Jerhad!com

Final News From Iraq

Greetings All:

As most are aware I’ve been state side for about 13 days now.  My time has been primarily taken up with visiting my ailing father.  He passed away yesterday morning.  I was most grateful to be able to get home in time to visit with him and say goodbye.  Towards the end it was difficult to decipher what he was trying to say to me but I was able to comprehend that he was proud of me for my service in Iraq.  Truthfully, I couldn’t want for any more from him.  I’m missing him already and we haven’t even had the funeral but I am content in knowing that he’s not suffering any more.  I firmly believe he’s now in a better place and that I will see him yet again. 

It has been great being back home even under the above circumstances.  The air is clean, everyone is friendly, the food tastes great, and the wine is awesome.  We are so fortunate to live in this great country where there is so much opportunity to excel and do whatever we want.  I’ve just felt so good being back ever since I cleared US Customs in Los Angeles and the Customs Agent upon seeing my declaration, passport, and credentials came to attention and said “Welcome home, Sir.”  Just doesn’t get any better.

I’ve been asked by many people if I felt the year I spent in Iraq was worth it and/or questioned if I would do it again.  Although I need to attend to my Mother at this time, my unequivocal response is not only was it worth it but I would do it again in a second.  There is no good legitimate reason why the Middle East cannot live in harmony except for the greed, arrogance, and fanaticism of a minority of the population.  The Iraqis that I met and worked with were very warm, caring, and sincere people who just want to live their lives with some peace and happiness.  The streets of Iraq are not filled with wild eyed, fanatically crazed, blood thirsty maniacs.  However, the Iraqis are being victimized by a minority who mirror that description not physically but figuratively.  Convincing the general Iraqi populace that peace and freedom are doable achievements and that they should not despair nor resign themselves to accept such an existence is neither easy nor will it come quickly.  It is possible and if it can succeed, it will change the course of history.  I am content in knowing that I played a part (however small and insignificant when looking at the total effort) in trying to make democracy work there and in removing a brutal regime.  Perhaps I will have an opportunity to return in the future to assist in the same or a different capacity but for right now, I must direct my energies towards my family. 

I only hope and pray that one day I might be able to return to Iraq to once again tour the streets of Baghdad and to travel to other locations with ancient historical significance when Iraq may once again be a place of beauty and a wonder to see.  Hopefully, there will be a day when it won’t be necessary to travel there in an up-armored SUV, wearing protective gear, and armed to capacity to see the cultural and artistic contributions of all peoples that call Iraq home.

I hope all of you have enjoyed these little insights into my Iraq experience and I wish you all peace and prosperity in your futures.  I also hope that our paths continue to cross. 

With best regards to you and yours.  Bob

News from Iraq XXVIII

Greetings to everyone from Iraq:

Hope this weekly greeting (which is a few days late, sorry!) finds you all in good spirits and good health.  Speaking of health, I ask you all to keep my Dad in your prayers.  He’s going through some tough times right now but we are continuing to hold good thoughts for him.  He is scheduled for surgery and I’ll know more after that. 

Well, I’ve got a few things to relay this week.  The first was having an experience with a confidential source that was really trying to deal with.  I’m sure all of you are aware (especially my fellow current and former LEO’s) that law enforcement doesn’t function without informants.  The same thing holds true here.  However, there is definitely an added spin when you are virtually powerless to protect a source on the “outside,” i.e. Red Zone.  I have a situation where someone is trying to do the right thing and is literally placing his/her (I’m not giving any clues here!) life on the line.  The risks are so great in Iraq not from coalition countries but from the fellow Iraqi countrymen.  I mean this place can be vicious and family means nothing.  Unfortunately, I am so frustrated because I am powerless in this regard in a foreign country and with a foreign government that still can’t be fully trusted.  I’ve thought of trying to get this person into the protective area except the decision is left to an Iraqi Council.  Coming before this board could be sufficient exposure to get one’s life terminated for an Iraqi if the wrong people know.  Consequently, I’m really torn between obtaining information and pursuing an investigation versus telling this person to go away and live.  I admire this person’s tenacity to serve justice but this assignment is definitely not high on my list of things to do. 

Speaking of life in Iraq, I really took exception to what one of our colonels (Gentile I think was his name) had to say about arming Iraqi citizens to carry outside their homes.  I mean he was dead set against it saying that it would incite civil war, make the place more dangerous, etc., etc.  Well, I’ve got one real problem with this.  The Ministry of Interior grants weapon’s permits to those that the Ministry thinks deserves them.  So, if your buddy buddy with the gang at the Ministry, you get a special permit.  If you’re not, that’s just tough luck. Then there are these militias running around whacking people constantly.  Sometime this is done by kidnap and then murder or they are just shot down in the street.  Of course the militias either have permits issued or they are the type that could care less about the permit process and are just able to “scoot by” and never get caught ……or is someone or a group just looking the other way.  One way that the Iraqi people were trying to get around this was establishing their own neighborhood security forces (like a neighborhood watch) or carrying weapons when they need to go someplace like work or the market or the doctors, etc.  Now this Colonel Gentile doesn’t think this is a great idea and wants the populace to be disarmed so that there could be “one Iraq” adhering to a central government that moves at a snail’s pace.  He was quoted as saying that if the people were armed, the next thing they would be doing is shooting people that were planting IED’s.  Well, duh!!!  Who are the one’s blowing things up??  When you look at what’s happening in Basra, you’ve basically got a militia group running around just bullying everyone down there because the rest are defenseless.  It’s not like they have a protecting police force as well.  Many Iraqis because of bad experiences just don’t trust the police or the military.  However, this makes it certainly very easy prey on innocent disarmed people by an organized militant group or by a band of thugs.  Don’t forget that Sadam emptied the prisons just before our forces arrived.  They are still out there making a buck any way they can.  My bottom line is let these people protect themselves.  The bad guys soon enough will learn that although they may number 20,000 – 30,000 strong, they cannot compete with 24,000,000 armed citizens most of which are content to pursue life and leave others alone.  Will it stop the blood shed completely?  No, but it will slow down eventually and it sure beats seeing unprotected innocent people slaughtered like sheep for no reason. 

Which brings me to my next point since I’m on my soap box.  I had occasion to interview an Iraqi Christian and ask her about life in Iraq as a definite religious minority.  She relayed that most of the religious animosity is between the Sunnis and the Shiites and that the differences go back to 650 A.D.   As I understand it, these differences basically relate to how one recognizes Mohammad and his descendents.  As she explains, the Muslim religion can be very violent by interpretation which is what causes all the instant consternation.  I’m not expert on this but as I understand this, one faction deems Mohammad as a prophet and the other classifies him as a religious person.  She feels very intimidated as a Christian and she wears a Burkha to maintain her anonymity.  She said one of her family members actually dropped out of college because of the constant questioning about what religion faith was being followed.  She is aware of Shiites that actually wear crosses so that they could pass as Christians and not be threatened by the Sunnis.  She resides in a Christian section of town and for the most part they are left alone but there are times when the Christians are asked to choose sides and that’s when things become uncomfortable.  This lady speaks 4 separate languages and she is hoping one day to leave Iraq due to the lifestyle and the danger.  She said her mother would move but her father wants to stay in Iraq because it is his country.  I admire his patriotism especially with what’s been done.  Hopefully it can change so that she can make this place a better place to live.  It’s amazing how many people have left.  There used to be a heavy population of Jews and many Christians.  Now the Jews that are left are in complete hiding of their faith and the Christians only make up 2 % of the population.  There are times that she fears she may have to die for her faith.  Now that’s something that none of us have ever been threatened with.  I can only wish her the best.   

I had to let you all know that on Sunday I completed a 10 mile run in 1 hour and 37 minutes.  It’s not that fastest time anyone has ever done but I got through it.  I certainly did well for my age group.  I was right in the middle of the over 40 crowd.  I think the fastest time was 1 hour and 4 minutes.  I also learned that after I ran, I earned the Bloody Boob award.  I didn’t realize it but my left nipple had chaffed so badly on my shirt due to the sweat and weight of the shirt that I started to bleed.  I didn’t even notice it until after the race when a Marine Colonel said I was a casualty.  It didn’t hurt until I got in the shower but then that hot water just lit me up.  I’m healing but I need to find another way to prevent this.  One of our female runners was there when we were discussing this and I asked if I could borrow one of her sports bras for the next run.  She asked if I wanted flowers or pink.  That got a few laughs all the way around.  All in all I’m glad I did it but 10 miles is definitely a long way.  I can’t imagine running an additional 16 miles for a marathon …… but then again, I may try.

I heard one of the funniest things the other day.  I was walking down the hallway in the Palace when I overheard a conversation between a British Officer and an America Officer.  The American addresses the Brit as “Dude.”  The Brit replies “Wait a minute, I’m not a dude.  You don’t see me riding a horse do you?”  I met another Brit who is a former British Marine and now works as a part of a PSD.  His nickname is “Digger.”  They call him “Digger” because his degree is in archeology.  Unbelievable that a person degreed in archeology is working here as an armed guard because the money is much better.  And the British Marines are about as wild and crazy if not more so than their American counterparts. 

We had a dust storm yesterday that came in so quick, it was unbelievable.  It turned the sky so black that the street lights came on at 04:30 P.M.  It was over within 30 minutes.  It was unbelievable how fast it came in and out.

We went to a Cinco de Mayo party at USAID.  It was really nicely done.  There is an impromptu band here called the Baghdaddy’s.  The present lead singer is one of the ambassador’s advisor.  She used to sing on Broadway while getting her master’s in New York City.  She really is quite good and she’s a very nice person as well.  I told her I wanted to do a Sonny and Cher song with her on karaoke night.  When she’s working at the ambassador’s office, she’s all business.  I told her I see you have another side.  She smiles.

This week we had several funny incidents.  First our two youngest agents who are in their mid-40’s took the Ford Expedition out.  Now understand that these are two pretty good sized boys that are over six feet and weigh in excess of 260 pounds each.  Well, the speed bumps are pretty high and apparently they didn’t see one so they mangled the skid plate on the Expedition and had to take it in for repairs.  Our boss learns of what has happened to the car and says he wanted a full explanation from “the kids.”  Of course the rest of us think this is great that these guys are called the kids because we care at least 14 years older than they are.  The first words out of their mouths was “we weren’t going fast, honest.”

The other thing that happened was one of our friends is a Department of Homeland Security Agent.  He’s very Hispanic looking and is bi lingual.  Now understand that our check points and palace security are manned by Triple Canopy employees who are either Peruvian, Ecuadorian, El Salvadoran, Honduran, Mexican, etc.  We were coming into the palace check point and the DHS agent John is wearing khaki clothing very similar to the uniform of the guards.  Well, the guard is standing away from his post.  There’s one who operates the door and the other that checks badges.  Well, we held the door open because people were bringing furniture out.  When we were ready to go in, there was quite a line behind us.  John just started in when someone else comes out with a chair.  I’m holding the door to let this guy pass.  John steps in the position of the guard to get out of the way. Then I head in and out of habit, I show my badge to John who’s standing where the guard is supposed to be.  I realize my mistake and say “Why the hell am I showing you the badge, you don’t care.”  Then I show it to the real guard but the people behind me are showing their badges to John and saying Buenos Noches Senor.  There were about five people that did this and John is just laughing.  The real guards eyes are like saucers because he’s trying to double check these people again.  It got straightened out but I said to John he could moonlight on his off days as a guard.  He repeated it in Spanish and the guards thought it was pretty funny as well. 

Well, I’m going to wrap this and head to the hooch.  It’s been a long but productive day.  For those of you out there where this applies, Happy Mother’s Day.  Where would we be without you?

Love to all.  Bob

News from Iraq XXVII

Greetings All

Wow, another week down with lots of stuff to talk about.  Hopefully you won’t find this boring but there are some funny things and some not so funny things that have occurred. 

First, some of our agents returned from the trip to the Turkish border on a case.  They traveled through Mosul and still found it to be a very dangerous place with IED’s and rockets.  They made it through without incident even though they had a flat tire.  The PSD team changed it in record time and they were on their way.  The last time there was a flat, the jack collapsed and it took extra time which allowed a suicide bomber to attack.  They lost an American member of the team who didn’t open fire until it was too late.  The cars actually prevented more shrapnel from hurting the rest of the team.  The Turkish border is controlled by the Kurd Militia (Peshmerga) which is intolerant of a lot of this inter tribal nonsense.  Basically, there are Kurds in Iraq, Turkey, and Syria, and they want their own country.  In fact the Iraqi flag up there is different than the flag down here.  There are Arabs in the area that have come up to work and live but the word is if “you step out of line, they will hang you.”  Consequently, it is peaceful compared to what’s going on here. The police up there saw the badges on the agents and were delighted to have their pictures taken with our guys.  There are some new buildings up there but there is still a lot of run down areas.  Overall, one agent described it as the Tijuana of the Middle East. 

The boss and I were gone for two days on a trip to FOB Shield.  I had a short interview to conduct with an Iraqi general, the one that was solicited for a bribe by an American in the case that I have.  I had coordinated to convoy out with the military and I thought we’d be using an American Military convoy.  Typically you see them running with Humvees with .50 cals mounted on turrets.  We ended up going in up armored SUV’s and our convoy unit was an Iraqi major general’s personal body guards.  We almost were going to leave the M-4’s at home figuring we’d be riding with our military so there wouldn’t be a need.  I was certainly glad we carried our own weaponry.  Actually we were almost better armed than our soldiers that we were riding with.  Of course, they are fairly high ranking officers that are advisors to the Iraqi military operating their command centers so they don’t carry a lot of hardware.  Needless to say there was plenty of protection but instead of having up armored Humvees with .50 cals on them, we end up with Iraqi personal security detail assets in Mitsubishi pick up trucks with PKM machine guns mounted in the bed of the trucks.  In addition to the machine gunner, there are two other soldiers with AKs and one additional shooter on the passenger side of the truck.  There is no doubt that they did a good job getting traffic out of their way and keeping the convoy moving.  As a practical matter, all the weaponry doesn’t do much good against an IED or VBIED.  If one survives the detonation, the weaponry assists in protecting yourself until an extraction team arrives.

We went to the Ministry of Interior building and were shown around.  There are a lot of Iraqis in plain clothes and uniforms running around with guns all over the place.  The outside of the building looks pretty good but it’s got some battle damage.  The inside is an armpit and the rest rooms are just disgusting.  I pity the poor women that had to use those facilities.  The elevators are outrageous.  They were about three feet wide at the most and maybe eight feet long.  There weren’t very reliable either.  The building went through three power outages while we were there.  Thank God we didn’t get stuck in the elevator.  I used it once and after that said I’ll walk the 11 flights up no matter how warm it was.  We had to spend the night at FOB Shield which borders the Ministry of Interior and the Baghdad Police Academy because there was no travel back to the “land of IZ” as it’s called out there.  (IZ stands for International Zone.)  The soldiers like FOB Shield because there is very little military brass there and they are left alone.  However, it is definitely not a pleasant place.  The mosquitoes are horrible and there’s one television station ----- in Arabic --- no subtitles.  They have a gym but it’s not very big and that’s it.  You can tell that FOB Shield becomes a real mud hole in the rainy season.  You could see the mud on the vehicles and the ruts in the roads reveal what a real mess it must be.  The soldiers told us that they would shed their uniform boots for rubber boots just to walk to the gym, the DFAC, and to work.  We were issued billeting for the night and were just thankful we didn’t have to sleep in a tent.  However, they issued us bedding that, if you combined the two packages together, you could have enough for one bed.  We each got a blanket but I got a pillow and what looked like an oversize dish cloth for a sheet.  My boss had no pillow but had a pillow case, one fitted sheet, and one oversize dish cloth.  I traded him my pillow for his fitted sheet.  I used my back pack as a pillow.  We learned that there was not a lot of work in this FOB and there are a lot of police instructors --- a job I had applied for.  If the police academy isn’t running, there’s nothing for the instructors to do but they can’t leave either.  There is very minimal internet.  I don’t understand how they don’t go crazy from being bored over there.  On our return trip to the IZ, the convoy was the same except my boss and I became the primary shooters in our vehicle.  I was planning to try and get some video of our “run” because it’s really quite something to experience and a verbal description just doesn’t do it justice.  I started taking pictures but had to stop when we hit a traffic jam and then came to a complete stop.  Our drive, a Navy Chief Petty Officer, said “this isn’t looking too good.”  At that point, I put the camera down and focused on being a shooter and watching for attack potential.  We went through without incident but I didn’t get the pictures that I wanted.  The other thing is that when the military “makes a run,” they play music.  We were told that when they have music on, they don’t get hit so they keep it on.  Sounds good to me.  We played R&B going both ways. 

I’m sure you’re aware that Condi Rice and Don Rumsfeld paid a visit to us.  Timing is always everything.  Their visits are unannounced for security purposes but you know things are happening by the movement in the Palace Rotunda and all of the Department of State employees all dressed up, running around trying to look important, and positioning themselves to get close to the celebrities.  Wouldn’t you know that that’s the day I had to escort an Iraqi informant in from the Red Zone?  I escorted him in all the way to our office without incident but when it was time to leave, I’m escorting him out through the Rotunda and here comes Condi Rice not more than 5 feet from me.  Her security detail is trying to clear a path and is trying to separate me from the Iraqi I’m supposed to escort.  Now when you sign as an escort that means you need to stay with this person wherever he/she may go.  I basically grabbed the Iraqi and pulled him my way telling the security officer, he stays with me.  He must not have noticed the Iraqi’s visitor badge that indicates he is to be escorted.  What an incident that would have caused if he got us separated with the Iraqi on one side of Ms. Rice and me on the other and someone finally noticing that the Iraqi should have an escort.  With all the press around there, that’s the last thing I needed.

I have to tell you that we have two agents over here that haven’t told their parents where they are.  Now I’m talking about guys in their late 50’s.  It’s so funny.  One guy told his parents he’s working out of Washington, D.C. which is the truth,,,, he’s out of D.C.,,, over here!!  The other agent told his parents he’s home in Las Vegas.  He has to get on the Internet to check the temperature, weather, and news so he can talk with his parents and make them believe he’s home.  They haven’t caught on yet that he’s here.  Another thing is that he likes to have a drink and his parents won’t even go to a restaurant that offers alcohol.  No, they aren’t Mormon.  Anyway, we were talking about drinking tonight and one of the guys tells Kent (the fellow from Las Vegas) that alcohol kills brain cells.  Kent says that he’s killed enough brain cells to lose 3 brains here already and that it’s a wonder he can even speak.  Kent is leaving for home in two weeks. 

The other night we had prime rib and one of the other agents who is 64 and is in pretty good shape asked for a thick piece.  The server cut him a 2 inch thick piece of meat and he ate it all.  We were supposed to run in the morning.  He was there but he sure was running sluggish.  The meat is good quality but it’s way over cooked.   

Speaking of running, I ran the 5k last Friday in 25:08.  I ran with a British Police Advisor that we’ve made friends with.  He’s about 42 and is a really nice guy.  Today I ran a 10k today in about 55 minutes.  We have a 10 mile race next Sunday so I wanted to at least push a little.  It’s been awhile since I’ve run a 10K so I’m a little sore right now.  Hopefully, should be okay for the Sunday race. 

Speaking of the Brits, our British Police Advisor friend invited us to the British Embassy for drinks and dinner.  The Embassy did a real nice job on the food especially the deserts.  I saw some of the British employees that I’ve worked with and went over to their table and told them their embassy had been infiltrated by a bunch of “dodgy” Americans.  It’s amazing that both countries speak English but yet the expressions are so different.  If someone is pissed in England, it means they are drunk.  If someone tells you to “keep your pecker up,” it means to keep your chin up.  Obviously, in the United States, there are way different meanings.  After dinner, we got to go to the British Ambassador’s personal residence for an open house.  That was really nice.  The Ambassador has a great sense of humor and allowed us to take pictures with him.  I met some people that had served in all different corners of the world.  It made for a very interesting evening.  We took a photograph under a portrait of the Queen Mum.  I hope it comes out okay.  My Brit friend has it on his camera as we weren’t allowed to bring cameras (or guns) in the Embassy.  They don’t even allow their own soldiers in there with weapons.  The Brits are lucky that their Embassy Guards are the Nepalese Gurkhas.  They are a pretty feisty bunch.  I haven’t decided yet but I might try and buy one of the Gurkhas knives.

It was Father Dennis’ last weekend.  After mass tonight, he was presented with his combat medal.  The congregation had taken up a collection and Father was presented with a large mural of St. Michael the Archangel and also a check in his honor to the Christian Relief of the Middle East for $450.  I’ll bet he leaves the mural here for the church.  He’s like that and besides he takes the Rhino out tomorrow and I know he can’t carry that mural out with him.  The commanding officer and a Protestant Chaplain also had some real kind words especially about his ministering to the injured and dying at the CSH (Combat Surgical Hospital).  Two things that Father Dennis said during his good byes really stuck with me.  He mentioned about one soldier whose leg had been removed after taking a hit from an IED who was smiling at Father when he came to visit.  The soldier said that God was good to him as he only lost a leg and that he could go home, be with his family, get some rehabilitation, and was hoping to be able to return to his unit to help where he could.  I thought that was amazing and figured he wouldn’t want anything to do with the military after that.  The sacrifice some military make is really indescribable.  The other thing that Father relayed was that there were occasions when he was ministering and praying over someone who was supposed to be unconscious but he could see tears running down their faces as he prayed.  There were a few people at church whose eyes were welling up as well.  Fr. Dennis is going back to his home base in Dover and said if we visit, just ask the guards to tell us where the crazy priest is and they direct us to him.   

You know since I’ve been here I’ve developed a whole different mindset over what it is like to be at war and also the sacrifice that really takes place with the military as well as the others that are here.  We’ve got it good though in the IZ.  It makes me think hard about WW II, Korea, Viet Nam, and Desert Storm and the sacrifices made.  I can’t even put WWI or prior in the same group.  Those poor guys had just as much chance of dying from disease as they did getting shot or blown up. 

Do you remember the auditor that I told you about that was asking General Casey “just what kind of a job he had?”  Well, he was asked to leave this week.  In addition to this incident, the guy tries to engage an auditor in a fistfight (not a smart thing when this auditor is a former special forces officer), tries to tell new incoming auditors that someone detonated themselves in the IZ, suggests that there were 300,000 Iranians amassed at the border ready to attack, and that there were Iranian SCUD missiles pointed at the IZ.  At that point, I guess management had enough.  He’s on his way home to find another job.  Most people here are really good but every once in awhile there is one that shows up that a few bricks short of a full load.

Well, I think I’ve rambled enough for one week.  I have reports to write next week so maybe it’ll be a short update.  My best to all and thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers, and e-mails.  I’ll try to send more pictures. 

Best.  Bob

News from Iraq XXVI

Greetings All:

Another week has passed and it was filled with a lot of excitement and action.  It’s actually Friday today and this is the first day that I have not worked straight through since I touched down on March 15th.  I’m just kind of slumming and hanging around.  The temperature is in the low 100’s so it’s basically too hot to do anything else outside.  I think I’ll go back to the hooch and take a nap later. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.  Ours was pretty much the same old except the Church services were really good.  We started off with Holy Thursday and Father Dennis actually washed the feet of 12 people during mass.  You know I’ve participated in this ceremony back home but it’s really more meaningful when you’re in this dusty dirty environment.  What a sign of humility.  He was also joined by Father Dave, a military chaplain, who’s from Australia.  He’s got a really neat accent.  The Fijian choir joined us for Easter Sunday.  I really do love their harmonizing.  I was able to speak with my Dad for the first time in about one month since his stroke.  It was just good to hear his voice. 

This week I also experienced a morning dust storm followed by afternoon rain showers.  I never thought I would ever see it rain dirt but it did.  We were driving to another compound and the rain was coming down in buckets except it was full of dirt as well.  We had to constantly use the cleaning solution with the wiper blades.  It was amazing.  You know what it’s like when your windshield is dusty and then you turn your wipers on and it smears the dirt?  That’s exactly what it was like with the rain.  We had to walk in the rain and my satchel is still full of dust marks from where the drops evaporated.  My clothes had to go in the wash as they got filthy. 

One of our auditors about my age started experiencing chest pains.  He went to the CSH and three different doctors told him --- you’re going home…..now!!  They didn’t even bother to check him out routinely.  They just medi-vac’ed him straight out on a medical Blackhawk.  Apparently he had a heart condition from before.  I couldn’t imagine taking the risk of coming here with a heart condition but he did.  The CSH is simply not set up to handle things like that. 

We had a problem this week with one of our Iraqi cleaners.  The office next door belongs to Homeland Security and right after the cleaners came through, one of the DHS agents was missing a thumb drive.  The cleaners were rounded up to be questioned and one dashed to the bathroom and flushed the commode.  The State Department Security Team was able to get a plumber who retrieved the stolen thumb drive.  The cleaner was questioned thoroughly and then immediately terminated.  I felt pretty bad as this guy has been working here for about 3 years but we just can’t take chances.  It’s just too much risk.  His story was that thumb drives bring a high price on the open market in the Red Zone.  I’d like to believe that but he may also be trying to get information.  We’ll probably never know the full story as his family could have been threatened if he didn’t comply, he may need the money, or he could be part of AQI trying to figure out the right time to wear an explosive vest, who knows?  It’s just sad but interesting that he’s the same one who wanted to borrow my camera and I wouldn’t let him.  You just can’t be too careful.

Last Friday I and another agent decided to participate in something that is called the Harrier Hash Run.  I guess this running organization is world wide.  You actually follow trails set by “Hares” some of which lead to dead ends, circles, etc.  One of our agents who had heard of this group warned us that these guys and gals were “drinkers with running problems.”  Interestingly enough he was so right.  The run was fine but I’m really not in the mood to have beer half way through a 4 mile run.  I would have preferred to keep going but they do break for about 20 minutes so I had water instead.  It was interesting in that I’ve never participated in a run before where the spectators (the local Iraqi guards and police) cheering us on all carried AK-47s.  It was a little surreal and they probably think we’re nuts anyway.  Two other things that I didn’t care for was that by the time we were half way through the run, it was totally dark.  There still is a lot of traffic at that time in the IZ and the potential for an accident increases greatly.  At the end, there was more beer offered and you had a lot of middle age people acting like they were at a frat party at college.  Maybe I’m just getting older and I think I still like to have fun, but my days of singing silly songs and pouring beer on myself are over and have been for quite some time.  I might do the run again only because it’s good training for the upcoming 10 mile race that I’m going to try.  However, I think I’ll just continue to drink water during the break and when the run is complete I’ll just leave it at that and go shower up at the hooch.  I’ll also carry a flashlight with me as well next time.

One of the auditors that I had met from USAID (US Agency for International Development) had an open house on Saturday for Easter.  She really is a gracious hostess so we brought some liquor and wine.  The USAID people actually are housed in these fortified condo’s.  They are blast proof and are quite spacious.  There’s a kitchen and living room area, private bath and laundry room and a bedroom with a real bed.  These units are all furnished including cooking utensils, entertainment centers etc.  I’ll try to get some pictures.  I mean the USAID people live really well here and I can understand why they are reticent to leave.  Katie (our hostess) apparently has made contacts with a caterer in the Green Zone and is able to get some great quality food.  She served a ham that was just fabulous.  Now I think most people know that I’m not a huge fan of ham and I’ll eat a honey baked ham but it’s not high on my list.  This ham was just delectable.  It was tender and not overly salty.  One of the other USAID people is from Australia and he had several bottles of Jacob’s Creek Cabernet.  I informed him that I had tried Jacob’s Creek Merlot when I was in Washington, D.C. and found it to be very nice.  He asked what I had paid for it and as I recall it was about $8-$9 per bottle.  He said that was about the same in Australia which surprised me.  Of course there’s probably a tax thrown in on that as well.  We each enjoyed a glass together.  He handed me one and said “Cheers Mate!”  It’s really worth a try if you can find it.  Also, I think I’ve said this before but if anyone is looking for an overseas experience, go to the USAID web site and search for jobs.  Now you’re not going to find jobs in Western Europe, Canada, Australia, etc.  They are going to be in developing nations primarily war torn or impoverished or both.  However, you are taken care of, the salary is good, the experience is invaluable, and you’ll meet people from all over the world.  I met two people from Bosnia and Zimbabwe at Katie’s party. 

Had a rather unique experience the day before yesterday at the Palace.  I was walking down the hall to the office where the SIGIR inspectors are housed and I noticed this soldier off my left shoulder.  At the time I looked at him he was working the action of his Beretta 92F, de-cocking and holstering it.  Now a semi automatic pistol when empty makes kind of a clanging sound when the action is worked on an empty weapon.  When the action is accepting a round from a magazine, the sound is a little deeper.  I was reasonably certain the weapon was unloaded and the fact that the soldier was holstering it did not give me cause for alarm.  It did stop me for a second and he had my full attention.  It could be that he may have dropped it from his holster just before we encountered each other.  Frankly, I’ve seen more weapons dropped here in the 11 months that I’ve been here than I saw throughout my entire 28 +year career with IRS-CID.  Actually, a civilian had a Glock fall from a shoulder holster during Easter Mass on Sunday.  I think why this happens stems from the reticence of personnel to carry the weapon on the hip as a shoulder holster is more comfortable and convenient for them.  This is especially true with the military.  With the military BDU, you either have to wear the thing on a webbed belt outside the BDU blouse or it constantly is going to tug at the blouse.  It’s not the same as wearing a hip holster with a sports jacket as one typically doesn’t button it up.  The blouse is required to be buttoned.  The only other option is a leg holster or shoulder rig.  The problem is that the rigs these guys are buying are pretty cheap and they don’t hold the weapon in securely.  The only saving grace is that the weapon cannot fire unless the trigger is pulled and no one can carry a hot weapon except for law enforcement personnel (like my unit).  I really haven’t seen any law enforcement officers use a shoulder rig at all.  Most use a leg holster (like mine) only when travel is required with helmet and vest.  There is a holster that attaches securely to the outside of the protective vest when one needs a vest on so that is an option as well. 

I don’t know if I mentioned before but I ran into an IRS CID agent who was a rookie agent in the Oxnard Office when I was supervising in San Jose.  We knew each other from training courses and case interaction and he was becoming a really good special agent.  He had transferred to Colorado and was detailed here to work on terrorist financing investigations.  The IRS CID attaché who was here had just departed back for home and he was from Colorado as well.  Apparently both know the new IRS CI attaché and wrote an e-mail to the new attaché introducing me as a retired IRS-CID supervisor.  The only thing is that they added that they “thought I was one of the case agents on the Al Capone investigation.”  Wise guys!!!

Well, I’ll close by including a news clip on a case that I did work on out here. 

Businessman pleads guilty in Iraq scheme

MARK SHERMAN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - With millions of dollars in Iraqi reconstruction contracts to be had, Philip H. Bloom offered up money, cars, premium airline seats, jewelry, alcohol, even sexual favors from women at his villa in Baghdad.
For a while, the kickback scheme worked. Bloom, a U.S. businessman who saw opportunity in Iraq, paid more than $2 million in bribes to U.S. officials who directed more than $8.6 million in contracts to companies he controlled.
After the inspector general for reconstruction projects began auditing contracts, the system crumbled.
Bloom is facing up to 40 years in prison and nearly $8 million in penalties after pleading guilty to conspiracy, bribery and money laundering, according to court documents made public Tuesday.
He is one of four people charged so far in a scheme that included the theft of $2 million in reconstruction money and the illegal purchase of machine guns and other weapons.
Robert J. Stein, a former contract official for the U.S.-led occupation forces in Iraq, pleaded guilty in February to his role in the scheme. Two lieutenant colonels in the U.S. Army Reserve also have been arrested, while three other officers have been implicated but not charged.
Bloom, who lived in Romania for many years, has been in custody since his arrest in November upon his return to the United States.
He secretly pleaded guilty in February and has been cooperating with investigators since. It was not clear why the plea was made public Tuesday. His lawyers did not immediately comment.
E-mails that prosecutors included in the court documents show that Bloom directed his employees to spare no expense in satisfying the officials who controlled contracts in the Coalition Provisional Authority's South Central region office in Hillah, about 50 miles south of Baghdad.
One official requested a blue Nissan 350Z sports car, which cost more than $30,000. "It appears that there are only two ... in the western United States," an employee wrote Bloom in June 2004.
In January 2004, Bloom ordered business-class plane tickets for an Army Reserve officer and his wife. "Very important to us ... I want to make sure its done right," Bloom wrote.
Bloom benefited from an elaborate bid-rigging scheme in which he would submit several bids for companies he controlled and others that did not exist. Some of the bids were high, while others were low.
All the bids came in under $500,000 each because that was the limit of Stein's authority to award a contract.
Bloom's companies won contracts for a police academy for Hillah and renovation of the public library near Karbala.
The criminal charges have their roots in audits performed by Inspector General Stuart W. Bowen Jr.

   
Thank God the majority of the people out here are hard working dedicated people.  If they weren’t we’d have this type of headline each day or it would get to the point that it would be as commonplace as the weekend drunks or domestic arguments that police respond to back home. 

Take care all and thanks for the e-mails.  I really appreciate them.  Best.  Bob

PS: I’m attaching a copy of a photo taken with me and the Italian (Alpini Special Forces)  Can you pick me out???  (Grin!!!)

News from Iraq XXV

First let me start by wishing everyone a very Happy Easter and I hope you are able to spend the time with friends and family. 

Having said that, I thought I should get this update out early so that you’ll receive this as a forward greeting rather than one that gets to you after the fact. 

Well, contrary to all of the news, things are relatively quiet.  We do not seem to be the main focus of the attacks although I hate to see the loss of any human life whether it is American or otherwise.  It’s just so damn frustrating to continue to see this turmoil and the lack of tenacity in getting things done over here on the part of the Iraqis.  A prime example is the Hussein trial.  It is absolutely ridiculous for this litigation to take so long.  Unfortunately, the Iraqis are permitted (by State and Defense Department) to move “at their own pace” which, if they got any slower, they’d be in reverse.  The evidence is there, I just wished they’d do it and be done with it.  But,,, I need to keep reminding myself that they are Middle Easterners and not Americans.  We move at lightning speed compared to them.  We still need to be cognizant of our surroundings here even in the IZ.  The IZ is shrinking and there are more Iraqis being allowed access.  Consequently, the risk of infiltration is going to increase naturally. 

I’m starting to see a little bigger picture that goes beyond the Iraqi borders.  The Shiite’s seem to align very closely with Iran and the Sunni’s align closely with Syria.  The Kurds are on their own up North and seem to be able to do just fine.  Sure wish they could remain somewhat neutral but that’s just not going to happen.  I don’t think the Kurds are wild about either group and would prefer to be left alone.  Of course, that worries Turkey who doesn’t want them to become too powerful.  Like I’ve said, nothing is ever easy here.   

I know the media perception back home is that everyone here hates us and wants us out.  Well, I’ll tell you, if that was actually true, we wouldn’t be here.  I mean face it, look at the weaponry that’s still laying around and that could be brought it.  We’ve got roughly 200,000 people here spread out in an area the size of California and there are 25 million local residents.  If they really all hated us and wanted us out, how long could we defend from an all out attack and how long could we survive in these compounds without having to resort to annihilation tactics?  Despite the daily attacks and assaults, there exists some semblance of order here in Iraq.  But, I really don’t know how these people continue to persevere through life given their uncertainties.  I think we in the US have experienced what can happen if order disappears.  Consider the LA riots after the Rodney King incident.  The police were basically overwhelmed and people had to resort to defending themselves as the police assumed more of a defensive posture before the National Guard and other agencies were brought in.  No one was outwardly attacking the police but if they did, there were not enough police to quell such an endeavor.   

Sorry to start this on such a somber tone.  Okay, how about some fun stuff? 

We’ve got a new agent (new?  He’s my age, eligible to retire, and detailed from another agency.)  He is the nicest guy.  He reminds me of Gomer Pyle, USMC.  He’s from Alabama, is tall, with graying dark hair, and is always smiling.  He never says anything bad about anyone even when someone becomes hostile.  He’s just a great Southern gentleman and he’s a good investigator.  I’m sure he could get riled up but he’s pretty low key.  The other thing is that he’s really hard of hearing.  Unless you are looking directly at him, you have to shout to get his attention.  Thank God we are just responsible for our own defense and do not have offensive type assignments. 

Had several humorous incidents occur this week.  One involved when I and another special agent were coming in through a check point.  There are “T” walls all the way around in this checkpoint right by the Tigris River.  Now you need to understand that vehicles are allowed only one at a time.  There’s no jamming up at the check point.  You only move when instructed to move.  The alternative is not good.  Well, we are waiting our turn about 50 yards out at the check point awaiting instructions to be motioned forward.  Suddenly, we see one Marine take a stalking stance, raise his M-16 to eye level and move across the checkpoint through the “T”walls to the right.  The only way I can further describe this would be to think of the stance of an officer with a weapon drawn ready to make entry on a place where the danger level is heightened.  Anyway, the Marine disappears from view at which time we are wondering what the hell is up.  The other Marine at the check point motions us forward.  Now at this point he hasn’t moved nor has he raised his weapon.  As we move forward, the other Marine comes back standing straight up and with his M-16 hanging from the strap on his shoulder.  We arrive at the check point just as the “stalking” Marine approaches my side of the vehicle.  I rolled down the window and said “Marine, you had me concerned as to the threat you were addressing.”  He replies, “Sir, an unauthorized bird breached check point security, Sir.”  I began to laugh and said, “Well, I’m glad you are on the alert but do you pursue birds or are you involved in big game pursuits as well.”  He responds “Sir, I respond to all and there are plenty of targets.” Then he smiles kind of a boyish grin.  Heck, I don’t think he was 19-20 years old.  We proceeded through after wishing them well.  You really have to understand that most days for these soldiers are routine, mundane, and down right boring and they are continually looking for ways to occupy their minds and stay alert.  It’s a tough thing to stay alert like that.  It would be like asking you to stay alert for the mailman every day including holidays. 

I met a US Customs Agent who is here as an advisor to the Iraqi Customs out at the airport.  We actually had a discussion along with a couple of beers.  He was telling us some of the circumstances he has encountered with Iraqi Customs and shipments.  He was talking about mixed cargo containers where caustic (acid) materials were shipped along side volatile fuels such as propane, gasoline, etc.  He found one instance where the Iraqi Customs had directed two fuel tankers that were loaded to park the vehicles in a structure where only one side could be accessed (meaning the trucks would have to back out) while they were inspected.  I guess the Iraqi Customs preferred to work in the shade.  If you’re not aware, Iraqis (especially men) are like chain smokers and they do smoke on the job.  The only designated smoking areas are in the U.S. Embassy Compound.  The U.S. Customs Agent just wanted out of that area.  The other incident involved the shipment of explosives.  The boxes were marked only with a series of numbers that translate in code to explosives.  Apparently the Iraqi Customs misinterpreted the numbers as shipping numbers, opened the boxes to inspect, and were actually tossing the cigar like wrapped explosive back and forth to each other trying to figure out what it was.  The US Customs Agent hurriedly explained it to them upon seeing this and the playing stopped.  He said the insurgency is the least of his worries here.  I can understand why. 

My friends who have served in the military will enjoy this next little story and it is the honest to God’s truth.  I did not embellish on the way it was told to me.  A certain senior executive service agent for an agency that will remain nameless apparently really got himself in a pickle for his conduct here.  Now I introduced myself to this guy when he first arrived about 6 months ago.  He ensured that I was aware that he was the attaché and country director for his agency.  The unique thing about this guy is that he would never be the first to initiate eye contact or greet you.  If you said hello to him, then he’d acknowledge you but he would never initiate.  Moreover, if he was with someone (usually in a suit that looked important, i.e. State Department I’m sure,,, they all are important!!!), he would tend to ignore you even if you said hello.  Well, most of you know how I feel about someone with this attitude.  Shortly before I left to come home on R&R, I see this guy in the dining facility dressed in full military BDU’s  but without any insignia whatsoever except for three stars on each collar of his blouse.  He was seated so I didn’t know if I had missed something so I purposely went by him again and said hello.  He said hello but nothing more but I was able to observe that the BDUs contained nothing but the three stars on each side of the collar.  One of our agents is a retired USMC Warrant Officer and had also seen this guy.  I said that I had seen U.S. uniformed law enforcement personnel with rank insignia wherein the BDU contained a patched badge, the America Flag, the person’s name, the agency, and the rank.  I asked about the propriety of this and he said the BDU was totally inappropriate and the three stars would indicate the rank of a three star general.  I didn’t think much of it until this last week as I hadn’t seen this guy around.  We’ve become very close friends with one of his subordinates here who is a great guy and can’t stand the attaché or should I now say former attaché.  Apparently, this attaché compares himself as an SES (senior executive service) officer as being equivalent to the general rank and thus felt justified in wearing a BDU with the three stars.  As I was informed nobody said anything to him here in the Embassy Compound when he had the BDUs on with the three stars on each collar, but then he decides to make a trip south.  He is manifested on a Blackhawk to travel south to an area controlled by the British.  He shows up at the landing zone for his flight.  The military in charge of the flights take one look at him (he has a full beard, trimmed but still not GI) and the three stars on his collars and asked him what he was doing.  He explains that he is an SES civilian but that he is so high in stature that he is deserving of the equivalent rank and treatment of a three star general.  I could just hear this guy saying this and I could imagine the reception that it got.  The next thing that happens is that the Blackhawk has suddenly “developed” mechanical problems and his flight was cancelled.  But now here’s where it gets good.  He still wants to go south so he takes it upon himself to check with the Brits to arrange for transportation.  Well, some Brits are not as familiar with our uniforms and facial hair requirement.  Although he explains that he’s a civilian three star equivalent, they figure he’s some type of military.  Now understand there’s only one four star in theater.  That’s General Casey.  There are only a handful of three stars here and the rest are two and one stars.  Apparently as the word trickles down, the Brits down south are informed that a U.S. three star is coming down for a visit.  The Brits commit a C-130 just for him and this trip.  Now that’s like someone working for Intel Corporation and having the company’s private jet reserved just for you to make a routine trip.  Common sense would tell you that something is very wrong with this picture and that further explanation is warranted.  Bottom line: I would not have stepped foot on that plane without clearing up why I was getting such preferential treatment and making sure that everyone understood who I am and what I was doing.  Apparently, our attaché didn’t think the same way.  He gets on the flight and rides it south.  Well, when he gets to his destination, there is quite a contingent of British Military personnel to greet him.  When the British General sees who actually gets off the plane and sees nothing but three stars on his BDUs, he is incensed and outraged by all of this.  Now this attaché is trying to explain how he is justified in wearing what he’s wearing and thought that the plane was just available, etc., etc,.  The Brits took their complaint all the way to Washington, D.C.  The undersecretary of this agency had to personally tender an apology directly to the Brits.  Our SES friend now has a letter of reprimand and is forbidden to wear the BDU’s or the stars.  I’m told his days are numbered here.  I hate to be real mean but I am so tempted just to salute him once.  I mean he’s got an ego the size of Texas but lacks a bit on common sense. 

I wanted to end this by saying that I just met another young married couple who are here working.  They are not highly skilled, just highly motivated.  One supervises an office cleaning crew and her husband is an equipment operator.  You know, I hear people say that the American Dream of homeownership is out of reach.  However, here are these two young people both in probably their mid to late 20’s working here and socking everything away in order to buy and pay off a house.  It’s a sacrifice for them being here but they are maximizing on an opportunity to have a home and be literally debt free.  There are a lot of people here doing exactly that and they range predominantly between 25-35 years of age.  The more I see of this motivation and desire the more I have great confidence in at least some of today’s American youth to go the extra mile to achieve their dreams and goals.

Well, I think I’m going to kick back and relax a little today.  I wish you all the best and thank you as always for the e-mails, the thoughts, and especially the prayers.   I keep thinking I’m going to run out of things to tell you but new things just keep popping up.  Hope you find them enjoyable.  Bless.  Bob   

News from Iraq XXIV

Hi All:

Well, another week and a lot of new and some unique experiences.  You know considering we are not traveling each and every day of the week, it’s amazing how new things just seem to crop up.  However, I can really start to tell that I’ve been here awhile as I’m experiencing probably my third or fourth rotation of personnel, especially military personnel.  You know, you think you’ve got yourself pretty well connected around here and then you discover that your contacts have all vanished and there are new people who took their place but haven’t a clue as to what they are doing or who you are and sometimes don’t really care.

I have to tell you that I just got finished laughing at three of my agents who are planning a trip up North and they depart tomorrow.  They are going to a remote area and there are three guys going but Joint Area Support Group would only issue two sleeping bags.  Now they are going to try and get accommodations but they have to be prepared.  I told them to make sure that they all cooperate (one team, one fight you know), zip the bags together, so that all three have something to sleep in.  I wish I could tape the comments being bantered about but I have to take some time to wipe the tears of laughter from eyes before I continue.  I can see this is going to be one of those trips.  They all can’t even ride on the same Blackhawk so one has to leave two hours earlier in order to get to the airport.  That agent just got finished saying “Life sucks and then you die!”  This is the second time they’ve tried to schedule this trip.  It definitely ain’t the USA.  I’d be going, but I’m in charge,,,,,again!  I don’t want to be in management anymore!  I want to go play.  Seriously, traveling around here is definitely not fun. The guys will get a chopper out in the early evening and have to spend the night in a place we call the “stables” at the airport.  (Now you don’t need much imagination to know why they are called the “stables” especially if you’ve have any farm experience.  I can think of some farms that I would prefer to bed down in rather than stay at the “stables.”)  Then they have a 3 hour ride in a crowded C-130.  You know what economy class or “cattle class” as we refer to it feels like?  Well, that would feel like double first class compared to the way you would feel on a C-130.  They are great work horse planes but they are not…..repeat not….. built for comfort.  After that, they’ll convoy up to their final location most probably at least another 2-3 hours.  The good news is they’ll probably be riding in an up-armored SUV.  The bad news is they’ll be riding in an up-armored SUV.  Again, one thinks that an SUV is really roomy and comfortable.  Wrong!  After you finish with the 3” glass windows, the armor plating on the doors, the roof, and the floor board, things get tight,,, real tight.  Then you have to throw in your body armor with ballistic plates, your helmet, your side arm, your M-4, extra magazines attached to your body armor, sitting there is not comfortable.  When you’re done with all of this, you realize the reason that the ones that do this day in and day out are 20 years + younger than we are. 

Once again we have more change in the choir.  We are losing two of our female singers, both USAF Officers.  Now we are down to one and she’s leaving at the end of April.  That was going to put us down to two, me and other male vocalist.  It’s unbelievable.  Father says his good byes to these ladies and two guys pop up and volunteer to sing so we will have at least five voices for a while.  After the last female vocalist leaves, the choir’s combined voices are going to get a lot deeper.  Hopefully, we’ll get another female to volunteer.

After mass tonight, I was poking a little fun at a friend of mine who works for the State Department.  He was introducing himself to some Carabinierri (Italian Police) so I told them in Italian to watch out for him as he was a spy with the CIA.  He turned to me jokingly and said “Smart Ass.”  The Carabinierri understood that real well.  An Iraqi gentleman who was at mass heard me speak Italian and so we started talking.  His name is Angello (not Angelo) and he lives in Virginia.  He’s definitely Iraqi but he went to college in Italy so he is fairly fluent in Italian.  We struck up a conversation and chatted for awhile.  Interesting how small the world can be. 

Speaking of the Iraqis, I’m pleased to hear that the populace is getting fed up with the shootings and bombings and things and are starting to arm themselves and take charge of their neighborhoods.  I think it’s about time.  You know the majority of the people here go about their daily lives and just want to live but this small contingent is not happy and continues to agitate and aggravate.  It has to get to a point where people are not going to be intimidated any more because the fact of the matter is with intimidation they are going to die any way.  I’ve heard people say we should have disarmed everyone when we invaded.  Number one, that would be totally unrealistic given the weaponry in the country, the borders were unprotected, and Sadam emptied the prisons right before we arrived.  Just think how much more helpless these people would have been if we summarily disarmed them and there was no one to provide protection.  It’s pretty easy to terrorize a place when people don’t have the ability to defend themselves especially when we are still trying to train the police force and instill in them some ethical conduct.  However, when everyone is armed, how do a few terrorize a lot?  I’m not saying it will stop tomorrow but I think it’s going to help.  I also found out this week during a witness interview just how deep the hatred is between the Kurds and the Arabs.  I still can’t tell the difference physically but I guess the language is totally different and they do have some different facial features.  It will take a generation to see that change.

I guess you all have heard about Jill Carroll, the reporter that was abducted who was finally released.  I spoke with the young lady who had accompanied her back to the USA.  I had met this lady before actually during a business meeting that I had with the Minister of Interior and one of the State Department ambassadors.  She was the interpreter.  She speaks like 5 Middle Eastern languages.  She’s probably in her late 20’s.  She said Carroll was pretty well shook up by the experience but thinks she’s going to be fine.  I know journalists are used to having freedom because they are “reporting the truth.”  (That’s another issue and I haven’t the time nor space to address it here.)  But somebody didn’t tell the bad guys this. 

I also interviewed an older Iraqi gentleman who works as a translator in the IZ.  He works with several military officers from the Netherlands.  This fellow had never been into the Presidential Palace.  I had to escort him in and stay with him while he was in the Embassy Compound.  He was in awe of the size and ornate decorations of the palace.  When I asked if he had ever seen this place before, he looked at me wide eyed and said people like him would never be allowed to set foot in such a place.  He said the palaces and other areas were strictly for Saddam and the Ba’athists.  He said his presence would have been strictly forbidden.  Again, just another example to demonstrate how lucky we are to live in the USA.  I thoroughly enjoyed the interview and the meeting with this gentleman as well as his daughter who is also a translator.  The Netherlands Colonel gave me a book on his homeland several days afterwards and said he wanted me to have it because I was nice to the translators.  I thanked him but actually I just treated them with the respect that they deserve as human beings.

Hey, I know you all have been hearing all of the negative news that comes from Iraq.  Well, here’s a piece of good news.  I just read where we’ve successfully got the children population of Iraq inoculated against polio, mumps, measles, and rubella.  Considering the population and the size of this country, that’s not too bad.  Doesn’t make news though does it?  Neither does the fact that our base hospital has been treating victims of these bombings like crazy and utilizing our best medical skills to save them.  Again not newsworthy!!! 

Okay, one more tidbit and I’m gonna cut it off and save the rest for next week.  Or else this thing is going to get out of hand. 

We have this new auditor that was hired recently.  Now this guy is a few years younger than I am, is a former pilot, and a CPA.  He prefers auditing over flying --- no hazardous issues in his background either.  I knew there were going to be issues when I heard in the State Department training that he told other new auditors that he would be their supervisor once management saw his performance in the first two weeks.  (Obviously, that didn’t happen.)  Next when I was introduced to him, he looks at my Sig M228 and tells me I’m way under gunned for this place.  I told him his worries should not revolve about having to shoot one’s way out of here but staying clear of things that make big loud noises.  I said you could carry a cannon and it wouldn’t do you much good if you get hit with a rocket or mortar.  I didn’t receive any response.  Well, one of my agents is working out in the gym on the elliptical machines.  He’s on one and then General Casey, you know THE General Casey, Commanding General for Multi National Force – Iraq, comes and gets on the machine next to him.  Of course, the general has his personal security detail with him as well.  Now General Casey is a pretty nice down to earth kind of guy, about my height, very friendly, and very articulate.  So the general is working out and who comes to get on the machine next to General Casey but this little twit.  While working out, the General’s team receives several cell phone calls for him and he has to leave his machine to field the calls.  After the third call, this auditor asks the general, “Hey! Just what kind of job do you have here?  I’m a SIGIR auditor!”  The general looks at him and says “I’m a general -----four star!”  The auditor says “Oh!”  My agent said “God, I hope Casey doesn’t think we in SIGIR are all idiots!”

Well, I had to finish this in between a spontaneous interview for one of my investigations.  So now I’m done and I’m saying good night.  I’ll tell ya’ll the rest of the story next week.  Until then, keep safe and God Bless.  Bob 

News from Iraq XXIII

Iraq Update – April 3, 2006

Greetings to All:

I hope this finds everyone in good health and in good humor.  This last week has been a busy one for me.  I’ve been trying to clean up some interviews on my investigation that’s in the litigation stage.  It seems like the target wants to cooperate but maybe not fully so it’s my job to ensure that he shoots straight.  So I’ve been trying to get matters under control.  It’s been really interesting with some of the people that I’ve been interviewing.  Wish I could say more but due process precludes it.  Maybe later. 

You know it’s amazing.  I’ve met more bow hunters since I’ve been here from all over the US.  Most have said the same thing that I have.  It sure would be nice if we had an archery range here.  If I didn’t think it would get broken, I’d send for my bow and arrows.  There’s enough scrap material around here to make targets.  We could also shoot against the 14’ T walls as a back drop.  They are made of cement and re-bar so if an arrow hits one, the shaft would just shatter.  If we shot over the T wall, the arrow would just into no man’s land or into the Tigris.

I guess everyone has had the fun of dealing with the time change.  I really hate it.  It just throws me all off especially with my 05:30 wake up to exercise.  I actually slept in late one morning until 07:30.

I’ve had some fun this week but I also had some headaches as well.  I had several agents that had to travel north to Kirkuk.  They were supposed to go else where but I am purposely not disclosing the location for obvious reasons. Anyway, I encouraged these two to carry long guns just in case they travel by convoy.  Well, they e mail me and tell me they’ve secured this Land Cruiser in Kirkuk and that they are going to this small town alone.  Of course, I hit the roof and fired back an e-mail forbidding this and asking them if they had lost their senses? (I can’t talk live with these guys because we don’t have that type of communication.)  Naturally, I get a return e-mail that they were just joking.  I said I didn’t think it was so funny but afterwards it was.  They actually couldn’t travel to the little town because the road was considered much too hot even for a ground convoy.  That’s OK, wait till they do their time reports.  I’m going to tell them I forgot to turn them in.

One of the agents who resides in Las Vegas just returned from R&R.  He was actually lamenting about returning and wondering if he should hang it up.  While home he acquired a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle.  He said he made one last call home while boarding the plane from Denver to Frankfurt.  His son answered the phone and said he was just getting ready to take a ride on his new motorcycle.  His son is a police officer in Southern CA.  Then when he gets back to Baghdad, he gets an e mail with pictures showing both of his sons (both police officers) riding his new motorcycle and then going out dining with their mother.  By then he’s saying that life isn’t very fair as the family is enjoying his motorcycle and dining out while he’s here still eating KBR food and living in a hootch. 

I had another funny incident when I interviewed a witness who’s from Killeen, TX.  Now this guy is a little soft spoken and had a “twang” that was unbelievable.  I was catching most of what he was trying to say but then he said “he’s a walking web page.”  Both I and another agent from Maine asked him to repeat what he said about six times.  We could get “he’s a walking” but could not figure out “web page” to save our lives.  I was putting pen and paper in front of him to have him write it out when we finally got it.  We had to shake his hand and tell him we meant no disrespect but, honestly, under tense circumstances, I would not have been able to figure out what he was trying to say. 

I also had occasion to meet two soldiers this week from El Salvador.  They were in the Palace and were definitely lost.  I asked if I could help and they showed me where they had to go.  One had a military badge and the other had a temporary U.S. Embassy badge.  The area where they had to go was restricted and required an escort which I am authorized to do.  They were to go to a General’s secretary to obtain authorization for a badge to conduct their business in the U.S. Embassy Compound.  I escorted these two gentlemen up to see the General’s secretary and introduced them to her.  When she looks up, she’s got a look that says nothing but “attitude.”  She asked to see the one soldiers’ orders and then rather tersely said, she wasn’t signing anything and they would have to get temporary badges even though their mission required return trips to the embassy.  I looked at her as if she were nuts but she wasn’t budging.  I thought what a first class B#@$% to treat these two soldiers like this.  As we were walking out, I noticed that both soldiers wore medical corp insignias and one had a “one star” on his collar and the other had a “two star” on his collar.  Now I know their stars were not as noticeable as on the US uniforms but I’m sure there are going to be some repercussions from this.  The two star general asked for my business card and thanked me for being helpful.  I actually didn’t notice their stars until afterwards but I would have treated them nice even if they were privates.  If  this lady gets her posterior chewed royally, she certainly deserves it.  There was just no excuse for that. 

The other night it just poured rain and you should have seen the lightning and heard the thunder.  Some people thought it was an attack but learned quickly that it was just Mother Nature doing her thing.  My hootch was dry but I had one agent who got up to go to the bathroom and once he hit the floor with his stocking feet, he learned that he had an inch of water in his hootch.  He spent part of the night mopping out the water.  One other agent woke up and had a wet spot by his feet on the bed.  That doesn’t make for a fun evening. 

Friday night we were invited over to the FBI compound.  It was good to mingle with just law enforcement personnel.  We had a fire using scrap wood for fuel.  There’s an Assistant United States Attorney from Seattle, Washington that I had met previously and he was there.  I told him that I had to get a picture of him with his weapon to show the agents back home the way the AUSA’s are outfitted here.  He laughed.  He’s also a former U.S. Army Ranger. 

I interviewed an Iraqi young lady this week incident to the investigation who was a witness.  It’s extremely refreshing to meet someone who’s working with us and appreciates what we are doing.  In addition to her native tongue, this young lady speaks Russian and English.  She was very articulate although she was very much afraid initially to speak with us.  After speaking with us, her fears went away but you could see the apprehension in her face.  Same thing when we interviewed her father.  He told me that if someone in our position called you in under the Saddam regime, it meant torture and death no matter if you told the truth and were guilty or innocent.  The young lady asked me if I was with the military and was ordered to come here.  I said that I wasn’t and that it was voluntary.  She was really amazed by that and then thanked me for helping out.  You know, sometimes that’s all one needs to press on. 

Well, my eyelids are getting heavy so I’m going to cut it here.  Take care and I’ll stay in touch.  Until the next update, all the best, Bob.

News from Iraq XXII

Greetings All:

All right, first things first.  I’m sorry for not having produced an update in awhile.  First, my daughter, Rachel, who was overseeing the distribution of these updates had temporarily gone out of town so I had to reconstruct the mailing list.  I added a few addresses but, if you know of someone who received these in the past and I missed them, please let me know so that I can include them in the future.  I apologize for any omissions.  Second, I was on R&R leave which I think you all knew from my last update so I wasn’t “in country” for about 28 days.  Third, I had a major investigation break open that has taken about all my waking moments.  Finally, my father suffered a stroke several days back.  Not that there was a lot that I can do from here, but it sure weighs heavy on one’s mind when one is far from home.  I know he’s getting the best care possible and, hopefully, he will recover.  I’m informed he is having trouble speaking.  I hope with time that might improve.  All I can ask is to keep him in your prayers.

Now, I might as well print a news article about the case right here just in case it didn’t hit your news stands. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                   CRM

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2006                                                                                      (202) 514-2008

WWW.USDOJ.GOV                                                                                        TDD (202) 514-1888

U.S. CIVILIAN TRANSLATOR ARRESTED FOR OFFERING BRIBE

TO IRAQI POLICE OFFICIAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. - An employee of a government contractor working in Iraq has been arrested on a charge of offering to bribe an Iraqi police official, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Wainstein of the District of Columbia announced today.

                                                                                    

Faheem Mousa Salam, 27, of Livonia, Michigan, was arrested at Dulles International Airport Thursday upon returning from Iraq.  He was charged with offering to bribe a foreign official under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  Salam is a naturalized U.S. citizen employed by Titan Corporation, and had been living in Baghdad, Iraq.

                                                                                                                        

According to a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia, Salam offered a senior Iraqi police official approximately $60,000 for the official's assistance with facilitating the purchase by a police training organization of approximately 1,000 armored vests and a sophisticated map printer for approximately $1 million.  The complaint alleges that Salam later made final arrangements with an undercover agent of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction - posing as a procurement officer for the multinational Civilian Police Assistance Training Team (CPATT) in Iraq - for the map printer and vests, along with a separate  $28,000 to $35,000 "gift" to process the contracts.

The maximum sentence for a charge of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is five years in prison plus a $100,000 fine or twice the gross gain, whichever is greater.

A criminal complaint is merely and accusation and not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The case is being prosecuted jointly by Fraud Section Deputy Chief Mark Mendelsohn and Trial Attorney Stacy Luck of the Criminal Division, Department of Justice, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Roth, Chief of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section, and Jonathan Rosen of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.  The case is being investigated by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.

# # #

After we arranged to get this guy to the States and hooked, I had to shift into high gear.  The news spread like wild fire especially amongst the translators.  There’s lots more work to do as well but, then again, that’s why I’m here.   I put in some long hours though.  After we got this guy wheels up out of Baghdad International on MilAir, we wound down for a little bit.  However, we were in constant communication with one of my agents (I’m presently acting Special Agent in Charge) who was shadowing him for fear he might not go back to the USA but decide to spend life as a fugitive elsewhere.  Then I received a telephone call at 5:00 A.M. from the Assistant United States Attorney announcing that the target was in custody and it started.  That day ended around 10:00 P.M.  However, the following day started at 6:00 A.M. and didn’t end until 12:30 A.M. the following morning.  I was pretty well beat up and am still trying to catch up.  When the AUSA called me, he asked me how the weather was in Baghdad.  I told him the weather is a lot like Palm Springs, CA except for the smell of the oil refinery down town and the sewage running in the streets in places. 

Okay, enough about the case.  As stated previously, my flight out of country for R&R was great.  I flew on the Brits Puma Helo and it was an awesome ride.  I spent several days in Michigan with my relatives and ate awesome food, drank homemade wine, and just kicked back.  It’s amazing going back to the USA.  The air smells just a little bit cleaner, everything is neater, and the food and drink just tastes wonderful.  It’s also great to be around loved ones.  Once home I met my grandchild, Angelina Marie.  Needless to say, she has Grandpa hooked pretty good.  I have to admit it was pretty hard getting on that airplane to come back here.  But I’m glad I did.  There’s work to be done and I’ve made quite a few friends.  Unfortunately upon returning I found that some really close contacts had deployed out.  I do miss them but I’m glad that they are back with their families and loved ones.    I had a great flight getting back into country as well.  In fact, just after stepping off the C-130 at Baghdad Airport, we shuttled to another landing zone and I caught a Blackhawk to go back to the International Zone.  I was the only person on the Blackhawk and felt like a VIP.  However, I knew there were two Assistant United States Attorneys who came on the C-130 waiting for a trip at the landing zone.  I explained this to the crew and at first they ignored me.  I started to unbuckle my harness to go get the attorneys myself as the Blackhawk crew wasn’t moving.  I guess I shamed them into action because they went to the waiting area and found the two attorneys.  A Blackhawk can carry a lot of people, probably 16 + flight crew and gunners and there were only three of us.  It was interesting as well as the part of Baghdad we flew over seemed in better condition than I had ever seen before. 

It’s also been relatively quiet here.  I know the media is really emphasizing the attacks amongst the various factions but attacks on us have been way down.  There was that scheme to attack the IZ with 421 insurgents but good intelligence work put that one down in a hurry.  I’m still very frustrated at watching the Iraqis quarrel and war amongst themselves continually settling scores.  This country has so much potential to be great and it’s just a pity to watch it self destruct.  You know people don’t realize that Iraq holds a lot more than oil in a crucial section of the Middle East.  Take a look at a map and you’ll see what I mean.  There are a lot of border countries around Iraq that don’t have near the water resources that are in Iraq and that could be cleaned up.  Having oil is one thing but you can’t drink it and I don’t know anyone who can survive without water.  Having the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers running right through the center of the country should be prime natural resource jewels.  I still think it’s going to take the average citizen to rise above the fear that saying anything is going to get you killed in order for this country to turn the corner.  For example, there was an attack on a police station but 100 armed insurgents and sympathizers.  Now I’ve been on enough raids to tell you that even 20 armed officers can be detected rather readily in the United States.  When you have 100 armed people in vehicles or on the street amassing for an all out assault on a police station, SOMEBODY had to see SOMETHING.  These things are detectable, they need to be reported.  Yet there’s not reports forthcoming.  I think it will continue to change with time but it’s slow.  You can’t live in a regime where you may have been killed merely for voicing an object.

This week we had some winds come up and knock over two big palms trees.  One fell about 40 yards from my hootch.  No one was hurt but having something like that fall down would not be fun.  Like the other things that are dangerous here, it’s a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Tonight was the first night I got back with the choir.  I’ve been running so hard on this case, I haven’t even made it to mass but once since I got back.  It felt good to be back with the choir again.  Fr. Dennis, our chaplain, came back but he is scheduled to rotate out in 5 weeks.  He really is starting to look tired.  I’m sure the constant stress of dealing with the dead, the dying, the wounded, and those with emotionally draining personal issues would get to anyone after awhile.  He still has his sense of humor but you can see it in him.  His replacement is actually a priest from the Anglican Church who is converting to Catholicism.  I’ve heard of this but I’m not well versed in it.  Apparently, priests in the Anglican Church have all powers of a Catholic priest.  Even though they are married, as this one is, they are permitted to become Catholic priests.  So, this priest will be our new parish priest for St. Michael’s.  Fr. Dennis refers to him as “the protestant.”  Like I said he hasn’t lost his sense of humor. 

During this week, I was able to meet several congressional delegates.  I met Craig Thomas from Wyoming, Jeff Sessions from Alabama, and Ken Salazar from Colorado.  All were very nice.  I spoke with Ken Salazar at length as his younger brother, Elliot, was in the special agent basic training class that I mentored in 1995 at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA.   Small world, eh?

Well, some of my Italian Alpini friends had to return home.  I was hoping to see them again but perhaps they will return before I depart.  I had dinner with some of them the other night and it was just enjoyable talking Italian to them while they spoke English to me. 

A few funny things happened this week that bear mentioning.  We have an auditor husband and wife team here.  They are about in their mid fifties.  With the weather getting nice, there are people sunbathing mid day at the pool.  Some of the ladies are wearing some rather skimpy suits.  The wife auditor voices displeasure at a staff meeting that the pool side bathing beauties are improperly attired given our environment.  Now there’s not a lot anyone can do about it but several suggested that she not give her husband reason to look at the sunbathers if that was an issue. 

The second issue involved a Chief of Staff meeting with Ambassador Khalizad.  Apparently a State Department dynamo left her cell phone on which the Ambassador has routinely said he wants off during meetings.  The phone doesn’t just ring once but three times.  By the third time the Ambassador was glaring at her and told her to take her and the telephone outside.  The lady gets nervous, drops the phone on the floor, the battery goes flying and the whole meeting is disrupted.  Needless to say the Ambassador was not pleased.  I can only imagine what was said after the meeting but can you believe doing something like that when there is someone that high up in a meeting.  I mean the ambassador is the president’s representative in any given country. 

Well, my eyes are just about shut.  I’m not even going to proof this as I need to get out of here and get some rest as tomorrow will be another big day. 

I promise not to stay away so long from correspondence.  I wish all of you well and please keep the thoughts and prayers coming. 

With best regards,  Bob.

News from Iraq XXI

Hi All:

Wow what a ride today.  I'm in Kuwait but thought I would get this out before I departed.  Wrong, with the undercover operation and trying to pack my days really got away from me.  We've got a new boss in and he met with us.  I'm working for someone who is young enough to be my son.  We'll see how this goes.  He's an attorney and not an investigator but as long as he listens, he should do okay. 

I flew out today on a British helo called a Puma.  What an awesome machine.  First when we left LZ Washington, 4 Blackhawks came in escorted by two Apaches.  What a display.  However, the Puma ride was an absolute rush.  They leave the doors open and I had the first seat next to the door.  We were really flying fast at about 75 to 100 yards off the ground using evasive tactics and turns.  We had three stops in all so it was a great trip.  The only time I felt a little disconcerted is when the chopper banked with me facing the ground.  Then I noticed a guy on the other side not wearing his seat belt.  The belts are like the old safety belts in the older cars that fit just around the waist.  One slip and he'd be out the door.  My ears are still ringing though.  One thing bad about this flight is that it gave me yet another glimpse of the poverty that surrounds this nation so unnecessarily if they would just stop killing each other and work together.  You see neighborhoods in standing water and it isn't clean.  Animals being raised right around the houses with half damaged structures and junk cars around.  People still use donkey carts and there are open air markets everywhere.  Garbage burns in the streets everywhere.  I hope the pics I took will come out.  It really is unbelievable.

We had a couple of mortar rounds hit the compound yesterday.  They detonated but no damage. 

I had pizza at the Italian Embassy with the Carabinieris.  Lots of pizza, wine, beer, and music.  These guys were just one heck of a lot of fun.  I asked why their general and colonels weren't there.  They told me they were too old to have fun.  I asked how old are they?  They responded almost 50.  I said gee I'm 57!!!  They said I have a young heart.  I spoke with one Italian soldier who just got in from Nasireya where the Italians have about 3,000 soldiers. 

He said life was very spartan there but the Italian dining facility had wine, spumoni, and excellent cheeses.  He brought some of these with him when he came.  He's from Sicily and is in his early 30's. 

We have a new priest covering for Fr. Dennis who is in Thailand for R& R.  Fr. Joe Orlandi is a true paisan.  He's a full Colonel in the Army and his parish is in Queens, New York.  He's fluent in Italian and he's very charismatic.  He gave me some pizzelli which I shared with the Italian soldiers.  Father gave two really beautiful masses in which I sang with the choir. 

Well, I'm beat and I have to make this short.  They only allow you 15 minutes on line at the business center at the Kuwait Hilton.  We have these villas which are nothing more than condos to live in.  They are elegant compared to my hooch and I look forward to a hot shower with more than a dribble of water and a decent mattress.  I hope I get to see some of you on this R&R but I've got to run around as well. 

Take care and please continue to keep us all in your prayers.  My best.  Bob

News from Iraq XXI

Greetings All:

Yet another week is done and it’s another week closer to me being able to get home.  I can only hope that it goes without a hitch.  One never knows here.   I’ve been going rather hot and heavy on a new case and I’ve included the press on a case that I was involved with.  There are more defendants but the information isn’t public yet so I can’t say any more.  Enjoy the reading.

Former U.S. official admits corruption in Iraq
He funneled contracts to friends for at least $2 million in goods and cash
By Lisa Myers & the NBC Investigative Unit
Updated: 7:03 p.m. ET Feb. 2, 2006
WASHINGTON - Luxury cars, a $20,000 Harley Davidson motorcycle, $10,000 Breitling watches and mountains of cash were all part of an elaborate corruption scheme in Iraq which - court documents allege - involves at least seven Americans, including five Army reserve officers.

A former Iraq reconstruction official, Robert Stein, a convicted felon inexplicably put in charge of $82 million in contracts, pleaded guilty Thursday to corruption, bribery and weapons charges.

"He essentially funneled contracts to his cronies and received bribes," said Stuart W. Bowen, Jr., the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, in an interview with NBC News.

Stein, 50, controlled funds in the South Central Region of the now defunct Coalition Provisional Authority, or CPA. He now admits stealing at least $2 million, and accepting at least a million dollars more in bribes. He used the money to buy automatic weapons and an airplane.

Stein also admits steering contracts to an American businessman, Phillip Bloom, who allegedly provided cash, fast cars, even sexual favors from women. Bloom was arrested and charged separately in November. His lawyer on Thursday did not comment.

In one e-mail, cited in court records, Stein tells Bloom that his contract money is coming through. "I love to give you money," he wrote, signing the e-mail, "Bob."

"It shows the brazenness of the people who were around those sums of money and what they thought they could get away with," says Frank Willis, a former official with the Coalition Provisional Authority who has criticized the way the CPA handled cash.

E-mails cited in court records indicate that some unnamed U.S. officials even demanded specific cars: a white SUV and an electric blue sports car.

And what about the projects that were supposed to be built or refurbished in Iraq? A series of audits by Bowen's office found major problems.

"There were millions of dollars in grants and contracts," he says, "that simply went for no work at all."
Bowen says cash was sloppily handled.
"The management of cash in Hilla was haphazard at best. We found that it was kept in footlockers of the trailers that people that lived there," he says. "There was a safe that wasn't locked in the bathroom of the office."

Some of the work that was done was shoddy, according to one audit. For example, a recently repaired elevator at Hilla General Hospital collapsed, killing three Iraqis.

The end result of it all on the ground in Iraq?
"The reconstruction efforts during the CPA, in the South Central Region, around Hilla, failed," says Bowen. "It failed because we had a person of significant responsibility, the person in charge of that money, the controller, simply committed repeated criminal wrongdoing."

The investigation is continuing. As part of his plea, Robert Stein has agreed to restitution of $3.6 million.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11151300/from/RS.1/

Also, this week I was able to have dinner with two fellow Alumni from Santa Clara University.  It was a great time.  One fellow is a Major General in the Army and the other is a Colonel in the Army.  We had a good time talking about the school and old times.  We took our pictures together and I sent them to the Alumni Office.  We’ll see if they make it to the web site or in the Santa Clara Magazine. 

I went to a briefing this week on advising how field commanders should handle evidence if they come across it.  It’s a rather amazing dialogue between military and law enforcement.  It’s really hard to comprehend that a lot of the field commanders are really young people and they are not necessarily schooled in evidence gathering.  One point that we try to drive home is we don’t sacrifice lives knowingly to gather evidence.  Now that doesn’t mean we won’t do dangerous assignments.  It just means that we won’t purposely go somewhere knowing someone is going to get hurt just because we have an opportunity to gather evidence.  It’s going to take sometime but we’ll get there. 

Also, I was taking a new agent and showing him around.  When went by this old Marine check point that is no longer manned.  There was a convoy of Humvees coming in and each would stop at the sign at the old check point.  I noticed this Iraqi Bongo truck pull up at the stop sign next to the convoy and then speed up to cut in.  I heard the soldier yell to stop and watched him cover off on the truck with the .50cal.  The truck stopped immediately but I could see the truck was between us and the Humvee.  I told the agent to walk fast so we could get out of the way just in case the soldier decided to talk with the .50 cal.  I didn’t want to be behind the target if the fireworks started. 

Fr. Dennis at mass today announced that he was taking a 2 week R&R in Jordan.  He was trying to make it through his tour of duty without a break but the Head of the Chaplain Corps told him that he must take a break.  Consequently, he announced that there would be no priest at the embassy for at least three masses.  Then he said he was leaving the priesthood and running away to get married to three young Iraqi women.  Of course, everyone just busted out laughing.  Father then stated that if he didn’t go on R & R, his superior threatened to place him in a rest home.  Actually, Fr. Dennis’ job may not be strenuous but he carries a lot of weight here in dealing with the dead, the dying, the seriously wounded, those with family issues, and those who question their own worth and what they are doing.  He does need the breather emotionally. 

I had another unique experience with the Iraqis this week.  One of the boys that speaks fairly good English wanted to borrow my camera to take to a wedding and then bring the pictures back to develop.  I told him that I couldn’t loan him my camera and that he wouldn’t be able to leave the compound with it.  He then said I could write him a note.  I again told him no that it was impossible and I would not want to be fired for doing such a thing.  I really didn’t know if I was making myself clear so I found a KBR employee who is an Iraqi American citizen.  I provided him the details and he said he would take care of it.  He told me that he still has a problem with the Iraqis in that they think that all Americans are rich, they don’t work too hard, and the women are all loose like on television.  He explained that he has the same problems with his relative who continually ask him for loans of money.  He said it was like they don’t believe him when he says he doesn’t have spare money.  The guy is in his early 40’s and has a wife and kids.  He’s here because he has the linguistic talent so he makes a very good wage.  The boys aren’t as friendly to me anymore but they have to learn that rules need to be followed and that the money doesn’t grow on trees here or in the USA. 

Well, that’s about it for this week.  I’m dog tired so I’m calling it for the evening.  My best to all.  Bob