Buffiniraq

Lots happening around here as you may have guessed or seen on TV. Most Iraqis I speak to are energized and just want these outta their country. In the meantime, they say where are the water and the lights etc...That's where the COE comes into this equation and in between threats to the workers, traffic being shut down and mortar attacks here and there, somehow we find ingenious ways to "gedderdun". The pics are of a huge transmission station we're fixin up which will enable folks in my "neck of the woods" have a few more hours of light than what they had before - which was little to none if you weren't cozy with Saddam. Just not as fast as we'd like nor as efficient as we'd like but we find a way - 1 village and a few more hours of light each day at a time. As my time begins to shorten, the pace quickens and I feel the need to make each day count as much as possible so I'm in the process of making a plan whereby we can continue to train and teach these Iraqi engineers how to carry on after I'm gone and they're out there "doin it" on their own. It's been quite an awesome experience to be here to help these folks riskin everything just because they believe in doing for their country and their families...sounds like our forefathers had the same ambition. I will do as much as I possibly can for them as my mentor and friend, Harly from San Diego, "learned" me until the big C-17 or Blackhawk wisks me on my way to Greenville, my family, all of you great friends and "home sweet home"...