New England Troops in Iraq

" As we approach. Independence Day here in this country and celebrated appropriately. Joining us from app slayer and I Iraq. Is a major -- Norton Pete is from Braintree good morning major how are you. -- we're on very very well I you know the question you pass somebody in the hall is hey how goes the battle like that that's a literal question we would ask you. But but more specifically -- what is the mission statement in Iraq -- we approached -- independence -- 2009. Major."

" They actually I -- turn over. Just recently on the thirtieth the unit reboot the Iraqis started to take over our in the cities around that are around the country think that actually improving quite a bit. All Iraqis have built up their strength in the what the army and police or army and make it to be taken over and slowly as we. Pull away. There they PPP strong --"

" Major Norton I'm not sure how much of the news reports that we see you back here you get sent over their via satellite. So if it's -- maybe this is an appropriate question but I'm wondering how the news reports that we see on the nightly news. Very from the reality of the situation as you see it boots on the ground over there."

" Well they've pulled apart many historians are I think -- Starring and in the right direction general -- narrow among I know he was on popular over the past week in -- pointing -- acted as Iraqis take over. They're making it stronger stronger impact and they're actually showing a lot of -- I think what and would total order narrowed. And in the past that they were being there really -- approval we hear it from a year ago it I think we're much more tumultuous. Think ahead in the right direction and actually became you can even steal it from a year that -- but -- over here in this group here that the differences pretty stark. In other responsibilities -- Iraq."

" Well when do you think he'll be home."

" And yeah. Welcome outlook but came out here at least in this group out here last year so we're redeploy sometime over the next two months. Each one of losses in bought it -- note here in the room right now. We deploy were all out here for year. So we give it loop and we -- become a -- L we come -- from the -- to."

" Are you are you still nervous every day when you see. A motorcycle or you see -- our strange or weird look and I mean do you still live. With that fear that it could be a a suicide bomber homicide bomber -- up. Into the Green Zone and any moment."

" The -- it much less than -- before you always have to be diligent in all after it. Kind of view where -- surrounding. But -- been much much less I mean there's player report though -- even on the parade that occurred this out we can outrage in the Iraqi. The people we're going to some of those things about the audit armor and public -- they're much more comfortable in the apartment there. That being -- is he always have to be diligent because there that there are people that still out here that want to work to care pocket country do want don't want them to be successful."

" I have a couple weeks a couple weeks vacation coming in August. Would you recommend Fallujah is is -- nights at."

" And proved it. And -- from what it was four years ago that you actually have a torrent industry out here Iraq which. Up all -- want to go to edit first group come out I wouldn't ever I -- at any time soon went -- 115 degrees but the."

" That is often -- B note the golf course is major."

" We're -- a major -- Norton from camp slayer in Iraq he is from Braintree. I'm wondering how much com. Contact argue able to have on a regular basis apparently back in Braintree by the way you want to introduce other group of him here but separate people with you all local doing the people's well also we wanna hear their names and where they're from before we sign off here but. What what is the communication availability with your friends and family loved ones back in -- repeat."

" It is pretty -- you you don't always get caught everybody in our that you are like sometimes it. Sometimes the work it in the way it ought to ought take out of it pretty busy. On a week we all try to make sure that we keep some contact. Couple times a week. And emails whenever possible and you know directly pretty good -- actually helped talk to people even though I'm still there there's seven out. Different -- Can work."

" The boss you're on -- You're a major. The boss."

" Up there I'm not even close. I had I got 33 general in the room with me."

" 03 general in the league right now. The region protected -- general."

" Read it barely hear from the only New Hampshire. I got amber a little Ron -- Newbury port aptitude that I got separated it ought to. General -- heavily recruited from from the UK. And I got. Ramallah when that's good -- I got -- Merkel and issued another recruit from not Kentucky. Ryan Robinson a major Ryan -- internationally and generally not a --"

" Any any drunks in the rumors about them this is royalty."

" Although it -- And make major Norton question for you know I know everybody from New England -- this this is sort of a hypothetical. But when the games Iran and India three generals of the room in the new ones from New York. And one from Chicago ones from Boston. Which general decides which game gonna watch Red Sox yankees or cubs. How does that work."

" The problem is that the plot the blocked out here at general ordinarily didn't you looked into go home -- is that not that he went. On what we're working on that."

" While as -- changed since Barack Obama became your commander in chief anything changed. On the ground in your life."

" It it as far as our. It happened -- are needed it -- On the dipping to change the policies that the president made. So in our case did what -- is the direction. And they -- to put the direction to start drawdown of forces and to have the up to redeploy the that the country if you could. By the end of 2011. On to that changed the way we work -- our vision of how things in our current and the ball like you're changing but if indeed it eight commander in chief on -- movement done a great job so notebook."

" But the revolution Iran has that affected your life at all do you you paying a little bit closer attention to things that the on the in the neighboring country there."

" I think anybody's in the news and anybody who doubt you're gonna pay attention that it's hard not -- it's such. Interesting evolution. To what happened vote -- our our our own every minute how communication. Is moved from our ran --"

" It -- Norton -- major Pete Norton camp slayer in Iraq now live from Baghdad he's from Braintree. A what's dealt time like over there at the end of the day I mean obviously there's no happy are you so there -- no alcohol are no golf courses. I think no beaches will. In what do you live and what you do at the end of the into the workday major."

" Well it has got this girl bit part of what went up at a local -- artillery we via. I don't guys will think."

" Well you know that the thing is I mean we do we -- to watch towers like peace that our -- average stay out here for for soldiers -- it officers. But is he eighteen -- Dayton. So there's not -- lot of down -- a lot of -- to the crew did -- here we just basically stagger away my workplace and head over to the to our -- to getting a little bit asleep. But you know I mean that the army has done a very good job that the military -- try to provide you know. Morality what recreational facilities what we do now I've lost it. You know it's it's hardly gardens."

" how many USO. USO tours to -- have you seen increasingly. Big pencil any like Playboy bunnies -- the did you see Curt Schilling did you see any other celebs who made the."

" I counted -- question. Other. 88 -- It happens that."

" Yeah. It. And and and it was on it records and people. As and the exact -- eight street but. Ellen yeah and yet. You know. Ironkey. Are on the America."

" Actually will say there. Aren't accurate. Work."

" Form on it so others. Well while there."

" I believe were talking to brigadier general Mary -- GA or US army from Dover, New Hampshire. And a burger general I'm wondering how I'll argue how well are you able to keep up on a regular basis what. With what as an example. The Red Sox are all about you get Dave reports deserves it delayed a bit here. How how how close to follow it."

" Okay let it -- it -- and it won't matter and it it is thought it important requirements for everyday. Died in the morning. -- there all night. -- a lot. Might -- what at what -- turn the computer but it."

" Well but I -- it worked out well."

" Let -- Matt -- company -- OK -- seven. Into our our outlook update. And -- it over. Rated very. That was it out be -- 88. Bill. Actually -- In the morning in your. Life --"

" Are they still that the name is not well I think it. --"

" It's being insert it. LP. It had little art outlaw it is. It. That that's an area and it."

" It is -- but little reminder of the board and now updated yet. When not lose. I get real unhappy real quick they're beginning of the NA. I'll check on any not used to the next day when I get the news that marrying her intelligence both inhibit the wind and I find it time to go to the computer and look up and we recap."

" Let me ask -- this colonel do you already know -- as -- a seven hour time difference what happened in the Red Sox game. It would be yesterday afternoon in Baltimore are you aware of that game."

" Yet I am aware that what happened -- that it seemed like had a little let down in the later innings and not let that -- get away problem."

" Levels that was today's that was two days ago so they did you weren't aware of yes and sustainable and I'll -- the peninsula. And what do you think he's in there and -- On line."

" It dude is beyond just make out what to -- the -- the -- answered -- his gave up as they don't give up you know adjustable wins tomorrow's game is still like a day ahead of us but they'll probably win and hey you guys get a sense the people. Appreciate back here appreciate what you do and and more now than they did a couple of years ago let's face it the media we don't got a lot of reports when things are going well we only find out what's happened over -- and you know we lose. When things go well we're winning we're ready to leave. There's a lot of coverage that you think the average -- on the street that he really appreciate which go one on."

" And I do and that is -- and domestic that I question and I think even though the press coverage. Imagine they've they've shifted a little bit -- to get banned. The people who note or out here our friends family definitely. They get part of it I'm very know how much they appreciated and we certainly appreciate that. And then you got people all across the country we send out short of it like I don't I don't think I've seen but it grossed out there. Ever. Let's yet here about three months ago. Leading provider of leading that if you -- well so it really being. I mean a lot to us here. -- from. That made sense in a reminder to all -- tech doughnuts or. Prospect cookies from -- somewhere."

" What's it like to be from the wing and I assume that guys from Texas and Oklahoma they probably think your Communist right that the cure all like like Barney Frank and Ted Kennedy they can't believe. That someone from New England actually join the military that right."

" There's been a little bit incredulity -- times but then you've invited so a -- They're doing a bit like we've got here on the table and we punch our way pretty well it the region and we have a proud history of the military service I think. You mentioned in other parts of the afternoon as well let. I think -- Over a little regret. They can do it."

" Pay as we get ready to -- about a -- layer over in Iraq what I'd like to do is have you guys path. Ladies and guys passed the -- around. I again state your name where you're from and -- somebody like to say hello to him. Braintree or Dover, New Hampshire or or Nashua, New Hampshire please feel free to do that as we get -- say --"

" Yet in the pocket from the UK and I'd just like I want to put being taught in the on the motherly that I had to sit Floridians could -- Yeah I wouldn't count getting our ally in the every sort of the payment director and I get like in a big shot out all the at the end -- that."

" We realize it's and."

" Today it's major Ryan Braun then from that your New Hampshire and I just one day and my mom dad and my sister -- At -- sick or those not. As colonel Dave Clark -- a -- assailant but let shortly it's like five children. -- called Britney Lindsay of the old and a lot."

" I didn't -- but -- the new reports element justices Ali thanks. --"

" And --"

" it was all or that you all --"

" That's what you delight already know. -- And I -- well. My brother up in Portland and everybody that England and -- Where it all and end -- every time -- our."

" Did the BCA concerned or dispel and that -- now we don't think it's ever doing. -- is if I'm not. The and to do -- I -- going to -- bailout they -- my mom Okie get credit they're upfront that this is not a lot in the net -- And outfield got that I if they you very much yet the issue really look back there."

" Well we appreciate everything you're doing thank you for your service as we approach independence of the fourth of July here. Just understand that. We have your back at this side because we know you have bars over there thank you for your service in this country happy fourth of July happy independence they end up -- get home safely all of you thank you very much. Our number three Dennis and Callahan will continue phone lines open literally looking -- old Jonas later in the hour."