Back from Iraq

[moderateamericain]

So as im sure most of you old timers who still post here i made a bit of stent here for a while back. And i just wanted to pass on my observations of my time spent in Iraq. I made the journey there working for a cellular company who was doing maitenence duties on the Satellite phones. They were also training military personel on how to maintan them but i didnt have any part in that. When I landed in baghdad i was suprised at the level of activity, I thought it would be empty streets because of the violence, but it was really busy actually. I was quartered with the 7th logistic combat brigade, a nice bunch of kids, who made fun of me as an old army vet. Marines think there batter dont stink . When I walked around I was advised to always keep a flak jacket on and where a helmet. (which i did) In the month and a half i was actually there i lost count on the number of explosions i heard, but i only was ever close to one of em. I got close enough to smell the burning remains of what had once been a car i think. A young man and a older Iraqi women were killed in the blast. several others had various degrees of injury, One thing they all had in common was the Blood trickling out of ears and nose. A big enough explosion close enough to you will do that. The Iraqi people are a great people, but you can sort get the sense that they look at us like another type of dictator. I even had a few young men shout some things at me in their native tounge, which is Farsee? i think. Either way i didnt understand it. Umm what else, I saw a few injured Marines come back, one took a near miss from an RPG and lost his leg for it. Was fairly grusome. Other than that, Id say most people were fairly friendly, they try to sell you everything.

[Melanie_]

I'm glad you're back safe and sound, moderateamericain. Interesting observations!

[Black Dog]

I even had a few young men shout some things at me in their native tounge, which is Farsee?

Arabic. Farsi is what they speak in Iran.

Anyway, glad you made it back in one piece.

[guyser]

I sure hope the pay was worth it ?

Glad you are back and safe and sound.

[Rue]

I even had a few young men shout some things at me in their native tounge, which is Farsee?

Arabic. Farsi is what they speak in Iran.

Anyway, glad you made it back in one piece.

Shiite Mulsims in the South do speak Farsi. I know Iraqis who speak Farsi.

[Black Dog]

Shiite Mulsims in the South do speak Farsi. I know Iraqis who speak Farsi.

Okay: the majority or Iraqis speak Arabic, with some exceptions (Kurds, for example).

Pedant.

[moderateamericain]

Shiite Mulsims in the South do speak Farsi. I know Iraqis who speak Farsi.

Okay: the majority or Iraqis speak Arabic, with some exceptions (Kurds, for example).

Pedant.

yeah the pay was worth it .

[margrace]

Interesting that posters ignored moderatamerican's comment on the Iraqi's feeling that they look on the Americans as another type of dictator. History once again is probably what they are looking at. When Cubans revolted against the Spanish the American ship the Maine was mysteriously sunk in the Cuban Harbour. This brought the Americans in to help the Cubans.

Clive Cussler in his search for the American Boat that was sunk in the harbour commented that when the Spanish fleet was destroyed ending Spain's monopoly on the seas, the Cubans were very surprised to find that they had changed one master for another and the US took over Cuba.

This was on the show, I believe it is called Sea Hunters, where they go into look for sunken ships.

[Nazia]

You know what moderate american I'm glad you saw all that..and shared it here. And you can't blame the young men yelling at you...I would do the same. Since Bush has ruined their lives ..you think they're gonna like Americans? No way! And you saw how people live there now...and in the west Bush is sitting his ass down drinkin coffee and his giant ********** house! He's ruined the lives of several Muslims all over...! You saw the terror the horror the deaths the pain and the agony they all suffer day and night. Here you come back and your DAM fortunate to sit infront of your computer and share this piece of sadness you perceived. As for them they die with their agonizing stories.

The children....ahh don't even get me started. :angry:

And in Iraq...they do not speak Farsi.

In Iraq, Arabic is spoken. (With slighlty different pronounciations from the Arabic Kurds speak)

In Iran, Farsi is spoken.

In Afghanistan, Pushto and Farsi (slightly different pronounciations from the Farsi in Iran.)