Christmas Presents or what have you?

[darpadownrange]

Ah Ha!  Slowly but surely the 'Green Zone' or the 'IZ' (International Zone (whichever You prefer) is going to change after 1 Jan 2009. The Iraqi Government is supposed to take over external (perimeter) security of the the IZ. What does that mean for day-to-day operations??... No one can say for sure.1. One of the plans being bandied about concerns an 'Island concept': small enclaves of US soldiers, civilians and local hired (non-Iraqi) personnel living on various and sundry facilities spread out all over the 'former' Green 'Zone'.2. Lots more Iraqi Police and Military folks sprinkled liberally all over the place...(Think 'rolling checkpoint': Checkpoint suddenly thrown up around/across a major transportation artery manned by Iraqi GIs or cops or both). What will they do? We do not know exactly. Check IDs? O.K. fine, but what if they do NOT read or speak English?Search cars for contraband items? O.K. WHAT exactly constitutes contraband? "We'll get back to ya on that."Create traffic problems? Oh, MOST definitely.So the watchword is slow and easy, 'polite' on any dealings with anyone.'Interesting' will NOT cover it in any form.So (Zach), I got another guitar today, a Yamaha acoustic (only ONE broken string). THINK I have some picks and one set of new strings to replace the broken one.Also had dinner last night at an Iraqi restaurant (might be a LONG time before THAT happens again). Some Chicken Tikka, some tabbouleh, flatbread FRESH from the over....NO Microwave warmups in THIS place...  Two people 40 bucks.And John says that the Loggie 'found' our two 'missing' TriWalls (with the rest of our equipment in them) up in Balad. 'Somebody' seems to have removed the RF (cute little computer twidget) tags that indicate where to send the boxes. They have been newly 'FOUND' (or would that be RE-FOUND) and the Loggie guy has promised to get them on a truck for us... They 'should' be down here in a week or 10 days from now... JUST in time for Christmas!!!
YAY, more stuff! JUST what I NEED in my room. HA!