A day in Baghdad

So I just got out of a meeting and here are some samples of your tax dollars (assuming your American) at work:

A local merchant got word to the US military hat the insurgents are using his building to store weapons. He owns the building and sublets the ground floor to shops. The insurgents who rented his ground floor shops said they were going to open a grocery, but instead are using it as a weapons cache.

He doesn’t want any trouble and he doesn’t want the insurgents in his building so he tells the US about it and asks them to clear them out. He doesn’t have to do this, he’s risking his life, but he does. He’s just a guy who doesn’t want any trouble.

So, the US blows up his building. Then they pay out reparations to all his tenants, that would be the insurgents who owned the weapons they blew up. But this guy can’t seem to get the US to pay him any reparations. Nice.

Othe nuggets: The insurgency is demanding 15% of all US military funded reconstruction contracts in Fallujah and they know how much the contracts are for, because they have infiltrated the Iraqi staff. So now, people in Fallujah believe that the US is knowingly funding the insurgency so that the can maintain a presence in Iraq. Again, Nice.

And people say Americans do get irony, we are irony.

Happy Thanksgiving Countrymen, save a drumstick for me.

Ah, it’s a mad, mad, mad world you live in there. On the bright side, think how many annoying relatives you’re avoiding by spending Thanksgiving in Baghdad.

How much longer do you figure you’re there?

Oddly enough, I just decided today that I’m not staying past the end of December (in a movie that would mean something bad is about to happen).

It’s true. My ex will be there by then. Get out while you can.

Say hi to Capt. Yossarian if you happen to meet him. And stay safe.

Stay safe. From what I recall, you’ve been there for a while. It might be time for you to come home for a while or do something else.

That’s depressing, madmonk. (I’d like my tax dollars back, please.) How long have you been in Baghdad this time? What’s the next stop (or haven’t you planned that far yet). Stay safe.

GT

I’ve been in Baghdad on this contract since February, before that I was here 2003-2004 and then part of 2005. In total, about 2.5 years here. Don’t know the next gig yet. They had approached me about staying here, but I’m done, like crispy done.

I think it’s amazing you’ve stuck it out as long as you have. I hope some of the work you’ve done helps in the long run. Keep us updated…

GT