We are shutting down today, and heading off for the Intermediate Staging
Base. That won't be much fun, because we will be staying on cots, 200 to a large chicken coop, with about one shower head per 25 soldiers, and very little to do.
Anyway, my connectivity is going to wink out today some time, and probably won't be back until we are safely in Iraq. There may be some time in the interim that I have access; possibly while we're in Kuwait.
So, I won't be posting much until probably mid to late December, 2004. When I resume, I should have plenty to talk about. For example, we are going to road march the brigade from Kuwait, through Bagdahd, to our area in northern Iraq. Should be quite the road trip. No beer or women, but lots of guns.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Monday, October 18, 2004
Talk about stress
While in the Iraqi (simulated) town of Suliyah, trying to pay claims, one of the Captains needed to use the latrine. I went with him to provide cover. We’re not supposed to go anywhere alone. So, we moved tactically to the portapottis. I took cover behind a tree, and covered his advance on the john.
Both johns were occupied, so he took cover and waited. Two soldiers exited at the same time, and sauntered off, apparently unconcerned about security. When they passed my tree, one looked at me, smiled, and said “I’ve been waiting for that for two days. Have you ever had to poop (yes, he said poop) so bad that when you’re done you have a different pants size?”
Both johns were occupied, so he took cover and waited. Two soldiers exited at the same time, and sauntered off, apparently unconcerned about security. When they passed my tree, one looked at me, smiled, and said “I’ve been waiting for that for two days. Have you ever had to poop (yes, he said poop) so bad that when you’re done you have a different pants size?”
Sunday, October 17, 2004
It's a hard life
While I was hanging around while the JAG folks were paying claims, I talked to several soldiers from one of the task forces. Formerly tankers, they are now pretty much infantry.
Things were going OK for them. Plenty of food and bottled water. (Enough that they use it to shower with, since they have no showers.) No enough sleep; never.
They were waiting around to see if they had to take building 25 again. They took it yesterday, and building 10, and had good field of fire down all streets. People could move around, and bad guys couldn't get off a decent shot. However, townsfok didn't like them occuping the building, so the slept in the street to make a point. To mollify them, HQ pulled the soldiers out of Bldgs 10 and 25, and bad guys moved back in. Since they now had the field of fire, no traffic could move in town.
The soldiers were ordered to retake Bldg 25. They did, but were under constant fire from Bldg 10. They then retook Bldg 10. Lost 3 soldiers retaking the bldgs. Traffic flowed again. However, townsfolk again pissed about occupying the bldgs, so soldiers pulled out again. Hence, the sniper when we got there. The soldiers were waiting for word whether they had to re-take the bldgs. Again. Still, spirits up. Looking forward to being done.
Much confidence in each other. No confidence in leadership. Couldn't understand why kept taking and giving up the same ground. Reminds me of Vietnam.
Things were going OK for them. Plenty of food and bottled water. (Enough that they use it to shower with, since they have no showers.) No enough sleep; never.
They were waiting around to see if they had to take building 25 again. They took it yesterday, and building 10, and had good field of fire down all streets. People could move around, and bad guys couldn't get off a decent shot. However, townsfok didn't like them occuping the building, so the slept in the street to make a point. To mollify them, HQ pulled the soldiers out of Bldgs 10 and 25, and bad guys moved back in. Since they now had the field of fire, no traffic could move in town.
The soldiers were ordered to retake Bldg 25. They did, but were under constant fire from Bldg 10. They then retook Bldg 10. Lost 3 soldiers retaking the bldgs. Traffic flowed again. However, townsfolk again pissed about occupying the bldgs, so soldiers pulled out again. Hence, the sniper when we got there. The soldiers were waiting for word whether they had to re-take the bldgs. Again. Still, spirits up. Looking forward to being done.
Much confidence in each other. No confidence in leadership. Couldn't understand why kept taking and giving up the same ground. Reminds me of Vietnam.
Paid claims
The claim paying excursion was a limited success. About 4-5 claims were paid; about 200,000 dinars, or about $200 dollars, mostly to venders whose shops were damaged and inventory lost.
Left at 1400; arrived about 1430. A sniper had the main street pinned down when we go there, so couldn't move around. The "killers" finally ran him off, but then the iman met with the battalion commander about getting electricity. That negotiation took a while. We ended up starting paying claims about 1600-1630; quit around 1730.
Had to search each applicant for weapons before they entered the claims area. That was a corner room on the bottom floor of a 3 story building. Wooden shutters, no glass in the windows. Quite dark.
Two cameras were mounted in each room, and microphones, and motion detectors, to observe the action. Outside, lots more cameras. All part of the training experience. The evaluators record the action, and play it back during the reviews.
Paying the claims should help a bit. According to our intel folks, all towns but one have turned red, and the NGOs have all left because of the dangerous situation. Not going so good for us, but today should help a bit.
Left at 1400; arrived about 1430. A sniper had the main street pinned down when we go there, so couldn't move around. The "killers" finally ran him off, but then the iman met with the battalion commander about getting electricity. That negotiation took a while. We ended up starting paying claims about 1600-1630; quit around 1730.
Had to search each applicant for weapons before they entered the claims area. That was a corner room on the bottom floor of a 3 story building. Wooden shutters, no glass in the windows. Quite dark.
Two cameras were mounted in each room, and microphones, and motion detectors, to observe the action. Outside, lots more cameras. All part of the training experience. The evaluators record the action, and play it back during the reviews.
Paying the claims should help a bit. According to our intel folks, all towns but one have turned red, and the NGOs have all left because of the dangerous situation. Not going so good for us, but today should help a bit.
Paying claims
One of the reasons we've been unseccessful in turning towns in our favor has been our inability to pay claims. The claims team has been going with a larger group, which they have decided hampered their ability to pay claims. So, this afternoon they will sneak out on their own. I am going to go along, to observe. Every time the claims group has gone out, they've been attacked. However, the bad guys knew they were coming.
Not knowing that we are coming may reduce the number of folks who show up, but I think the word will spread. We will coordiante with the mayor or iman when we get there, so the folks should know what's up.
Not knowing that we are coming may reduce the number of folks who show up, but I think the word will spread. We will coordiante with the mayor or iman when we get there, so the folks should know what's up.
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Battle update
We continue to struggle. We lost one of our civil-military affairs guys to day, but that may have been natural selection at work. He left with a large group to go out and pay claims. The group stopped at a FOB, and the CA guy took off with a small group of soldiers, leaving the claims paying staff behind. He went to a small town, where he was warmly greeted. This should have been suspicious because previous reception had been cool. Anyway, they showed him a buiding he could use for his operations. He and his soldiers entered the buiding, and a bomb exploded.
He and his soldiers will be dead for at least 24 hours. They will be on a sandbag filling detail until they are reborn. (Do born again Christians have two belly buttons?) I suspect that the next time he wants to do something stupid, the soldiers the went through sandbag detail will not be too shy to voice concerns.
So, still a lot of amber and red. I think we turned a green town amber, so we're going backward. My sense of things is that they are starting to turn around, and we should start seeing some successes. We'll see.
He and his soldiers will be dead for at least 24 hours. They will be on a sandbag filling detail until they are reborn. (Do born again Christians have two belly buttons?) I suspect that the next time he wants to do something stupid, the soldiers the went through sandbag detail will not be too shy to voice concerns.
So, still a lot of amber and red. I think we turned a green town amber, so we're going backward. My sense of things is that they are starting to turn around, and we should start seeing some successes. We'll see.
3rd Bush-Kerry debate
It appears that most pundits and polls credit Kerry with winning the last debate, and some credit him with a big win. The right wing "media echo chamber" is trying to spin it as a Bush win, or at least a tie, but reality is not cooperating.
I thought that the debate was essentially a tie. I wanted Kerry to attack Bush more, and since he didn’t I was disappointed. However, it appears that Kerry was appealing to certain micro-constituencies, and that the plan worked, given the poll results. He was appealing to women, primarily, and didn’t want to alienate them by being too aggressive.
To me, Bush again came off as unnatural. He seemed to be just trying to act a part, instead of being himself. His attempts at humor seemed forced and lame.
I watched the last two debates with a few 20-something soldiers. I was kind of surprised that they would watch the debates, and surprised that they would hang in there until the end. But they did. They also liked the rougher moments, commenting when a candidate said something pointed. Of the 4 male soldiers, 2 favored Bush, 1 Kerry, and 1 I wasn’t sure about.
I thought that the debate was essentially a tie. I wanted Kerry to attack Bush more, and since he didn’t I was disappointed. However, it appears that Kerry was appealing to certain micro-constituencies, and that the plan worked, given the poll results. He was appealing to women, primarily, and didn’t want to alienate them by being too aggressive.
To me, Bush again came off as unnatural. He seemed to be just trying to act a part, instead of being himself. His attempts at humor seemed forced and lame.
I watched the last two debates with a few 20-something soldiers. I was kind of surprised that they would watch the debates, and surprised that they would hang in there until the end. But they did. They also liked the rougher moments, commenting when a candidate said something pointed. Of the 4 male soldiers, 2 favored Bush, 1 Kerry, and 1 I wasn’t sure about.
Jack the Shitter
We have been experiencing a series of attacks on our shower facilities. Not the showers in the old WWII barracks, but in the rental shower trailers. The trailers are leased and placed near the large modular sleeping tents, for soldiers showers. Well, sombody has been crapping in the showers. Every few days a soldier will discover an unpleasant surprise when going to take a shower. Jack the Shitter has struck. He's also known as the Phantom Shitter. (I'm just assuming it's a male; given the 3700 to 200 ratio of men to women, the odds are in favor of that assumption.)
Some suspect the aviators, because they are known for outrageous behavior. However, we had a similar problem before the aviators arrived, although the MO was different. The earlier problem may have been the act of somebody really drunk; it was in a stall, and the walls had been smeared. The recent events were just a deposit in a shower.
Others suspect our Iraqi interpreters, believing that even though they are working for the US, they still harbor animosity, which they work out in the shower. I dunno. I suggested they take a DNA sample. No leads yet.
Some suspect the aviators, because they are known for outrageous behavior. However, we had a similar problem before the aviators arrived, although the MO was different. The earlier problem may have been the act of somebody really drunk; it was in a stall, and the walls had been smeared. The recent events were just a deposit in a shower.
Others suspect our Iraqi interpreters, believing that even though they are working for the US, they still harbor animosity, which they work out in the shower. I dunno. I suggested they take a DNA sample. No leads yet.
Friday, October 15, 2004
Vegetarian meal
Today I'm having a vegetarian MRE for lunch. It has Cheese and Vegetable Manicotti in Tomato Sauce, Dry Roasted Salted Peanuts, Pound Cake, Saltine-type crackers, Pears, and Peanut Butter. I won't eat the peanuts, pears or pound cake. Guess I don't like food that starts with P.
I will chew the two chiclets and will use the handi-wipe. The rest is garbage.
I will chew the two chiclets and will use the handi-wipe. The rest is garbage.
Pay problems
I am working on travel pay problems. We have in the vicinity of 200 travel pay claims, some of which have been pending since July. When a soldier goes to a school, or some exercise, away from the usual duty station, the soldier gets reimbursed for lodging, meals, etc. We have had hundreds of such claims, but not very many have been paid. Some soldiers are owed thousands of dollars. Some are getting threatened by collection agencies.
The office that should take care of this has not been able to do it, so it has become my duty to do it. This is way out of my lane, but what the hell; the general wants me to do it, so I will.
Very complicated due to the number of claims, the number and variety of documents needed to support the claims, and the agencies involved. We are struggling to put together a comprehensive list to work off of. This will take some time, but I just have to plug away on it.
The office that should take care of this has not been able to do it, so it has become my duty to do it. This is way out of my lane, but what the hell; the general wants me to do it, so I will.
Very complicated due to the number of claims, the number and variety of documents needed to support the claims, and the agencies involved. We are struggling to put together a comprehensive list to work off of. This will take some time, but I just have to plug away on it.
Exercise update
We a bit more than halfway through our exercise, and things are going just OK. We evaluate towns, areas and roads as Green (favorable), Amber (neutral) and Red (hostile). So far we have upgraded any amber to green, or red to amber. We're only 6 days into it, so there is still time.
We have been trying to get some wells tested and get potable water to various towns, and we just got testing done yesterday, so that should help.
We have not been able to pay any claims yet. The first time we sent a claims team out it got mobbed, there was pushing and shoving, and the team withdrew without paying a claim. The second time, the team drove into an ambush and ended up getting several soldiers killed. Of course, it's tough to pay a claim when people are shooting at you.
Our commanders still think in terms of lethal influences on the battlefield, and the operations reflect that. We have many non-lethal means to affect the battlefield, but as yet these are not being effectively brought to bear. For example, our Public Affairs Office can publish the good news of us getting wells tested and water to the Iraqis, which will help turn towns green.
Typically an engagement must have a mix on lethal and non-lethal. So, for the bridge opening ceremony, we would want to publicize it and invite locals, get articles in the local paper and on radio, meet with local leaders, and try to build relationships and good will for our efforts in building and opening the bridge. We also need to sweep the bridge for explosives, patrol the area to prevent getting mortared, set up checkpoints to screen people and vehicles for weapons and explosives, and arrange perimeter security to prevent direct small arms fire.
It is not easy to synchronize the lethal and non-lethal so that everything comes to bear at the right place at the right time.
We have been trying to get some wells tested and get potable water to various towns, and we just got testing done yesterday, so that should help.
We have not been able to pay any claims yet. The first time we sent a claims team out it got mobbed, there was pushing and shoving, and the team withdrew without paying a claim. The second time, the team drove into an ambush and ended up getting several soldiers killed. Of course, it's tough to pay a claim when people are shooting at you.
Our commanders still think in terms of lethal influences on the battlefield, and the operations reflect that. We have many non-lethal means to affect the battlefield, but as yet these are not being effectively brought to bear. For example, our Public Affairs Office can publish the good news of us getting wells tested and water to the Iraqis, which will help turn towns green.
Typically an engagement must have a mix on lethal and non-lethal. So, for the bridge opening ceremony, we would want to publicize it and invite locals, get articles in the local paper and on radio, meet with local leaders, and try to build relationships and good will for our efforts in building and opening the bridge. We also need to sweep the bridge for explosives, patrol the area to prevent getting mortared, set up checkpoints to screen people and vehicles for weapons and explosives, and arrange perimeter security to prevent direct small arms fire.
It is not easy to synchronize the lethal and non-lethal so that everything comes to bear at the right place at the right time.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Indiginous people's country
I went on a four vehicle convoy yesterday. Our planned route was blocked by an IED, so we took an alternate. The alternate road was very poor and muddy, but we had some of the best mud 4-wheeling I've ever experienced.
The alt route took us through the most hostile town in the area. They just looked at us as we drove through, and one fella even waived at me. I thing we surprised them by coming out of the woods on such a poor road.
Visited two FOBs. Now that the rain has stopped, the mud is drying out and conditions are much better. Soldiers are happy; food is good, training is good, but sleep is scarce.
The alt route took us through the most hostile town in the area. They just looked at us as we drove through, and one fella even waived at me. I thing we surprised them by coming out of the woods on such a poor road.
Visited two FOBs. Now that the rain has stopped, the mud is drying out and conditions are much better. Soldiers are happy; food is good, training is good, but sleep is scarce.
Bags mystery redux
The missing bags showed up yesterday, at the very place they disappeared from. Best guess is that they were loaded on a plane to Kuwait. The got there, somebody realized that the bags didn't belong to anyone in Kuwait, and sent them back. We're doing a by-name inventory of the 158 duffle bags.
Monday, October 11, 2004
Dead man walking
As part of the MILES play, we all carry a little envelope that has an injury card in it. If our MILES goes off, we pull out the card and what ever the injury is, is what should be treated. For example, the card might say stepped on mine, foot blown off. The medics or Combat Life Savers would have to treat the injury correctly, withing time specified. Apparently, most deaths are from bleeding to death.
Anyway, under the right light, you can see through the envelope and see what your injury is going to be. Turns out that my card says KIA. If my MILES goes off, I'm toast.
I would have to be evacuated, and the unit has to request a replacement. After a day or so, the replacement comes forward (me) and I'm back in action. Until then, I'm cooling my heels in a holding facility, laying around reading, sleeping, or otherwise doing nothing.
Anyway, under the right light, you can see through the envelope and see what your injury is going to be. Turns out that my card says KIA. If my MILES goes off, I'm toast.
I would have to be evacuated, and the unit has to request a replacement. After a day or so, the replacement comes forward (me) and I'm back in action. Until then, I'm cooling my heels in a holding facility, laying around reading, sleeping, or otherwise doing nothing.
Bridge opening
Part of our play today involves a bridge opening ceremony. We all know that some event is planned for us to react to, but not sure what. Mortar attack, VBIED, sniper, protest, etc. It kicked off today at 1000. It is now 1050 and nothing yet (that we know of in the TOC). What will it be?....
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Outside the wire
The exercise has kicked off. One of our battalion operations was attacked, and we had 2 WIA and 1 KIA. Simulated, of course. They were delivering water to an Iraqi village and the convoy was attacked.
I went to one of the outlying FOBs, and then to the HQ of the Iraqi National Guard. As we left the ING FOB, one of the guards was hollering at us "You no good! Go home." I guess he was angry because he needed boots, and we didn't have any for him.
My convoy took off and left me at the first FOB. My lunch and rain gear was in one of the HUMMVs that took off, so I was feeling pretty stranded. However, got a ride back to our FOB without much problem.
Saw some anti-American graffiti. "Die American" and the like. There are lots of real Iraqis here as roleplayers. We have 4 sitting outside the door to my office listening to ZVOT radio play Iraqi music. It doesn't have a good beat and you can't dance to it, so it doesn't do much for me.
Each time our convoy stopped, I contemplated my actions if we got attacked. I was really hoping that we would not be attacked, because that would involve me having to flop down in the mud. Each time I rode with someone new - twice - we worked out our drill if we were attacked. Who gets out of the vehicle first, who lays down suppressive fire, which side of the vehicle we go to, etc. Luckily, no attack. Even so I'm muddy up to my knees just from walking around.
The soldiers in the outlying FOBS, most of the brigade, will be in large tents for the next 10 days. There are no showers on the FOBs. They will to prop up a watercan on a vehicle and barely open the cap to serve as a shower. The tricky part will be for the females, assuming that they don't want to shower in the open. 10 days of mud and no showers. That's living. They did say the food is better in the FOBs.
I went to one of the outlying FOBs, and then to the HQ of the Iraqi National Guard. As we left the ING FOB, one of the guards was hollering at us "You no good! Go home." I guess he was angry because he needed boots, and we didn't have any for him.
My convoy took off and left me at the first FOB. My lunch and rain gear was in one of the HUMMVs that took off, so I was feeling pretty stranded. However, got a ride back to our FOB without much problem.
Saw some anti-American graffiti. "Die American" and the like. There are lots of real Iraqis here as roleplayers. We have 4 sitting outside the door to my office listening to ZVOT radio play Iraqi music. It doesn't have a good beat and you can't dance to it, so it doesn't do much for me.
Each time our convoy stopped, I contemplated my actions if we got attacked. I was really hoping that we would not be attacked, because that would involve me having to flop down in the mud. Each time I rode with someone new - twice - we worked out our drill if we were attacked. Who gets out of the vehicle first, who lays down suppressive fire, which side of the vehicle we go to, etc. Luckily, no attack. Even so I'm muddy up to my knees just from walking around.
The soldiers in the outlying FOBS, most of the brigade, will be in large tents for the next 10 days. There are no showers on the FOBs. They will to prop up a watercan on a vehicle and barely open the cap to serve as a shower. The tricky part will be for the females, assuming that they don't want to shower in the open. 10 days of mud and no showers. That's living. They did say the food is better in the FOBs.
Saturday, October 09, 2004
MILES
Multiple Integrated Laser E(something) System gear. We have to wear it until the exercise is over. A transmitter attaches to whatever weapon we have, and we wear a harness of receivers on our helmets and torsos. The laser is activated when the weapon shoots a blank round. (Or when you bang on the transmitter) If you shoot somebody, a speaker squeals in the soldier's ear until a key is removed from the weapon transmitter and inserted into the receiver harness, thereby stopping the squeal and rendering the weapon useless.
It's pretty cumbersome and inconvenient to wear, and generally a pain in the ass. Works pretty well though. 1970s technology.
It's pretty cumbersome and inconvenient to wear, and generally a pain in the ass. Works pretty well though. 1970s technology.
I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK
Bush does indeed have an ownership interest in a timber company. According to Factcheck.org. He has some unspecified interest in The Lone Star Trust, which owns 50% of LSTF LLC, a company organized for the purpose of production of trees for commercial sale. It's not clear whether he owns the entire Lone Star Trust, or just some interest.
In any event, even though he mocked Kerry for mentioning the lumber company, Bush was wrong when he said (paraphrasing) "Don't you think I'd know it if I owned a lumber company?" I guess not.
In any event, even though he mocked Kerry for mentioning the lumber company, Bush was wrong when he said (paraphrasing) "Don't you think I'd know it if I owned a lumber company?" I guess not.
Snack food platter
When we go through the breakfast chow line, we sign for breakfast, and also sign for a lunch meal. We have a choice of an MRE, or a "Jimmy Dean". The JDs aren't really made by JD anymore, although they used to be, and thus the name.
I call them the Snack Food Platter. The one on my desk for today's lunch (I usually get the MRE) has 7 items. Most are snack food items you can buy in the PX. It contains: one 3 oz can Beef in BBQ Sauce, one hamburger bun to put it on, one 4 oz Motts Apple Sauce, one 1 3/4 can Pringles Sour Cream and Onion potato chips, 6 Oreo cookies, one 7 oz can of Chef Boyardee Beefaroni, and one 11.5 oz can of Welch's Orange-Pineapple juice.
Without counting the apple sauce, which has no data label, this meal has 1275 calories, 48 grams of fat, 150 grams of carbs, 67 grams of sugar, and 1480 grams of sodium. It has more of all these than in MRE, except the sodium. A Chicken Salsa MRE has 1040 calories, 45 g fat, 119 g carbs, 38 g sugar, and 2750 g sodium.
I call them the Snack Food Platter. The one on my desk for today's lunch (I usually get the MRE) has 7 items. Most are snack food items you can buy in the PX. It contains: one 3 oz can Beef in BBQ Sauce, one hamburger bun to put it on, one 4 oz Motts Apple Sauce, one 1 3/4 can Pringles Sour Cream and Onion potato chips, 6 Oreo cookies, one 7 oz can of Chef Boyardee Beefaroni, and one 11.5 oz can of Welch's Orange-Pineapple juice.
Without counting the apple sauce, which has no data label, this meal has 1275 calories, 48 grams of fat, 150 grams of carbs, 67 grams of sugar, and 1480 grams of sodium. It has more of all these than in MRE, except the sodium. A Chicken Salsa MRE has 1040 calories, 45 g fat, 119 g carbs, 38 g sugar, and 2750 g sodium.
Senators
We are expecting a visit today from 2 senators, and 1 representative. I expect they will get an eyeful. Conditions suck right now. It has been raining for a couple of days, and it is very muddy here. The battalions moved out to the field yesterday, and are finding various problems. Some areas don't have portable shitters yet. Another FOB has no cots, so last night the soldiers slept on the ground. I do think they had a big tent to sleep in, so hopefully they didn't have to sleep in mud.
I expect the soldiers won't be real happy when the senators come by for a visit.
Escorting senators tends to distract the leadership from the task at hand, especially when such a large contingent arrives. I don't know what the senator to strap-hanger ratio is, but I'm sure it's large. My usual plan is to fly under the radar while they're here.
I expect the soldiers won't be real happy when the senators come by for a visit.
Escorting senators tends to distract the leadership from the task at hand, especially when such a large contingent arrives. I don't know what the senator to strap-hanger ratio is, but I'm sure it's large. My usual plan is to fly under the radar while they're here.
Bush-Kerry Friday Debates
Well, I guess Bush did better this time around, although I think that Kerry did a better job. Bush was way agitated. You could tell by his tense body posture, and especially by the way he blinked like a madman while listening to Kerry.
I'm really curious about the "anyone want some wood" comment. Either Kerry screwed up his reference about Bush owning a lumber business, or Bush doesn't know what he does own. I saw a reference on another blog that Bush has an ownership interest in a lumber company, which is what I figured Bush was talking about. I think this could be one of those sound bites that comes to haunt the incorrect candidate. I think Bush's reaction was strange. It struck me that he was trying to taunt Kerry, sort of high-schoolish.
Kerry seemed relaxed and human. However, I was a bit put off by his assertion "I have a plan." The first few times were OK, but it got old, and ended up sounding hollow.
All in all, Bush did better than before, Kerry did well. I'm looking forward to the next one.
I'm really curious about the "anyone want some wood" comment. Either Kerry screwed up his reference about Bush owning a lumber business, or Bush doesn't know what he does own. I saw a reference on another blog that Bush has an ownership interest in a lumber company, which is what I figured Bush was talking about. I think this could be one of those sound bites that comes to haunt the incorrect candidate. I think Bush's reaction was strange. It struck me that he was trying to taunt Kerry, sort of high-schoolish.
Kerry seemed relaxed and human. However, I was a bit put off by his assertion "I have a plan." The first few times were OK, but it got old, and ended up sounding hollow.
All in all, Bush did better than before, Kerry did well. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Friday, October 08, 2004
Iraq reconstruction
http://www.slate.com/id/2107914/
This link is to a Slate article describing how little of the appropriated reconstruction money for Iraq has actually been spent, about 7%. An excerpt:
More damning are the report's figures on Iraqi reconstruction. Yes, the U.S. Congress has appropriated $18.4 billion for this effort; but, according to the report, the authorities on the ground in Iraq have spent just $1.3 billion—about 7 percent of the money set aside.
Ya know, you'd think that the young out of work men that have nothing better to do than shoot at Americans would benefit from getting a job. They'd be at work instead of shooting RPGs, and, they'd have an interest in continuing to get a paycheck so they'd probably be less interested in screwing up the reconstruction. Must be really difficult to find a subcontractor to hire Iraqis and get them to work. Must be. Otherwise, we'd do it, wouldn't we?
This link is to a Slate article describing how little of the appropriated reconstruction money for Iraq has actually been spent, about 7%. An excerpt:
More damning are the report's figures on Iraqi reconstruction. Yes, the U.S. Congress has appropriated $18.4 billion for this effort; but, according to the report, the authorities on the ground in Iraq have spent just $1.3 billion—about 7 percent of the money set aside.
Ya know, you'd think that the young out of work men that have nothing better to do than shoot at Americans would benefit from getting a job. They'd be at work instead of shooting RPGs, and, they'd have an interest in continuing to get a paycheck so they'd probably be less interested in screwing up the reconstruction. Must be really difficult to find a subcontractor to hire Iraqis and get them to work. Must be. Otherwise, we'd do it, wouldn't we?
Mystery of the bags
Well, I have tracked the bags to the airfield. They were last seen by the people I talk to about 1 hour after the plane lifted off. They were in a locked truck. Now all I have to do is find the guy that unloaded the truck. He is 5'10", 200 lbs, hispanic, and has a ponytail that drops to the middle his back. Thank God for the pony tail; that should narrow it down from 56 to just 3 or 4. Either the bags are here somewhere, or in Kuwait. You'd think that if they are in Kuwait, someone would call and let us know. But, not so far.
Spinning up
At 0001 hrs today we started to wear our "battle rattle", or as it's more affectionately known, our crap. We'll get to wear this until the end of the exercise, or "endex". When I was first in the Army, I thought this was "index", and had no idea what it meant. Now, it has become one of the sweetest words in the military lexicon. Basically it means, there will be an end to the horror.
All of our building are "hardened," so we can take off our crap while we're inside, which is nice. Just have to wear it while outside. It also means that we don't have to go outside and get into a simulated bunker during mortar attacks. We can just roll over and go back to sleep, for night attacks. The killers, who live in tents, will have to wear it much more than we REMFs.
We haven't really had Startex yet. We seem to be easing into it, starting wearing our gear, etc. before the actual play begins. Was supposed to be a 10 day exercise, but since we're starting early, either it will be longer than 10 days, or it will end earlier. Hopefully the latter, so we can move to our next station earlier. The next stop is the Intermediate Staging Base (ISB), which will be no fun. More on that later. I just want to get moved so I can get my shit set up so I can go on leave, which I will do right after endex.
All of our building are "hardened," so we can take off our crap while we're inside, which is nice. Just have to wear it while outside. It also means that we don't have to go outside and get into a simulated bunker during mortar attacks. We can just roll over and go back to sleep, for night attacks. The killers, who live in tents, will have to wear it much more than we REMFs.
We haven't really had Startex yet. We seem to be easing into it, starting wearing our gear, etc. before the actual play begins. Was supposed to be a 10 day exercise, but since we're starting early, either it will be longer than 10 days, or it will end earlier. Hopefully the latter, so we can move to our next station earlier. The next stop is the Intermediate Staging Base (ISB), which will be no fun. More on that later. I just want to get moved so I can get my shit set up so I can go on leave, which I will do right after endex.
Lost luggage
I have been tasked to fing missing duffle bags. Our soldiers loaded their duffle bags onto trucks on October 2, and have never seem then again. The loading was disorganized. The original plan was to put bags for a specific flight on a truck, then load the bags on the aircraft with the corresponding soldiers. However, soldiers being soldiers, they loaded the trucks with as many bags as they could, mixing up the loads. So, bags were shipped without soldiers, and vice versa. We now have about 60 soldiers with missing bags.
We are scrambling here to issue them gear, and to put in claims for lost items, but Plan A is still to find the missing stuff. The guys on the shipping end insist that everything has been checked, and no bags are there. Haven't had a chance yet to talk to the folks on the receiving end. It's a mystery.
We are scrambling here to issue them gear, and to put in claims for lost items, but Plan A is still to find the missing stuff. The guys on the shipping end insist that everything has been checked, and no bags are there. Haven't had a chance yet to talk to the folks on the receiving end. It's a mystery.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Still alive
So far, still able to update. Hopefully I can run under the radar.
Last night we continued to brief our order for the upcoming exercise. We are kicking things off soon. I have seen our Observer/Controllers(OCs) all over the place, starting to show us how to do our mission, and what they expect.
You can always tell an OC. To begin with, they are in green uniforms, we are in desert tan. They never take their hats off in a building. Not sure how they get away with this, given the Army Reg requiring hats off in a building. Also, many of them have chairs strapped to their bodies, rather, hanging off their web gear. Small X shaped chairs with canvas tops, that fold flat. What does it say about a guy that he always wants to have a chair around. I like to always have a book around, but not to sit on.
The staff has been busily working up our order. However, they departed from the Boss's guidance, and got their butts chewed, so they had to go back and redo the work. This caused the subordinate units to scramble and adjust what they had prepared.
Last night we continued to brief our order for the upcoming exercise. We are kicking things off soon. I have seen our Observer/Controllers(OCs) all over the place, starting to show us how to do our mission, and what they expect.
You can always tell an OC. To begin with, they are in green uniforms, we are in desert tan. They never take their hats off in a building. Not sure how they get away with this, given the Army Reg requiring hats off in a building. Also, many of them have chairs strapped to their bodies, rather, hanging off their web gear. Small X shaped chairs with canvas tops, that fold flat. What does it say about a guy that he always wants to have a chair around. I like to always have a book around, but not to sit on.
The staff has been busily working up our order. However, they departed from the Boss's guidance, and got their butts chewed, so they had to go back and redo the work. This caused the subordinate units to scramble and adjust what they had prepared.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Doomed?
I just tried to check my blog. The Fort Polk tech folks block many websites, and have now blocked my blog. Whether I can keep posting is uncertain. I had been able to see my blog, but big brother has sniffed it out and now it's off limits to me. Hopefully my ability to post will stay under the radar. I feel so subversive and clandestine now.
Fort Polk
Well, we've moved into Fort Polk, LA. We're for additional training before heading over to Iraq. First impression is that we are in a real hole. However, I guess that is relative. It seems likes our barracks and working spaces are really run down, and they are. However, I just talked to a captain who moved into the barracks from the field, and his soldiers are pretty happy. A shower, beds, roof, etc.
Our buildings have asbestos tiles, and warning signs that say, don't disturb the tiles, though normal houskeeping is OK. Many people, including me, are sneezing. Probably just from all the damn dirt, but I keep thinking about asbestos dust.
It has been raining every couple of days, which means we track in mud. When we sweep up, it kicks up a bunch of dust; that is probably what is making folks sneeze.
Our exercise kicks off in a few days, and we will then have to start wearing our gear, and carrying our weapons.
My barracks room is OK. It has an air conditioner, which is nice. Pretty rough walls, lumpy and stained mattress, perpetually dirty floor. Last night I returned to my room and saw ants crawling all over the top bunk. They came down from a crack in the ceiling, and had found a pillow case I'd placed on the top bunk. It used to have goodies sent to me by my co-workers back home, and I guess it attracted the ants. Brushed them off, and got rid of the pillow case, but I felt buggy all night. Did find one crawling on me, but just one.
Our buildings have asbestos tiles, and warning signs that say, don't disturb the tiles, though normal houskeeping is OK. Many people, including me, are sneezing. Probably just from all the damn dirt, but I keep thinking about asbestos dust.
It has been raining every couple of days, which means we track in mud. When we sweep up, it kicks up a bunch of dust; that is probably what is making folks sneeze.
Our exercise kicks off in a few days, and we will then have to start wearing our gear, and carrying our weapons.
My barracks room is OK. It has an air conditioner, which is nice. Pretty rough walls, lumpy and stained mattress, perpetually dirty floor. Last night I returned to my room and saw ants crawling all over the top bunk. They came down from a crack in the ceiling, and had found a pillow case I'd placed on the top bunk. It used to have goodies sent to me by my co-workers back home, and I guess it attracted the ants. Brushed them off, and got rid of the pillow case, but I felt buggy all night. Did find one crawling on me, but just one.
Friday, October 01, 2004
BUsh-Kerry debates
I didn't get to see the debates last night, but I did get to briefly listen to them on the radio while driving to dinner. Bush sounded peeved, and like he was having difficulty getting his words out. The pundits seem to be saying the same thing.
We're packing and moving today, and most folks are preoccupied with that task, so I haven't had a chance to talk about the debates with anyone. The one person I did talk to, who watched the debates in the chow hall, couldn't hear very well. Also, he is one of the few democrats here, so he was predisposed to think poorly of Bush.
We're getting on a bus about 2330 tonight, and will board a plane not too long thereafter. Won't get much sleep tonight, I guess. Also, will be on the plane with body armor and weapons, so I don't expect to comfortable a flight.
We're packing and moving today, and most folks are preoccupied with that task, so I haven't had a chance to talk about the debates with anyone. The one person I did talk to, who watched the debates in the chow hall, couldn't hear very well. Also, he is one of the few democrats here, so he was predisposed to think poorly of Bush.
We're getting on a bus about 2330 tonight, and will board a plane not too long thereafter. Won't get much sleep tonight, I guess. Also, will be on the plane with body armor and weapons, so I don't expect to comfortable a flight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)