RSS
StrictHi everyone! We just got a computer lab with internet access at our new location, so I’ll hopefully be able to keep in touch again.
We are at Camp Kalsu, which is a Forward Operating Base south of Baghdad. Conditions here are better than they were last time we were in Iraq, but not nowhere near as nice as in Kuwait. Yes, it’s true, we have no Subway or Pizza Inn! However, the Burger King at Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) is now the third-largest-grossing BK in the world! We had someone bring the platoon back a sackful of Whoppers a few days ago, so that was quite a treat!
We have showers here, but the heating elements are pretty finicky, and the weather is getting downright cold, so those are hit and miss. The tents aren’t too bad.. we have 24/7 electricity, and A/C (although we probably won’t need it anymore). We had a couple phones, but a few days ago a new phone and computer lab was put in. The internet access is *very* fast, so hopefully I can keep up on email now!
This place is muddier than I thought was ever possible in the desert, which gets to be a real pain whenever it rains. The rainy season lasts until December, I think, so hopefully we won’t have too much more.
I won’t lie to anyone.. things are a little dangerous up here; more so than at Tallil anyway. I won’t get into too many specifics, but at least we’re only here for a couple months. A lot of the locals are pretty nice to us (especially when they have something to sell), but there are also quite a few who give us some pretty nasty looks. For the most part, they understand why we have to be here for a while longer, but I’m sure everyone will be happy on both sides when we can turn this country back over to the Iraqis.
Well, have a happy Thanksgiving everyone; I’m still catching up on my backlog of email, so sorry if I don’t get a chance to write a personal reply right now to everyone who’s written! And thanks for the care packages; mail has been getting here pretty quickly these days. Talk to you all soon!