Friday, September 07, 2007
Where Am I?
Where the hell am I?
Two weeks ago I was tasked by my Commander to escort one Iraqi Air Force Major General, and two IqAF Colonels into, and throughout, the U.S. No kidding, I've spent the last two weeks touring Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, and now Alabama with three Iraqi Officers. Trust me, its been the most difficult/rewarding duty assignment I've ever been on, but there's a reason I was 'tasked' to go on this trip. I was at the bottom of the totem pole.
So, here I sit in Dothan Alabama with a really bad sun burn (thank you Panama City FL) and a really bad buzz (Thank you Chilli's, within walking distance from my hotel), and I'm headed back to Baghdad in exactly 12 hours.
Sorry MissBirdLegs for not letting you know ahead of time that I was passing through. Trust me, I would have let you know had I been allowed, but I had to keep quiet while taking the Iraqis through the U.S. We met up with a bunch of 4 stars, 3 stars, 2 star Generals, Contractors, and 'Yes Men', all the while touring aircraft and helo factories to look at the systems the IqAF has ordered from companies here in the U.S. Remember, I'm nothing but an underpaid arms dealer out here in Iraq, setting up the IqAF and buying them weapons systems and gear to help fight the terrorists who are tearing Iraq apart.
There's so much to talk about from this trip, but I'm too inebriated (thanks to lots of Bass Pale Ale), too tired, and too worried about OPSEC to go into detail. It'll have to wait until I'm back in Iraq, which will be a day or two from now. That, and the fact that I'm sitting here at midnight in the lobby of the Comfort Inn at Dothan with a line of folks standing behind me waiting to use the computer, keeping me from writing more about my adventures, and misadventures, here in the States.
I'm just happy nobody is shooting at me here in Southern Alabama. (Although I've had a few close calls)
Until next time,
Cheers!
Capt 'Bottom of the Totem Pole' El Capitan/aka almost wrote my real name/time to go to bed/don't want to go back to Baghdad/shouldn't have drinken so much/glad I drank so much/I hate Chilli's but that's all this place had to offer/had there been a Country bar nearby I would have been thrown out for playing Hank Williams Sr. 20 times/time to go to bed.........
posted by El Capitan at 12:17 AM
4 Comments:
said...
Well, who'd a thunk? Here I was worryin' big time 'cause you're in Iraq and we haven't heard from you in FOREVER, and you're actually in my backyard. Sorry for the sucky trip, the bad buzz, etc., but awfully glad to hear something from you. Hope you don't feel too bad this morning. Safe travels, EC, & many thanks for checking in...
9:05 AM
Southern (in)Sanity said...
Well, I am also disappointed to hear that you were in the great state of Alabama - and didn't tell us until after the fact.
But, I understand.
I am also glad to hear everything is going well. Stay safe over there.
Melinda said...
Oh, the Bass Pale Ale...yummy. Glad you had a chance to partake of a bit of the drink before heading back. :) Can't wait to hear about your travels!
11:17 PM Rachelle Jones said...
Enjoy the beer, and the burn.
Be careful in Alabama!!