[GOZ 2 11]

Keep the updates and photos coming. Internet connection I can imagine is awful but more people need to see that there is some good being done over there.

Looking foreword to your next posts.

[Eduardo96FZJ80]

thanks to you Sir, and the rest of our troops.
Be safe Senor

[Creeker]

Beautiful pics and great commentary. Thanks for taking the time to share with those of us who are safe back home.


Keep your head down!

[splitshot]

The F meant that sheep was F****'D

Gawd it's nice to hear the good stuff going on, Thanks Randy.

BTW, it's nice to know little Iraqi girls pick their noses too

[landcrusher909]

let us know if there is anything we can send you. if there are others there that need something or just a letter please get mailing information to us. we can not do enough for those overseas

[Romer]

Randy,
Great pics and thanks for serving.

Can we just stop the bs political crap.

Liberal, conservative, who cares . One of our soldiers is sharing what life is like, not whether being there is right.

No stop no you don't need to get the last word. Yeah, thats it . . back away from the post button. Good Boy!

[Shahram]

Seriously, Randy, does the soda say "MC" and "Libia" on the front?

[PacToy]

The Iraqis said the blue MC cans are actually RC cola just renamed.

The green cans with RC was said to be 7up again just renamed.

I don't know how accurate that is but the blue cans taste like RC and the green cans taste like 7up if that helps.

A lot of the trucks we inspect coming from Syria are usually overloaded with this type of coke.

[bull]

Nice pics! When do you get to come home?

[Biff]

PacToy, those are some interesting pics. From a proud American, a grateful "THANK YOU" for serving our country . Stay safe.

For the rest of you keep your shit comments to yourself and have a little respect.

[PacToy]

Hey Fellas,

We are getting ready to roll out on a night patrol. Hopefully we will get our AQ bad guy tonight.

I will post some of todays pics when we get back.

[calico kid]

good to here from you




we will keep' em could for ya

[brett76]

[swank60]

Originally Posted by PacToy

04-10-07

After we got a convoy launched out this morning we did a patrol out to the passport office. At first we had a chance to mingle with the locals and non-locals. Then as the buses kept coming and coming we saw that our IPs were getting overwhelmed by the pushing crowds.

So we posted two Marines at each entry point around the perimeter to help assist our IPs. Just the fact that Marines were now present at each entry point help relax the tensions the crowds were having with our IPs who doing their jobs.

Today I can not even begin to tell you how many times I heard from the locals that the Americans bring justice/fairness to the situation. For some reason they really like the word "justice". You would also not believe how many sobs stories I heard alone today on why someone had to get to the front of the line!!

We also had a good time with the kids before the crowds. Two boys even gave me some candy and pistachios

Then we had chow with the Iraqis. Lamb Kabobs and roast chicken + the ever present Ayran milk. Yuk!

NPR just did a story about 2 weeks ago about the whole passport craziness that's going on over there. It maked the TSA/Airline travel weirdness stateside sound like a trip to Disney World.

Keep your eyes open and your head down! Can't wait for more pics. It's cool to see the goings-on.

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by swank60

NPR just did a story about 2 weeks ago about the whole passport craziness that's going on over there. It maked the TSA/Airline travel weirdness stateside sound like a trip to Disney World.

Keep your eyes open and your head down! Can't wait for more pics. It's cool to see the goings-on.

Funny you brought this up. This is part of our duties here is to check passports. AND yes these Iraqi passports are a mess. You have different kinds of passports, fake seals, fake stamps, fake prolongation stamps, fake pictures, removed and added pages, whole number series that were stolen. etc. etc.etc Then on top of that all the Iraqi passports except for the G series have poor quality control.

When we work the commercial trucks coming in from Syria we would find one bad/fake passport an hour.

The Syrian passports are on par with western countries and are very good and legit with good quality control. All the Iraqi passport except the G series are crap.

Here is one fake Iraqi passport that we cut and arrested the driver. I wonder who can tell me what is wrong with it?

[bull]

Handwritten english "Driver"

[splitshot]

That passport looks like something any kid could make up.

[brett76]

Originally Posted by bull

Handwritten english "Driver"

that and it looks like the pic is held on with a sticker

[PacToy]

So we did some more classes with the Iraqi IPs today. Teaching them weapons handling safety and patrol tactics.

Then we went on patrol through the area. All was normal. Well, as normal as it could be, I guess.

The young Iraqis we work and train with are great. They are motivated, they look up to us, and are really trying to do good. After this last night patrol that I just got back from, the young Iraqis joined us for our nicotine break. They were off duty and tired as they had duty all day and then patrolling with the Marines but they had to come and stay with the Marines as long as we were still at the police station. They wanted to talk and learn. These young Iraqis are the future of Iraq and sure does feel good to do right by them. Show them they can make a difference.

1st pic) Iraqi IPs being trained on tactics.

2nd pic) Today's meal

3rd pic) A cool ambulance.

[PacToy]

Here are pics of quick sand storm today. It was gone just as fast as it came.

[calstyl2]

that place looks so barren, no vegitation or color, even our deserts have some color

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by bull

Handwritten english "Driver"

Or it could say Chauffeur, Free Jobs or just FJ

Handwritten is norm except on the G series.

Nope not it.

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by splitshot

That passport looks like something any kid could make up.

I told you they are crap!

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by brett76

that and it looks like the pic is held on with a sticker

That sticker is the seal.

[Biff]

Hey Randy,

Does this effect you?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070411/...iraq_us_troops

[45Kevin]

Hi Randy, I'm Canadian and we have some of our guys in Afgan taking shit off the bad guys. I support their mission and salute them. And good on you for doing what your doing.

It looks like the date stamp on that passport is over 10 years old.

I love seeing your day by day commentaries and pics.

Keep your head down and be safe.

Kevin

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by Biff

Hey Randy,

Does this effect you?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070411/...iraq_us_troops

No, I'm not in the US Army. From the way that article is worded it doesn't apply to the Marines. However, I'm quite sure we will be extended too.

[secretagent]

Excellent sticky.....I fully support the troops and hope people can keep the poltics out.

Greg

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by 45Kevin

Hi Randy, I'm Canadian and we have some of our guys in Afgan taking shit off the bad guys. I support their mission and salute them. And good on you for doing what your doing.

It looks like the date stamp on that passport is over 10 years old.

I love seeing your day by day commentaries and pics.

Keep your head down and be safe.

Kevin

Hi Kevin,

Yes, I have heard many good things about the Canadians in A-stan. They are doing a bang-up job.

This passport is expired, the prolongation stamp is fake, the picture has been removed and replaced and the seal is soccer balled.

I will do my best to keep the pics and commentary coming.

[brownbear]

Great and I hope others post there experiences too. Keep safe!