We all recovered from the President's visit and life returns to normal, whatever that really means over here. One again, Happy Easter to all.
Controlled Myself
16 years ago
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter
Greetings to everyone around the world. Happy Easter!! The Easter Bunny even comes to visit over here in Baghdad. As usual, the cooks in the Dining Facility always put on a fancy spread and today was no exception. This was one of the two cakes that that had out on display and about five minutes after I took this picture, they started to cut it up. Timing is everything.
We all recovered from the President's visit and life returns to normal, whatever that really means over here.
One again, Happy Easter to all.
We all recovered from the President's visit and life returns to normal, whatever that really means over here. One again, Happy Easter to all.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Presidential Visit
As I am sure you are aware of by now, we here in Iraq had a visitor earlier in the week. President Obama stopped by for a brief visit. Now, regardless of political persuasion, he is the President and it was just awesome to see him. This is a building that I go into all of the time, and I have posted pictures of the room in previous posts.
We were outside when his motorcade rolled by and then we were allowed inside. He was introduced at about 1805 and he spoke for about 10 minutes. Afterward he did the standard ropeline and I was about two people deep and was able to snap this picture. It all happened very quickly.
Anyway, I was glad that I went. It was about a five hour commitment of time when it was all said and done, but the opportunity does not present itself very often and it is something that I will be able to tell my kids.
Daddy was there!!!
We were outside when his motorcade rolled by and then we were allowed inside. He was introduced at about 1805 and he spoke for about 10 minutes. Afterward he did the standard ropeline and I was about two people deep and was able to snap this picture. It all happened very quickly.
Anyway, I was glad that I went. It was about a five hour commitment of time when it was all said and done, but the opportunity does not present itself very often and it is something that I will be able to tell my kids.
Daddy was there!!!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
KLE
There is a term used over here called Key Leader Engagement (KLE) which is where a US leader sits down one on one with an Iraqi leader, either a military or government leader as asks; "how can we help?" Well last week, I had my first KLE.
One of our sections duties is to trael around and provide vulnerability assessments of US bases around Baghdad. This is all very routine and the team that does this is very good at it. Well last week, we were asked to conduct an assessment on an Iraqi oil refinery. This is the only one of its kind in t city and it has been attacked recently; so we were asked to go out there and see if we can help.
This was a little strange because there are no US forces there and we have no standard to compare it to, but we linked up with some Engineers who were to asssit us and we were off.
What an amazing place; they produce about 90,000 barrels of oil daily and hope to improve. So, not only have I never been walkig around an oil refinery before, but now I am walking around an Iraqi oil refinery. We were very quickly linked up with someone who took us to the impact sit of a previous attack and we immediately went to work. Each one of us looking at the site with our own perspective all while our security team looking after us carefully.
After some individual and some collaborative work, we agreed that we were done and headed out, when our translator said that he would try and arrange an impromptu meeting with the refinery leadership. So within five minutes we were sitting in the refinery vice-president's office, exchanging pleasantries and being offered tea and briefing on what we had just seen and how we cold assist him.
Because I was the senior man, and because I had done this before in Korea, I spoke first and it was a wonderful meeting. He was very nice and very thankful for us being there; it was a very good trip adn one that I was ver happy and proud to be part of.
This is how we are beginning to make a difference in the future.
One of our sections duties is to trael around and provide vulnerability assessments of US bases around Baghdad. This is all very routine and the team that does this is very good at it. Well last week, we were asked to conduct an assessment on an Iraqi oil refinery. This is the only one of its kind in t city and it has been attacked recently; so we were asked to go out there and see if we can help.
This was a little strange because there are no US forces there and we have no standard to compare it to, but we linked up with some Engineers who were to asssit us and we were off.
What an amazing place; they produce about 90,000 barrels of oil daily and hope to improve. So, not only have I never been walkig around an oil refinery before, but now I am walking around an Iraqi oil refinery. We were very quickly linked up with someone who took us to the impact sit of a previous attack and we immediately went to work. Each one of us looking at the site with our own perspective all while our security team looking after us carefully.
After some individual and some collaborative work, we agreed that we were done and headed out, when our translator said that he would try and arrange an impromptu meeting with the refinery leadership. So within five minutes we were sitting in the refinery vice-president's office, exchanging pleasantries and being offered tea and briefing on what we had just seen and how we cold assist him.
Because I was the senior man, and because I had done this before in Korea, I spoke first and it was a wonderful meeting. He was very nice and very thankful for us being there; it was a very good trip adn one that I was ver happy and proud to be part of.
This is how we are beginning to make a difference in the future.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Some History
WOW!! I can't believe that it has been so long since my last update. I wish that I could say that I have been very busy, but the truth is I just could not get all of the pictures uploaded. I ahave had a very difficult time lately with this partiular website. So today, I decided to go to work a little later than normal because the network seems to move a little faster in the morning rather in the evening.
This is Truvy and she is a therapy dog. I was at the helipad because some of my guys were supposed to go on a trip and Truvy and her handler were there because she was supposed to go on a trip later and they wanted her so see, hear and feel a helicopter a few times before her trip. She was an awesome dog and reminded me of Daisy.
She just liked to be outside around other people and especially liked her jacket because she knows, if the jacket is coming out, then she is going out. She was a special dog.
Last Sunday, a few of us went on a trip courtesy of the local garrison command. They conduct these tours every Sunday in and around the FOB and it is a history lesson. It was awesome!! Saddam built two palaces here; Victory Over Iran (VOI) and Victory Over America (VOA). He built VOI after the Iran-Iraq war to celebrate his victory and he was in the process of building VOA in 2003 when this war broke out. He had hired a french company to build the palace and when fighting started, the french company went home leaving all of their equipment including the cranes. The have asked the US for $12 million as the cost of the cranes and the US just said "no."
The building appears just as it looks in the pictures; like it is falling down, and it is. It was on the receving end of a JDAM missile or two and the whole thing was just weird. This was the front door.
As we were walking around inside there wasjust a strange feeling. This building was bombed. We probably should not be here, but it held up and we continued the tour. This was inside on the second floor. I know that the picture is dark and the lens is not dirty, that is all of the dust floating around.
This is the site of the JDAM. Just like tourists, we all wanted our picture of us standing in the JDAM hole; strange, but really cool.
One of my team.
From the top floor, there was a very strange sight -- grass. It is the first green that we have seen since we left the US.
While on the tour, I ran into an old neighbor. Does anybody recognize him?
On the top floor, there we these three flags. What an amazing sight.
If you all remember, this FOB used to be a big hunting and vacation ground for Saddam and he and his sons used to enjoy the water features and have a good time. Saddam built this "playground" for his grandchildren and named it Flinstone Village because he liked the Flinstones cartoon. It is huge and I am sure it was very enjoyable for the kids.
Justone of me enjoying the fresh air on the tour.
This is called the perfume palace because it looks like a perfume bottle and this is where Saddam kept all of his lady friends. More on that later if required.
The final stop on the tour was the old Ba'ath Party Convention Center. As you may remember, this was Saddam's party. This building was used for a meeting place for the political leadership if Iraq. In March 2003, President Bush delivered an address and told Saddam that he has 48 hours to surrender. After 24 hours, he delivered another address that told the world that US forces had started the attack early because there was reason to believe that the leadership was gathered in one place. The convention center and the VOA was that place. This building was the site of a Tomahawk and JDAM strikes. This is T'hawk damage in the dining room.
At one time, there was a very impressive looking lighting fixture attached to the ceiling. I say impressive looking because it is just cheap tin and glass.
JDAM damage.
Me being a tourist, and not very well.
This is Truvy and she is a therapy dog. I was at the helipad because some of my guys were supposed to go on a trip and Truvy and her handler were there because she was supposed to go on a trip later and they wanted her so see, hear and feel a helicopter a few times before her trip. She was an awesome dog and reminded me of Daisy.
She just liked to be outside around other people and especially liked her jacket because she knows, if the jacket is coming out, then she is going out. She was a special dog.
Last Sunday, a few of us went on a trip courtesy of the local garrison command. They conduct these tours every Sunday in and around the FOB and it is a history lesson. It was awesome!! Saddam built two palaces here; Victory Over Iran (VOI) and Victory Over America (VOA). He built VOI after the Iran-Iraq war to celebrate his victory and he was in the process of building VOA in 2003 when this war broke out. He had hired a french company to build the palace and when fighting started, the french company went home leaving all of their equipment including the cranes. The have asked the US for $12 million as the cost of the cranes and the US just said "no." 
The building appears just as it looks in the pictures; like it is falling down, and it is. It was on the receving end of a JDAM missile or two and the whole thing was just weird. This was the front door.
As we were walking around inside there wasjust a strange feeling. This building was bombed. We probably should not be here, but it held up and we continued the tour. This was inside on the second floor. I know that the picture is dark and the lens is not dirty, that is all of the dust floating around.
This is the site of the JDAM. Just like tourists, we all wanted our picture of us standing in the JDAM hole; strange, but really cool.
One of my team.
From the top floor, there was a very strange sight -- grass. It is the first green that we have seen since we left the US.
While on the tour, I ran into an old neighbor. Does anybody recognize him?
On the top floor, there we these three flags. What an amazing sight.
If you all remember, this FOB used to be a big hunting and vacation ground for Saddam and he and his sons used to enjoy the water features and have a good time. Saddam built this "playground" for his grandchildren and named it Flinstone Village because he liked the Flinstones cartoon. It is huge and I am sure it was very enjoyable for the kids.
Justone of me enjoying the fresh air on the tour.
This is called the perfume palace because it looks like a perfume bottle and this is where Saddam kept all of his lady friends. More on that later if required.
The final stop on the tour was the old Ba'ath Party Convention Center. As you may remember, this was Saddam's party. This building was used for a meeting place for the political leadership if Iraq. In March 2003, President Bush delivered an address and told Saddam that he has 48 hours to surrender. After 24 hours, he delivered another address that told the world that US forces had started the attack early because there was reason to believe that the leadership was gathered in one place. The convention center and the VOA was that place. This building was the site of a Tomahawk and JDAM strikes. This is T'hawk damage in the dining room.
At one time, there was a very impressive looking lighting fixture attached to the ceiling. I say impressive looking because it is just cheap tin and glass. 
JDAM damage.
Me being a tourist, and not very well.
All of these palaces look very ornate and lavish on the surface, but after a few well placed bombs the real truth is revealed. This is a fine example of Iraqi construction. This is a load bearing wall and it is just full of junk. randomly placed bricks and rocks and just pumped full of concrete. Finally a thin layer of marble is placed on top giving the impression of an ornate palace.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Another Big Adventure
WOW, what a day!! I had the opportunity to go on yet another big adventure. All of this with the constant reminder that there are potentially bad things that can happen all of the time. So everything that we do is done very safely and always with well prepared and trained teams. We are always in good hands!
Today, we had an opportunity to go to another FOB for several reasons, but today was going to be something new as we were not going in an MRAP (see previous post for an explanation), but today we were being escorted by contract security. This was something new. Today,we were driving in a Ford Excursion. I was going to take a picture, but it just looked like......... a Ford Excursion. we have all seen them.
On the way out, we were all business, but on the way back in, I asked the team leader if we could take some pictures and he said "sure." We were off to the races. There were four of us in the truck and all of us had our cameras out and clicking away. Because we were inside a moving vehicle, some of the pictures will be better than others.
The truck in front is part of our team and I took this because of the flag. We are here to assist the Iraqi people take their country back from the thugs and it is jsut nice to see nationalist pride, no matter which nation.
I took this one just to demonstrate the traffic. in some parts of the city, traffic is very normal for any international city of this size. When we left early in the morning, there was no traffic on the roads and we had the big truck moving about 65 mph. Gotta love big Ford diesels. ;)
I have no idea what this banner says, but jsut around the corner was a very big outdoor market.
I think that this represents transitioning from one suburb of Baghdad to another. Those people that have been to Korea might be familiar with this concept. Outside of the airbase in Deagu, there was a bridge with an archway like this. (A shout out to my Air Force readers and I wear my gloves all of the time over here.)
Just a picture.
As you drive arond, you can plainly see that this city once was very nice.
I go around this traffic circle every time we go out although I have no idea where any of the roads go.
One of the most famous sights is the crossed swords. I found out today, that there are actually two pairs of them and today, I saw both pairs. This is one pair wa off in the distance.
As we continue to get closer......
Closer still..............
And yes, we were able to stop and get out. Now, before anybody get nervous, this spot is inside the green zone which means that it is surrounded and secure. I was actually standing underneath one pair of swords taking a picture of the other.
Amazing!!
On the left hand side is Saddam's museum and on the right side, just out of frame is the tomb of the unknown Soldier. Our crew chief was very knowledgable and friendly and explained some of the history. The base of the swords is made up of Iranian helmets which symbolized to the public how successful the Iraqi was during the Iran-Iraq war. The space between the two pairs of swords, Saddam would cover with US dollars and march over them to show the country his power over the west. So, I have had the opportunity to see the Berlin Wall, Tiananmen Square and now Saddam's Museum. it is an odd situation, but still history.
This winged man just happen to be there. I have no idea who or what it is.
I took this picture just down the road from where I live and I hoped it would turn out just like it looked. Even over here, the sun comes up and the sun goes down and each one of these means that we are one sunset closer to being home. Just as sunsets are, this one was quite beautiful and caused me to think of home because as the sun sets here, it will soon rise on Household 6 and connect us again.
Today, we had an opportunity to go to another FOB for several reasons, but today was going to be something new as we were not going in an MRAP (see previous post for an explanation), but today we were being escorted by contract security. This was something new. Today,we were driving in a Ford Excursion. I was going to take a picture, but it just looked like......... a Ford Excursion. we have all seen them.
On the way out, we were all business, but on the way back in, I asked the team leader if we could take some pictures and he said "sure." We were off to the races. There were four of us in the truck and all of us had our cameras out and clicking away. Because we were inside a moving vehicle, some of the pictures will be better than others.
The truck in front is part of our team and I took this because of the flag. We are here to assist the Iraqi people take their country back from the thugs and it is jsut nice to see nationalist pride, no matter which nation.
I took this one just to demonstrate the traffic. in some parts of the city, traffic is very normal for any international city of this size. When we left early in the morning, there was no traffic on the roads and we had the big truck moving about 65 mph. Gotta love big Ford diesels. ;)
I have no idea what this banner says, but jsut around the corner was a very big outdoor market.
I think that this represents transitioning from one suburb of Baghdad to another. Those people that have been to Korea might be familiar with this concept. Outside of the airbase in Deagu, there was a bridge with an archway like this. (A shout out to my Air Force readers and I wear my gloves all of the time over here.)
Just a picture.
As you drive arond, you can plainly see that this city once was very nice.
I go around this traffic circle every time we go out although I have no idea where any of the roads go.
One of the most famous sights is the crossed swords. I found out today, that there are actually two pairs of them and today, I saw both pairs. This is one pair wa off in the distance.
As we continue to get closer......
Closer still..............
And yes, we were able to stop and get out. Now, before anybody get nervous, this spot is inside the green zone which means that it is surrounded and secure. I was actually standing underneath one pair of swords taking a picture of the other.
Amazing!!
On the left hand side is Saddam's museum and on the right side, just out of frame is the tomb of the unknown Soldier. Our crew chief was very knowledgable and friendly and explained some of the history. The base of the swords is made up of Iranian helmets which symbolized to the public how successful the Iraqi was during the Iran-Iraq war. The space between the two pairs of swords, Saddam would cover with US dollars and march over them to show the country his power over the west. So, I have had the opportunity to see the Berlin Wall, Tiananmen Square and now Saddam's Museum. it is an odd situation, but still history.
This winged man just happen to be there. I have no idea who or what it is.
I took this picture just down the road from where I live and I hoped it would turn out just like it looked. Even over here, the sun comes up and the sun goes down and each one of these means that we are one sunset closer to being home. Just as sunsets are, this one was quite beautiful and caused me to think of home because as the sun sets here, it will soon rise on Household 6 and connect us again.
Thanks for all that you do. Everybody here is okay and we continue to learn and grow as a team.
One more thought, our dining facility, which has a sports theme has both OU and OSU flags, but no flags from TX. I wonder if that means anything.
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