Something to make you go...hmmmmmmm?

Eventually, I'm going to post about the Embassy Annex here so you all can see where I live and what type of conditions I get to deal with here. Before that though, something to think about.

My soldiers and I have a theory. We're not actually in Iraq...we're in the middle of Mexico! Here's why we say this. The hot dry weather. Just like central Mexico (or even Arizona). We're constantly getting heavy winds, much like Mexico gets from the Gulf. We have reliable communications that reach back to the United States with few hiccups. Kind of like I would expect from land lines, and not from satellite shots that are affected by dust storms. The locals here are dirt poor, but I guess that applies to over half the world. And the clincher...our Department of State contracted security guards around the Embassy are from the company Triple Canopy. These Third Country nationals (TCNs) are supposedly Peruvian (some are Fijian and American, but mostly Peruvians). I'd say that many of them speak English as well as I speak...you guessed it...Spanish! I don't speak Spanish, but I know enough for greetings and a little chit chat. It's getting a wee bit better the longer I'm here and the more I deal with the Peruvians.

Here's my question...why did I have to come to Iraq (an Arabic nation), to learn conversational Spanish? Am I the only one who scratches my head on this?

Here's another head scratcher for you. Why is it that the world's strongest military and Government has to hire out to a contracted military force to stand as gate guard? I guess the way we fight has truly changed in the past few years! of course, having asked that, I feel safer with the Peruvians on duty then I do with soldiers guarding the walls. The Peruvians are very, very reliable and do everything by the book. No cutting corners anywhere. Heck, I saw the DFAC guards turn a COL away and make him clear his weapon a second time b/c he didn't follow proper procedures for clearing a pistol. Very reliable force.