some people out of their markets -- NC the development has gone since we know since 2003 super G giant does not all bad here's what we're trying to do to help you so I think they got a real appreciation of that from the sky.

I guess from Iraq this morning and WRK it was made major David -- he's a local guy a year you're originally from Natick is that correct that's correct Natick high school otherwise known as -- Is that correct.

Yes that's correct I think Ria had an article actually change the name what around 1984 after the capacity at O'Reilly imagine that he -- he'll marry. Baja yeah yeah in Miami at that.

And the new -- on to West Point new have been in the army. For how many years now.

Spoke twelve and a years until I graduate West Point ninety he regrets not at all axis and import time you know nation's history. To proud to underserved so my our commanding general general reckless like to say is give a -- some life to. Read history or make history and we're that would make it Israel it would -- we have on the ground it's if not us who would do it -- the chance to talk to the to the enlisted men and all. Absolutely wanted to get out -- is that the best thing we see division headquarters the option to on this ratios reverse of what it is going to -- outside China to -- them get their -- what's going on what's the reaction to what's going on right now but their -- side when we first got there we are part of the surge started division was division had about 67 weeks to deploy to Iraq as part of the surge when you become so for fifteen months the security gains have been enormous back in April we're averaging about 25 attack today now about it to attack today between two and five and be effective attacks -- in about 20%. So one -- producing about a day. At them actually knock -- and the soldiers seat one of the biggest reasons is part of the circular when not staying on farms have been out with the people we don't cheat don't work and we had just over 53 patrol bases that would choose their houses coalition soldiers. In every now and -- it's a joint stationed at houses Iraqi soldiers so -- right there live with the people they know what the folks need they engage with the shake every single day and the Iraqis are saying were great they were glad that you -- and how long sand and you know how we help you and that's. One of the things that hopefully -- help so they can division level the sound of Iraq program. And I can talk about that a.

It right the sons of Iraq had no I'm not not familiar with that we'll what is that.

The southern Iraq -- an honest concern local citizens some many Iraqis actually developed out in the western province for calmly Sunni Anbar province -- finally Garrett. Sick of out -- heavy handed way aids they skewed sure real -- put a little too much -- pressure on -- down cut off fingers for smoking strict adherence to dress code the way they about the dress -- public hangings and finally that -- try -- out in the west said enough was enough those tribes -- it a cellphone network eventually got to Baghdad and south of Baghdad and our area. They realized they could be the same thing if they part of it -- know the coalition forces they could show us who the insurgents were they could show us where I eased. Or improvised explosive devices are and -- realise after time we could reward them. Department of Defense rewards program or we can pay them and that's what we're doing now very nominal salary while much lower than what an Iraqi policeman who yet. But they're now on the payroll -- about a 160 contracts across our area. They're basically paid to show us where the Baghdad and the word about bombs on the side also on the Barack. Just in the south of Baghdad we have just over 34000 which is quite amazing and they are keep in the streets safe they walked side by side with a soldier's everyday and soldiers love it and they they truly know -- because the Iraqis have volunteered. Northeastern neighborhoods but in effect there's securing Iraqi security forces and the coalition forces really home run program this year.

Well let me ask you give me. We keep hearing in the near the president mention a couple of -- a few days ago that a couple of brigades are coming moments on the is there a point in the future. That you feel comfortable that that that we're really not going to be providing the security for the Iraqi forces I understand we may have a base especially up north but I would guess that's more of a tripwire similar to what we have them and South Korea but do you see it a point where the Iraqi government will be able to operate on its own without us.

Yes I'm -- has an acute even guests at a time and asking for a time limit I mean that was -- that it -- is no way to do that that would think I'm seeing. We're also in positive growth Iraqi security forces by and the government what the search designed that it dues by the government time. To gain security for the government to pass some critical legislation. In order to really so they reconciliation between the Sunni Shiah and even occurred up north is getting there but every week it's seems like lately there's a major vote of our parliament most of parliament is not coming back to work they're ending their -- vote political old boats and we've seen them start to work together alliance with the tribes reconciling city and she is now working together now and that's really this process -- bubbling up from the bottom. I'm not silly top down but I know I general Petraeus. And the ambassador Crocker definitely work and that's -- I think you'll see this is going to be a great year or take a security gains. -- continued forward who is significantly legislation.

Major water and on the security forces in Iraq they integrated McCracken -- breaks down to the platoon level new they integrated with this year and with Sunni with various tribal factions represented and things of this nature.

That's we're trying that's one of the big goals of our program -- to get the -- Iraq into the Iraqi security force infrastructure. And yet the best we can we try to bounce out Sunni -- but then again there are areas you know the majority areas Sunni farmland for example we would like -- get Iraqi police to be Sunni and we are out of the watchdog make sure that's happening -- security force over watching their recruiting program received some gains there the July start to leave that that's the way to go it doesn't need to be mixed everywhere -- Data that you level like you said yes we DC Sunnis and she is now some of Iraq but Iraqi police and army working -- soldiers it's still a great and the city.

Don't take this is an affront freed of the army but the degree by US marine ad that's running recently -- the one of Leo the only the few the proud and eat you concede the the and and I don't think this was done deliberately it within these units but you you concede the you know the different faces of the Marine Corps. That's something that wouldn't have been there prior to world -- prior to Harry Truman integrating the American forces. But I have a funny feeling that you know when when history is written. About this era will will see that the integration of the military and possibly the integration of professional sports opened the door to better understanding ended getting along better on the street level on at home and -- that's happening in Iraq as well I understand it happened on the soccer team the soccer team had Sunnis and Kurds had -- Chia. And they were all -- they were all Iraqis to the entirety of Iraq -- cheering for the Iraqi team regardless of what label that individual may have.

Salute those today a great great -- happen and funny enough clout to enact international I want that happen. And -- we had been warned that in the culture here in many other countries that aren't guns in the hair and a good thing. Brigham and he's not talking about my period and -- ever ever so think that this country.

I heard from a Sargent Donald reached about New Years eve and how they had to hide under desks and BG get India bed because he had no idea where these things are comin' down. Every bully you should opt out hello. And there are almost as lethal coming down and they are going up.

Absolutely that'd be laughing and -- vote won the cultural barriers we try to tell them. That's bad and they don't understand because they only noted kids I don't know -- over break that cultural -- but that that it what was did this. Take the risk -- some bullets appear to gravity for the good of the nation that's great when they have.

Again that was that but that has to be you know -- they're there is something that that could be compared to that's our use of fireworks out here near the private use of fireworks there against the -- just about everywhere yet know round fourth of July there's there -- neighborhood in the United States that doesn't have and going well. So let him I guess we shouldn't be laughing at them for firing their. AK 47 from the year it's a nice thing deceive and cheering when they're shooting rather than trying to kill others kill one another.

Absolutely -- the weapons are used very good reason that day in effect seeing that a lot now the security gains. There were times you can -- camp victory you'd wake up and try to guess which caliber willows and which neighborhood it was coming from a knock on wood we make up now Warner what's going on outside the -- is that it's pretty quiet so it's it's it's great even hear from camp victory.

The the silences -- deafening exactly. My major is your family listening right now.

I said the grandmother Milosevic's Nana over things going well and again uncle in New Hampshire and America to get our you know hopes and I -- my parents and detonate out of Florida but they. They're -- to pick up the -- the sound bite someone on the web there and that this summer when I finally -- leave we hope. And make a road trip of the east coast life. -- Son Andrew daughters make a trip up that the Millicent my grandmother maybe catch a Red Sox game but it tickets and on near possibly get especially since her. Two time world champs and in my age see we.

And their helicopters some of Tehran needs some of the guys who was stationed who who can still live around here there are ways of getting Red Sox tickets -- if you military and I especially if you're coming back from Iraq. And elegant friend who's a marine sergeant and he comes up but he -- a couple of roadside game every year Andean -- in uniform and all the rest -- it's it's doable with what of that like listen -- yeah and if you give this region and you're here on a Saturday morning while to have in studio great. Graham video and anyone who wants to hear rebroadcast of this we will have a on WRKO dot com in the what do we call that the direct. The audio vault I'm sorry can't go to the audio vault. And click on Iraq in the -- electoral -- look forward you'll -- it'll be posted. Sometime this weekend listeners -- producing as the the opportunity -- the time to be able to do we will have opposed to -- it will be there for ever and I mean you will be in Iraq forever but these. The interview will be there major -- thank you very much for being with us this morning thank you for your service god bless you. Please be safe thank you grab me Margaret. And I major Waldman originally of Natick now of Baghdad if you will Dave Walter and and interest and -- hat in. And trying to bring the divorced factions together and to go against Al Qaeda Al Qaeda did not have their best interest in mind. And the message is getting through are able to get back -- called just ahead my name is -- the year this is Boston's talk station -- 680 WRKO