[smaagee]

any of the riots and such lately near where you are

Been real quiet up here. The problems here are that rebels threaten the families of anyone who works with or supports the US. Many of them have stopped coming to work out of fear. Others have obtained permission to carry a gun and refuse to be intimidated by the rebels. Good for them. I started a new job yesterday working in the badge office where the locals check in everyday. It is only temporary till the other guy gets back from leave. It is really fun to work with the translator and interview the workers. I wish I had the time to tell you all about it, but it will have to be another day. Take care all. Steve

[Fedora]

Prayers with y'all over there.

[Wneighbor]

Good to hear you feel sorta safe Steve. Sorta anyway is better than not at all. That job sounds fun to me too. I keep praying for those folks over there right along with ya'll. I know there must be many who welcome this chance for freedom as we know it. Lotsa nutcases too though. You keep your guard up and we'll keep on praying. Kimberly

[HairOfTheDog]

I am glad you checked in with us! - Been a lot of turmoil in the news, and I wondered what was happening around you. I can appreciate the stress of those who would like to work with us but have fear! May you and all that help our cause stay safe.

[Sam Cree]

"The problems here are that rebels threaten the families of anyone who works with or supports the US. Many of them have stopped coming to work out of fear."

I figure that's the main problem at this point, the people have been terrorized for years, and now that the US took down the main terrorizer, there's still interests willing to use terror on Iraqis in an attempt to seize power themselves. If we don't stay and get the Iraqis on their feet, the Baathists, the Islamists or the Shias are ready to fill the vacuum. In fact they seem to be desperately trying to fill it right now. I guess they figure it's now or never.

Don't know if I'm seeing it right, but that's how it looks from here.

[Ramius]

Thanks for the report, Steve... of course you must know that there are a great many of us over here hoping for all the best and praying for the same.

I'm just an ordinary American that thinks that what you and your comrades are doing over there is perhaps the most important thing that has happened in the middle east in the last fifty or many more years. Thanks.