Posted on 07/27/2005 1:44:32 PM PDT by rightalien
The mercury level in Washington crested at 99 degrees yesterday -- about 21 degrees below the high in Baghdad.
While Washington's summer swelter prompted complaints from tourists in shorts, tank tops and flip-flops, U.S. troops in Iraq face the desert heat in helmets, Kevlar vests and combat boots.
"If you're out on patrols and Joe takes his helmet off because he's got an itch, it's a team or squad-level infraction," said Army Lt. Col. Barry Venable, a Pentagon spokesman.
The security posture at most U.S. military installations in Iraq has been reduced to the point where soldiers can wear soft caps rather than helmets and bulletproof vests when on base, Col. Venable said.
But off base is a different story. Throughout the country, standard security posture is for troops to be wearing bulletproof vests and helmets and carrying M-16 rifle -- at all times. Rules can vary from unit to unit, Col. Venable said, depending on the area where a unit is conducting patrols, and a service member who does not conform may face minor punishment from his immediate superiors.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
It's a wonder that the oil doesn't just spontaneously combust.
LOL
it's a wonder HUMANS don't combust in that crap.
But Djibouti is even HOTTER if you can believe that.....
It's a dry heat though! ;)
One advantage: You've never seen a clothes line dry your clothes over twice as fast as a commercial dryer.
It didn't even crack 80 in Kansas today, and yesterday it was in the 60s.
Great weather now that the heat furnace has moved east.
What does squad level infraction mean? What sort of punishment would that entail?
Reagan79: One up! I work in tropics for a trash company - cleaning behind the trash truck's packer blade is like a blower dryer in the fat man's armpit, after he's had a meal of thai curry & black bean burritos.
But at least people are shooting at me.... time to count my blessings and visit www.anysoldier.com
The temps in Iraq is not too much higher than here in Phoenix. Of course we don't have to dress in full combat gear and 100 lb. back-packs like our troops do over in Iraq.
Thank you for the reminder. I heard so much complaining today that I was stunned. Our problem is the maniac dew point but this stuff is relatively brief and we can get relief from time to time.
We are due a change they say but if it doesn't I am going to use that reminder as gently as I know how.
yeah....but 120+ is friggin hot...
Yes, it sure IS. ;-)
It really is a little cooler than last summer. You'd think with these high temperatures it wouldn't be all that noticeable, but we who were here last year can tell the difference.
It's still dang hot, though. ;-)
well thats a good thing :)
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