conversation with a friend

[Octavius]

I haven't heard from friend of mine for a few months.  Thought he was busy while away at school and such... turns out he's been in Iraq since May (!).  That was quite a surprise.  

He's with the 519th MP's in Baghdad.  He contacted me a few weeks ago through a messaging program (he has a laptop with him).  Here's a snip of one conversation for those interested:

Him: hey how are oyu doing
Me: hey dude!
Me: doin fine over here.  how are things by you?
Him: okay
Him: life as an Mp is dangerous
Me: are they still not letting you reveal your location?
Him: oh yeah
Him: Bagdad
Me: wow
Me: how is the quality of living in bagdad? … water quality, power, infrastructure and crap?
Him: well-water is city water.  that is okay.  water quality i'm not sure.  we don't drink the city water unless our people get to if first
Him: as far as infastructure that is okay I guess
Me:  we’re seeing many negative headlines and crap in the news… how the "occupation" is turning into a mess and such.  whats your take on that?  you mentioned life is dangerous, are regular citizens hostile towards you?  or organized protests?
Him: Well sometimes i feel that our job is not taking us anywayere
Him: we really aren't doing a lot and as far as protests are going, well we don't get that many of them here.  and yeah some of the citizens are hostile toward  us but what can you expect
Me: what do you mean you dont do a lot?   i hope you arent relaxing all day playin cards and shootin the ****!  hehe... what's a normal day for ya.... such as activities and routines?
Him: well what I mean about not doing a lot is we patrol the streets with the iraq police and just provide security
Him: for about 8 hours out of the day
Me: I gotcha.  an extention of the local police force.  well thats good i suppose.  Do the local police get crap from locals just as you do?  or is their anger mainly directed at US soldiers?
Him: that one is hard to answer seeing as I don't really trust half of them to begin with
Me: sorry, just stop me if i'm asking too many questions :-)  i'm curious
Him: it's okay
Him: it's good to know
...

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I'll be writing to him soon... said he could answer a lot more questions that way.  Anyone have some questions they'd like answered by an MP?  I'll gladly throw'em in for ya.

[Twist]

I have one.

Is there anything this fella needs right now in the way of books, cards, snacks, board games, batteries for games etc?

You can post it here or email me mitch77@bellsouth.net .

I was in Saudi during the first go-round and remember how much I appreciated things from home. The paperback books definately topped the list.

3 months of filling sandbags and 3 months of just waiting when I was there. Too bad we can't work togther and set them up with an AcesHigh tent.

[Bodhi]

SAme here,

Is there anything we can send to he or his buddies to help make it easier on them and atleast let him and they know some of appreciate their sacrifice?

Bodhi

dgreen4@triad.rr.com

Out of town for10 days, but will take care of it when I return.