Dispatches from the Front

...For yet another post from Paul! I hope all of you back home enjoyed your Christmas holiday; I certainly enjoyed mine.

Last week, I climbed up in the tower on Camp Blackhawk to get a birds' eye view of Baghdad. I wasn't disappointed!

I'm a bit dark, but at least you can see that I was up high!

Undocumented civilians in the International Zone? Where?

The Presidential Palace, with the Doura Oil Refinery smoking in the distance

The roof of Believers' Palace (overtop Saddam's secret bunker complex), damaged by bombs during the invasion in 2003

The Monument to the Unknown Soldier, with an unfinished mosque in the background

I truly enjoyed Christmas here in Iraq - the servicemembers were certainly lavish with their decorations!

I chatted with a variety of people, many of them strangers. I met a rather strange fellow who insisted on carolling the entire day. I have to admit, his voice did irritate me after the second repetition.

Dear Friends, this is my last post in country, as I will be leaving Baghdad in one week. I look forward to seeing you again soon, and I will especially enjoy a respite from my adventures until the next one comes along!

Sincerely yours,
Paul