Planning on visiting Iraq? I hope not

I believe I'm finally caught up in my "blogging." Due to my lack of internet I wasn't able to make any posts, but now that's all resolved. It's now been 14 days since we've been in Iraq. The first week or so was spent retrieving our vehicles that were shipped up from Kuwait, establishing our housing units, and generally just acclimating to the environment. Since then, I've been outside the wire, or on "mission" 7 times. After my first time out, and experiencing the IED explosion, each following mission has been quite an adrenaline rush. Knowing how you all are interested in Iraq and what it's culture and environment might be like, I'm going to give a you a small taste. Let's start with something simple: Iraq is a shithole. Most Americans back home would be disgusted with a place like this. If you're planning a vacation any time soon, here's what you should expect. First off, you're going to a country that's been at war for generations. There are thousands upon thousands of buried mines still left around, buried artillery rounds, and plenty of caches for insurgents to feed on. You may want to visit your local armory before heading here, and pack yourself with as much firepower as you can. Every household in Iraq is allowed 1 AK-47 Automatic rifle. They aren't supposed to leave their property with it, but you can never tell. There are so many people walking around with AK's it's hard to tell who is who. Then you might want to pack plenty of bug spray...there are so many creatures here that will eat you alive. We're lucky it's still pretty cool. But when it gets hot you have to start worrying. Just an idea for how hot it gets, a daily average temperature will be around 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit. There isn't much mercy in that heat. And I hope no one is afraid of dogs, because you'll see just about as many stray dogs here as there are humans. Most of them are starved and ravaged looking., out sniffing trying to find some trash to eat. There are stray dogs everywhere you look, some of them dead, some of them wishing they were dead. Sometimes you have to wonder if that dead dog on the side of the road has a bomb inside of it. You may also want to find yourself plenty of air fresheners, because Iraq smells like shit. The first time I got a whif of this place I felt sick to my stomach. When you're rolling down the street in the gunners hatch, you're catching this smell the whole time...most of the time I don't have an appetite when I get back. Expecting your weekly trashman to come? Don't think so. I guess people here don't believe in "Waste management." They would rather let their kids play in this disease and filth, let their dogs and animals drink and eat it. There's enough trash on the sides of the roads, in the streets, around the buildings to triple the size of Mt. Rumpke. I can't imagine how bad the smell is gonna be when it gets hot. Just imagine taking all this trash and throwing it in a pot and cooking it. It's gonna be a nice shit-stew. Know how people put those totally useless BIG chrome bumpers and grates on the front of their vehicles in the states? Well you may want to invest in one of those here, because it will actually come in handy. Imagine driving home from work in rush hour traffic, but remove all the stop signs, stop lights, speeding limits, and really any driving law. It's nearly a demolition derby. People here will go crazy on the roads. Driving on the opposite side against oncoming traffic, pass you up at whatever speed they feel like. most of the cars dont have seatbelts or airbags either. But don't worry, if you get in a wreck the police and fire department will be right there. Oh wait, I'm sorry...what fire department? They have a "police force" as they call themselves. But they're too busy smoking a cigarette at their little checkpoint. If your car gets ruined, don't worry about trying to call a tow truck either...most vehicles that become damaged, blown up, or in any way undrivable just end up rusting and falling apart on the side of the road. You've also got to watch out for those suicide car bombers, they're a bigger threat in this part of Iraq. You can only imagine what a car full of C4 and dynomite does. It's not pretty. Also, watch yourself if you're out walking...you never know when some nutcase feels like detonating himself. So I hope you've gotten just a small taste of this place. I'm doing my best to depict what I can. Iraq is really just a sorry place. The people here have nothing going for them, there's nothing to do. It almost seems as if there really is no hope for Iraq. It's sad people have to live in this type of environment. But it makes you think why you're here. We are trying to help these people, and they need it.

-Out here-

DA03