Postcards from Iraq anyone?

Why can't you go back?

Actually, I assumed that he was a merc/contractor or some sort of Virginia farm boy (wink wink)... but how does that change what I said about the disparity in equipment?

Because it becomes an apples and oranges comparison. Ideally, everyone over there would be perfectly equipped, but inevitably priorities have to be established. We don't know enough to assume that his camera, his powerbook, and whatever other piece of technology we happen to see isn't crucial to his task over there, and as hard as it may be to believe, more important to the cause than armour.

I don't know, you don't know. Let's just not make assumptions was my point.

I meant it more as a general observation about how a lot of soldiers have less than ideal equipment. It was what lept to my mind when I saw that the OP had the powerbook and the digital camera and the non-standard issue assault rifle and the 9mm pistol, etc.

I understand given the scarcity of resources that decisions get made. The point is that there is no good reason why everyone isn't as nicely equipped as the OP. How many billions have been spent on this war? How many billions did the provisional authority "misplace?" How many tens of millions have multinationals overcharged for this or that service? Out of all of those millions and billions, what teeny tiny percentage would it take to make sure that every soldier has a camelback, body armor and a properly armored vehicle to ride in, etc.?

That was my point.

I got my postcard today.

Thanks, man.

To all those who recently emailed me for a postcard, their in the mail.
I have a lot left no shortage there. for postcards JoExpatriate@gmail.com
-photo-
from left to right, my body armor that rectangle thing on the back is for carrying my com.
1st weapon, my trust worthy AK47, 2nd Shotgun "Boom Stick",3rd MP5. That Green cylinder looking object is a smoke grenade.

There has been a lot of speculation what i do.
I am fluent in reading,writining, and speaking in Arabic, and Faroese. I've been offered jobs in these so called Merc companies who start at top bank of over $15K per month. Maybe next year.. I will take one of these companies offer, but for now I work in the Clandestine sector for one of those 3 letter U.S. Gov't Agencies -not CIA/NSA-, not making a lucrative salary, I do like my current career choice, and the travel opportunites that come with it, I get to meet a lot of interesting people as well, I am comfortable and often deploy alone with Iraqi's who could easily sale my head for their benefit - oh well "Allah's Will". I have been in the Middle East for awhile now..and don't plan on leaving this region anytime soon. Advice I'm sure everyone's heard this one way or another Do what makes you Happy, in the end the race is long but only with yourself.
Best Regards.
Joe

Which, was exactly the point of my original post in this thread. He's not a solider (see his most recent post here), so comparing his equipment to that of a soldier's and drawing conclusions from that is erroneous and irrelevant.

Your point is your point, but it just doesn't belong in this thread.

[Edited on Mar 03, 2005 by Heyoka]

Oooh! I"ll take a grenade if ya got one. That'd be so cool . . .

Yes, he's not a soldier. He's some sort of clandestine dude in Iraq. Why is it so irrelevant that I thought of the equipment thing and mentioned it, even though he's not a soldier. It's not like this is a thread about soup or abortion and out of no where I started making comments about troop equipment in Iraq. The two things are totally logically related.

As a former US Army Ranger and decorated combat veteran, Im sick of military people who cash that taxpayer check every two weeks who pretend they don't support the war and ask people who dont support the war to supprt them anyway..that's totally illogical, unamerican and even kinda, in my opinion, unmanly. When you cashed the check, you bought into the whole idea brother! Been there and done that! I was PAID! not a hero at all! I respect those who support the war and serve, but those who say support us anyway..kinda childish to me. In other words, if you as a Patriot support the war and serve Great! And if you as a Patriot feel the war is not right, great too! but DONT take the money and run and sell out! BOOYAH! AIRBORNE!!,.

[Edited on Mar 03, 2005 by RiffProphet]

Hey. Pepper 13, how many Bronze/Silver stars do you have?

[Edited on Mar 03, 2005 by RiffProphet]

[Edited on Mar 03, 2005 by RiffProphet]

Yes of course, Him asking if anyone wanted a postcard and you making comments about him having a digital camera while solders scavenge armor are intrinsically linked.

I like reading your journal. Cool!

I don't think that's a fair summary of how things happened.

I guess I must have some crazy anti-soldier agenda for being put in mind of their equipment shortages.

still have more left..

haven't been on thing for ages, i was recently wounded, shot threw my right hand
and in my left lower leg, been recovering healing up fine.

HOLY CRAP! I hope you're okay, dude.

I have your postcard right over there! *points*

still have postcards left, but posted pic, a friend of mine sent me one