A Hard Life...

I've met some interesting people while in the Iraq. Believe it or not there are a lot of locals who work here. In fact many of them actually handle security for private firms throughout the GZ. Every Iraqi I've met has been very kind and polite. The Iraqis speak little English, just a few words, enough to get them through their job requirements. But kindness and sincerity seem to transcend the language barrier. Most of the people doing the dirty work (sweeping, cleaning, laundry, basic maintenance, etc) are Iraqis and most of them are young men who are trying to save a few dollars for their families. Despite their age (late teens to early twenties) they are very polite and respectful. They exhibit none of the typical immature bravado and posturing that most young men do. I don't know whether this is a cultural thing or because life affords them so little options that they don't have the luxury of adolescent arrogance. They work all day in the sun then offer me water when I walk by. It's humbling. Where I work we have two ladies who come in and clean all day, six days a week. One is Christian, the other Muslim and they are very good friends. I have befriended both of them and we are trying to teach each other our native languages. They are better students then I am. One of these ladies, Hifia, is a single mother of three teenagers. She is raising them on her own in a war torn city. Her kids cannot go to school because it is too dangerous. She risks her life every day just walking to and from work. If she is seen cooperating with the Multi-National Forces who occupy the Green Zone she would likely be killed yet she comes here every day because she has to provide for her family. I am constantly surprised by Hifia because despite the conditions she's forced to live in she still finds a way to joke and laugh with me. I don't know what the future holds for her and her kids but I hope very much that it will be better then their life is now.

Where I work and sleep

My room (no more tent - until I travel out of the GZ) is a simple dormitory style room. It's about 8' by 12' and has a small bed, desk and tv. It's more then I expected to be honest. Unfortunately they are not yet protected from mortar/rocket fire but should be within a month or so.

I work in a trailer which is surrounded by 15ft concrete T-walls which are there to protect all those inside from sniper fire and mortar/rocket attacks. Inside it looks like a typical office setting.


This would all seem pretty normal by the looks of it except I hear gun fire and explosions all the time. This is a crazy, surreal place. It is only 750 feet from my room to my office and in between there are 5 different security checkpoints, gaurds with automatic assault riffles and two sniper towers.

Camp Victory

I'm finally in Iraq. We had a break (sort of) in the weather. The visibility increased to about a quarter mile so we threw on our body armor, checked our weapons, loaded our bags and jumped on board a C-130 into BIAP (Baghdad). Here are some pictures of Victory and my accommodations. In a day or two I'll be hitching a ride on an armored truck, part of a convoy into the Green Zone. It should be, ah, "fun."

In Kuwait

I have been in Kuwait for a day now. In many ways it hasn't changed since I was here last for the Gulf War (Desert Storm; `90-`91) except for more commercial growth. My company maintains a few apartments here for our people based in Kuwait and for those of us on our way into Iraq as a place to stay until we can get a military C-130 flight into BIAP and Camp Victory. The weather here hasn't been good and we've had some crazy sand storms since I've arrived which has delayed my departure into Iraq by a few days. Here are some pictures of the oncoming sand storm (just starting) and the apartment I'm staying in.

Heartbreaking...

I think it was the hardest thing I've had to do, saying goodbye to the most important person in my life the morning I left for the long trek to the Middle East.  Seeing so much fear and anxiety in those eyes... I promise, I'll be back safe, sound and in one piece.