Sandstorm!

German "Beer" in Iraq

0.0% Alcohol, brought to you courtesy of General Order Number One: "No Fun Allowed!"



Hey diddle diddle... the horse jumped over the snake? Arabic labeling on beer, non-alcoholic beer, but...

Anyway... it was pretty gross... though I may have to snag more and make a redneck arabic windchime out of them to hang outside my trailer for the heck of it!

Run For The Border... Taco Bell In Baghdad!

I am overjoyed to say I ate an authentic Taco Bell Bean Burrito for a snack yesterday. It was heavenly. Oh, the warm gooeyness... *sigh*

Pretty Lights

The internet seems to be going faster than usual tonight, so I'm putting up some pics for family and friends to see- enjoy!

The chandelier of Al Faw Palace





What else can I say? It's HUGE!

JOOS In Iraq! Picture in this post!

I'm sorry... just couldn't resist! BWAHAHAHA!



If you get sick after eating the food... DON'T blame the JOOS!!!!

Let the jokes fly!

9-11 Commemorative Banner Hanging in Iraq Palace

The 9-11 Commemorative Banner is a 21x31 ft banner made of 3014 miniature (4x6inch) flags representing each victim of 9-11. First hung at Ground Zero medical site, and then St George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island, the Pentagon, the USS Battleship NJ, New York's Hotel, and now Al Faw Palace, Iraq.

Diversion: Scrubs

Sorry, no new pic for this post, though I have a couple new ones I'll try to get on here in the next couple days. I've been watching Scrubs in my spare time thanks to some generous soul who uploaded it to a shared drive. It's such a great series (BIG praise coming from a sci-fi and fantasy fan)! So far I've watched every episode in order up to early season six! I don't know what I'm going to do when I finish the collection. I still have most of a year (or two) to go! AAAARRRRRGH!

It's been a great diversion though- and since it's really hard to get out and make friends when you're working 12 hour shifts and you've been sick, I feel like I'm best buds with J.D. and Turk. Sad, I know...

Monkeys keep flinging poo over the fence and it makes an awful noise when it lands, but thankfully I'll have a bit more shelter (or the illusion of) than currently provided by my tent- (and a bit more room) when I get a trailer sometime in the coming week (disclaimer: estimate only, no guarantee)! Thankfully some spaces have been opening up and I'm making my way through the line at a good speed!

Oh, and mostly over being sick! :-)

A New Pic of a Palace- ooh! aah!

I can't believe I finally got a pic up (and the same day someone said something about it too)!
I took this before the weather turned to crap. This is Al Faw palace. The water surrounding it is a man-made lake created in a couple months. And people say the US blows money on silly projects. Why, I bet a certain politician in Alaska is just dying to have one of these built as a bus stop (with your tax money). ;-P

It actually snowed here in Baghdad for the first time in decades just a couple days ago- unfortunately no pics of that... I have been slogging through mud ever since. Odd that you don't think you'll encounter that in Iraq. Oh well...

I think part of the problem with posting pics is that the internet here is a very temperamental thing. Sometimes you get lucky and the bandwidth genies smile favorably upon you. Other times (most usually), random sites like Blogger, Youtube, or even Yahoo, don't load properly. Trying to get anything to load is like magically being transported back into the 80's- only instead of my machine telling me "please wait" (a few minutes or an hour) it "times out" instead and I have to start the frustrating process all over. Well, that's it in a nutshell. I'm taking my nyquil and zonking out now since I've been sick.

Note: If you ever go somewhere exotic, like Iraq in the winter, and your company, or the Army tells you you don't need to pack a sleeping bag because linens will be provided at your destination, don't pay any attention! The heater in your tent WILL break on the coldest frackin' night, and you will be shivering in your jacket and running to the BX the next day only to learn they are closed for inventory. You will survive, congratulate yourself for not getting sick like everyone else, then promptly get sick a couple days later. Murphy and his stupid law strike again.

PS- WHAT IS UP WITH ALL THE NEWS ABOUT HILLARY AND OBAMA??? GET OUT THERE AND MAKE SOME CONSERVATIVE NOISE! I DO NOT WANT TO COME HOME TO THE UNITED SOCIALIST STATES! GOT IT?

Merry Belated Christmas From The Sandbox

NOTE: Trying to get pic to load and failing- will try again soon, I hope.

It's amazing what the money of an oppressed people can buy- but in the end the guy wound up in a ditch, and hung like a criminal.

I'm sure "it's good to be the king," but it's amazing how fast the king can fall. His brainwashed and power-hungry followers are still lobbing mortars in our direction... scrambling in vain to take back control.

----

Christmas was a long day, and so was the next. I really need to try to get more sleep, but I wanted to write now that I'm finally up and running again. Out of concern for OPSEC (Operations Security for you non-military types), I can't discuss any details or specifics about what I do, where I am... or even info about attacks I've made it through other than to say, yes, I do hear fire from time to time, and in the past couple weeks I've felt a few shakes (there's a lot of sand here, and I don't want to let the enemy know if he's close or not to my patch of it!)... I'm sure you understand, but I will try to post pics of some sites from time to time, and keep you posted on morale and some feel-good stories like the following:

I wasn't able to get my address to my family in time to get anything from them for Christmas, but a group of ladies working somewhere in Florida made stockings and sent them over filled with toiletries and goodies- and a hand knitted watch cap! I got handed the stocking by a general. :-)

The best present though was a random letter from a girl in high school, who told of how her father recently died of cancer and how she wanted to be strong for her family... she then went on to thank us for our service, for our bravery and strength, and said how she didn't think she would be mentally strong enough to do something like this. I wrote her back saying she already was. She called us heros, but anyone who can face what she faced, and have the courage to face the situation, and make the decision to be strong for the family is a hero in my book.

She said we gave her hope for the future, but she was an inspiration. Reading her letter reminded me of why I'm here- to help out in some small way, to be a part of something in hopes of making a difference for people.

Before I was here, I was in Washington DC where thousands of people marched chanting hateful things about the troops and those serving- and it seemed like every time I watched the news there would be more discouragement. Just hearing her thanks made everything I've been through and everything I will go through worthwhile because it is a reminder that people back home really do care, and they pay enough attention to know that we really are trying to do good things- and succeeding!

I want to send a special thanks to Souljourner for sending me a copy of their cd to enjoy. I got it today and have really enjoyed it- and know I will continue to! They're on myspace, so go look them up and sample some awesome music!

Moon Over Iraq

Machine gun fire sounds in the distance...

A couple incoming flew overhead today;

Nothing significant to report.

Stuck in Limbo

It's a cold and dreary day in Iraq.  I'm still on hold waiting for a paper to clear so I can get a badge.  The good thing is, it's some down-time...  The bad thing is, there's not much to do.  I managed to get my laundry dropped off today.  That's something I guess!  Oh, and I'm still alive after a couple booms.  ;-)  No worries.

I'm not looking forward to moving into a crowded tent or anything, but at least it would get me out of the transient room, depending on someone for a ride to and from chow.

Perfume Palace, Iraq

Here's some pics of where I was supposed to work.  The Perfume Palace, so called because it's where Saddam kept his women.  Evidently they want me working in the bigger palace- Al Faw.  I'll post some pics of that when I get a chance.  Yep, that's a man-made lake.  There's a lot of them.  Saddam sure knew how to blow his money, but you know what?  He still wound up hiding in a hole, then being buried in one anyway.

Bad news is, I'll be staying in a big tent for at least a month, maybe as many as 2-3. :-( 

I'm asking for a non-snoring tent this time though! BWAHAHAHAHA. I need sleep!  Sleeping with earplugs sucks, so I'm hoping I can hit the PX and pick up some muffs or something.  I could always order some online via Amazon and get them in a few days- of course by then I might just go crazy for lack of sleep.

Not sure how much I'll be able to get online after the next day or so, since I've got to move down in the world before I can move up- though I hear there might be an internet cafe I can visit... I do know I'll appreciate sharing a small trailer with "just one other person" a lot more after sharing a tent (again). 

First Day in Iraq

Sunset over my temp "camp."

Hoping to move on tonight and get to my trailer... Being stuck in a small room with 6or 7 other guys (2 loudly snoring), without a blanket, sucks. At least there's running water (a drizzle), and I can get on the net from here. :-)

Safe in Iraq

Trying to take a nap on a C-130 in armor sucks. No, scratch that, it really sucks. Oh well, I'm here- in a temp lodging spot doing in-processing, and I found an ethernet cable. Now I just need food and sleep to be good to go!

Now In Kuwait- Iraq soon!

The computer here in Kuwait sucks and I've only got a few minutes left on my time limit- just wanted to drop a line. I've seen so much bureaucratic nonsense (too much to write about now) the last week plus that I just want to get into Iraq and get settled into a routine...

Since I only get a half-hour on the comp I'm going to try to upload a pic of me at Ft Benning getting ready to head out, and see if that blows the rest of my time on this slow connection! If not, maybe tomorrow... or soon. :-)

Got to run- now! Just loaded in time!

Getting Ready to Head Out

Dang, I forgot how much I hate moving (and all the dust that gets stirred up when you pull out things you can't bear to throw out, just so you can pack them away safely to repeat the process sometime in the future, if only so you can look at them once or twice a year for memory's sake)...
The crazy things people attach sentimental value to, or lug around with them to "sort through when I have time." There's never time!!!

I find myself looking forward to the long flight and the 12 hour shifts I'll be working in the sandbox, just knowing I'll get some "down time" for a change with no major errands to run when I'm "off the clock" other than dropping off laundry and picking it up.

We've got most of the apartment packed, but still a ways to go. I've hired some help to load the truck on Sunday in hopes of speeding our departure and hitting the road at a decent hour. If they're late/don't get done at a decent hour, well, at least we won't be as exhausted before heading out for the long drive (we hope)...

I still have some paperwork to do, but that shouldn't be too difficult once I wrap my brain around the concept of doing something other than putting my stuff in boxes to await my return. It sucks knowing that I'll be carrying everything I'm taking with me on my back in just a couple short weeks, but on the bright side, I've got it a million times better than my great grandfather- aside from my better, modern, gear (sans Enfield rifle) and an enemy who can't aim worth a crap, I'll hopefully have a laptop loaded with pictures of family, pets, music, "literature," and the ability to reach home near real-time. So, while things are no doubt going to be difficult, they could be a lot worse... they are in fact not that bad when you put it in perspective!

There's a fine line between trying to pack everything you might need, and being paranoid to the point of weighing yourself down with all sorts of crap- so far, if it looks useful, it's gone in a box marked "Iraq" for me to sort out later. Between the list of mandatory things to take, some people's helpful suggestions, and my own gear, I've "filled" the box. Compression sacks/vacuum bags are going to come in handy making more room (and cutting bounce and rattle), especially with all the mandatory winter gear (but no help with eliminating weight)- so once I get a chance, I'll go through everything one more time and eliminate every excess ounce I can (note to self: ditch big full shaving cream can for travel-sized). At some point you've got to say enough is enough when you have to lug 2 duffels, a loaded"go-bag" (backpack), and a laptop who knows how far. Sure, you can "suck it up and drive on" (been there, done that) but there's no point wearing yourself out .

I've got a couple posts "in draft" to publish, but other than that I'm just doing everything I can to make sure I tie up all the loose ends and accomplish everything I need to so my wife can have as easy a time as possible with me on the other side of the globe for at least a year...

I wish I had more time to get things done and hang out with the friends I've made, and spend quality time with family- but they said they need me ASAP, so I'll just be thankful for the time I've got!

Troll Thread!!! Help me share the truth with this guy!

disinter said...
"I know this is a bitter pill for some to swallow, but it must be said over and over again until people get it: Bush the decider in chief can call for war all he wants, but it is the soldiers in the U.S. military that are doing the actual bombing and killing. Look at what is happening in Pakistan. Musharraf couldn't do a thing what the support of his thugs in the military. But why is it that Americans are horrified about what the military does in Pakistan but not horrified about what the U.S. military does in Iraq? The war and future occupation of Iraq would not be possible without the 180,000 plus Americans that keep joining the military every year. This is what must be stopped.http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/016714.html "
--------------------------------
My Reply:
November 8, 2007 11:45 AM
falcon_01 said...
YOU are the bitter pill because you're a suppository. The troops you are so quick to malign, myself included, bring freedom from tyranny!

Look, here's some GOOD news about GOOD things in Iraq that wouldn't have been possible without the troops: http://instapundit.com/archives2/011413.php

Troops kill bad guys who want to take away YOUR freedoms to say such stupid things. That should be phrased easily enough for you to understand!That's right! Those evil murderous troops are protecting your lousy bum by bombing and killing bad guys.

Look up http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/ for some truth about what we are up against.

Yes, war is an awful thing, but it's better than caving in to violent oppression, or leaving those people desiring freedom to be SLAUGHTERED the minute we leave. We're giving them the tools they need to survive on their own and have freedom.

Fighting an insurgency takes more time than your short attention span can manage, but it needs done right, or good people get murdered when we leave early because people like you demand we leave early. It's a sick reality I hope and pray you'll open your eyes to.

I don't care what reason we went in there for- it's in the past and not changeable. Right or wrong, what's done is done- we need to fix the situation by supporting the people of Iraq on their hard path to freedom. Abandoning them without cleaning up our mess will result in their death. You and your kind would be responsible, but you'd be pointing the finger at the troops again for not doing a good enough job when you were witholding resources and pulling us out early!

I'M GOING TO THE SANDBOX!!!

I don't know how often I'll be able to post in the near future, and up to a year or two (I'm hoping I'll at least be able to check in from time to time). I'm heading to the sandbox- I let a few of you know it might be coming... Now some might say I'm doing it for the president's amusement. Ha! Others might pray for my demise (well, my God can beat up your god, so ha again!). However, if you're reading this, you probably already know the truth. I'm doing it to make a difference and help people, I'm doing this for my family, and at least half of a country, and I'm doing this to in some small way contribute to a great cause: FREEDOM.

Perhaps my favorite hero of history, or one of them at least, Lafayette (a possible relation, I'm told by my grandmother), heard about the concept of liberty and the plight of a struggling nation caught in a revolution. He heard the tales of hopelessness and offered not only his fortune, but himself, knowing the possible outcome and the overwhelming odds he would face.
He turned the tide of battle more than once, bringing victory and freedom to a nation that was, and still is, grateful for his devotion to its birth (even if his name is dropped from the history books). He was friend of all the founders, an "adopted son" of Washington, and America. He took up as his personal motto and family crest, "Cur non" meaning, "Why not?" Why not indeed?!?!


I had family in the Revolution, some fought in the civil war, my great grandfather was in WWI, carrying a British Enfield rifle and marching all over lands he wasn't from. He was mustard gassed 5 times and lived to tell of it. His story is truly amazing (I got a copy of his diary from his time overseas). My grandfather followed suite and at Pearl Harbor dove into flaming waters to rescue a dozen men. My father in law was in Vietnam, lost all his friends, and returned home to an ungrateful nation.

Nothing I face will likely be so harrowing (I've already faced down some anti-troop folks, and I know they don't represent America), and I will no doubt be safer than I'd be if I remained so close to Washington D.C., where you can't even defend yourself (now that's a depressing thought). I'm going to a "safe" zone in a war zone. I know there's a slight chance something could go wrong, more so with every game Congress plays their games, but I believe that the greatest risk is to not contribute, even in some small way. I believe everyone, in their own way, as much as they are able, CAN and DOES make a difference when they make a stand for what is right. Whether you are one person, or an entire nation, you can be go the extra mile, turn the tide, and accomplish what others call impossible. NOTHING is impossible so long as you place your life in the hands of God and decide to NEVER GIVE UP!

I believe we have been given a great opportunity to grow as a nation, to overcome tyranny, to bring freedom and bring light. Our responsibility lies in being the"city on a hill" that exists not to be taken, or divided up and handed to those not willing to pour their hearts into its existence, but in serving as a shining example of freedom to the world. A lot of Americans have forgotten that, but plenty of us, AND our friends around the world- have not. They know why freedom requires sacrifice, because they either know their history, have lived it, or are living it right now.

We have an obligation to do unto others as we would have them do unto us- I believe that applies not just to individuals, but to nations as well. I don't care what reason others had for going into Iraq, the point is we now have a duty to protect freedom there. I don't care what you say about "we can't police the world." That's a bunch of crap; isolationism doesn't work. Maybe we can't be everywhere at once, but we can make a difference instead of turning our backs and burying our heads. The troops know this, and give their all for it.

We fought in WWI and won. We fought in WWII and won. The only way to ensure our own existence and long-term survival is to bring freedom and democracy wherever we go, taking off blinders and making people aware of their inalienable rights with every step we take. We've lost sight of that as a nation, we "forgot" (or were manipulated into forgetting) how we relied on the help of others, and many forgot their American spirit, and we need to get it back. America, I leave you with that challenge, by God I ask you to re-forge this country so that it is in a better condition when I get back here one way or another!

I don't want to come back to see America continue to march towards destruction. I don't want to come back to see rights and freedoms continue to be stripped away by Congress, by the corrupt "activist" judges, or even by a new president who is another "lesser of two evils." I won't stand for it and neither should you. Put some work into it. Hold town meetings. Go door to door for Hunter (or whoever the cleanest candidate turns out to be- there's been too much filth in the White House to settle for a dirty politician). Make miles of petitions. Vote out the corruption and demand REAL reform. I'll be doing 12 hour shifts 7 days a week, leaving my family, friends, and everything I've ever known for at least a year. I beg you to do something to ensure this nation is protected from tyranny.

Well, that's about all the time I have for now. The next 3 weeks will consist of me wrapping up work projects, packing, tying up loose ends, and moving my wife and pets down to Fl to await my safe return (God willing). Good luck America, and God Bless!

Very Respectfully,
Chris