Downrange
With Operation Enduring Freedom (in Afghanistan) in its eighth year (and heating up)and Operation Iraqi Freedom (in Iraq) in its seventh (and winding down), a significant portion of the manpower of the US armed forces is "downrange" at any given time. Like almost everybody serving, whether on active duty or in the reserves or national guard (or as a civilian!), I spent some time down there. My last time "in the Sandbox" was in 2006.
This picture is a "required" shot for anybody spending time in Iraq who gets to see one of Saddam's many palaces. This one, al Faw Palace on the vast grounds of the Baghdad International Airport, is being used as headquarters for Joint Allied Task Force, Iraq. Saddam (yimach shemo) built it to commemorate a victory in one battle in his long and inconclusive war against Iran. The seat is not really a throne, it is just a couch on one side of a grand hall in the middle of the building. The hall is a popular venue for reenlistment, promotion and awards ceremonies for the troops in the area. In addition to the mission that works out of the building, there is a vast collection of US military bases surrounding the area. Although the airport itself is under the control of the Iraqi civilian government, our presence in the area is overwhelming.
Here's a view of the outside of the palace.
Here I am at Camp Anaconda, also in Iraq.
...and at Balad Air Base (actually co-located with Anaconda).
I travelled to Kuwait to celebrate several Passover Seders. Here in the well-appointed DV tent at Ali as Saleem Air Base.
...and another shot from the same evening.