We tripped a light Route Irish…

Today I strolled into the office – later than usual due the "extended" working hours of my new position and was told "grab your battle rattle and mount up… We're goin for a ride." Uh Yeah! They definitely got my attention - Excitement and Tension all at once. Up until this moment I was pretty certain I was relegated to the Hell of never seeing anything but the four walls of my hooch and the four walls of my office. I walk out the door to see my first real daylight convoy. OK – We're really going for a ride. I've had the opportunity to travel around the IZ once before - no biggie - but we headed out past the CP to the "dreaded Red Zone." We end up on Route Irish, The road the media have dubbed "The most dangerous road in Iraq." This is the highway between downtown Baghdad and BIAP. I check my weapon – always be prepared – Damn I wish I'd oiled this thing last week. While I keep my head on a swivel, what is most apparent is the lack of anything but trash on the road side. It reminds me of Tijuana (only TJ is clean in comparison.) Four years ago this was the scene of some pretty harsh fighting and more recently IED attacks and ambushes. At the moment it's a fairly empty road. I don't deny the possibility of danger but after all the build up from the media and my recent experience of insurgent shelling and the action around Haifa Street, Route Irish was…well rather uneventful and anti-climatic.

Morrissey almost had it right...

I asked our YN2, "How you doin today?" A typical question I ask most people I run into. What's astonishing to most is my genuine interest. Her response? "I'm fine thank you sir. Just another day" I counter "But it's Friday" And at the very moment I say it I have the same realization that she confirms with her wry smile and short reply. "Everyday is Monday here sir." She's right of course. I've lost track of what Friday actually feels like. When you work 7 days a week, 14 -16+ hours a day, getting 4 hours of, sometimes uninterrupted, sleep, and receive incoming "fun" of all sorts - everyday becomes the same. I just haven't been here long enough to stop intuitively knowing what day it actually is. Routine goes beyond rut. Normal exceeds mundane. Time sort of stands still. Truly bizarre. I was chatting with a friend in the blast shelter (Post BOOM and vibrating wall of glass) yesterday and we both realized that the explosions and close calls are the only things that make your day interesting. How telling is it when you are so starved for external stimulus that you are actually excited about an event that carries the possibility of violent death or dismemberment? In the words of my dear friend Matt "It's all fun and games til someone looses and eye!"

Oh by the way Matt – we have ultimate Frisbee teams here in the IZ – Go figure!

Toto… We're definitely not in Kansas anymore!

Sure things happen here all the time. It's a war zone. But in the confines of where I work it tends to get lost in all the politics. Seems no matter where I go I find myself in the most "challenging" of positions and my new role here is by no means different. This could be the inner sanctum of Warner Bros. but I liken it more to my days at Disney. However at both of those places I never had to think about the walls shaking, the glass blowing inward, and shrapnel tearing through the concrete and mortar. Things have been a bit tense here over the past couple of days. Watch the news and you know that. My roommate had a rocket land a couple hundred yards away the other night. That may not seem close but it got his attention enough to keep him up all night so he could call his kids and hear their voice. Today it was my turn. It was closer than a couple hundred yards. I was in the middle of politics when the rocket came in. Let's just say I've got great reflexes. My duck in cover definitely squatted and quacked. The concrete barriers and the glass film sealant did their job well and were all that kept the room from spraying with shards. To be sure I and all my folks here are safe… we went back to the meeting at hand after all the war must go on. Just another day in the neighborhood and another night in paradise.

By the way I've been here a month today! Yippee forever to go!

Sobering note for people sending packages

Hey all, just a quick note on Matt's behalf. If you're sending stuff to him, don't use your own address as the return. Evidently insurgents and sympathizers have been pulling the return addresses off of packages and sending hate mail back to the States. It may be isolated cases and/or higher-profile individuals, but better safe than sorry.

"What you are against weakens you…What you are for empowers you!" - W Dyer.

For some time now folks have asked me questions I am reluctant to lend my opinion to... "Is there a civil war in Iraq?" "Are we losing the War?" "When will we bring our troops home?" "When will America's team get back to the Super bowl?" At the end of the day, answers to these questions are opinions and may have no bearing in fact. I firmly believe that my position in the armed services (Plus being Native Texan) gives people 1) an automatic stereotype of my beliefs whether factual or not and 2) gives me some sort of credibility whether warranted or not. - "Image is everything;" Working in LA, I accept that. Therefore except for my closest of friends, I am reluctant to respond with a solid opinion either way; I try to remain objective as possible. (Insert laughing from close friends) I also try to keep this blog as entertaining as possible and stay away from substantial polarizing politics… except perhaps on the topic of Texas which there are no politics - we're always right – even when we're sorta not - which never really happens! I obviously believe humor is the best answer to every conflict. That said, it's the day after my Commander and Chief gave a pivotal speech on our new strategy that affects me and my brothers and sisters in arms directly. I am currently "boots on the ground" in a position were I'm voraciously learning and analyzing everything. Further and probably more importantly, I've been told by many of you (esp. in "the industry") I'm the only military representative you have. I'm your personal face to this war. Admittedly I'm in a unique position. I've been informed that I'm doing a disservice, neigh; I'm negligent if I don't give you some sort of perspective. After all I have responsibilities… So I will compromise - I'm not comfortable espousing ALL my opinions (unless were talking TEXAS of course) so if I'm gonna do this, I'm takin the high road. I will tell you what I am for as it serves to… as Dr. Dyer say's… Empower me!

1. I am FOR finishing what WE started: We all know the history… ""Mistakes made… Spilt milk" - not gonna argue the past cause it's over for all of us. From the 5'9 view, leaving the Government of Iraq (GOI) while it is still in an embryonic stage will compound one mistake with another mistake. The likely outbreak of an all out "uncivil" regional/world war to follow will only bring us back in bigger bloodier numbers. The $8.00 + gallon of gas will just make us all nauseous and broke. (Except a few Texans who still have wells pumping light sweet crude) ;-p A premature exit will encourage extremist and prove we have no fighting spirit or commitment to finish what we start will only invite more hardship.

2. I am FOR individual freedoms for all people: Iraqis, Americans, etc. - having the opportunity of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of happiness free from persecution - religious or otherwise: Big one go figure! Without #1, #2 ain't happenin!

3. I am FOR Iraqi self-rule: accentuating points #1 and #2 – Any Texan ought a clearly identify with this one… Let's help get some stability, finish training up their army, and get the hell out.

4. I am FOR Administrative Execution with Congressional Oversight and Accountability: Single Party governing got us here. We need Bi-Partisan compromise to help get us on track. Define success, define budgets and benchmarks, mount pressure to keep things moving, and quite possibly let us leave this place better than we found it. We can argue about who should eat crow later. Set the goal, focus on the mission at hand and let's get out.

5. I am FOR everyone learning something about Islam and the Middle East: Gaining some real insight and empathy for this place and those who live here, you will understand point #1 even more, you may just buy us a few brownie points and we might even learn we have a thing or two in common – hmmm… better not emphasize this point to strongly or my friends from Berkley will label me a closet hippie! (You know who you are! It's not true!)

6. I am FOR development of Alternative fuel sources: Self explanatory… btw: This is Heresy for a Texan!

7. I am FOR being home at Christmas: Like almost everyone here, I want to see my friends and family - but not at the cost of point # 1, 2 or 3 - nuff said.

Steps off Soap Box - exits stage left. "I'm hungry! Any one else want some Ice Cream?"

I have but one request…

I feel the need to apologize for not consistently posting things on the site. Yes a ton of things have happened… and yes I’ve documented them… I have several entries almost ready for posting - give me time and I promise they will be on the site; back dated and everything. Please bear with me and look back to find new entries. My real challenge has been constant transit, getting decent berthing and finding steady stable consistent access. Thankfully I have little elves to help me out with future posting. The good news for all of you is that my morale is a bit low at the moment and I’ve been instructed by command to work a hobby such as writing home – something to get thing to distract me from the routine that is now my life.. Thus more writing and more stories for you. Unfortunately for me… my challenge is to provide you stories while maintaining Operational Security and getting sleep. (It takes me a while to put my thoughts “on paper”) Oh and yes I am suffering from insomnia once again … something my over active mind has put me through many times in my life.

On to my request… Before coming here I thought I knew a bit about Islam and the Middle East. Now I realize I knew nothing. To answer your most common question – No this place is not like what you see in the Media… It is SO MUCH MORE COMPLEX. You cannot begin to explain this area in a 30 minute news broadcast much less a 45 second sound bite. Yes I hear explosions…Yes I hear small arms fire… Yes I see things beyond description… but deeper than all of that is a story… 1500 years in the making. You want to help me and all my battle buddies come home? Discover some of the pillars of Islam and get smart! Get smart real fast… Pursuit of Knowledge is highly regarded in Islam (apparently Mohammad once said that an hour in the pursuit of knowledge is better than 70 years of praying). I request that you go on-line, go to the library, hell go to Mecca, I don’t care where but learn about History of the Middle East and the influence of religion in the region. Learn about Sunnis, Shiites, Ashura and Husayn, Eid ul-Adha, Ramadan, the Caliphs, and the Imams. I realize that’s a large bite to swallow but until Jack and Jill America truly understand the situation here, we are really building up a world of hurt for ourselves and our posterity both in the US and Middle East.

Happy New Year from Saddam's Palace!

Merry Xmas from Baghdad!

As requested from the LT 03.

Matt had a few requests, so I thought I'd post them here. If you have time please feel free to chip in!! Let me know so I can cross them off this list :)

• 2 camping chairs with cup holders (He has 1 broken chair in his room!)
• Sticky back coat hangers - u know the ones you stick on the wall.
  
• Cheap DVD player (the $29.99 kind)
• Microfiber Fleece Blanket
• DVDs & other "Hollywood/WB/Disney" related paraphernalia
• Movie Posters!
• Books, magazines, reading materials..

In regards to food, I was told NOT to send any food because they do not have a shortage of it. But, anything that reminds him of home is welcome!

Mailing Address

All, a mailing address is now available for Matt. If you need it, please let me know. I can not post it on the blog for security reasons. Thanks! mowie

Woof, wuf ruff wuif roof wuuuf, wuf wo-Oof!

That translates to, "Hi Matt, Take care of the bad guys and come home soon. I miss my exercise coach! - Barklee"

Glad to see your posts!! :) Stay safe...

- jen