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Ñåêðåòíîå ïèñüìî èç Èðàêà

 
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Zabougornov
Äîáðûé Àäìèíèñòðàòîð (èíîãäà)


: 06.03.2005
: 12000
: Îáåð-ãðóïïåí-äîöåíò, ñò. ðóêîâîäèòåëü ãðóïïû ñêîðîñòíûõ ñâèíãåðîâ, îí æå Çàáàøëåâè÷ Îöààò Ïîýëåâè÷

: , 9 2006, 15:17:47     : Ñåêðåòíîå ïèñüìî èç Èðàêà

http://www.inopressa.ru/time/2006/10/09/15:52:12/letter


Ñåêðåòíîå ïèñüìî èç Èðàêà



Ïèñüìî äîìîé ìîðñêîãî ïåõîòèíöà ñ îòêðîâåííûì îïèñàíèåì æèçíè â "Äàíòîâîì àäå" ïóòåøåñòâîâàëî ïî ãåíåðàëüñêèì ïàïêàì äëÿ "âõîäÿùèõ". Ìû ïóáëèêóåì åãî ñ ñîãëàñèÿ àâòîðà.

Ýòîò íåïðèóêðàøåííûé îò÷åò î æèçíè â Èðàêå áûë íàïèñàí â ïðîøëîì ìåñÿöå ìîðñêèì ïåõîòèíöåì è èçíà÷àëüíî ïðåäíàçíà÷àëñÿ óçêîìó êðóãó ðîäíûõ è äðóçåé. Ýòîò ÷åñòíûé, íî èðîíè÷íûé ðàññêàç, íåîáû÷àéíî îòêðîâåííûé ðàçãîâîð î ïðîèñõîäÿùåì ðàçèòåëüíî îòëè÷àåòñÿ îò êàðòèíû, êîòîðóþ â õîäå äåáàòîâ î âîéíå â Èðàêå ðèñóþò îáå ñòîðîíû – è ïåíòàãîíîâñêèå ñïåöèàëèñòû ïî ïèàðó, è èõ íåïðåêëîííûå êðèòèêè. Òàê ÷òî çàêîíîìåðíî è, âîçìîæíî, íåèçáåæíî, ÷òî "Ïèñüìî èç Èðàêà" áûñòðî âûøëî çà ïðåäåëû íåáîëüøîé ãðóïïû çíàêîìûõ è ïîïàëî ê ãåíåðàëàì â îòñòàâêå, ê ïåíòàãîíîâñêèì îôèöåðàì è íà Êàïèòîëèéñêèé õîëì, ê øòàòíûì ñîòðóäíèêàì êîìèòåòîâ êîíãðåññà.

Ñîòðóäíèöà TIME Ñàëëè Äîííåëëè ïåðâûé ðàç ïîëó÷èëà åãî òðè íåäåëè íàçàä, íî òîëüêî íà ýòîé íåäåëå ñìîãëà ðàçûñêàòü àâòîðà è ïðîâåðèòü ïîäëèííîñòü äîêóìåíòà. Àâòîð ïîæåëàë ñîõðàíèòü àíîíèìíîñòü, íî ïîçâîëèë îïóáëèêîâàòü ñâîåé òåêñò ñ íåáîëüøèìè êóïþðàìè.

Âñåì: ÿ íå î÷åíü ìíîãî ïèñàë èç Èðàêà. Òàì íà ñàìîì äåëå íå î ÷åì â îáùåì-òî ïèñàòü. Òî÷íåå, ÿ ìàëî ïðî ÷òî ìîãó ïèñàòü, ïîòîìó ÷òî ïðàêòè÷åñêè âñå, ÷òî ÿ äåëàþ, ÷èòàþ èëè ñëûøó, ÿâëÿåòñÿ ñåêðåòíîé âîåííîé èíôîðìàöèåé èëè äåéñòâóåò íàñòîëüêî óãíåòàþùå, ÷òî ÿ ïðåäïî÷èòàþ íåìåäëåííî çàáûòü îá ýòîì, à óæ íèêàê íå îïèñûâàòü.

Ïðîìåæóòêè çàïîëíåíû ÷èñòåéøåé ñêóêîé ïîâñåäíåâíîé æèçíè â âîåííîì ëàãåðå. Òàê ÷òî ïðèõîäèòñÿ íàïðÿ÷üñÿ, ÷òîáû ïðèäóìàòü, î ÷åì íàïèñàòü, ÷òîáû ïèñüìî çàñëóæèâàëî ïðî÷òåíèÿ. Ñàìîå óæàñíîå, ÷òî ýòî ìåñòî ïðîñòî çàñàñûâàåò òåáÿ. ß ðàáîòàþ ïî 18-20 ÷àñîâ â äåíü, êàæäûé äåíü. Ïîïûòêè íàðèñîâàòü ÿñíóþ êàðòèíó òîãî, ÷òî çàäóìûâàþò ïîâñòàíöû, ïðîäîëæàþòñÿ áåñêîíå÷íî. Ïðîáëåìû è êîíôëèêòû âîçíèêàþò áûñòðåå, ÷åì íàõîäÿòñÿ ðåøåíèÿ. Íà êàæäûé íîâûé âûçîâ íóæíî èñêàòü îòâåò. È òàê êàæäûé äåíü. Ïðåæäå ÷åì ÿ îòäàþ ñåáå â ýòîì îò÷åò, ó ìåíÿ âñå íà÷èíàåò ïëûòü ïåðåä ãëàçàìè, ïîòîìó ÷òî ñåé÷àñ 4 ÷àñà óòðà è ÿ ðàáîòàë 20 ÷àñîâ ïîäðÿä, â î÷åðåäíîé ðàç êàêèì-òî îáðàçîì ïðîïóñòèâ îáåä. È îïÿòü ÿ íèêîìó íå íàïèñàë. À ñïóñòÿ ÷åòûðå ÷àñà âñå íà÷èíàåòñÿ ïî íîâîé. Ýòî íå î÷åíü ïîõîæå íà "Äåíü ñóðêà" – ñêîðåå íà î÷åðåäíîé êðóã Äàíòîâîãî àäà.

Âìåñòî òîãî, ÷òîáû ïûòàòüñÿ ïîäâåñòè èòîã ïîñëåäíèõ ñåìè ìåñÿöåâ, ÿ ïîäóìàë, ÷òî ëó÷øå ðàññêàæó î íàèáîëåå ÿðêèõ ìîìåíòàõ 2006 ãîäà â Èðàêå. Âîò êàêèå ñîáûòèÿ è âïå÷àòëåíèÿ ìíå çàïîìíèëèñü ëó÷øå âñåãî.

Ñàìûé óæàñíûé ñëó÷àé "äåæà âþ". ß äóìàë, ÷òî ÷óâñòâî "äåæà âþ" ìíå çíàêîìî, ïîêà íå âåðíóëñÿ ñþäà, â Ôàëóäæó, â ôåâðàëå.  òî ìãíîâåíèå, êîãäà ÿ ñîøåë ñ âåðòîëåòà, â ïåðâûå ìèíóòû ðàññâåòà, è óâèäåë ëàãåðü òî÷íî òàêèì æå, êàêèì îí áûë çà äåñÿòü ìåñÿöåâ äî ýòîãî – âîò ýòî áûëî íàñòîÿùåå "äåæà âþ". Äîâîëüíî ðàçäðàæàþùåå. Êàê áóäòî ÿ è íå óåçæàë. Òî æå ðàáî÷åå ìåñòî, òîò æå ïîëîìàííûé ïèñüìåííûé ñòîë, òî æå ñòóë, òîò æå êîìïüþòåð, òà æå êîìíàòà, òà æå ñêðèïó÷àÿ ìåáåëü, òî æå... âñå. Âñå òî æå ñàìîå, òîëüêî ãîä äðóãîé. Ýòî áûëà êàêàÿ-òî ïàðàëëåëüíàÿ âñåëåííàÿ. Äîì áûë íå çà 10 òûñ. ìèëü îòñþäà, îí áûë âîîáùå â äðóãîé æèçíè.

Ñàìûé ñþððåàëèñòè÷åñêèé ìîìåíò. Êîãäà ÿ ñìîòðåë íà ìîðïåõîâ, ïðèáûâøèõ ê ìîåìó ïóíêòó ñîäåðæàíèÿ çàäåðæàííûõ è âûãðóæàþùèõ öåëûõ ãðóçîâèê ëèëèïóòîâ â íàðó÷íèêàõ. 26 ÷åëîâåê, åñëè áûòü òî÷íûì. Óòðîì â òîò äåíü ìû ñîîáùèëè ìîðïåõàì â Ôàëóäæå, ÷òî èùåì "ïëîõîãî ïàðíÿ", êîòîðûé, ïî îïèñàíèÿì, î÷åíü ìàëåíüêîãî ðîñòà. ß-òî íå çíàë, ÷òî â Ôàëóäæå æèâåò öåëàÿ êîëîíèÿ êàðëèêîâ, êîòîðûå äåðæàòñÿ âìåñòå, ïîòîìó ÷òî èõ ñ÷èòàþò èçãîÿìè îáùåñòâà. Ìîðïåõè òîðîïèëèñü ïîñêîðåå âåðíóòüñÿ â êîëîíèþ è ïðèâåçòè âñåõ îñòàëüíûõ ïîäîçðåâàåìûõ, íî ÿ îòìåíèë îïåðàöèþ, ðåøèâ, ÷òî "ïëîõîé ïàðåíü" äàâíî óáåæàë íà êîðîòêèõ íîæêàõ, óâèäåâ ñâîèõ òîâàðèùåé â îêðóæåíèè âåëèêàíîâ-íåâåðíûõ.

Ñàìûé ãëóáîêîìûñëåííûé ÷åëîâåê â Èðàêå. Íåèçâåñòíûé ôåðìåð â î÷åíü îòäàëåííîì ðàéîíå, êîòîðûé, êîãäà ìîðïåõè-ðàçâåä÷èêè ñïðîñèëè åãî, âèäåë ëè îí â ýòîì ðàéîíå êàêèõ-íèáóäü èíîñòðàííûõ áîéöîâ, îòâåòèë: "Äà, âàñ".

Ñàìûé óæàñíûé ãîðîä â ïðîâèíöèè Àëü-Àíáàð. Ýòî ëåãêî – Ðàìàäè. Ñòîëèöà ïðîâèíöèè ñ íàñåëåíèåì 400 òûñ. ÷åëîâåê. Ìíîãî-ìíîãî ïîâñòàíöåâ áûëè óáèòû çäåñü ñ òåõ ïîð, êàê ìû ïðèáûëè ñþäà â ôåâðàëå. Êàæäûé äåíü ïðîèñõîäèò ñêâåðíàÿ ïåðåñòðåëêà. Îíè óáèâàþò íàñ ñ ïîìîùüþ ãèãàíòñêèõ áîìá íà äîðîãàõ, ñ ïîìîùüþ ñíàéïåðîâ, ìèíîìåòîâ è ñòðåëêîâîãî îðóæèÿ. Ìû óáèâàåì èõ ñ ïîìîùüþ òàíêîâ, àòàêóåì âåðòîëåòàìè, àðòèëëåðèåé, óáèâàåì ñ ïîìîùüþ íàøèõ ñíàéïåðîâ (êîòîðûå ñòðåëÿþò ãîðàçäî ëó÷øå, ÷åì èõ) è ëþáûì îðóæèåì, êîòîðîå ìîæåò íåñòè ïåõîòèíåö. È òàê êàæäûé äåíü. Íåâåðîÿòíî, íî ÿ ðåäêî âèæó Ðàìàäè â íîâîñòÿõ. Íà íàñ çäåñü, íà çàïàäå, íàïàäàþò íå ìåíüøå, ÷åì â Áàãäàäå. Äà, â Áàãäàäå 7 ìèëëèîíîâ íàñåëåíèÿ, à ó íàñ òóò òîëüêî 1,2 ìèëëèîíà.  ïåðåñ÷åòå íà äóøó íàñåëåíèÿ Àëü-Àíáàð – ìåñòî ñàìîãî îæåñòî÷åííîãî íàñèëèÿ â Èðàêå, ïðåâîñõîäÿùåå äðóãèå ìåñòà ïî ýòîìó ïðèçíàêó íà íåñêîëüêî ïîðÿäêîâ. ß äóìàþ, íåñëó÷àéíî ìîðïåõîâ ïîñëàëè â 2003 ãîäó èìåííî ñþäà.

Ñàìûé õðàáðûé ïàðåíü â ïðîâèíöèè Àëü-Àíáàð. Ëþáîé òåõíèê ïî îáåçâðåæèâàíèþ íåðàçîðâàâøèõñÿ áîåïðèïàñîâ. Êàê âàì íðàâèòñÿ ðàáîòåíêà, êîòîðàÿ òðåáóåò îò âàñ îáåçâðåæèâàòü â ÿìå ïîñðåäè äîðîãè áîìáû, êîòîðûå, âåñüìà âîçìîæíî, çàìèíèðîâàíû èëè ñâÿçàíû ïðîâîäêîì ñ "ïëîõèì ïàðíåì", êîòîðûé òîëüêî è æäåò, êîãäà âû ïîäîéäåòå ïîáëèæå ê áîìáå, ÷òîáû íàæàòü íà äåòîíàòîð? È òàê êàæäûé äåíü. Àññåíèçàòîðàì â Íüþ-Éîðêå ïëàòÿò áîëüøå, ÷åì ýòèì ðåáÿòàì. Âîò è ãîâîðèòå ïîñëå ýòîãî î ìóæåñòâå è ïðåäàííîñòè.

Âòîðîé ñàìûé õðàáðûé ïàðåíü â ïðîâèíöèè Àëü-Àíáàð. Ïðèç ïîëó÷àþò 20 òûñ. ìîðïåõîâ è ñîëäàò, êîòîðûå êàæäûé äåíü âûõîäÿò íà äîðîãè è â ãîðîäà Àëü-Àíáàðà, íå çíàÿ, áóäåò ëè ýòîò äåíü äëÿ íèõ ïîñëåäíèì. Äëÿ îäíîãî-äâóõ èç íèõ îí òàêè áóäåò ïîñëåäíèì.

Õóäøåå ýëåêòðîííîå ïèñüìî. "Ïåðåäâèæíîé áàíê êðîâè íóæäàåòñÿ â êðîâè II ãðóïïû, ðåçóñ-ïîëîæèòåëüíîé". ß âñåãäà ñïóñêàþñü â îïåðàöèîííûé áëîê, êîãäà ïîëó÷àþ òàêèå ïèñüìà, íî êðîâü íèêîãäà íå ñäàþ – òàì âñåãäà, äíåì è íî÷üþ, óæå æäóò ñâîåé î÷åðåäè îêîëî 80 ìîðïåõîâ.

Ñàìûé áîëüøîé ñþðïðèç. Èðàêñêàÿ ïîëèöèÿ. Âñå ìåñòíûå ðåáÿòà. ß íèêîãäà íå ïðåäñòàâëÿë ñåáå, ÷òî ìû ïîëó÷èì äåéñòâóþùóþ ïîëèöèþ â ãîðîäàõ Àëü-Àíáàðà. ß ñ÷èòàë, ÷òî ïîâñòàíöû óáüþò ïåðâûõ îòâàæèâøèõñÿ è ýòèì îòïóãíóò âñåõ îñòàëüíûõ. Íó, ïîâñòàíöû äåéñòâèòåëüíî óáèëè ïåðâûõ ñìåëü÷àêîâ, íî ëþäè ïðîäîëæàëè çàïèñûâàòüñÿ â êîïû. Ïîâñòàíöû ïðîäîëæàþò óíè÷òîæàòü ïîëèöåéñêèõ, óáèâàÿ èõ â èõ äîìàõ è íà óëèöàõ, íî êîïû íå ñäàþòñÿ. Àáñîëþòíî ôàíòàñòè÷åñêàÿ ñòîéêîñòü. Ïîâñòàíöû çíàþò, ÷òî ïîëèöèÿ óìååò íàõîäèòü èõ ãîðàçäî ëó÷øå, ÷åì ìû, è äåéñòâèòåëüíî íàõîäèò. Åñëè áû òîëüêî íàì óäàëîñü îòó÷èòü èõ îò ïðèâû÷êè èçáèâàòü çàêëþ÷åííûõ äî ñîñòîÿíèÿ ïþðå...

Ñàìîå áîëüøîå óäîâëåòâîðåíèå. Çàïàñòèñü ÷óäîâèùíûì êîëè÷åñòâîì äèåòè÷åñêîé Êîëû èç àðìåéñêîé ñòîëîâîé, íåñìîòðÿ íà ïðåçðèòåëüíîå îòíîøåíèå ìîèõ ëþäåé ê òàêîìó ñêîïèäîìñòâó, íåçàäîëãî äî òîãî, êàê 122-ìèëëèìåòðîâàÿ ðàêåòà âçîðâàëàñü îêîëî ãèãàíòñêîãî òðàíñïîðòíîãî êîíòåéíåðà, ãäå áûëà âñÿ ãàçèðîâêà äëÿ ñòîëîâîé. Äà, îïûò íå ïðîïüåøü.

Ñàìàÿ áîëüøàÿ çàãàäêà. Êàê íåêîòîðûå ëþäè óìóäðÿòüñÿ òóò ïîòîëñòåòü. ß óñîõ äî 165 ôóíòîâ (ïðèìåðíî 75 êã. – Ïðèì. ïåðåâ.). Ó êîãî íàõîäèòñÿ âðåìÿ, ÷òîáû åñòü?

Âòîðàÿ ñàìàÿ áîëüøàÿ çàãàäêà. Åñëè â îêîïàõ íå áûâàåò àòåèñòîâ, òî ïî÷åìó íà âîñêðåñíîé ñëóæáå òàê ìàëî íàðîäó?

Ëþáèìîå òåëåøîó èðàêöåâ. Îïðà. Íå çíàþ ïî÷åìó. Ó íèõ åñòü âñå ñïóòíèêîâûå êàíàëû.

Ñàìûé äåðçêèé ïîñòóïîê ïîâñòàíöåâ. Îíè óêðàëè ïî÷òè 7 ìëí äîëëàðîâ èç öåíòðàëüíîãî áàíêà â Ðàìàäè ñðåäè áåëà äíÿ, à âûéäÿ îòòóäà, ïîìàõàëè ðó÷êîé ìîðïåõàì íà áëîê-ïîñòó ïðÿìî ðÿäîì ñ áàíêîì; ìîðïåõè ïîíÿòèÿ íå èìåëè î òîì, ÷òî ïðîèñõîäèò, è ïîìàõàëè â îòâåò. Èçóìèòåëüíî.

Ñàìàÿ ïàìÿòíàÿ ñöåíà. Ïîñðåäè íî÷è íà ïûëüíîì ëåòíîì ïîëå ÿ íàáëþäàë áîëüøóþ ÷àñòü áàòàëüîíà ìîðñêèõ ïåõîòèíöåâ, êîòîðûå ñîáðàëè ñâîè âåùè è áûëè ãîòîâû îòïðàâèòüñÿ äîìîé ïîñëå øåñòè ìåñÿöåâ ïðåáûâàíèÿ â Àëü-Àíáàðå; îáëåã÷åíèå íà èõ ìîëîäûõ ëèöàõ ÷èòàëîñü äàæå ïðè ñâåòå ëóíû. À ïîòîì ÿ âèäåë, êàê òå æå ñàìûå ìîðïåõè îáìåíèâàëèñü âçãëÿäàìè ñ òàêèì æå êîëè÷åñòâîì âûãðóæàþùèõñÿ ïåõîòèíöåâ – ñî ñâîåé ñìåíîé. Íè÷åãî íå áûëî ñêàçàíî. Íè÷åãî è íå íóæíî áûëî ãîâîðèòü.

Ïîäðàçäåëåíèå ñ ñàìûì âûñîêèì óðîâíåì ïðîäëåíèÿ êîíòðàêòîâ. Ëþáàÿ ÷àñòü, êîòîðàÿ â ïîñëåäíåå âðåìÿ ïîáûâàëà â Èðàêå. Âñå îïàñíîñòè, âñå òÿãîòû, âñå âðåìÿ, ïðîâåäåííîå âäàëè îò äîìà, âåñü óæàñ è âñå ðàçî÷àðîâàíèå òåì, êàê çäåñü èäåò áîðüáà, – âñå ýòî îêàçûâàåòñÿ áåññèëüíî ïåðåä æåëàíèåì ìîëîäûõ ëþäåé áûòü ÷àñòüþ áðàòñòâà, ãäå âñå ãîòîâû ïîãèáíóòü äðóã çà äðóãà. Îíè íàøëè çäåñü òî, ÷åãî èñêàëè, îòïðàâëÿÿñü â àðìèþ ïîñëå øêîëû. Ó íèõ òåïåðü áîëüøå áîåâîãî îïûòà, ÷åì ó ëþáûõ äðóãèõ ìîðïåõîâ â íàøèõ âîéñêàõ.

Ñàìàÿ óäèâèòåëüíàÿ âåùü, ïî êîòîðîé ÿ íå ñêó÷àþ. Ïèâî. Ìîæåò áûòü, ëåãêîå îïüÿíåíèå, âûçâàííîå íåäîñòàòêîì ñíà, êîìïåíñèðóåò åãî îòñóòñòâèå.

Ñàìûé æóòêèé çàïàõ. Ìîáèëüíûå òóàëåòû íà 120-ãðàäóñíîé æàðå. Ïðè ýòîì 120 ãðàäóñîâ ñíàðóæè òóàëåòà.

Ñàìàÿ âûñîêàÿ òåìïåðàòóðà. ß òî÷íî íå çíàþ, êàêàÿ, íî âíóòðè òóàëåòíûõ êàáèíîê. Ìíå ïðèõîäèëîñü ïèòü ïîñëå êàæäîãî ïîõîäà íà î÷êî.

Ñàìûé áîëüøîé ãåìîððîé. Âûñîêîïîñòàâëåííûå âèçèòåðû. Áîëüøå ìåøàþò ðàáîòå, ÷åì ðàêåòíàÿ àòàêà. VIP-ïåðñîíû òðåáóþò êîììåíòàðèåâ è ïîåçäîê ïî "áîåâûì ìåñòàì" (ìû âîçèì èõ â òèõèå ðàéîíû Ôàëóäæè, ÷òî óæå è òàê ïóãàåò èõ äî ñìåðòè). Íàøè ïîÿñíåíèÿ è êîììåíòàðèè, ïîõîæå, íèêàê íå âëèÿþò íà èõ çàðàíåå ñëîæèâøèåñÿ ïîíÿòèÿ î òîì, ÷òî ïðîèñõîäèò â Èðàêå. Èõ ïîåçäêè ïîçâîëÿþò èì ãîâîðèòü, ÷òî îíè áûëè â Ôàëóäæå, áëàãîäàðÿ ÷åìó îíè, ê íåñ÷àñòüþ, ïîëó÷àþò íåçàñëóæåííûé êðåäèò äîâåðèÿ è ìîãóò áåñêîíå÷íî òàëäû÷èòü ñâîè ôàíòàçèè î çäåøíåì ïîâñòàí÷åñêîì äâèæåíèè.

Ñàìîå âîçìóòèòåëüíîå. Ïî÷òè âñå, ÷òî "ãîâîðÿùèå ãîëîâû" â òåëåâèçîðå ãîâîðÿò î âîéíå â Èðàêå, è ýòî ïðè òîì, ÷òî ìíå íå ÷àñòî ñëó÷àåòñÿ ñìîòðåòü òåëåâèçîð. Èõ ìíåíèÿ ïîñòîÿííî îòëè÷àþòñÿ îäíîâðåìåííî ÷óäîâèùíûì óïðîùåí÷åñòâîì è ïîëèòè÷åñêîé òåíäåíöèîçíîñòüþ. Ñàìûé âîïèþùèé ñëó÷àé – Áèëë Î'Ðåéëè.

Ñàìûé áîëüøîé óñïåõ ðàçâåäêè. Êîãäà íàøëè ïîõèòèòåëåé Äæèìà Êýððîëëà – âñåõ. ß áûë ñòðàøíî ãîðä çà ñâîèõ ðåáÿò â òîò äåíü. ß äóìàë, ÷òî ïîñëå ýòîãî ìû âñå ïîëó÷èì áåñïëàòíî â ãîñòè Christian Science Monitor, íî äî ñèõ ïîð íèêòî íå îáúÿâëÿëñÿ.

Ñàìûé ïå÷àëüíûé ìîìåíò. Êîãäà êîìàíäóþùèé ïåõîòíûì áàòàëüîíîì ïåðåäàë ìíå æåòîíû îäíîãî èç ìîèõ ìîðïåõîâ, êîòîðîãî òîëüêî ÷òî óáèëè âî âðåìÿ âûïîëíåíèÿ çàäàíèÿ.  íåãî ïîïàëè èç 60-ìèëëèìåòðîâîãî ìèíîìåòà. Îí áûë îòëè÷íûé ìîðïåõ. ß äîëãî ïîñëå ýòîãî ÷óâñòâîâàë ñåáÿ ðàçäàâëåííûì. Åãî ïîðòðåò òåïåðü âèñèò ó âõîäà â íàø áëîê. Ìû âîçüìåì åãî ñ ñîáîé, êîãäà áóäåì óåçæàòü â ôåâðàëå.

Ñàìûé ÿðêèé ýïèçîä à-ëÿ ×àê Íîððèñ. 13 ìàÿ. "Ïëîõèå ïàðíè" ÿâèëèñü â àäìèíèñòðàòèâíûé öåíòð ìàëåíüêîãî ãîðîäêà, ÷òîáû ïîõèòèòü ìýðà, ïîñêîëüêó îíè íå ïåðåíîñÿò íèêàêîé ôîðìû ïðàâëåíèÿ, êîòîðàÿ íå ïðåäóñìàòðèâàåò ðåãóëÿðíûå îáåçãëàâëèâàíèÿ è æåíùèí â ïàðàíäæå. Èõ áûëî ñåìåðî. Êîãäà îíè âûâåëè ìýðà, íàìåðåâàÿñü çàïèõíóòü åãî â ãðóçîâèê è îòâåçòè êóäà-íèáóäü, ÷òîáû îòðóáèòü ãîëîâó (êàê îáû÷íî, ïîä çàïèñü íà âèäåî), îäèí èç "ïëîõèõ ïàðíåé" ïîëîæèë ñâîé àâòîìàò, ÷òîáû ñâÿçàòü ìýðó ðóêè. Ìýð âîñïîëüçîâàëñÿ ñëó÷àåì, ÷òîáû ñõâàòèòü àâòîìàò è ïðèøèòü ïÿòü ïëîõèõ ïàðíåé. Äâîå îñòàâøèõñÿ óáåæàëè. Îäèí èç óáèòûõ áûë â íàøåé òîï-äâàäöàòêå ñàìûõ ðàçûñêèâàåìûõ. Âîò è ãîâîðèòå, ÷òî ñ ãîðîäñêèì ñîâåòîì íå ïîâîþåøü.

Ñàìûé óæàñíûé çâóê. Îòäàëåííûé òðåñê è áóì, îçíà÷àþùèå, ÷òî òîëüêî ÷òî âçîðâàëîñü ñàìîäåëüíîå âçðûâíîå óñòðîéñòâî èëè ìèíà. Òû ñïðàøèâàåøü ñåáÿ, â êîãî ïîïàëî, è íàäååøüñÿ, ÷òî ýòî âñå-òàêè áûëî áëèçêî, íî ìèìî, à íå ïðÿìîå ïîïàäàíèå. Ñëûøó ýòîò çâóê ïðàêòè÷åñêè êàæäûé äåíü.

Âòîðîé ñàìûé óæàñíûé çâóê. Êîãäà íàøà àðòèëëåðèÿ ñòðåëÿåò áåç ïðåäóïðåæäåíèÿ. Íàøè ãàóáèöû ðàñïîëîæåíû äîâîëüíî áëèçêî îò òîãî ìåñòà, ãäå ÿ ðàáîòàþ. Ïîâåðüòå ìíå, óëåòàþùèå ñíàðÿäû çâó÷àò î÷åíü ïîõîæå íà ïðèëåòàþùèå, êîãäà íàøè îðóäèÿ áüþò ïðÿìî ó íàñ íàä ãîëîâîé. Îùóùåíèå òàêîå, ÷òî ó òåáÿ èç çóáîâ âûëåòàþò ïëîìáû.

Åäèíñòâåííàÿ âåùü, êîòîðàÿ â Èðàêå ëó÷øå, ÷åì â ÑØÀ. Çàêàòû. Ïîòðÿñàþùèå. Ýòî èç-çà îãðîìíîãî êîëè÷åñòâà ïûëè â âîçäóõå.

Ìîìåíò, êîòîðûì ÿ áîëüøå âñåãî ãîðæóñü. Îíè ñëó÷àþòñÿ êàæäûé äåíü, êîãäà ÿ âèæó, êàê íàøè ìîðïåõè ïîëó÷àþò ôåíîìåíàëüíûå ðàçâåääàííûå, êîòîðûå â î÷åíü áîëüøîé ñòåïåíè ñðûâàþò îïåðàöèè "ïëîõèõ ïàðíåé" â Àëü-Àíáàðå. Êàæäóþ íî÷ü ìîðïåõè è ñîëäàòû ðàñïàõèâàþò äâåðè è õâàòàþò "ïëîõèõ ïàðíåé" íà îñíîâàíèè äàííûõ ðàçâåäêè, ïîëó÷åííûõ íàøèìè ïàðíÿìè. Ìû ðåäêî òåðÿåì íàøèõ ëþäåé âî âðåìÿ òàêèõ ðåéäîâ, ïîòîìó ÷òî îíè ïðåêðàñíî îñâåäîìëåíû î ñâîåé çàäà÷å. Ãîðñòêè äåòåé òîëüêî ÷òî ñî øêîëüíîé ñêàìüè íå ìîãóò ðàáîòàòü òàê õîðîøî, íî îíè ýòî äåëàþò.

Ñàìûé ñ÷àñòëèâûé ìîìåíò. Íó, ýòî áûëî íå â Èðàêå. Òàì íåò ïî-íàñòîÿùåìó ñ÷àñòëèâûõ ìîìåíòîâ. Ýòî áûëî â Êàëèôîðíèè, êîãäà ÿ ñìîã ñíîâà îáíÿòü ñâîþ ñåìüþ âî âðåìÿ îòïóñêà â èþëå.

Ñàìàÿ ÷àñòàÿ ìûñëü. Î äîìå. Ïîñòîÿííî äóìàþ î äîìå, î ìîåé ÷óäåñíîé æåíå è ðåáÿòàõ. Äóìàþ, êàê ïîæèâàþò âñå îñòàëüíûå. Æàëåþ, ÷òî ìàëî ïèøó.  îáùåì, âñåãäà äóìàþ î äîìå.

Íàäåþñü, ó âàñ âñå â ïîðÿäêå. Åñëè õîòèòå ñäåëàòü äëÿ ìåíÿ ÷òî-íèáóäü, ïîöåëóéòå êîïà, ñïóñòèòå âîäó â òóàëåòå è âûïåéòå ïèâà. ß ïîñòàðàþñü â ñêîðîì âðåìåíè íàïèñàòü åùå – îáåùàþ.
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A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
Zabougornov
Äîáðûé Àäìèíèñòðàòîð (èíîãäà)


: 06.03.2005
: 12000
: Îáåð-ãðóïïåí-äîöåíò, ñò. ðóêîâîäèòåëü ãðóïïû ñêîðîñòíûõ ñâèíãåðîâ, îí æå Çàáàøëåâè÷ Îöààò Ïîýëåâè÷

: , 9 2006, 15:20:41     :

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1543658,00.html

The Secret Letter From Iraq

Posted Friday, Oct. 06, 2006

Written last month, this straightforward account of life in Iraq by a Marine officer was initially sent just to a small group of family and friends. His honest but wry narration and unusually frank dissection of the mission contrasts sharply with the story presented by both sides of the Iraq war debate, the Pentagon spin masters and fierce critics. Perhaps inevitably, the "Letter from Iraq" moved quickly beyond the small group of acquantainaces and hit the inboxes of retired generals, officers in the Pentagon, and staffers on Capitol Hill. TIME's Sally B. Donnelly first received a copy three weeks ago but only this week was able to track down the author and verify the document's authenticity. The author wishes to remain anonymous but has allowed us to publish it here — with a few judicious omissions.

All: I haven't written very much from Iraq. There's really not much to write about. More exactly, there's not much I can write about because practically everything I do, read or hear is classified military information or is depressing to the point that I'd rather just forget about it, never mind write about it. The gaps in between all of that are filled with the pure tedium of daily life in an armed camp. So it's a bit of a struggle to think of anything to put into a letter that's worth reading. Worse, this place just consumes you. I work 18-20-hour days, every day. The quest to draw a clear picture of what the insurgents are up to never ends. Problems and frictions crop up faster than solutions. Every challenge demands a response. It's like this every day. Before I know it, I can't see straight, because it's 0400 and I've been at work for 20 hours straight, somehow missing dinner again in the process. And once again I haven't written to anyone. It starts all over again four hours later. It's not really like Ground Hog Day, it's more like a level from Dante's Inferno.

Rather than attempting to sum up the last seven months, I figured I'd just hit the record-setting highlights of 2006 in Iraq. These are among the events and experiences I'll remember best.

Worst Case of Déjà Vu — I thought I was familiar with the feeling of déjà vu until I arrived back here in Fallujah in February. The moment I stepped off of the helicopter, just as dawn broke, and saw the camp just as I had left it ten months before — that was déjà vu. Kind of unnerving. It was as if I had never left. Same work area, same busted desk, same chair, same computer, same room, same creaky rack, same... everything. Same everything for the next year. It was like entering a parallel universe. Home wasn't 10,000 miles away, it was a different lifetime.

Most Surreal Moment — Watching Marines arrive at my detention facility and unload a truck load of flex-cuffed midgets. 26 to be exact. We had put the word out earlier in the day to the Marines in Fallujah that we were looking for Bad Guy X, who was described as a midget. Little did I know that Fallujah was home to a small community of midgets, who banded together for support since they were considered as social outcasts. The Marines were anxious to get back to the midget colony to bring in the rest of the midget suspects, but I called off the search, figuring Bad Guy X was long gone on his short legs after seeing his companions rounded up by the giant infidels.

Most Profound Man in Iraq — an unidentified farmer in a fairly remote area who, after being asked by Reconnaissance Marines if he had seen any foreign fighters in the area replied "Yes, you."

Worst City in al-Anbar Province — Ramadi, hands down. The provincial capital of 400,000 people. Lots and lots of insurgents killed in there since we arrived in February. Every day is a nasty gun battle. They blast us with giant bombs in the road, snipers, mortars and small arms. We blast them with tanks, attack helicopters, artillery, our snipers (much better than theirs), and every weapon that an infantryman can carry. Every day. Incredibly, I rarely see Ramadi in the news. We have as many attacks out here in the west as Baghdad. Yet, Baghdad has 7 million people, we have just 1.2 million. Per capita, al-Anbar province is the most violent place in Iraq by several orders of magnitude. I suppose it was no accident that the Marines were assigned this area in 2003.

Bravest Guy in al-Anbar Province — Any Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (EOD Tech). How'd you like a job that required you to defuse bombs in a hole in the middle of the road that very likely are booby-trapped or connected by wire to a bad guy who's just waiting for you to get close to the bomb before he clicks the detonator? Every day. Sanitation workers in New York City get paid more than these guys. Talk about courage and commitment.

Second Bravest Guy in al-Anbar Province — It's a 20,000-way tie among all these Marines and Soldiers who venture out on the highways and through the towns of al-Anbar every day, not knowing if it will be their last — and for a couple of them, it will be.

Worst E-Mail Message — "The Walking Blood Bank is Activated. We need blood type A+ stat." I always head down to the surgical unit as soon as I get these messages, but I never give blood — there's always about 80 Marines in line, night or day.

Biggest Surprise — Iraqi Police. All local guys. I never figured that we'd get a police force established in the cities in al-Anbar. I estimated that insurgents would kill the first few, scaring off the rest. Well, insurgents did kill the first few, but the cops kept on coming. The insurgents continue to target the police, killing them in their homes and on the streets, but the cops won't give up. Absolutely incredible tenacity. The insurgents know that the police are far better at finding them than we are — and they are finding them. Now, if we could just get them out of the habit of beating prisoners to a pulp...

Greatest Vindication — Stocking up on outrageous quantities of Diet Coke from the chow hall in spite of the derision from my men on such hoarding, then having a 122mm rocket blast apart the giant shipping container that held all of the soda for the chow hall. Yep, you can't buy experience.

Biggest Mystery — How some people can gain weight out here. I'm down to 165 lbs. Who has time to eat?

Second Biggest Mystery — if there's no atheists in foxholes, then why aren't there more people at Mass every Sunday?

Favorite Iraqi TV Show — Oprah. I have no idea. They all have satellite TV.

Coolest Insurgent Act — Stealing almost $7 million from the main bank in Ramadi in broad daylight, then, upon exiting, waving to the Marines in the combat outpost right next to the bank, who had no clue of what was going on. The Marines waved back. Too cool.

Most Memorable Scene — In the middle of the night, on a dusty airfield, watching the better part of a battalion of Marines packed up and ready to go home after over six months in al-Anbar, the relief etched in their young faces even in the moonlight. Then watching these same Marines exchange glances with a similar number of grunts loaded down with gear file past — their replacements. Nothing was said. Nothing needed to be said.

Highest Unit Re-enlistment Rate — Any outfit that has been in Iraq recently. All the danger, all the hardship, all the time away from home, all the horror, all the frustrations with the fight here — all are outweighed by the desire for young men to be part of a band of brothers who will die for one another. They found what they were looking for when they enlisted out of high school. Man for man, they now have more combat experience than any Marines in the history of our Corps.

Most Surprising Thing I Don't Miss — Beer. Perhaps being half-stunned by lack of sleep makes up for it.

Worst Smell — Porta-johns in 120-degree heat — and that's 120 degrees outside of the porta-john.

Highest Temperature — I don't know exactly, but it was in the porta-johns. Needed to re-hydrate after each trip to the loo.

Biggest Hassle — High-ranking visitors. More disruptive to work than a rocket attack. VIPs demand briefs and "battlefield" tours (we take them to quiet sections of Fallujah, which is plenty scary for them). Our briefs and commentary seem to have no effect on their preconceived notions of what's going on in Iraq. Their trips allow them to say that they've been to Fallujah, which gives them an unfortunate degree of credibility in perpetuating their fantasies about the insurgency here.

Biggest Outrage — Practically anything said by talking heads on TV about the war in Iraq, not that I get to watch much TV. Their thoughts are consistently both grossly simplistic and politically slanted. Biggest Offender: Bill O'Reilly.

Best Intel Work — Finding Jill Carroll's kidnappers — all of them. I was mighty proud of my guys that day. I figured we'd all get the Christian Science Monitor for free after this, but none have showed up yet.

Saddest Moment — Having an infantry battalion commander hand me the dog tags of one of my Marines who had just been killed while on a mission with his unit. Hit by a 60mm mortar. He was a great Marine. I felt crushed for a long time afterward. His picture now hangs at the entrance to our section area. We'll carry it home with us when we leave in February.

Best Chuck Norris Moment — 13 May. Bad Guys arrived at the government center in a small town to kidnap the mayor, since they have a problem with any form of government that does not include regular beheadings and women wearing burqahs. There were seven of them. As they brought the mayor out to put him in a pick-up truck to take him off to be beheaded (on video, as usual), one of the Bad Guys put down his machine gun so that he could tie the mayor's hands. The mayor took the opportunity to pick up the machine gun and drill five of the Bad Guys. The other two ran away. One of the dead Bad Guys was on our top twenty wanted list. Like they say, you can't fight City Hall.

Worst Sound — That crack-boom off in the distance that means an IED or mine just went off. You just wonder who got it, hoping that it was a near miss rather than a direct hit. Hear it practically every day.

Second Worst Sound — Our artillery firing without warning. The howitzers are pretty close to where I work. Believe me, outgoing sounds a lot like incoming when our guns are firing right over our heads. They'd about knock the fillings out of your teeth.

Only Thing Better in Iraq Than in the U.S. — Sunsets. Spectacular. It's from all the dust in the air.

Proudest Moment — It's a tie every day, watching our Marines produce phenomenal intelligence products that go pretty far in teasing apart Bad Guy operations in al-Anbar. Every night Marines and Soldiers are kicking in doors and grabbing Bad Guys based on intelligence developed by our guys. We rarely lose a Marine during these raids, they are so well-informed of the objective. A bunch of kids right out of high school shouldn't be able to work so well, but they do.

Happiest Moment — Well, it wasn't in Iraq. There are no truly happy moments here. It was back in California when I was able to hold my family again while home on leave during July.

Most Common Thought — Home. Always thinking of home, of my great wife and the kids. Wondering how everyone else is getting along. Regretting that I don't write more. Yep, always thinking of home.

I hope you all are doing well. If you want to do something for me, kiss a cop, flush a toilet, and drink a beer. I'll try to write again before too long — I promise.
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A la guerre comme a la guerre èëè âòîðàÿ ðåäàêöèÿ Çàáóãîðíîâà
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