An Iraq Tale Vol 8: (Another Long Night, Thanks To Murphy)

Ha Rob how are you? Glad to here you a are good. Just want to say thanx for what you are doing over their. We are all thinking about you guys and gals so thanx.Stay safe

Just discovered your Blog. I'm not much into blogging except for dogs, but as a Community College, History / Government and sometimes Spanish Instructor I find yours to be good primary source info. Keep up the good work and I'll seek you out again! My new dog, in case you are a dog person is a 6 mos. old Borzoi ( Russian wolfhound), male , named Andres.

What a great look at what it is really like over there. A friend of mine just got back from his 2nd tour with the Air Force. My family and I appreciate your service and everything you do. I will keep you in my prayers.

Colleen

Well written !.....You make it sound like we were there with you and then you let us know that no matter where we are or who we are.....Good Old Murphy is always with us......That is so true !....Be safe and God bless !

Hi Rob!

I always love to find a soldier's blog from Iraq or wherever. It's extremely important for us to hear about what the regular grunts on the ground are seeing & experiencing. Have you read Colby Buzzell's book or Jason Christopher Harley's book, both written from their blogs while in Iraq? They're very excellent, & even extremely funny. They don't write much about the gory details, just about the daily grind, the boring irritations, etc., which I'm sure you have also experienced quite a lot of. Thanks for doing the job you've been given, without complaining, lol, although that can't be true, as one of the aforementioned guys said in his book, "It's one of a grunt's few rights, to b**** & complain."

I also wanted to ask if you knew that Murphey had a family member? SNAFU? I told my son when he first went into the military that that word was born in the military.

Stay safe, stay sane, & I'll be holding all of you in my Mother thoughts & prayers, your precious families who are at home worrying about you, also. Keep writing, & keep up the good work.....

Came across your blog through the MSNBC website. I'm not really into blogs cause I guess I just dont understand them too well. But I read your posting. I dont ever get the opportunity to actually meet someone who is or has been to iraq. Just wanted to say that I really appreciate what you and the rest of our troops are doing over there. Your hard work is not being done in vain. Despite what the media reports its thanks to guys like you that the media can bash away at anything they want to . You give them that opportunity, you give them that freedom. You have to remember despite what they say its the fact that they can say it that makes This Country so great. I can asure you that the majority of your fellow Americans and many people in other countries around the world are proud and happy of what you are doing and the core reasons why its being done. Critics are a part of life. We may have made some bad moves as a country in the past but we've made alot more right ones. Many people talk bad about Our Country because we're the only Country in the world to be envied. Even the richest countries in the world want a piece of us. Their in our stock markets, in our investments, they send their children to our schools, put their money in our banks, etc..; I mean I can go on forever on this... I bet you that if every country were a stock symbol on the Nasdaq or NYSE, (USA, RSIA, CHNA, INDA, AUST) we'd have the largest amount of dollar signs under our belt. That theory is never going to change. Its because of how we are programmed as a country to be ahead and come out on top on everything we do. We are all programmed to be prodoctive from the day were born. Everyone wants to take a jab at the good ol' American apple pie bud. Its when they dont talk about Our Country thats when we should worry. Ive spoken too much..; Hence I told you Ive never been able to speak with a soldier. Anyhow... So stick to your guns... History has proven over and over, time and time again that this also shall come to pass and looking back one day in the far future, we can all say that its thanks to guys like you that we can sleep good at night regardless of those critics who will always live among us..! Stay safe, be strong, belive in the cause, belive in the purpose and more importantly... dont take no sh_t from no one...

Even though Murphy's Law may exists there is a higher power, GOD! Please keep your eyes on Him. Great article, thanks. I will pray for your safe return.

As a woman who is married to a soldier, which I swear is married to Iraq and not me....Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Murphy's law. I have seen that alot these last years but it is people like you that keep helping my husband come back home. Thank you! God speed!

Rob, My first time here in the vine. Old marine here. Hang in there buddy!! EVERYBODY that I know supports all of you no matter our political views. Our troops are tops!! Keep up the spirits and be safe...

From one military man to another, I'm glad you made it back in one piece homeboy! HOOAH!

Hey and good luck on your tour. Murphy's law ALWAYS applies, and I have always learned that even as a civilian who doesn't know what is going on over there all the time. I can't think of anything to say except thank you for your service. Take care.

Adam C.

Madison, WI

Thanks for the insight. You are all in my prayers, and the prayers of the entire country. Thank you for your service and bravery. Be safe today, tonight and always...

Rubin M.
Whittier, CA

Very interesting to read about Iraq from the perspective of one of our military members there.
As we all know,our media has a bad habit of writing mostly the negative regarding our involvement there. I wish everyone here in the USA could truly understand that our fighting men and women are proud to do what our country asks of them.In return,they don't always get the appreciation they're so deserving of.

Hope you can be safely home with your family soon. I'm looking forward to my son coming home soon for his mid-tour leave. I'm very proud of him,and all our men and women in service to our country, sacrificing so much for so many of us here at home.

Thanks,Rob - know that this American truly is thankful for you and the work you are doing.

Sometimes (being in the States) we can get caught in looking at war from a bird's eye view. It is more that that. War has a personal story; it reminds us of the great affect a major event has on so many people.

Thanks for your accounts, God Bless.

By the way, congrats for making MSNBC.com's front page!

Thanks for the news Rob. This war needs to be in the focal point of every American until it is over. It is good people like you that make that fact obvious. My opinions of the war are irrelevant. What is relevant is your service. So, stand tall; be proud, and regardless of the outcome of this war, know that you will be welcomed home. We can't wait to have you all back (hopefully sooner rather than later).

My wife spent 13 months over there in a Humvee turret as an MP. It was rough, but she is home. We are lucky.

I leave you with two of my favorite quotes...

Take care,
Ryan

"Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events."

Winston Churchill

"One day President Roosevelt told me that he was asking publicly for suggestions about what the war should be called. I said at once 'The Unnecessary War'."

Winston Churchill

Hey man,
I just want to say that I'm proud of you and all the other troops and civilian personnel over in Iraq. You are all making a great sacrifice of personal security by putting "service before self" and for that I am very grateful. Keep up the good work! I'll be praying for you!

Hoorah!
-Dave

Last September, Alan Greenspan came out with a book called "Age of Turbulence." He was head of the Federal Reserve Bank for the past 20 years, and the big media people often called him "the 2nd most powerful man on the planet" next to the U.S. president, because he set the tone for the economic markets...............On page 463 of his book, he wrote this: "I find it sad that it is considered politically inconvenient to say what we all know - that the Iraq war is largely about oil." If Greenspan was living in a typical American small town like I live in, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd wind up with a couple of rocks thrown through his windows. But is the Iraq War really about fighting Al Quaeda ? Why is it that Every Single Time one of our generals places their hand on a Bible and takes the oath before testifying in Congress, they always say that "less than 5%" of our enemy in Iraq is Al Quaeda, the rest are Iraqi civilians taking up arms against us, amd Afghanistan is "equally important ?" But when they stand next to president Bush, why do they tell us the Iraq war is all about Al Quaeda ? Consider this too: For the first 9 months of 2007, up till last September, president Bush talked a lot about the Iraqi oil law, and how it was the most important "benchmark" that the Iraq govt. had to accomplish in order to stabilize the country, so our soldiers could start coming home. Iraq's prime minister supports the oil-sharing law --- the Iraqi Parliament elected by all the people (it's their Congress) has been Refusing to Even Vote On It for over a year. TV news never gives us any details about what's in the Iraqi oil-sharing law, or who wrote it, and especially WHY the Iraqi govt. won't vote on it. Just something about dividing the oil profits among the Iraqi people.
Our soldiers are heroes because they've been given the toughest assignment in the world and they do it courageously. But if we are to be True Patriotic American citizens, we have an obligation to make sure our troops are where they need to be to protect us against terrorists. I'm a Christian who believes that God gave us a brain because he meant for us to use it. I believe that anybody that is a True Patriot should try this, which might wind up taking more courage than you might think. I'd like anybody reading this to go to Google and type in "iraqi oil law" or "iraq + oil-sharing law" and do some reading. It takes some hard work to dig up reliable information. But try to stick to mainstream sources like USA Today or the Associated Press without totally ignoring info from the United Nations Global Policy Forum, or stuff from conservative or liberal websites. (Big Lizard blog has an amazing comment on the oil law - maybe tough to take for some) There's a lot of political correctness out there about the Iraq war. ("politically inconvenient" like Greenspan says). But it's been 5 years and we've got to start being honest with ourselves at some point. The 2 Bottom Lines I learned about the Iraqi Oil Law, which was written by U.S. oil-consulting firm Bearing Point:
1) it requires Iraq to let our oil company executives have Votes at the highest levels of their government -- maybe as much as Half the Seats on their Federal Oil and Gas Council will be taken by American oil execs. This Iraq govt. council is the one that decides Who gets the contracts for Iraq's oil and What the conditions are -- who gets how much of the Profit, how much in Taxes our oil companies have to pay Iraq, etc. etc.
2) In exchange for our oil companies Investing to Upgrade Iraq's oil industry, Iraqis have to Give Up at least 12.5% of the profits on the oil that's already being pumped out of the ground -- and as for the oil that hasn't been drilled out yet, potentially over 100 BILLION more barrels the experts say, that's Fair Game and up for negotiation. Whatever profits are Left Over after our oil companies get their take -- that's what the Iraqi people will have to divide amongst themselves. Iraq's Federal Oil and Gas Council, mentioned in #1 above, will decide.
None of the other Arab countries share their profits with our oil companies and I guess the Iraqis don't want to either. That must be why they won't vote on the oil law. If they Okay'd a deal like this, would our gas prices go down? Maybe, cause they'd be producing more oil. Will our economy be better off in the long run if Iraq passes the oil law and becomes more of a free-market economy like we are ? Who knows? Will it be worth over 200,000 dead Iraqi civilians - a figure from the Iraqi govt. & the World Health Organization -- and almost 4,000 dead U.S. troops ? There's a moral argument and an economic argument out there to be made. But if we're going to have an honest discussion about the war, this subject - Iraq's oil - has got to be included in the mix. The media won't report details about the Iraq oil law, and none of the well-known Democrats will talk about it either. (one of the exceptions: google "Joe Sestak + Iraq oil law" -- he's an Iraq War vet & Democratic congressman from PA) There's a Good Reason Why there isn't much talk about it. It Upsets People to think about Iraqi Oil when they think about the Sacrifices our troops have made in Iraq. I'm sure some people are upset reading this. You know the old saying: "Blame the Messenger." "War for Oil" has been a "conspiracy theory" from the beginning. Supposedly. But is it ?

Meanwhile over in Afghanistan, the Taliban and Al Quaeda have Grown and Sold around $30 BILLION Dollars worth of Heroin from their poppy fields over the last 5 years, according to lots of newspaper articles I've read. Where's all that money going? To fund the next terrorist attack on us over here ? Well, anybody remember summer 2006, when England & the Bush admin. stopped an attempted Terrorist plot to Blow Up American passenger jets with Liquid Bombs? It was traced to Al Quaeda of AFGHANISTAN. According to former top Reagan defense dept. official Lawrence Korb, Admiral Fallon just quit as our top general over there partially because they wouldn't let him shift more troops from Iraq to Afghanistan. I encourage everyone to get on Google and dig up their own info on the Iraq oil-sharing law. It may not be easy reading, but it's our duty to be 100% SURE that we have a government that is Truly Focused on fighting terrorism.

Thank you for your service. Murphy is certainly daunting but if Murphy got to write in, I think we would all be surprised how many times we have smacked Murphy around by using our mind, heart and spirit. I pray every day for humankind and believe we will all get better and better at life. We have to remember to work at it as you are.

Thanks Rob. The mother in me always there says "stay safe". I hadn't thought about "Murphy" in a long time thanks for reminding me. Got me in mind of a sea story or 2 but that is for another day!

another "expert" complaining about "new guys" ........well dude, you were new and inexpeienced once yourself and were no better than the guys you are complaining about..........

Thanks for all your sacrifice. Stay safe and enjoy a speedy redeployment. Go Texans!

thank you for taking the time to share your experiences.
i'm a mom of a marine who is currenty deployed to iraq, and i'm hungry for news. this post touched me on a very personal level.
btw, i can't help but comment on the lack of available news being reported these days. any suggestions on who is covering iraq? afghanistan?
i, like so many others, thank you for your service and and pray for your continued successful missions.

Great story. My son is getting close to doing his 2nd tour in Iraq. I like knowing things that are going on over there. Glad you and everyone made it back safe

My older son is at Camp Liberty also, has been there since December. I pray that he and all the others there will be safe.

You are not alone, God and his angels are with you always.

I pray for your safe return. Thank you for risking your life for our freedoms. We can't wait till you are all home again! May God carry you in his arms.