a short break
well we went to kuwait right after i wrote that last post and we stayed there at camp arifjan for a couple days. arifjan is a pretty large and established base, i know it's been there at least since just before the first gulf war and it's pretty much just like a medium sized base back in the states. it's pretty relaxed; once you cross the kuwaiti border, the weapon comes down from the turret and the body armor can come off. likewise in the base, we can finally walk around in regular clothes without lugging around a weapon and ammo. the only problem is the constant struggle against blowing all your money while you're there because there's like a million ways that they have thought of to part a soldier and his/her extra pay. it's all just a bunch of crap you think you need.. nothing special really, its the same things that every other post px has, just a whole lot more of it. plus gobs of local and international merchants there trying to sell cheap gadgets or unremarkable souveniers. you either go to arifjan expecting to spend a lot of money, or go expecting to spend nothing at all because it's going to be either one or the other.
anyway, i had a good time there, woke up late both days, hit up the coffee shop, played a little tennis and ping pong, made it to the pool, and watched a couple of movies. at one of my filipino friend's advice, we all went to get a massage at the salon or whatever that they have there. wow is all i have to say, that 40 year old filipino amazon had some magic hands cause i felt completely relaxed for the rest of the day, plus the turret was cramping up a spot underneath my shoulder blade and that felt a lot better afterward too. we were all a little disappointed that noone got the happy ending.. but regardless, that spot is now on the list of things to do in arifjan.
it was fun, but that wasnt the short break i was talking about. i got back to tallil a couple days ago, and we have another mission coming down the pipe, but it's not for another little bit, so i have some time to put my room back together - it was looking like a storage bin that i would just come by to throw things in periodically. i woke up really late this morning because last night 6 of us stayed up strung out on coffee and played poker until almost dawn.. the game and things in general got a little strange and spastic after about 3, but it was still alot of fun. i tried to sleep really late today too, but lately they've been cutting the power randomly throughout the day. and today it was ridiculous, they cut it at 10am and didnt turn it back on till 2pm, way to go idiots, turn off the power during the hottest part of the day. the heat got me out of bed by 11 and i was just pissed trying to read a book outside for the next 3 hrs.
the state of this war has me a little bit concerned. im not sure how all of this is reflecting on the "news" everyone watches on tv in the states because i stopped watching it. partly because it's crap and partly because the tv signal has been horrible for the past month and i havent been here to watch tv anyway. i try to be an optimist, but some stuff is really starting to go down. we've had attacks (more than 1) on this camp in the very recent past while i was on the road. people here are really on the alert now, it's a different climate almost. i don't catch a lot of the headlines, but i know that a lot of the people up and down the country are just getting scared. iraqis are killing iraqis more than they are killing us. i'm just not sure what's here that can hold this country together other than continuous military enforcement. this operation needs a serious strategy re-evaluation. the man says that if we leave iraq without finishing the job, it will become a hotbed for terrorist activity just like afghanistan was... well i'm sorry to break it to you but it already is a terrorist hotbed, where is the best place in the world to go to easily find and fight plenty of american soldiers? don't think too hard. anyway, i expect to see some chaos in the near future especially with these two sets of elections coming up before anything really gets better, but i really, really hope it does. i hope you didn't underestimate their resolve george because if you did, things are not going to be pretty here for a very long time.
oh, i think i have a leave date now, it's tentatively scheduled for the first chunk of nov, so hopefully that doesnt change again. i gotta go get some dinner, but i'll be in touch,
-billy
anyway, i had a good time there, woke up late both days, hit up the coffee shop, played a little tennis and ping pong, made it to the pool, and watched a couple of movies. at one of my filipino friend's advice, we all went to get a massage at the salon or whatever that they have there. wow is all i have to say, that 40 year old filipino amazon had some magic hands cause i felt completely relaxed for the rest of the day, plus the turret was cramping up a spot underneath my shoulder blade and that felt a lot better afterward too. we were all a little disappointed that noone got the happy ending.. but regardless, that spot is now on the list of things to do in arifjan.
it was fun, but that wasnt the short break i was talking about. i got back to tallil a couple days ago, and we have another mission coming down the pipe, but it's not for another little bit, so i have some time to put my room back together - it was looking like a storage bin that i would just come by to throw things in periodically. i woke up really late this morning because last night 6 of us stayed up strung out on coffee and played poker until almost dawn.. the game and things in general got a little strange and spastic after about 3, but it was still alot of fun. i tried to sleep really late today too, but lately they've been cutting the power randomly throughout the day. and today it was ridiculous, they cut it at 10am and didnt turn it back on till 2pm, way to go idiots, turn off the power during the hottest part of the day. the heat got me out of bed by 11 and i was just pissed trying to read a book outside for the next 3 hrs.
the state of this war has me a little bit concerned. im not sure how all of this is reflecting on the "news" everyone watches on tv in the states because i stopped watching it. partly because it's crap and partly because the tv signal has been horrible for the past month and i havent been here to watch tv anyway. i try to be an optimist, but some stuff is really starting to go down. we've had attacks (more than 1) on this camp in the very recent past while i was on the road. people here are really on the alert now, it's a different climate almost. i don't catch a lot of the headlines, but i know that a lot of the people up and down the country are just getting scared. iraqis are killing iraqis more than they are killing us. i'm just not sure what's here that can hold this country together other than continuous military enforcement. this operation needs a serious strategy re-evaluation. the man says that if we leave iraq without finishing the job, it will become a hotbed for terrorist activity just like afghanistan was... well i'm sorry to break it to you but it already is a terrorist hotbed, where is the best place in the world to go to easily find and fight plenty of american soldiers? don't think too hard. anyway, i expect to see some chaos in the near future especially with these two sets of elections coming up before anything really gets better, but i really, really hope it does. i hope you didn't underestimate their resolve george because if you did, things are not going to be pretty here for a very long time.
oh, i think i have a leave date now, it's tentatively scheduled for the first chunk of nov, so hopefully that doesnt change again. i gotta go get some dinner, but i'll be in touch,
-billy
posted by billy at 6:03 AM
6 Comments:
Hey Billy, yes, sorry to tell you that we have got the same news as you. It's getting crazy out there! Even the Arabians are concerned and have asked Bush for some resolution because they are worried about a regional "destabilization" ha? more like "civil war" I hope you can finish your tour and get back here quick! Hey did you hear that there was a protest yesterday in Washington? an antiwar protest! and they had 80 toushand people there and many arrested! it is starting to move! the next day they had a counterprotest to support Bush and they only got a few hundred.
Hey Billy,
It is really not even a war, I do not know what he calls it but it needs to stop.
I am glad you figured out that some people just want your good old American money and that they will give you any old trinket or colored glass in exchange for it, ha, ha, ha, I really hope you are keeping your money. An watch out for those Filipino Amazons, maybe she was not quite 40 ha?
Take care, love,
hey! no propaganda on my blog (except if its mine)....mom!
Hey Billy, i've been trying to keep up with your travels. i have been traveling all over the country for the last two months. i went to the power to the peaceful festival in San Francisco where 50,000 gathered to unite against the war. i also went to the earthdance peace festival that unites 180 cities in 50 countries to celebrate and educate for a peaceful future. take care of yourself and i hope to catch up with you sometime soon. your old chucktown buddy Daniel East is sending you some good energy. -peace
nice to hear from you daniel, we should definitely twist one next time we're in chas :) later homes
Hey Billy, Just wanted you to know that very few days have gone by that you've not been brought to mind and a prayer for your guidance and protection has been offered up. You're one of the few soldiers I know,so every time we hear news my mind goes immediately to you, your mom and sister. Maybe you'll share Thanksgiving with them and have much to be thankful for! Thinking of you.
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