Cyndi Scarlett in Baghdad

I had to go out into the Red Zone today - and was going to meet someone from the USG out there as we had some business to attend to.  The place we had to go was at most 5 - 7 minutes outside the IZ - not far - and in a very safe neighborhood.

You might have read a previous blog about the Personal Security Details - the good, the bad and the ugly.  I complained then of some of the USG contracted PSD’s running around the IZ terrorizing people.  Well, now I’ve had a chance to see their work up close and everything I have heard before about them, I can now verify for myself.

Everytime I have gone out, people want to know if I’m coming “high profile” or “low profile”.  If I say “high profile”, they don’t want me to come visit.  Why? Because suicide bombers and those who want to remotely set off  IED’s look for high profile vehicles to hit.  Everyone here knows that going anywhere in a high profile convoy instantly puts a big bulls eye on the convoy and marks the people that are visited as collaborators with the enemy.  While everyone knows this - the US government, of course, knows better.  No one working directly for the USG is allowed to travel anywhere without the USG contractor PSD company - the same company that has had MORE PSD’s “hit” in-country than just about anyone else - for the very reason I describe.  What makes this all even more egregious is how expensive all of this is - of course all paid by the US tax payer. 

We were meeting in a villa on a road that is filled with foreign embassies - so already, the road is very well protected and not just anyone can get down this road.  Despite this,  before the young lady arrived, an “advance team” arrived.  One would have thought they were with the Bush’s security detail the way they carried on.  They wanted to put snipers on the roof.  What?  Can you imagine?  They looked like Rambo, no joke. Multiple guns everywhere - ammunition slung across their chests - of course the “must have” reflective sun glasses.  My first reaction was to laugh - then I got upset, because I knew they were putting me at risk by coming in that way and letting everyone know in the entire neighborhood that someone “important” was in that house - meanwhile NO ONE important was in that house.  Anyway, we get the snipers on the roof, I kid you not - we’ve got two vehicles huge armoured 4 X4’s outside - and when they decided all was secure, about 20 minutes later, here comes my friend Ann for the meeting.  She was in a six vehicle convoy - with about 20 PSD’s along.  This is beyond over the top, it’s stupidity. 

She is this young, probably not more than 30 year old, lovely young woman - this is her first time overseas with the government - and while she has been here eight months, her first time out of the IZ.  She said she was absolutely mortified, that on the way over, they had literally stopped traffic with their guns - and forced the locals out of the way so her vehicle could pass through.  She had come to the same conclusion that everyone has already come to - why do they do this?  What good can come of this?  You are MORE exposed, not less traveling this way. 

Fully 30% of just about everyone’s budget here goes to security costs - and that’s for people like me.  So,  just imagine what the government is paying their security contractor to put on this kind of show. Ann asked them before she came out why she couldn’t come out “low profile” - but was told no, had to be “high” - well, of course it has to be high.  Costs a lot more to have a 30 member team with snipers than it does to have an 8 member team.  The statistics don’t back any of this up - but lets not confuse ourselves with the facts.  This same group have I believe about six helicopters here in Baghdad.  The helicopters are supposed to provide air support to high profile people that are being protected - like the US Ambassador, or the Prime Minister.  What’s funny is you’ll see them up flitting around the skies of Baghdad over the IZ -  just playing - there’s no convoy on the road - and they’ll do this for hours. This takes a lot of fuel - and there is a shortage here - for a variety of reasons - not the least of which all the smuggling that’s going on that the US can’t stop.  I’m told that pilots have to have a certain number of hours per month flight time - which is why they do this.  I sure hope so.  It just burns me up every time I see this.  You’re not supposed to travel in convoy here in the IZ unless you have a principal going somewhere but the rules don’t appear to mean anything to these guys - they’ll drive by and literally run you off the road for no reason.  A friend of mine asked one of them why they do that.  His answer?  “Because we can”. 

I ask myself why no one does anything about this.  Then I have to be real and ask why I haven’t done anything about it.  I guess it’s because I don’t really know what to do.  I’ve talked to a variety of people at the Embassy about this - I’m told that this is the decision of the Regional Security Officer - or the RSO - who at any Embassy is in total control of security.  Usually there might be one - four people in the RSO office at an Embassy.  This Embassy has I believe over 50 - and probably closer to 100 staff.   I realize that I am going into far too much detail for all of you.  I know it’s probably very difficult to imagine all of this stuff - and also difficult to know what’s needed and what’s not.  So, we have to leave it in the hands of the “experts”.  I’m not suggesting I know better than the experts - but I do know that what I saw today was way, way out of control. 

If anyone reading my blogs ever writes their congressmen or women, I’d suggest that you ask them to look into what’s going on here in Iraq.  We are so focused on what things are costing - and yet here is a perfect example of how to decrease costs - without sacrificing safety, but it’s not done.  In fact, stopping this over the top nonsense would make everyone MORE safe, not less.  Who, I wonder is making these decisions?  Everyone here knows this goes on - on one level we laugh about it - and on another, we find it quite disgusting - this is not a secret - so why is this allowed to go on?

Whew - I feel better now after getting all this off my chest.  I simply cannot understand the reasoning behind some of the stuff the government does.  For example, we have equipment out in the RZ that is old, broken and cannot be used. It was very cheap to begin with.  One would think that we could just give it away - or get someone to take it away.  No, can’t do that.  I have to go out to the RZ - to the tune of $6,000 per trip and  I have to arrange to have this junk transported back into the IZ - of course there is an expense associated with that  - I have to take pictures of everything that we are going to destroy — then I have to destroy it - for example, there is a TV with this stuff.  It doesn’t work, it looks like something out of the 70’s - but no, can’t give it away - I have to smash it up - and then take a picture of it smashed up. Then I send the “before” and “after” picture to the government.  The TV cost 250 new - who knows how long ago.  There are 7 desk chairs, same thing - broken down - no one could sell them - but I have to have them destroyed.  It is probably going to cost me about $10,000 to destroy items that didn’t cost $1,000 new.  As there is no land fill in the IZ, I then have to pay someone to risk life and limb to go out into the RZ, find a dump and go dump this stuff. Go figure.  This is our government at it’s finest!!  Now, I’m on to another completely different rant.  I am so sorry. I just get so fed up when I see the absolute waste.  It makes no sense to me.  Does anyone care about the cost/benefit ratio?  Does anyone care that we are doing things like this - while we are pouring billions into the reconstruction of Iraq?  Everyone says, oh, in the big scheme of things, what’s $10,000?  Who cares?  We have bigger things to worry about.  Yeah, but mulitply that $10,000 by who knows how many other similar situations.  I know a lot of Iraqis would love to have that kind of money - I’d like to have that kind of money - but no - the rules are the rules.  They have to be followed.  This is Iraq people!!   Could we perhaps figure out that the “rules” as we know them don’t necessarily apply here?  Oh my goodness. I had better be quiet!

Blessings to all of you!

Today is my parents 55th wedding anniversary.  In today’s world, I’d say that’s quite a feat!

I was thinking about them earlier today.  Children don’t come with instruction manuals - and having never had children, I can’t really comment on how difficult it is to raise kids - but it sure seems like it is.  Despite all the odds, my parents raised three normal kids (well, least two are, the jury is still out on the third) - who have all done well in our respective lives.  We all love God, are active in our churches - have wonderful families (except me, I always had to be just a little different!) - and are active contributing members of society.

I’ve always said that any success I’ve had - the drive to achieve and excel comes from my folks.  I have appreciated so much their love and support throughout my life - but particularly these past two years when they had to care for me 24/7 as though I were a baby.  Never once did they complain - or gripe - or get impatient - no matter the time of day  - or how many times a day they had to help me.  The load was heavy yet they cheerfully took care of me and if they did get down, I never saw it.

So, to Dad and Mom - thanks for being the wonderful parents that you’ve been.  I am prayerful that this 56th year of your marriage is going to be the best yet!

Blessings to each one of you!

I was invited to attend the inaugural performance of the 2006 - 2007 Iraq National Symphony Orchestra concert season.  It was held in the Al Rasheed Hotel - and had a capacity for 150 attendees.  It was a full house.  Actually, it wasn’t the full orchestra but rather a string quartet, sponsored in part by the American Chamber of Commerce.  They did a very good job - in fact, given the circumstances, I’d say a great job. ABC news was there filming the event for a special they are doing on Iraq.  For security reasons, they did not film the audience however, if you happen to catch the special on TV, I was there, sitting three rows back from the front!

There was a reception afterward and I had the opportunity to talk to the Music Director/Conductor of the Orchestra.  Many of you probably aren’t aware that in another life, I was the CEO of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra - and many of the issues facing the CTPO when I was there, are now facing the INSO here.  Just as in South Africa, the orchestra had been funded by the government for years - and now, that funding has gone away and the musicians are left with no funding and no where to play - and really no audience due to security issues.

Another interesting fact - the Conductor has his Doctorate in Physics - from Indiana University in Bloomington.  It’s a small world, isn’t it?  We shared contact information and I will get together with him in the coming weeks to see if there is any way I can help the orchestra in terms of putting together a business plan - and looking for avenues to fund raise.  I thought at the time the task in Cape Town was difficult.  I have a feeling that Cape Town will have been a cake walk compared to this!   

I’ve always believed that all of us are where we are by divine appointment - whether we know it or not.  I know that this has been true of my life. Everything I’ve ever done - while at the time seemed random, later, when looking back I could clearly see God’s hand in where I was led and what I had been doing.   When I took the job with the CTPO, I knew very little about music - but knew a fair amount about business and sales - both of which stood me in great stead with that job.  It was a bit surreal to go from being a humanitarian aid worker to heading up an orchestra in Cape Town, but that’s what I did.  Now, it seems I have come full circle and perhaps will be able to use the experience I gained in Cape Town here.   Only God could plan something like this!

Blessings to you all!

I promised I’d write more about my trip to Basrah but wanted first verify what I’d been told.  As far as I know, what I’m saying is true after talking to a variety of local Iraqis this week.

It appears that what is going on today, is able to go on because of the sanctions that were imposed in 1991 on Iraq.  At that time, many, many kids left school to find work, any kind of work to help support their families.  As a result, many of these kids who are now adults, do not know how to read and write - deeply resent those who are educated, considering them part of the “elite” here in Iraq and somehow tied to Saddam, regardless of whether they are Suni or Shi’aa and now they believe it is their time to be the “elite” - the clerics have exploited this feeling and have manipulated these feelings to promote sectarian violence. 

The highly touted election was corrupt almost country-wide. The ink we saw on the fingers of voters could be easily wiped off if the voter rubbed their finger with oil before going to vote.  As a result, in the last 2 hours of the election, the officials at the polling station had a pretty good idea of who wasn’t going to come vote and allowed others who had already voted to return, with their fingers wiped clean and sign on someone else’s name.  This way, the number of votes cast tallied against the official number of voters registered.  What about polling officials who were supporters of other clerics, I asked?  Apparently, all of this was pre-arranged by the clerics - and their polling monitors were all in on it.  Some locations went to one cleric - others to another.  I guess most of the local Iraqis knew this was going on - but were not going to say anything.  So much for transparent elections!

I realize that most of the Iraqis, if not all, that I come in contact with are highly educated.  I work with both Suni and Shi’a - and it’s interesting that they both have the same views in terms of what is going on in the country right now.  It is true, they say, that under Saddam one had to belong to the Baath party to get the good jobs - so both Suni and Shi’a joined the Baath party - but were nominal members.  Remember that at that time, Iraq was a very secular country so the issues that are now causing so much blood shed among the Suni and Shi’a at that time, were non issues.

The clerics have now made it an issue and pretty much across the board, even those who I know are devout muslims think that the clerics that are running the country are nothing but criminals and thugs.  Thing is, these same clerics have the masses supporting them. I saw this in Africa - between the Hutus and Tutsis it’s almost as though I have been picked up and put down in the exact same situation - only a different location.  The similarities are striking.  Only difference here is it’s religion over ethnicity - and there is a lot more to fight about in terms of money.  The only cleric that seems to be above this is Sistani - who is trying to stay above the frey.  I’m told that the true Islamic clerics would never incite the population to violence - that it is their belief that if people do sinful things, the sin is on the head of that individual and God will punish him accordingly.  If however, the cleric who leads the people, incites them to violence and people die as a result, the sin will be on the head of the cleric.  This is why most of the educated here, don’t follow these clerics that are inciting violence  - because they believe what they are doing is against the faith. Those who are uneducated however, cannot read the Quran - do not know the “right” way - and therefore are easily manipulated by the clerics.

One of my Iraqi friends told me that the only way the US is going to take care of the problem is to deal harshly and quickly with these clerics - but that the US doesn’t have the stomach for it.  Many I’ve talked to say these clerics need to be “taken out” - I said, you mean assasinated?  Yes, they said.  I told them that we don’t do things like that. 

Basrah is run by the Governor, who is supposedly one of the most corrupt men in Iraq.  Basrah has rich oil fields and sits near the gulf. Tankers - often supplied by, guess who, Iran - come up the river - fill up their tankers and take off with the oil.  No one stops them - the leaders in the area are all apparently complicit in this deal.  The US supposedly knows this is going on - and has tried to put meters on the pipelines so that the amount of oil that is being “exported” - but really smuggled, can be measured.  There’s been on-going discussion about this now for two years - but to date, the pipelines remain unmetered - vast amounts of oil continue to be lost to the Iraqi economy - and those that are running the operation are getting very rich, very quickly.  The political party Fadeela, whose “spiritual leader” is a man called Alyacobi controls the provincial council in Basrah.  He’s in bed with the govenor.  They are all feeding on the fat cow that is free Iraq.  He has already told his people that if Fadeela doesn’t remain in control of the council in the next election, they will stop all export of oil with their militias.  Iraqis believe that they actually have the power to do this - if the US or coalition forces are not here to step in and stop them from doing it. Of course without oil revenues, the Iraqi economy (what economy there is) would be devastated.

The police force is made up of members of these militias who go about killing with impunity. Many I’m told, cannot read or write - so they are really unable to function in the job of a police officer - at least a legitimate, highly trained police officer - but, they don’t need to be highly trained,  and they are given legitimacy by those in power.  I’ve been told repeatedly that coalition forces will go out, put their lives on the line to round up these “thugs” (this is the word local Iraqi’s use to describe the police force, not mine) - arrest them and take them to jail.  The head of the police or the governor, comes behind and releases them and within 24 hours, they are back on the streets continuing to cause mayhem. 

The solution?  I said in my last blog that folks here want martial law activated until the situation calms down - they believe it would take at least three years.  What I find interesting, is the second part of the solution.  They say that every effort must be made to educate the masses - that educated people cannot be controlled by the clerics - and that the clerics know this - so they are against education.  Seems the US government is as well.  Even though it is now estimated that 60% of the Iraqi population is functionally illiterate,  funding education is no longer a priority for us… what education we did have are now apparently closed - go figure. 

The third leg of the solution is to bring MORE coalition forces to Iraq - and this is what concerns me most.  It seems the American people have grown tired of this war - it’s draining our economy - lives are being lost - all of that is true.  But we’re here.  I hope that we have the courage to see this to the end and to do whatever is necessary to try and make this work. 

Just got back from a trip way South - almost to the border of Kuwait - a town called Basrah - the second largest, I’m told in Iraq.  It’s where the two rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates meet and form one huge river - and is known locally and I guess internationally, as the most likely place of the Garden of Eden.  Not, that it looks much like that today!

I went down with the Royal Air Force - the RAF - the Brits.  First taking a Puma helicopter ride from the IZ to the airport.  We were supposed to leave at 7pm - but were still sitting at the helipad at 9pm.  We finally took off and what a ride it was!  They told us we would be flying low and more than likely be flying “evasively”. The ride was pretty exciting.  I found an air sick bag and held on to it.  Thankfully, I didn’t need it!  It appeared we were being shot at all the time and I was pretty nervous and wondering when the next shot was going to hit us.

We get to BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) - land - and I mention to the crew how brave they must be to face that kind of fire all the time when flying.  Oh, one said  laughing, he’d been here six months and only remembers two times they’d come under fire. What?  I asked what all the tracers were around the helicopter.  Those apparently are automatic flares that are shot out from various places on the helicopter - supposedly to divert heat seeking missiles - but the things are set so sensitively that just about anything will set them off - even a cell phone - which is why I saw all the fireworks - NOT because we were coming under attack.  I only wish I’d known that before we started the 10 minute hair raising trip.

From BIAP ( after a two-hour wait), I got on a British Hercules aircraft - one of those cargo planes where you sit against the wall strapped in - not on proper seats.  An hour later, I was in Basrah.

I was supposed to go to the “Palace” - another of Saddam’s over the top buildings.  Apparently, he was building a variety of palaces in the area one for each leader of the Arab states so that he could host meetings and have them all come and attend.  He had grand designs, I’ll give him that!  The palace is where the coalition forces have their headquarters.  In theory, all stakeholders in the reconstruction of Iraq have now come together in various regions and are being called “provencial reconstruction teams” or, PRT’s.  Basrah has become steadily more insecure and all but the most necessary personnel had been evacuated to what they call the Basrah Air Station, or BAS.  The Basrah PRT is headed up by the Brits - hence my flying down and back with the Brits as the BAS is under their control.  There are some US soldiers there - and other US agencies - but it’s the Brits who are in charge. I met with one of the British Colonels who admitted that the military - neither US or UK has much of a clue about nation building - I could go into a whole big theoretical lesson about process vs. product - but it would take too long and would likely bore most of you.  I mention this only because this is the FIRST time I have EVER heard a military man admit this.  He’s still hopeful however, that the military will eventually “get it right” - I wanted to say, but didn’t - why don’t you stick to what you know best - and let those of us who know about process vs. product get on with that?  Some of my AID friends are probably getting a laugh out of this - as they know exactly what I’m talking about!

The “camp” I stayed in was the most desolate place I’ve seen in a long time - and that’s saying something!  All concrete slabs or gravel underfoot - no green for miles.  Trailers set up for us to stay in - reinforced with sand bags all around.  The trailers are airconditioned and have satellite TV so inside at least, wasn’t too bad.

My meetings went about as well as can be expected.  I met mostly with Iraqi’s.  Again, the stories they tell and the insights they give to this country are amazing and oh, so sad.  I will write a whole blog on things that I was told.  Some of them are so fantastical, that I want to check out first with folks up here if indeed what I was told is true.  If so, I don’t quite know what to make of things.  It would seem to me that surely the US and coalition governments must know what is really going on here - and yet I wonder why they would appear anyway, not to do anything about it. 

It was suggested to me more than once on this trip that the only way to fix the current situation and to avoid a civil war is to disband the parliament - negate the constitution - get rid of the current government - install military law - headed up, get this BY the coalition - until the current military has been purged of the bad apples - that this would probably take two years - in the meantime rewriting a constitution that makes sense in the context of Iraq - and working on a more realistic time table for elections.  I said that the US would NEVER go for this - neither the politicians nor the public as this would be seen as taking a huge step backwards and we would have to admit that our policies had failed.  I had the opportunity to talk to several military people about this idea - all of which had heard it tossed around - but agreed that it would never happen as it would never be accepted politically. 

My trip back was another long, long day - we had to go via Kuwait so again, what should have been a 1 hour flight took me 11 hours - with all the waiting in between.  I guess that’s the military.  You hurry up and wait.  Coming back from BIAP to the IZ, it was still daylight.  I happened to get the seat by the doors of the PUMA  - which were open.  Oh my goodness.  We flew fast - and right above the tree line.  I got the most incredible view of Baghdad.  There were two things that struck me most. One, mosques everywhere -  beautiful, large, domed mosques.  Some with HUGE parking lots attached.  The other is that all the houses have flat roofs (as does mine) - and that the roofs are used as another living space.  It was clear to see which were the nicer areas and which were the slums.  I also got a birds eye view of buildings that were destroyed in the war.  It was an absolutely fascinating ride and one I won’t soon forget.

This trip reminded me of just how blessed I am.  I had to climb up into the helicopter - and did it without help - I had to walk with my vest on - with my luggage - for a good way to get from the BIAP terminal to the Hercules.  I was walking with strong, tall men with long strides and I kept up.  I remembered how not that long ago, I couldn’t climb up one small stair from the garage into the house - and couldn’t stand up from a sitting position without help.  When I finally got on the Herc going down to Basrah and could relax, I thought what a long way I’ve come.  I am so thankful for that!  There are still things that aren’t right - and never will be.  I told myself when I took this job that I just needed to get on with my life  - this trip made me realize that is exactly what I’ve done. 

It’s a great feeling!

Blessings to you all.

I read with interest the Minister of Interior’s quotes about security in Baghdad and how as part of the plan to secure the city and stop the violence, trenches will now be dug around the Capital. All roads in and out of Baghdad will be closed with the exception of 28 checkpoints that will be manned by Iraqi and probably US forces.  This is becoming a city under siege - from within.

This is all very interesting to me.  Every Iraqi I talk to - without exception, tells me that the Ministry of Interior is running the country - and that the Ministry is filled with Iranians - NOT Iraqi/Iranians - native Iranians, carrying Iranian passports.  The say that the 11th floor is the “secret Iranian force”  that is responsible for a lot of the violence that is going on in the city. 

When I hired my chef, I asked the house manager what paper work I needed to fill out for taxes, benefits etc for the country - saying that I needed to comply with the laws of the country in this regard. He and the chef both gave me the most horrified looks. They said that I absolutely couldn’t give any officials here, particularly with the Ministry of Interior any details about them as the Ministry “death squads” would kill them.  While absolutely awful to think about, I find this whole concept very fascinating. Since that conversation I have asked several other Iraqis whether or not this is true.  They all say it is.  Apparently it’s a well known fact that many of the engineers and pilots and top level military men that fought in the Iran/Iraq war have gone “missing” and the population believes that they were taken to Iran and killed.  My house manager says he knows personally of two incidents where friends of his were picked up by “Iranians” who are officials in the current government and have never been seen or heard from since.

So, now we have the Minister of Interior talking about stopping the violence - and participating in the US operation to bring stability to the Capital while at the same time much of the violence within the capital is considered to originate from his office.  I’m told he’s the most powerful man in Iraq - and viewed by every Iraqi I’ve talked to, as one of the most dangerous.  Every one says that we are heading towards the creation of another islamic state - one allied closely with Iran - both predominately Shi’aa.  Others say that Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia won’t tolerate this and believe one or more of these countries will step in before that happens. Could we end up in a regional war?  I don’t know.

Suni’s are being killed all over.  I’ m told that most of the bodies found in Baghdad over the past weeks have been Suni.  Mostly, it’s believed, carried out by militias that are tied to the various political parties - and to various religious leaders - as well as originating in the Ministry of Interior’s office.  If this is true, why doesn’t he just stop it?  Why put all these extra precautions - a trench around the city, closing most of the roads into and out of the city… Iraqi’s think it’s mostly all window dressing to satisfy the coalition forces (read U.S. forces).

And here we sit in the middle of all of this.  As I sit here and watch what is going on around me - and find myself engaging every Iraqi I meet that speaks English in conversations about the situation here - listening to what they have to say -  I keep asking myself what in the world we were thinking coming here?   I think we absolutly underestimated the role that culture, religion, tribalism, history and politics plays in the Middle East.  

I predict if things continue going the way they are going, we’ll leave here at some point - and then have to come back and sort things out - next time dealing with Iraq AND Iran - and in the process will probably destroy a lot of the infrastructure we are now spending billions building.  I better stop before I really get going. Cynical viewpoint - I know.  I so hope I’m wrong. 

It seems I have been inundated with the mundane…

A very good family friend once said that the reason I love living in Africa is so I can have servants.  While it is true that housekeeping is not something I joyfully do - and I do have a somewhat higher tolerance for less than perfect housekeeping, Iraq takes the cake.  Good help is just hard to find nowdays - don’t you think?:)  I say this knowing, that most of you reading this do not have even part time help around the house, let alone full time - and I do realize that I am probably going to get little to no sympathy from anyone!

I had been told that because of all the dust in the air, its impossible to keep things clean here in Iraq.  Sounded plausible and while I hated it, I believed it.  Then I went to visit some friends, all ex military and saw the way they live and thought - hmmm, someone is keeping things clean over here and it’s just across the street. 

My precious housekeeper hasn’t a clue.  She is supposed to be “managed” by the house manager - who also apparently doesn’t have a clue.  I have been here now two months and have wondered when the villa was going to be cleaned - oh, the housekeeper “cleans” if one could call swishing dirty water from one place to another cleaning.  When I have broached this subject with the house manager before, I was told this is the way things are cleaned here.  Huh?

I won’t bore you with the details but I think the house staff are about ready to kill me… or I them - I’m not sure which will come first. Their attitude is if it doesn’t come clean with a quick swipe of a dirty cloth, it’s not cleanable.  Well, I begged to differ and showed them that with a little, OK, a lot of effort and some time, things can come clean.  The curtains in the house are so dusty that although they are navy, they look dark grey.  I’m thinking, why has no one noticed this before?  Is it just me?  I actually had to request that they be taken down and cleaned.  This will be done next week. God willing.  That’s the favorite saying here - God willing….

The chef arrived yesterday to “organize” the kitchen.  I told the translator to be sure to have him make a list of everything that is missing that he would need to start cooking today.  This was, I assume, duly translated.  The chef, who I call Mo, arrives this morning and I’m so happy.  Today, we will have real food cooked in the home.  About mid-morning, I realize that there’s not much going on in the kitchen.  Not wanting to micro-manage, I think, he’s certainly must have a plan - and I’m sure it will be enjoyed by all.  Come to find out, he won’t cook without gloves.  He didn’t order them yesterday - he didn’t have them today - and therefore, he can’t cook. 

One just has to laugh - it will all get sorted out in the end and I’m sure be lovely!  In the meantime, I’ve had a difficult time explaining to my colleagues, why I have smelled like bleach for the past week!  Tough on the hands!  Not good for the patience!

A dear friend sent me something to which the following was attached.  I have printed it and put it on the bulletin board to read hourly as needed and admit, it hasn’t always helped.  I share it with all of you.

Live Simply,

Love Generously,

Care Deeply,

Speak Kindly,

Leave the rest up to God.

Blessings to you all!

In wanting to be absolutely accurate in what I am writing, I need to correct some information from two previous posts.

September 2 post - “Why not me?”

I misunderstood the situation with the cook whose husband was killed.  The cake we ate was from her engagement party - nt her wedding cake - she had just gotten engaged, but was not yet married. 

September 4 post - “Questions, always questions, no easy answers….”

In the last couple of days, the information initially sent out was corrected.  The entire family was not killed - just the father - in front of his family. 

Please accept my apologies for this.  I always try to be sure that what I am writing is absolutely accurate to the best of my knowlege. If I find out differently later, I will be sure to update all of you.

Blessings to you all.  Have a great week!

This morning I started my volunteer duties at the hospital here in the IZ.  I worked with the nurses on a ward reserved for injured US and coalition forces.  There weren’t many patients in house.  It was explained to me that most don’t stay long - they are either shipped out for more comprehensive treatment if needed, or for minor injuries, they’re treated and released back to duty. 

I have been looking for something meaningful to do with my off time here and think that this might be some way to feel like I’m contributing to the well being of those that are on the front lines.  I was having a good time - the mood was light - most of the staff are due to return home in a couple of months.  They’re happy about that.  Three of the patients, all young men were being discharged back to their units and thrilled to be going back - which surprised me.  I was enjoying myself talking to folks - and you all know how I love to talk!!  Learning about where they are from - what they think about being here - their families.  For a while I was taken away from the harsher realities of where I’m at.  It didn’t last long.

I was asked to get something in the “linen” room and went in to find it.  Near the far wall behind the door, stood a white cross - hanging on the cross was a blood spattered armored vest.  Pinned to the vest were some keys.  On the top of the cross was a helmet - with goggles still attached.  The helmet, blood spattered.   I knew immediately what I was seeing. When a soldier dies here,  a service is held by the Chaplain - a cross is used to symbolize the body - his or her jacket and helmet hung on the cross - the rifle nearby. Friends and fellow soldiers pay respect and tribute to their fallen comrade.  The Chaplain tells me he does several of these a week.  I’ve seen pictures of this - never the real thing.

I stood for the longest moment looking at the name on the jacket.  Wondering about the soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Who he was - how old he was - where he was from - if his family were yet aware of what had happened to him.   How he died.  Did he suffer.  Another life lost - a number - meaningless to so many but to those who knew him, a tragic loss.  I prayed for peace and comfort for his family.

I gave the nurse what she needed,  said my goodbyes and left.  I had nothing more to say.

Please make a point to pray for the famlies and friends of those who are giving their lives in service to our country - not just in Iraq - but all over the world. 

Peace to all. 

I had to go out again today to have a meeting that had been scheduled earlier this week.   I have learned after today, to pay attention to what’s going on politically before making plans.  I hadn’t realized that today is the day that the US is supposed to hand over military operations to the Iraqis. 

My PSD came to pick me up - a new team - well, an old team really.  The PSD’s rotate in and out of here every six weeks or so and take a month off.  I can see why they do this, given what they do every day, several times a day.  This team had picked me up from the airport - but I hadn’t seen them since.  “Dave’s” team left today on break - he’s going back home to SA and will bring me back some good old bill tongue - I’m excited about that!

So the new team arrives and the head of the mobile unit, Mick, tells me that we will be taking a different route than what I’d taken last week because ten minutes before, a large explosion had occured where we would have been driving and we needed to avoid that area.  Fine by me.

Off we go, taking a very circuitous route.  Again, my stomach is up somewhere above my throat. They don’t offer vomit bags - and I forgot to bring my own.   Mick tells me that I’ll get used to this.  I’m wondering when that might be…

Unbeknownst to us, the insurgents have picked this day to do as much damage as possible, particularly to the local Iraqi police force and army.  It seemed that everywhere we went, they had blocked the roads - traffic was a nightmare - everyone trying to get somewhere without much success.  What should have taken about 5 minutes, took about an hour.  While I am very isolated inside of the armored vehicle, it was quite obvious that there was much going on - and we were either heading towards or away from a variety of suicide bombs and IEDs that were exploded this morning.  I think a few blogs back I was saying that the big excitement for the week is going to the PX.  Maybe I spoke too soon - although I can certainly do without this much excitement. As I’m sitting here writing, the battle continues to go on - loud booms - explosions - helicopters flying over - jets in the air…  not close to me, I might add - it seems to be on the other side of the IZ but still within hearing distance.

On a different note - and one that is a daily occurance, one of my local colleagues told me today that yesterday, his father watched three pickups full of people pull up near their home - one of the pickups was carrying about 10 young men, not older than 15, from what I was told.  They were all lined up against the wall and executed, their bodies left while the “men in uniform” got back into the trucks and left.

I am hoping that I never become blase about hearing things like this.  I wonder, how does this happen?  Why does this happen?  Why is the world letting this happen?  What can we do about it?  This could just as well be in our back yard - people that we know - our children or grandchildren.  I hear things like this and wonder does anyone care?  Is this simply considered part and parcel of “war”?

Franklin Rooseveldt said:

I have seen war -                                                                                                                                                                    I have seen war on land and sea                                                                                                                                              I have seen blood running from the wounded                                                                                                                             I have seen the dead in the mud                                                                                                                                              I have seen cities destroyed                                                                                                                                               I have seen children starving                                                                                                                                                    I have seen the agony of mothers and wives

I hate war.

I’m with FDR.