Anyone here been to Iraq?

[wanderica]

I'm there now, and I gotta say this is the most disgusting place I've ever been in my life. I'm glad America will never get this bad.

 

[T3C]

What are you doing their?

 

[sygyzy]

That's so helpful. Thanks.

 

[Toonces]

careful what you wish for

oh, and way to respect other people's culture

 

[jammur21]

Welcome to the suck.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

I've never been but I would actually be really interested in going. So far, to all the places i've been and lived, whether 3rd world, developing or developed, I've enjoyed extremely. I have never had a bad experience and I think that there is always something interesting anywhere you go as long as you go with an open and inquisitive mind.

 

[wanderica]

Originally posted by: UNESC0
careful what you wish for

oh, and way to respect other people's culture

You know, I used to be more tolerable and understanding, but after spending a year here . . .

It's not the culture I don't respect. These guys are some of the most devoted people I've ever met. Having said that, the news photos you all see are not how these people live. This place is one huge ghetto. It seems like instead of being productive with their lives they choose to blow something up when things don't go their way.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: UNESC0
careful what you wish for

oh, and way to respect other people's culture

I'm sure it's easy to respect everyone when you're thousands of miles away from them

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: wanderica

Originally posted by: UNESC0
careful what you wish for

oh, and way to respect other people's culture

You know, I used to be more tolerable and understanding, but after spending a year here . . .

It's not the culture I don't respect. These guys are some of the most devoted people I've ever met. Having said that, the news photos you all see are not how these people live. This place is one huge ghetto. It seems like instead of being productive with their lives they choose to blow something up when things don't go their way.

ok this is sad but I'm going to have to school someone who's there on whats going on there...

not all iraqis were part of the insurgence...most are just trying to go on with their lives and not be bombed to sh1t by either the americans or the insugents.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Never been there, don't plan on ever going there.

 

[loup garou]

*picks up 10 foot pole*
*eyes thread carefully*
*looks at pole*
*sets down pole and backs away slowly*

 

[Codewiz]

Originally posted by: wanderica
I'm there now, and I gotta say this is the most disgusting place I've ever been in my life. I'm glad America will never get this bad.

I was there in August and September.

I didn't think it was that bad. Don't get me wrong it isn't a freakin weekend retreat but how do you not know what you are getting into when you leave to go there?

 

[AmdEmAll]

You a solider or contractor?

I am actually considering being security in Afghanistan for that tax free 100k. Don't know if its worth it though.

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: UNESC0
careful what you wish for

oh, and way to respect other people's culture

Its not a "culture" issue, its that fact that we blew up their country.

 

[wanderica]

Originally posted by: Inspector Jihad
I've never been but I would actually be really interested in going. So far, to all the places i've been and lived, whether 3rd world, developing or developed, I've enjoyed extremely. I have never had a bad experience and I think that there is always something interesting anywhere you go as long as you go with an open and inquisitive mind.

Now that my rant is over with, there really are quite a few cool things to see here. The temple of Ur for example is supposed to be where abraham was born

 

[wanderica]

Originally posted by: Codewiz

Originally posted by: wanderica
I'm there now, and I gotta say this is the most disgusting place I've ever been in my life. I'm glad America will never get this bad.

I was there in August and September.

I didn't think it was that bad. Don't get me wrong it isn't a freakin weekend retreat but how do you not know what you are getting into when you leave to go there?

Oh, I knew what I was getting into. This is my second trip. I am a soldier, so I really didn't have a choice

 

[GTaudiophile]

First ATOT post from Iraq???

 

[GTaudiophile]

So, in your own words, are we winning or losing the war on terror?

 

[wanderica]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
So, in your own words, are we winning or losing the war on terror?

Hard to say really. There are so many "bad" people in the world ready to take whatever actions necessary that supports their political or religous views that I'm not sure we will ever "win." but . . . things are starting to look better, at least for Iraq. It's kinda taken a turn for the worse here recently, but the sadam trial hasn't seen nearly as much violence as the preliminary elections back in january did. Over all, I'd say we are winning.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: wanderica

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
So, in your own words, are we winning or losing the war on terror?

Hard to say really. There are so many "bad" people in the world ready to take whatever actions necessary that supports their political or religous views that I'm not sure we will ever "win." but . . . things are starting to look better, at least for Iraq. It's kinda taken a turn for the worse here recently, but the sadam trial hasn't seen nearly as much violence as the preliminary elections back in january did. Over all, I'd say we are winning.

You need to post that over in P&N

 

[Aimster]

Iraq was actually a great place to be in the 1980s. It was very well advanced for an Arab nation.

What happened? Saddam attack Kuwait, Sanctions and the economy that was flourishing dropped like a rock from the sky.

 

[Codewiz]

Originally posted by: AmdEmAll
You a solider or contractor?

I am actually considering being security in Afghanistan for that tax free 100k. Don't know if its worth it though.

I talked to a lot of people while I was in Iraq. Most that had been to Afghanistan and Iraq, said that Iraq had better living conditions. Yeah it might be a little more dangerous but you will honestly have better housing and things to do in Iraq since most of the US money is going into Iraq.

 

[Codewiz]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
So, in your own words, are we winning or losing the war on terror?

While over there and talking to a lot of people, I think we are doing a lot of good things in Iraq. Yeah bad sh*t goes down but overall I would say things are getting better.

 

[wanderica]

Originally posted by: Codewiz

Originally posted by: AmdEmAll
You a solider or contractor?

I am actually considering being security in Afghanistan for that tax free 100k. Don't know if its worth it though.

I talked to a lot of people while I was in Iraq. Most that had been to Afghanistan and Iraq, said that Iraq had better living conditions. Yeah it might be a little more dangerous but you will honestly have better housing and things to do in Iraq since most of the US money is going into Iraq.

Living conditions are actually not that bad for the soldier. Having been here when the whole thing started and then comming back now, I can say that things have come a long way. We went from living in tents with no air (now that was HOT) to living in trailors. The locals still have pretty bad living conditions though. I guess that will improve as the new government matures.

 

[Chrono]

So you were there when it started... went back to the US and now you're back there?