OIF Balad, Part Deux

Posted by: Alphie, 5:53 PM GMT on April 03, 2008

Hey blog heads, sorry I haven't written in a while, keep forgetting to write a little something for ya. Nothing much has changed here. The burp in Basra was really over before it started. Seems the "powers" behind Al Sadr wised up without him in the country, read he's in Iran, so they calmed down. I was impressed by the PM's take on the matter and with a lot of help, matters calmed down quickly. Thank God.

We were prepared to take whatever was dished at us. One can surmise that the Iraqi Security Forces are still not quite up to what they should be, so my guess is we will not be pulling any forces out of Iraq anytime soon. I read stories on the news posts that some ISF actually gave up their weapons, refusing to fight their "brothers" contrary to orders from their PM. Yikes, we are going to be here for 100 years. John McCain is right, and the dems are not being real. I have felt their "tone" change over the past few weeks from, "oh were pulling out" to "we'll have to evaluate that as we go along." That's code for 100 years. We might not be in Iraq, but from what the Qatar base looks like, the US is already establishing a 99 year lease base. Unlike Vietnam, Iraq has a great strategic value to our country. Yep, your right, the old oil barrel.

Interesting article I read and later looked up about Honda. Appears they are offering a new car, fits between the Civic and Accord, called the Clarity. This is the first limited production Hydrogen car made available to the public (Southern California only). Leasing only for three years, $600/month. Wow, you have to see this car Clarity, from Honda. Well kids, you want to know why Detroit is going under??? Here's an example, take a clue from the watch/camera/computer/TV and just about everything else category, the Asians are about to out do us...again. GM/Ford/Chrysler had better wake up and wake up yesterday. I'm sure Toyota, Mazda and slick Kia won't be far behind. Read up on this baby from Honda. It actually runs off Hydrogen, which can be refueled at select locations, plus your home. They are also working on a device which will literally compress hydrogen down from your natural gas pipe, refilling your car at home. Interesting concept, filling the tank in your own garage. That's why I drive a Honda Odyssey! Takes care of my little family.

Weather buffs, it hasn't rained here in a month. The ground is beginning to crack. I feel sorry for the little lizards that I scare on the way home at night. Fast critters, don't think I'll ever accidently step on them, way too fast for that. But, got to thinking...the large doves and pigeons, yes, I said doves, probably don't mind the meal once and while. I wondered why the birds here looked so healthy. No cats, plenty of lizards for their belly. Strange things in the Iraqi desert.

I spoke earlier about a trend, forget that, our trend has started to creep upward. Another "trend" if you will, injuries also seem to be more severe. Our numbers of critically wounded seem to be climbing. You know why, of course, the infamous IED. My only hope is the MRAP will solve this problem.

We are preparing for home. Some of us only have one month left and our replacements will start pouring in at the end of April. I only hope there is no delay. The paperwork for departure and delays seems a bit on the bureaucratic side, but tolerable. Even in these days of the internet and MS-Office, seems you still have to have a memo, signed and dated for a ticket out of here. We have been provided with a couple of scanners. This really helps "sending" memos and information. Catch is, there is a learning curve with scanners...not quite as user friendly as a FAX machine. Ours saw an untimely death right after moving into our new home...several months ago (it feels great to say that!). So, I have ordered a new toy, the Digital Sender which I hope will help with our DEAD FAX problem. Our HP alln1 is about dead as well. So much for desert sand in tiny places.

Thanks again for all your uplifting comments. I'll let you know more as we get closer to home. Speaking of home, today we saw a video of a Marine, who's been away for over a year and met his dog at the airport. What a sight. The dog was so overjoyed, jumping and licking his owner, he was all over him, like a child or spouse. I hope my pup is like that, remembers me as well. Take care all of you.

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An attempt at literary adventure in the wonderful weather paradise of Balad, Iraq...from a flying-medical commander's perspective

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