You'd think I'd be more chagrined.

[chaotic_nipple]

Normally, I'm careful not to pass on mere rumors. This one was just so _plausible_, though. Rape, mutilation, and death are appallingly common occurences in middle eastern countries; Normally, it's kept quiet to preserve the family's "honor"( That is, on those rare occasions when teh familiies aren't the perpetrators). When I heard the initial rumors flying around the TOC, they rung true in a way that rumors normally don't. While I'm sorry for posting false information, I can't be too sorry, as worse incidents happen every day in this part of the world.

Here's a true story, from back in OIF1: We were in Fallujah. During a meeting with a local official, he explained to us why a recent riot had occured. Seems that a local woman had been "dishonored" by being searched at a checkpoint. Her family was obliged to kill her, of course, and we got the blame. Bastards.

Comments

You're admitting to an error?

[bobmage.livejournal.com]

But that is just UnAmerican! The thing to do is edit the previous post, then accuse everyone who notices of being a conspiracy theorist.

So, are you getting leave or what?

Re: You're admitting to an error?

[chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com]

Yup.

Re: You're admitting to an error?

[bobmage.livejournal.com]

Meaning "Yup, you're getting leave", or "Yup, you're admitting to an error"?

Assuming the former, dates & locations? Are you going to an event over Labor Day weekend? Are you coming to Cleveland?
-Bumpy

[vaderstg.livejournal.com]

Boy, i can't wait to get over there. :-\

[chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com]

According to your profile, you're still at DLI. Enjoy Monterey while you can. Practice interpreting, not just speaking. You may _think_ that just because you can hold a conversation in a language, that it's be easy to translate that conversation into another language. Ah, would that it were so! Practice Iraqi dialect as soon as you can, because almost all of the Iraqis who speak MSA/Fusha also speak english. Drink heavily before you deploy, and pray for a relaxation of CentCom General Order Number One...

[(Anonymous)]

Graduated DLI, ... well.. completed anyways. 1+/2/1+ on my way to Ft. Hood now.

[vaderstg.livejournal.com]

Graduated DLI, ... well.. completed anyways. 1+/2/1+ on my way to Ft. Hood now.

[chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com]

Ah, you must be a Charlie then. Practice making cofee ;-). Though if you _want_ to go out and play interpreter, it should be easy for you to get a slot on a THT, as there are never enough cleared linguists available for HumInt.

[vaderstg.livejournal.com]

Err.. no, i'm an echo.

[chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com]

Er? they changed the language requirement? Back when I went to DLI, echos needed 2/2/2 to go to their AIT, and kept getting roled back until they made it. That was the only exception to the "One rollback allowed, and then you're off to learn Russian!" rule.

Anyway, you'll be sure to have much fun here, provided your definition of 'fun' is fairly elastic. It's not that bad here, in terms of quality of life issues. Our living conditions in Bosnia were much worse. The only downside is that there are many more hostile natives in the land between teh rivers. But at _least_ we have reliable internet access! ;-)

[vaderstg.livejournal.com]

it still is 2/2/2 ... i got a waiver - along with 6 other echos who failed speaking. Our units need us now, not two months from now when the "refresher" course would have ended.

And they wouldnt roll me when i begged for it.

Oh, I did my AIT already (did that first). I kicked ass there.
Thank god for reliable internet! :) (depending on where you are, i presume..)

[chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com]

IIRC, every FOB is wired these days. Those lucky bastards at BIAP and Anaconda have a host of other luxuries too, including, and I so badly wish I were joking here, a beauty spa and masseuse. I'm sure that neither of them are anywhere near civilian standards, but still!

Do you know what AO you unit is going to have?

[vaderstg.livejournal.com]

no idea. Where's 4th ID, 1st Bde going? I'm slated to join their STB (special troops bn... does this mean we get the short, yellow C-130?)

[chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com]

It means you'll get stuck in a battalion whose non-MI Commander neither knows nor cares what your job actually entails, and it will show. On the bright side, when you get deployed, you'll get sectioned out to a line unit that will treat you like gold.

[chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com]

As for being stationed at Fort Hood: I'm so sorry. Sometimes that happens to good people, you just have to pick up the pieces and rebuild you life. Remember that Killeen, TX, is NOT Hell; It just looks like it. Smells like it too. And the sounds, by god, the SOUNDS... When you deploy, Iraq will be a step up. Though there is a really good comic store just half a mile from the main gate.

[vaderstg.livejournal.com]

im not worried about Hood, much. Austin's only an hour away and i have a car

[chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com]

BTW, something I wish someone had pounded into me right after DLI: Practice dialect! NO ONE uses MSA in their daily lives, and the only Iraqis you meet who will speak MSA at all will be well educated professionals who also speak English.

Color Picture

[dragon-1215.livejournal.com]

Hi Mike,

I finally got him in the lj, boy do I have a lot to learn on ljs and photobucket.



I hope you like the work.

Phyliss