[Iraq2]

For those of you who ask how my cousin is here is an update...i'm so proud of this man.

As i 'm sure a lot of you heard, we had an apache shot down right outside ******** and as a result, they shut down all communications going out from camp taji to the rest of the world to make sure the news got out through "official channels". yeah, that's funny b/c i was at the crash site providing security that day b/c we were called out on QRF (quick reaction force) and that very night while i went to the gym, the tv was on CNN blasting the coverage of the apache that was shot down by insurgents. They just need to accept they can't control it all i guess. Otherwise, life is alright here. i'm very worn out. we pretty much have a day off every couple days and sometimes that just comes out to be a few hours even, so enjoy your weekends schmucks!

The hard part about this whole fight...you never know who the bad guys are. you get a gut feel when you run into them, but what can you do if you don't find anything on them? You'll go for days without (anything) happening, and then boom, we have a day like the one with the apache where an apache gets shot down, a couple car bombs go off in baghdad, and a tank commander gets shot by a sniper on the perimeter around the crash site. makes it hard to keep your guys on their toes.

What i do want to say though is don't ever ever take for granted what we've got back in the US. I thought i never did till i came here and realized that i took for granted so much there back at home. These jokers back in the states that think that we are all screwed up need to be sent over here, strapped into a truck with some body armor and drive by a few IED's and look at the standards of living that these people live in and SEE if they don't go back to the states, kiss the ground they walk on and thank God every damn day for what an incredible and fortunate country he is undeservingly privileged to live in. Just wait for some hippie to call me a "baby killer" or debate me on the war and talk trash about our country when i get home..he'll kiss the ground too...conscious or unconscious..his choice. I know after all of this, i will go home and not take a moment for granted living in a country where people from here can only stare wide eyed at you when you tel them about it and not believe that such a place exists. Ok, i'm off my soap box. : )

I'm so very proud of him. I think this says it all. We do need to really be thankful for what we have and remember that these men and women are defending OUR COUNTRY. It's not just about a new government system there...it's about that b/c we were attacked and we want to ensure, as best as can be, that it doesn't happen again. And agree or disagree...our troops our there, they're fighting and they need our support and prayers. Okay, now i'm off my soap box...runs in the family i guess!