Star Visits

first, let me answer a question from a previous entry. A few people have been asking either on here or in emails about how are the Iraqi people treating us. I personally never interact with the Iraqis although there are alot of surveys that go around about how the Iraqi people feel about Coalition Forces (CF). The feeling is growing in two important areas; people feel safer and people have increased confidence in their own government. These are bot really good things and will assist us as we begin the President's resonsible withdrawal.

We have been waiting for our first star to come and visit and here he is! No, not Trigger the horse. This is Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band. If you are older than me, you may have never heard of them, and if you are younger than me, you may not have heard of them although you have certaintly heard of their music. Anyway, The Gap Band was here and put on a good show for the Soldiers.
When we want to eat something different from the boring everyday dining facility, we head down to "North End Pizza. This is run by locals and although they may run out of some key topping ingredients, the pizza is very good.

We all live in these Containerized Housing Units (CHUs) and I thought that this was a really good picture. This is the view from one end to the other. These walls are T walls, 12' high and 6' wide at the base. These walls are EVERYWHERE. In the city, there are streets that are completely lined with these walls which are produced locally both on post and off. This is just one example of business enterprises that are thriving with western money. There are people here making money.

Once again, thanks for all of your support not only to me, but to any service member that either is deployed or is about to be deployed. Time does go by very quickly, but tiem apart is always hard.

Meet the Iraqis

Well, Sunday I had my first meeting with the Iraqis. Actually, it wasn't my meeting but I was there. The Arabic culture here is similiar to the Aisan culture that we had just left in that meetings never start on time, there is always a social aspect to everything and there is always tea consumed. Although this tea was very good.

The meeting was about the continueing progress of turning the city of Baghdad back over to the Iraqis, as it should be and everything involved in that. All in all a good meeting but a little frustrated in how little gets done. They like to compliment each other and because everything is translated everthing is said twice which takes time away. One day we will all leave and they will be left to their own resources.

This week we past the 300 days left thresold. Every event is a milestone and so far the days and weeks are moving along much quicker than I would have thought. I have some fun trips planned for the future; we make all of our own water here, both bottled to drink and bulk to shower with and I will take a trip and see that operation, also I have heard that the laundry operation is a sight to see, so I will take some time and see that.

We now have some Girl Scout cookies so I have to say "Thank You" to everyone who contributed to the cause, Nancy, Boon and the patriarch "Big Papa" who keeps the family in line and another opportunity for a Happy Birthday.

Thanks for everything.