The Softer Side...

Some things over here aren't bleak and ugly...

These little guys are out on the street near my compound everyday. They know that my co-workers and I walk by from time to time for work. So they wait for us and when they see us they yell, "ambush, ambush" then run up to shake our hands and give us hugs.

Then they ask for coins (or potato chips - I don't get it either).

Me and the boys again after one of their "ambushes."

They range in age from 3 to10.

This scrappy (and stoned looking) cat recently gave birth to the little ones behind the wire. The Mother was feral but has warmed up to human contact and lets us pet her. Our unit commander is a retired USMC Colonel who on a daily basis ensures they have fresh milk and food. He tries to feed them early in the morning so nobody will see him do it but we all know about it.

This is a picture of me with our newest guy, Dan- the kid.

(I'm the guy in blue)

Thanksgiving Fieldtrip

Today was a slow day so I decided to take advantage of the extra time and do some exploring. Here are some pictures from the day's outing...


















This is what a Baghdad Freeway looks like. Note the lack of cars. Sharing the road with tanks has that effect on traffic. It's weird being in Baghdad this time (my second time in Iraq). I spent the better part of two years running Strike Rescue missions out of Kuwait into Southern Iraq before coming back as a civilian.

















This is part of downtown Baghdad that survived relatively intact. The tall building is an Iraqi government building.

















Here I am standing in front of a very humble monument (or 3 humble monuments) to Saddam.


















I ride around with these guys from time to time. I'd love to take one of these out to Borrego Springs.


















Tomb of the unknown Soldier, Baghdad.

Thanksgiving Fieldtrip cont'd.

More pictures...
















Driving around one of the FOBs in central Baghdad with one of my co-workers.


















Another apt building still in use (somewhat).

















This building was destroyed during OIF1 and is now a derelict.

















This is one of Saddam's palaces which was pretty much destroyed.

















Guess I need to loose some weight...

This area was in the Red Zone until recently. The car I'm sitting on was a suicide car bomb that detonated at a checkpoint. It has obviously been run over by a heavy vehicle, probably a tank since then.

Thanksgiving Fieldtrip cont'd.

More pictures...
















This was a secure little compound within the Green Zone. I was very surprised to discover it. It could have been La Jolla.

















This was the living room of a private residence belonging to one of Saddam's loyalists now used by the military for VIP functions.

















Driving in Baghdad

















Driving in the Green Zone
















Apartment building - some of the units are still used by locals.

Things that go Boom (In a big way)

We have had a major increase in the number of daily attacks on the IZ. My compound seems to be targeted more often too. A few days ago we had seven rounds of RPG Indirect Fire come into the IZ, three of them into my compound and one of them landed just 20 feet from my building. We have had suicide bombs everyday, usually 2-5 a day and gun fire from all directions on and off. Even the most jaded of us is showing the jitters when we hear the "whoosh" of a rocket or mortar flying overhead. Fortunately we have cement bunkers very close by and body armor to wear. The problem is these things are very, very fast. Some rockets travel over 2000 mph. The RPG that landed next to my building is the only one of seven that didn't explode, its fuse never ignited. It is still buried in 10 feet of earth where it struck the ground.

... Gives a whole new meaning to a difficult day.











Chinese 107mm RPG

Came down and clipped this tree

Impacted the ground behind me and buried itself in 10 feet of earth - never exploding. In this pic we had already filled the crater.