it's morning in tikrit, iraq, ask me (almost) anything!! :)

[roscoeroscoe]

yes, it's a beautiful day in tikrit, rassan, how's the traffic over the tigris river bridge looking today?

hope you are e-e-e-enjoying a beautiful day wherever you are, can i answer any questions for you?

[brainshrub]

1. Are you in Iraq right now?

[roscoeroscoe]

5. yepper, stationed in tikrit...

it's not bad here compared to other places. we're right on the tigris river, it's actually beautiful at night.

[progmom]

2. roscoe!!!!

it's dark in michigan, but it was beautiful today.

is it beautiful there? in the cradle of civilization?

[roscoeroscoe]

9. cradle of civilization, baby!

i got sent here long after reading zacharia sichen's theories about the sumerian civilization having been given it's start by our alien benefactors after the last ice age. according to sichen, we (humans) were whipped up by the guys from planet 12 to be their workers down here on planet durt.
we've got some restored ruins here from the christian era. it's pretty fascinating.

[progmom]

11. do you get time to do any exploring?

that's really fascinating stuff.

[HeeBGBz]

3. You're in Tikrit?

Hows the weather? How's everything else?

[roscoeroscoe]

10. weather is ... getting hot!!

but, you know that. so far our hottest day was 108 degrees. so we're headed for the 120's or so? we'll see...
everything else is going pretty well. we've had good successes in the field, and it's nice to know about efforts to get out there and help the schools and such. i guess it helps to keep one's expectations on the low side... ;)

[Maddy McCall]

4. Hi, roscoe?

Tell us how democracy's working in Tikrit.

:loveya: to our DU guy in the field. :hi:

[roscoeroscoe]

12. democracy in tikrit...

is like trying to bring democracy to sicily, the boss is still the boss... (if i understand correctly)
but i will say this, the iraqis who are trying to get things working are the bravest folks i've met in quite a while... my heart goes out to them. why did intervention work out in korea, not in vietnam, and what will happen here? i'm an optomist, i'd like to see a better future for the iraqi's regardless of my personal beliefs, but the third act hasn't started yet...

[neuvocat]

6. Got pictures?

[roscoeroscoe]

14. will try to post using photobucket but no luck yet... sorry...

and yes, we have lots of pictures! we're like japanese tourists over here! our location is amazing. lots to take pictures of. and believe me, my fellow soldiers are an amazing lot. i wish i could take a series of portraits, call it 'gunslingers of tikrit' or something. these are some high speed soldiers, very sharp and ready.

[auntAgonist]

7. hiya Roscoe . .

good to see you here again! I hope you're doing ok!


:hi:

[roscoeroscoe]

15. thank you! muchas gracias!

...i'm doing very well. we've got a great group of soldiers here, keeping on top of things well and looking out for each other. this is getting into the season where people start getting stupid and making mistakes, getting stressed, but our command identified that possibility and we've been taking steps to beat the stupidity factor. de-stressing. 7 days a week, 14 hours a day... now we're trying to step back and make adjustments, give some time and find things to break it up

[Elidor]

8. How are supplies there? Electricity, Water, Food, Gas, etc.

How pervasive is the american presence in the city at this point?

[roscoeroscoe]

16. supplies... good...

in general, as you'd expect we're well supplied. occasional shortages, like milk or whatever. oddly enough, we're supplied with endless amounts of starbucks! (my favorite, yukon gold.) the food is pretty good, actually great by comparison with army food i've had before. a real KBR buffet--they should open a string of buffets in the states! you can even eat vegitarian easily. there's screaming fresh fruit, too. i know, it's your tax dollars at work, but hey, you're getting your money's worth on this one!! :)

as far as american presence in the city, the whole strategy is to really back off and support the iraqi institutions. i hope it succeeds, again my heart goes out to these guys. they're taking it on the chin.

[Rick Myers]

13. Hope all is well with you!

Can't imagine being in the Cradle of Civilization and dealing with the insanity you must see on a daily basis!

Are you folks getting everything you need???

Take care, ya' KNOW DU love ya!!! :thumbsup:

:toast:

[roscoeroscoe]

19. thank you!!

yes, getting everything we need. :toast:

i got some messages thru d.u. a few weeks ago that really lifted my spirits when i needed it~~
d.u. is more important than we know, sometimes~

[Zuni]

17. Is there anything we can do for you?

Is there things you need that DUers could send in a care package perhaps?

[roscoeroscoe]

20. that's a cool cartoon :)

you know, i really am getting all i need... my wonderful (golden delight of the universe) darling wife is send a care package soon. actually d.u. is my lifeline to home mostly. our t.v. channels here are pathetic, so we're livin' on dvd's we borrow from each other.
myself, i got a guitar and i'm trying to learn to play. wow, that's hard!
but thank you for the thought. :)

[Ophelia Rising]

21. Hey-I'm learnin how to play guitar as well!

That F chord is a bitch! My hands are too small!

[Robeysays]

24. i play bass, my bro plays guitar. hahhahahahah he is damn good

:D

[Zuni]

25. It's a Jack T Chick original!

greatest religious fundamentalist comic strip ever!

[Robeysays]

23. ill put in on it what ever you guy need im there.

just to smite my republican nieghboor with her two yellow ribbons and say i support the troops, her husband is about 30 something he should sign up. need i say that he listens to rush every day.

[roscoeroscoe]

26. ...allright, if it's like that, i'll send you a message on the side~

and thanks! p.s. tempe is a cool place, i have some co-workers there and have had sushi at that place near the airport? not bad~

[LynneSin]

18. Nothing to ask, just hoping you'll get home ok!!

:hi:

[roscoeroscoe]

22. hey, i hope you're ok when i get back! :)

...hope we've saved social security...
...there's a tax break for buying a hybrid car (fat chance!) ;)
...john bolton has a nice job at a think tank somewhere, ranting about how he was cheated out being an ambassador, and is being served papers for assault~~
...condoleeza rice accidentally morphed back into a brain-eating alien while on live tv, and is now being studied in area 51...
...arold has lost his groping suit in britain, and is being sued for paternity in long beach...
...what else could happen in the next 8 months?!!!!!!

[Seabiscuit]

27. "Good mooorning, Vietnaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaaaam!"