Okay so Bin Laden is dead...good for the folks in America but tonight I have to sleep in kevlar. It's one of the many great things about being 30 miles from Iraq and 45 miles away from Iran and 2 hours away from Kuwait. And another thing it's kinda tacky with the whole dancing in the streets thing that's going on over there. Don't get me wrong I'm not a Bin Laden fan, but do you remember how tacky we thought it was when they danced on 911? Well anyway the CO put it out in the Departement Head meeting tonight that everyone is to be on high aleret. The Secret Squriell shit that happens out here has been amped up to the point that it's out of control.
One of the interesting things about being out here is that you get to work hand in hand with the Iraqi Marines. Most of them are an alright group but like everything else you have a couple that spoils it for it everyone. They're head officer General Hamad is super awesome. He knows about as much English as I do Farsae but he finds the most interesting way of communicating with you. Every morning I have to brief him and my CO about certain issues (yes I do A LOT more than just weather out here) and every morning when he comes in the first thing he does is kiss me on the cheek and call me friend. Don't worry that's just how they do things. There's also a Pvt Ali with whom I join outside every now and then for a quick smoke and he actually knows enough English to carry on a converstaion. For instance I know that he's from Baghdad and he's 18...lol. Another weird thing and I was talking to one of the officers about it, is the fact that the higher ups use to serve under Sadam, and I got the back story on General Hamad, he actually was the first General to defect and help us out. The more you get to know these people you begin to see that things might be coming full circle for them. They love to talk about America and how they hope that one day Iraq will be the same, and to be honest after centries of operstion I think they deserve the chance.
Well enough reflection for right now I have to be up early in the morning...Oh and I don't have to shave for 15 days! We are having a contest to see who can grow the baddest beard! GAME ON!
One of the interesting things about being out here is that you get to work hand in hand with the Iraqi Marines. Most of them are an alright group but like everything else you have a couple that spoils it for it everyone. They're head officer General Hamad is super awesome. He knows about as much English as I do Farsae but he finds the most interesting way of communicating with you. Every morning I have to brief him and my CO about certain issues (yes I do A LOT more than just weather out here) and every morning when he comes in the first thing he does is kiss me on the cheek and call me friend. Don't worry that's just how they do things. There's also a Pvt Ali with whom I join outside every now and then for a quick smoke and he actually knows enough English to carry on a converstaion. For instance I know that he's from Baghdad and he's 18...lol. Another weird thing and I was talking to one of the officers about it, is the fact that the higher ups use to serve under Sadam, and I got the back story on General Hamad, he actually was the first General to defect and help us out. The more you get to know these people you begin to see that things might be coming full circle for them. They love to talk about America and how they hope that one day Iraq will be the same, and to be honest after centries of operstion I think they deserve the chance.
Well enough reflection for right now I have to be up early in the morning...Oh and I don't have to shave for 15 days! We are having a contest to see who can grow the baddest beard! GAME ON!
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