Iraq Troops Sing Karaoke, Join Book Clubs, Rarely Go To War

A new USA Today article has some interesting details about how U.S. troops stationed in Iraq are spending their time these days. Soccer makes the list of activities. So do "karaoke nights," salsa classes, book clubs, and advanced geometry. According to the piece, many of the 117,000 U.S. troops still stationed in Iraq report more free time now than at any other time since the U.S. first invaded 6 years ago.

Some in the military, like Sgt. Gussman a long-time army veteran, went to Iraq prepared to fill the hours.

In Iraq, [Gussman] was surprised to see few soldiers reading for pleasure, so he started two book clubs. One, called Beyond Narnia, reviews essays by C.S. Lewis, who wrote the children's series, The Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis' religious themes have made the club popular with chaplains here at Adder, Gussman says.

The other club, the Dead Poets Society, is reading the works of Dante and Virgil. At one recent meeting, soldiers debated the notion of romantic love, a concept that Gussman argues was first introduced in Virgil's Aeneid.

The soldiers discussed whether marrying for love was logical, and whether some of the Iraqis they've met have it better through their arranged marriages, Gussman says.

"When I asked if any of them wanted the group to arrange a marriage for them, there weren't any takers," Gussman jokes.

Troops' feelings about the down time were mixed. Some reported feelings of depression, frustration and under-utilization, especially when Obama is considering sending more troops to Afghanistan, and still spending $7.3 Billion a month on the Iraq war. But some were happy about the unexpected freedom:

"When I signed up for the Army, I thought I was going to be a hero -- go out and do some fighting," says Vesik, 19, during a break at a Filipino-Okinawan jujitsu class. "I haven't come close to doing anything that I was trained to do. I work, maybe, four to five hours a day. I have time to try all these new things. It's not so bad."

Comments

[nirek]

09:28 AM on 10/22/2009

Why not just bring them home to their families?

[gascelebrations]

08:51 AM on 10/22/2009

Salsa is a dance? I thought that was mamba. Or was it MAMBO? I think mamba is a poisonous snake. And salsa is a type of music instead of a dance. Whatever.

[confidance government]

08:28 AM on 10/22/2009

I was talking to my bro yesterday and he casually mentioned that an IED went off 200 meters from where he was sleeping, but its alright as he as gotten so used to the noise that it didn't even wake him up.

Don't get the wrong impression, the war in Iraq has not stopped, its merely slowed down.

[IcedTee63]

07:43 AM on 10/22/2009

So you would prefer that they be fighting and dying more? Gotta get your dollar's worth outta them huh?

[GringoLingo]

07:27 AM on 10/22/2009

I would just like to submit this article for later evidence against the stereotypical notion that our troops are undereducated dolts that were forced into service.

[x004Ronin]

02:37 AM on 10/22/2009

Let them enjoy it. They've been pushed to the breaking point for 6 years in a war of choice.
They will be most likely sent to Afghanistan within the next 2 years, which is bigger geographically, larger population-wise, poorer, less well educated, with more mountainous terrain, and with harsher weather conditions.
In other words, life is going to get much worse soon, so I truly don't mind the (relative) increase in R&R for our troops.

[thomashusted]

01:59 AM on 10/22/2009

YEAH GREAT MORE BILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS BEING WASTED WHILE MILLIONS GO HOMELESS AND HUNGRY IN THE GOOD OLD USA

[GringoLingo]

07:26 AM on 10/22/2009

If those homeless and hungry joined the army; not only would they not be hungry or homeless, but they'd get to participate in book clubs, karaoke events, and other assorted social organizations.

[chrish]

12:33 AM on 10/22/2009

Glad to hear it; they've earned every minute of it. Maybe they won't be in such horrible condition mentally when they finally get home, with this transition period.

Are we going to have a huge "going out of business" sale and recoup some of our money from the Iraqis?

[vietveter]

01:49 AM on 10/22/2009

I am happy for them as well.

If we brought them all HOME TODAY

I would be even happier.

[TXfemmom]

12:19 AM on 10/22/2009

Salsa lessons? What a change. Perhaps Dancing with the Stars should have one of our finest on their next show?

[shag11]

12:06 AM on 10/22/2009

I'm sure it's just the liberal ones, the Repugs wouldn't think of such a thing.

[NeoconGal]

12:05 AM on 10/22/2009

They won't be dancing too much when 40,000 of them are sent to Afghanistan to help prop up the Puppet President and his drug dealing brother.

[delmy]

11:58 PM on 10/21/2009

Great to know that the government spend our taxes money paying the soldiers to take this useless classes. Salsa! Karaoke!! wonderful!! nice way to spend our $.

[idisVA]

11:40 PM on 10/21/2009

Rush has already declared victory in Iraq because of the increase in the down time

[Fred Hood]

11:59 PM on 10/21/2009

rush need to find a fire hydrant.........

[000Jade000]

11:31 PM on 10/21/2009

"I have time to try all these new things."

Awesome. I hope these kids come home and all decide to go use their GI Bill.

[anticapitalist1983]

11:19 PM on 10/21/2009

if they have so much downtime, send more of them home now!

their families miss them.

[Fred Hood]

11:56 PM on 10/21/2009

DITTO