Tuesday, 18 November, 2003

22:15 – Baghdad. George and I were talking in the first office (he has yet to move from there). I had expressed that I got my fifteen hours in. I was quitting for the day. Our conversation turned towards the Iraqi’s we work with whom, especially during Ramadan, don’t seem incredibly productive. pop.

“My” Iraqi’s at the Ministry of Water Resources show up to the office at nine or so, then head downstairs at a little after twelve, so that they aren’t late for leaving at one. pop,… pop, pop.

George offered that “his” Iraqi’s in the shadow Ministry of Electricity are crammed six to a room just upstairs and he never sees them doing anything. pop, pop, pop,… pop, pop.

“What? Right upstairs”, I asked. pop. pop. pop, pop, pop pop pop popopop popopopopopop

“Yeah.” pop. poppop. pop.

“Then what the hell are they doing now?” poppoppoppop poppoppoppop poppop.

“Clogging!” was his reply, and we laughed and laughed, and then Bob raced in, yelling “get in the hallway now, we’re being attacked!” And we’re laughing harder now,… repeating, “clogging!” between guffaws.

Bob was overreacting (he’s from New York, you know). There was an attack, but it was directed at the bad guys, not us. The popping was the large weapons of a gunship and launched exploding stuff, confirmed by the distinctive kitten-like “purrrr” of the chain guns.

No doubt, the activity was near by, probably on the other side of the Tigris, a kilometer or two distant. Not too far I suppose, but far enough for me and pointed in the right direction. This is part of our new strategy to open walnuts with sledge hammers, essentially hitting back really really hard, wiping out all evidence of the homes of the Saddamites and their explosives factories, especially after they launch an attack on the Coalition forces. This is not to be compared with an only vaguely similar type of strategy used by the Israelis, who obliterate the homes of the PLO after the PLO attacks them.

No, it’s a different thing, altogether.

No. Really. It’s different. We aren’t vindictive.