Email from a friend in Iraq

[bobja]

I have a friend who works for Bechtel, and is currently in Iraq, helping to build schools. She has been there since last summer, and her boyfriend recently went over there too. She admits she's there for the big bucks she's getting paid.
I thought you all might want to see an American civilian's experience there this past week. I got this email on Sunday, 11/16.

Bobja



All,

Two nights ago we had quite a scare here in Basrah. I got a call from the head of one of the security companies and he told me to stay in my room, that we are on alert against a terrorist attack similar to what happened in Nasariyah and if anything happened to get under the bed and pull the mattress around. Loudspeakers started going off, helicopters flying, British Military running around. They blockaded us in with vehicles. We have been locked down for the last 48 hours, confined to camp. I was physically shaking.

Jeff experiences similar incidents in Baghdad, although on a more regular basis. He actually heard the whistleof the mortars going over the cabin, the thud as it landed and then the explosion. One of our coworkers had a bullet penetrate her trailer and land inside about 2 feet from where she was. They have started to move many people out to Kuwait and Jordan and we will continue our work from those locations.

Jeff and I will both end up in Aman, Jordan.

We have now gone through training on how to shoot AK47s, MP5s and pistols. We have also participated in simulation threat situations where we are attacked. A little un-nerving to say the least.

Often you do not get a good nights sleep with all the activity, you then have to work a 12 hour day, where you are slammed with work. So you are always tired. Food is mediocre, so you are often always hungry.

The upside is that the Iraq people are very greatful for what we are doing and hope Saddam gets captured soon. They told me the sad story of how he gassed a local town with chemical weapons, so now maybe we didn't find the chemical weapons, but how the hell did he do that unless he has them?!

Having said all that this evening a few of us have been invited to another camp for a four course "smart casual" dress dinner with champagne! Talk about ironic!

Thats all for the moment.

Hope all is well on the homefront.

Take Care,
Love,
Terry

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. At least she is getting paid well

and if that is all you care.

By the way, this sounds oh so much like nam it is not even funny

[sventvkg]

2. What a stupid idiot this woman is...

She wants to know how Saddam got the Chemical Weapons? Is she Kidding???? Doesn't she know WE GAVE THEM TO HIM!!!!? She's been lured to Iraq to loot the American people by PURE GREED...I'm sorry she is so ignorant but if she gets shot, kidnapped or Fill in the Blank, It's her own greed that caused it..I suggest you try to email y or friend some history so she understands a little better what she has gotten herself into..Poor poor girl..Probably has some advanced Degree to boot where she had no time or interest to keep up with history and current world politics to understand the dynamics of what she has gotten herself into,due to years of face in book syndrom..I know the type..Exgtremely brilliant and educated and completely ignorant due to it...Sad Sad Sad..

[U2Shark]

3. That is uncalled for.

While it may be your opinion, everything you wrote was extremely rude. I thought we were better than that here.

[La_Serpiente]

4. Not everyone who posts here

are necessarily here at DU for fun or civility. Some post stupid stuff like that.

[DUreader]

7. We're often rude, this email kinda pisses me off too

If I were in a 'mood' I would be rude.

[bobja]

5. You are right

She is politically ignorant, and greed drives her. I am currently writing up a response to educate her. This is the second time she's mentioned the gassing incident.
She is a high school graduate with a talent for sales. Her nose hasn't been in books, but rather in making money and having fun. But I know what you mean, I think she is same sort of person you describe, but for different reasons.

[ComerPerro]

6. It is interesting

Because too many people don't know where Saddam got his weapons during the horrible acts he committed 15 years ago.

[Sperk]

8. with all due respect, I have to agree with sventvkg

I might have said things in a different way, but, we were told that she is there for the money. I'm afraid that I do think you are crazy to put yourself in that situtation for MONEY! Perhaps it would be a different story if she really believed we were there for honorable reasons. And BTW...we did supply the chemical weapons to Saddam. Since when does the "dealer" get off the hook. :shrug:

[radwriter0555]

9. Where have I seen this email before? It's very familiar to

me....

thoughts?

[DUreader]

10. Do you smell astroturf?

wouldn't surprise me a bit if Bechtel encouraged employees to tow

the party line

[bobja]

12. I don't know what you mean

...unless you happen to be on her email list!

[jonoboy]

11. put yourself in the place of an Iraqi

I have no idea if this gassing incident is true, except we have heard these stories ad hoc (whatever happened to those human shredding machines ?) but if I was an Iraqi person and my country was occupied by foreigners, I would tell them anything I thought they wanted to hear just to keep on their good side.

[sventvkg]

13. I tend to be a bit blunt.....Sorry if you thought it was rude

I stand by my assurtation though..I've never been accused of sugar coating or of being politically correct in my actions or responses..That will tend to offend some people...I apologize for that.

[bobja]

14. Yeah, you were blunt

but I take no offense. In essence you are correct