DescentBB

A friend of mine that I used to work with sent this to me. It is a first hand account of a teachers experiences in Iraq so far.

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My daughter Michelle’s husband, Sean, is a Lieutenant in the National Guard. The odds of him going to Iraq in the near future are low But that status may change. His mother Sandra is a 50 + years old school teacher. She volunteered to go to Iraq and teach for six months just to see what her son might have to face. She left about a week and a half ago and is in country right now. I sent an email to her earlier in the week. The following is her response to that email.



My students asked me today why I came so far from home leaving my husband--so unlike an Iraqi woman would do. I told them I wanted to get to know the people my son would soon be fighting for. I talked to an Iraqi Air Force cadet whose father was imprisoned by Saddam for years, then thrown out of the IQ mil because he refused to side with one sect or another. He and his family have bet everything on the new Iraq. The stories go on and on, but the press doesn't seem interested.

So typical.


(I sent a return email asking as to whether she could take any pictures while she was there. The following is her reply to that.)

We are very restricted in what/when/where/whom we can photograph. What's more, we are not supposed to send ANY photos out electronically. Since there is no printing capability here in the NATO compound, you will have to wait 'til I get home--or stateside, anyway--before seeing any pix. Sorry about that. We must assume that we are under constant electronic surveillance by the very active insurgency intel folks here. One of our students was kidnapped from his home while home for the week-end. His badly-mutilated corpse was tossed out of a car in front of his home a couple of days later. They really do not want the Iraq Air Force to get up and running--or any other effort by the government that might bring a sense of safety/normalcy to the country. That student was one of our very best--somehow they knew that--and his schedule/address, etc.

So, tell me what you want me to photograph as best you can--give me guidance and the benefit of your photographic eye--and I will do my best with my little idiot-proof camera.

(I replied that it didn’t make any difference what kind of photos, the country side, students, whatever she thought was prudent. The following is her reply.)


Sadly, the situation is so in flux--daily killings, on-going mortar fire into Coalition camps--that we can't go outside \"the wire.\" The most I will see of the city/countryside is what I saw out the side of the British Puma helicopter that flew me in one afternoon. It was lovely: date palms everywhere, including groves called \"palmyra,\" one of the two rivers thickly lined with reeds, rooftop gardens, everything beige except the bright green fields here and there. I couldn't take pictures--the guy working the two machine guns was everywhere at once watching for insurgent fire as we flew along the \"nap of the earth\" It was both terrifying and exhilarating--my first helicopter ride. I sat behind the pilot, so I could see a little out his window as well. It was about 100 outside, hotter inside, and I was in flack vest, uniform and Kevlar helmet, with my 9 mil strapped on. They had to lift me like a sack of mail off the copter--I couldn't climb down in that gear.

The students are wonderful. Sweet, bright, eager, and terrified for their families. Deeply grieving over so many deaths. Their stories are unanswerable and remind me in the most profound way how lucky we all are to live where we do. And that we have/had people ready and willing to fight to keep it.

The hardest part to handle here is the pervasiveness of the danger to the people of the city--and that they just want to get out--many have just given up. Some of the students are that way--or they just don't want to be pilots because it's \"too dangerous.\" Others feel very differently. A student today said that people just want Al Maliki out and the first president--what was his name?--back in office because he was tough on the insurgents/terrorists.

I probably won't be able to take pictures of the students--our counter-intelligence people asked us not to for fear the pictures would get out and they would be targeted even more than they are already. Furthermore, the more the insurgents find out about our efforts to teach them English the more we, and they will be targeted. I personally have told 3 different public info reporter types not to talk about us for that reason alone--we've had too many graduates from our SA program targeted when they got home.

I may be able to take some photos from the back--but don't count on it. Boring, right?

About the only thing I can take pix of is the NATO folks--maybe.

I wear my weapon in class, my gear to and from class every day, as well s whenever we drive to the north side where the US forward operating base is. The dorm is well-guarded by Ghurkha olive drab contractors, as well as by the NATO troops housed here. I will be glad when I don't have to do any of that again--when I leave here.

sounds like they have a spy in the school.

I think that might have been a good post except:
1: \"My students asked me today why I came so far from home leaving my husband--so unlike an Iraqi woman would do\" really gave me a bad first impression; it made the post seem like it was trying to nit-pick!
2: I find it hard to believe, especially after your last topic was a badly-written chain-email.

I don't see anything too hard to believe. Sounds like life in wartime to me. Though what the point of wearing a sidearm to class is escapes me. The school must be in the green zone.
She also just arrived in Iraq and one of her \"best and brightest\" students is killed? In a week and a half I would be surprised if she had even gotten into a classroom much less categorized her students. But why nitpick? It may have happened just as, just before she arrived or months ago. In that civil war anyone who openly chooses a side will be at risk.

whatever tiger... I told you where both posts came from, I didn't write them. I happen to agree with the *BASIC POINTS* that the other post talks about. Thats why I posted it. I have come to expect this kind of reaction here at the DBB from the usual suspects. I will however continue to post things I agree with. On the issue of the post in this thread, it is what it is. I don't know the person that wrote it, it came to me from someone I know and that knows the writer. If you choose to not believe it, be my guest.

Update.

\"Subject: day off

Today is our only day off. I had a lovely morning--once the water came back on--just reading and being lazy. At noon we went to the North camp FOB for lunch at their DFAC (dining facility). Wearing our gear, we all piled into a WAS--a khaki colored jeep-like vehicle made in Russia, lots of them here at the NATO enclave--and drove the short, bumpy road over to the iron gate manned on our side by Iraqi army, on the other by our army. The guards all wear flack vests, helmets, goggles or night vision on top. We got to the DFAC and it was as usual, moderately busy with soldiers some in full battle gear, others in shorts and tee shirts with reflective belts on carrying their rifles slung over their backs waiting in line to pick up trays and plastic cutlery. Outside, all along the unpaved dirt road in front of the DFAC, a solid line of Hummers, Bradleys, a Stryker chor two, and our WAS, all parked opposite the 9 ft. high, pre-formed concrete t-wall segments that protect the dining hall from in-coming and snipers. Tables full of young boys, with their rifles neatly stacked beside their chairs or under the tables.

I had my first real cheeseburger since coming here. It was good, as were the onion rings and coke. Back at the Chateau, I gave a packet of Gatorade powder mix I'd picked up on the way out to the Ghurka at the front door for his water bottle, then went upstairs, took a nap in my air-conditioned room, then continued reading a really good novel by Charlaine Harris.

At 3:30 I got dressed, went over to pick up my laundry--the uniform I'd worn the day before, along with my trusty Thurlo's--and went back to read for another hour before suiting in flack vest, huge panama sun hat, sunblock shirt and badge carrier to go to dinner on the north side again. That's a rare treat, since you have to score a pass to do so, and we had one for the whole day.

Repeated the same procedure as at lunch, only this is Friday night--steak and lobster/king crab leg night--at the DFAC, and the place was hopping. We went through the ID line and then the hand-washing line, then inside to line up for trays, cutlery and food. I got my usual fried shrimp and green beans, then headed over to the salad bar where there was still no lettuce--trucks still couldn't get through to deliver.

Picked up my Heinz (!!) catsup packets and sat down with the guys: 3 other teacher colleagues, 2 USAF captains and a really sweet 23-year-old Iraqi Chaldean Christian interpreter named \"Jimmy.\" As I was opening each packet and squeezing out the contents onto my shrimp, I was watching one of the Capts. eating his king crab legs, since I'd never seen it done close up before.

Suddenly, there was a huge \"BOOM!\" that shook the room--like a sonic boom, but inside not out. I figured we had been hit by a mortar. The next thing that happened was Richard was yelling at me to \"Get down!, and I saw people dropping to the floor and crawling under the tables. So I did, pushing the folding chair I had been sitting on aside. We stayed there a few minutes, then got up and headed outside to the bunkers. I wanted to take my hat, but decided that I could always replace the hat, and I hustled after the crowd heading for the nearest bunker. The first 2 were full. At the third one, some GI's ignored my protests and pushed me inside, staying in the less protected doorway instead of me. Next to me was a young-ish female soldier in full battle gear, complete with M-16. She was shaking and crying, so I patted her shoulder and told her to take deep breaths. She didn't seem much interested--probably knew more than I about how bad an attack could be.

After about 10 minutes, we all were told we come out. In the sky we could see an enormous smoke plume: thick, dark black and slowly climbing. We had to wait outside the entrance for about 25 minutes while the DFAC workers cleaned up all debris--including our uneaten food. Then we went in and did the whole standing in line thing over again. The workers had very carefully put my precious 5\" brim panama hat on my chair--bless their hearts. I treated myself to a scoop of vanilla Baskin Robbins with strawberries on top for desert--since I think I did ok for my first car-bombing attack ( we learned later that it had been a gasoline truck exploded on a bridge across the river--don't know yet which one. The guards and security people said it would probably fall down in a few hours.) As we drove towards the gate to exit the FOB, the night patrol convoy of Humvee's, Strykers and Bradley's was heading out as well. Many of the guys inside were heading out without dinner because they couldn't wait in line again.

We drove past the 3-storey classroom building and could see yards and yards of broken reflective glass on the pavement surrounding the modern glass-enclosed auditiorium building where we hold classes. When we got back to the Chateau, the back gallery windows in the foyer were all blown out from the shock wave, the front door safety glass was crazed, and several other windows were blown out in rooms as well. I checked my room--I have only 1 window. In front of it I have a spare foam mattress and a big double wardrobe closet. My windows--which won't latch and are held closed with big rocks-- were intact. Probably because they could blow open instead of take the full brunt of the sonic blast. I'm on the second floor, so there is not much chance of anyone getting in--or past the wardrobe--without making a lot of noise. So I am debating with myself as to whether I should duct-tape them or leave them as-is.

Today, we met classes. The basement where we teach is cool enough. The rest of the building is a mess. It will no doubt take weeks, if not months to even get repairs started, much less completed. Meanwhile, today we have strong wind gusts and blowing sand. That may fininish off the hanging shards in the auditorium's window frames. Just as well.

Another lovely week-end in Iraq.\"

Got another letter.
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1.
The next day--Saturday, Iraq's Monday--one of my students came back to class saying he was getting a pass to help arrange the funeral for at least one of his cousins who was an IQ army officer taken prisoner by the insurgents and executed live on video that he had just seen on Al Jezira the day before--shot in the head. Meanwhile, 3 of our army soldiers were taken by the bad guys Saturday. could have been any of the kids in the DFAC on Friday, or in the patrol heading out as we were leaving at sunset on Friday. Terrible to think what has/is happening to them. For the last 2 days, the air has been full of Apaches looking for them, and today there has been the sound of out-going artillery fire from the North Camp.

I have a new class as of Saturday, of Book 1 students. Very eager Lt.'s who don't want to leave at the end of the day, don't want to take breaks. Also had the IQ col. in charge of the school drop in to study and to tell me that an IQ general may soon be joining my class. We shall see. It may well be that the new students were sent over so unexpectedly just to justify starting a BK 1 class. Whatever the case, they are lovely to teach.

It's hot here, but not as hot as it will be in August. As long as the ac and the DEET hold out, I'll be ok, though I did get bitten by sand flies quite a bit on my legs while waiting to get back into the DFAC last Friday. Fortunately, I brought cortisone cream along.

Send 2 of the biggest container of unscented Wet Wipes available. If those don't come unscented, then just send more unscented HUGGIES. All of those are for cleaning my whiteboard, desk and hands in class. Also for bathing when they start rationing water and we can only shower once a week.

Am feeling brain-dead after teaching Bk 1 and all the Sturm und Drang of the \"day off.\"



2.

I'm sitting in my usual emailing spot in the upstairs gallery that encircles the foyer downstairs. Below me is the ping-pong table where there was a deadly-serious multi-national doubles ping pong tournement until late last night. Opposite me is the back window-wall of the gallery. The duct taped black garbage bags covering the broken out windows from last week-end's double suicide truck bombing explosion are popping in a strong breeze that has sprung up. It has been mildly stormy/overcast all afternoon. Now, at almost 7 pm, there is a lovely golden light bathing the concrete security wall beyond the windows--the kind that happens in the evening before sunset when the sky is overcast except where the sun is setting. Outside of that is Sadr City. The sky is a muddy gray, and the eucalyptus trees are whipping around in the wind. Above it all usually floats the US military's inflatable blimp for triangulating/tracking enemy fire/in-coming. I expect they have brought it down during the wind/thunder/lightning. No, they didn't. It's still there. Must have a really good tether. It looks so benign floating up there--like a displaced Thanksgiving Day parade balloon.

Just got back from dinner at the local--i.e. NOT US/good--DFAC. Had an enjoyable conversation with my colleague Richard and my favorite NATO officer, a Lt. Col.--in Larry's former line of work-- from Poland. He is an interesting man. Reminds me a lot of Yul Brynner. Balding, with high cheekbones, tall, rangy build, very deliberate with deep laugh crinkles around his eyes. Fiercely bright and aware, funny, always eager to expand his impressive English vocabulary--not as good as yours, sweetie, but impressive, nonetheless. Loves chocolate cake.

Richard and I left just before he did. Ran into his 3-man body guard detail outside the door, waiting around until we all finished our meal so that they could escort him wherever else he will be going this evening.

About to finish my first week with my new class of 4 IQ AF Lt's, and 1 cadet. They are so bright and voracious about learning English. We are more than half-way through Book 1, and they are bursting with questions they don't yet know how to ask me. That is the perfect impetus to bounce off of to get them to work as hard as they possibly can. The senior lt. draws me a picture everyday to hang on my wall--mostly of places he wishes he could show me if I could go outside the wall. He's very quick with the pencil--draws during the 10-min breaks between classes--and it's a wonderful insight into so much that I will never get to see. Today he sketched a landscape of the northern part of the country--the Kurdish mountainous area--with their Quonset hut barracks in the foreground. It has no door, only a cloth covering the door-way half-way. Students are not allowed any electronics except TV’s and video games: no phones, thumb-drives, computers, CD'S, players, etc., for security reasons, of course.

One is an IQ general's son. He is convinced that he can charm me into adopting him or somehow otherwise get him to America. He looks a lot like Karsten--without his self-discipline. I'm sure this boy has never been told no in his entire life--until now. I have to insist that he stay on the opposite end of the seminar table from me, or he would try to monopolize my time and attention with his idea of probing questions about my motives, the US, whether I like it here better than home, etc.

Was falling asleep as I was typing last night--teaching Bk 1 does that--so am continuing this at 3 pm Thursday afternoon--after a busy, long, morning teaching. We teach through til 12:45 so that the students can go home, if they want to, for 1 1/2 days. Today the Ministry of Defense (MOD) decided to pull one of my students out--a cadet who was thrown in with the Lt's at the last moment due to a scheduling mix-up with the USAF and the MOD--and throw him into the last week of an earlier cadet class that will be taking finals next week. They are testing at the end of a 2 1/2 month USAF officer training course, and he will be expected to pass the exam somehow. There was some kind of tug-of-war between the American trainers and the local IQ Col. The result was almost that the student was going to quit the program altogether--he had already gone back to the barracks and changed into civilian clothes. He came back to say good-bye and pick .
up his book. I told him to wait until I could locate a USAF trainer to try to fix the situation. The irony is that he was first in his class at the IQ academy, then separated from his classmates when their orders all came through in time to start 2 1/2 mos ago and his didn't. Also, he's a Kurd, so neutral in the current mess here in B'dad. A HIGHLY desirable officer candidate from the US standpoint. So, first I told the student to stay in my classroom, not to leave yet, then I talked to the captain teaching the class that he will join and told him how good this guy is, then I located the major in charge of the US side of the program and told him. The maj. came to take him formally into the class, and asked the student via his interpreter how much he had paid me to say all the glowing things I had said about him. The student put his hand over his heart and said that all he could pay me was his love for being such a good teacher to him. Clearly the student didn't understand that the major was just trying to make a joke to diffuse the tension in the room. I think the maj was taken aback at his heartfelt response. This is the reality in a system where the individuals have no value to the system. They are treated as disposable in the most brutal, casual way. The student had been studying with his former classmates at night, in an effort to keep up with them. I think he will pass the test and make our test/guys look easy.

Also found out this morning that we--the teachers--will receive some kind of NATO award for distinguished civilian service, as well as some US award. This was due to Richard's efforts on our behalf. Such things count towards promotions back home.

After class ended at 12:45--and even my most eager student was exhausted after a 6-day intensive language training week--I went back to the Chateau to drop off my battle gear and then went to lunch. Frank Burns and the Major were there together, so I took advantage of the chance to ask the maj what the plan was for my Lt's after their language training. He said that if they had a 70 on the final ALCPT they could go to pilot training, provided they passed the IQ \"physical.\" If they had any physical issues, they would just be ground officers. During our talk, the maj.'s phone rang twice. It was his clerk reporting that there had been incoming twice that hit in the North Camp. We didn't hear anything, but when we went back to the Chateau, we were greeted by a NATO type in full battle gear--the Chateau wafs on full Battle Alert because of the incoming in the North. I ran upstairs to get my gear and hustled back down to the Rendezvous Point to be accounted for. We got an all-clear call just as they brought out chairs for me and the other female instructor. After the A-C, I went upstairs and stripped everything off, including my uniform, changed into my caftan and took a 1 1/2 hour nap. So BEGINS our week-end. Tonight, we will have our weekly security debriefing, and learn the full story of last week's suicide bombing and whatever there is to know on the search for the 3 missing GI's
First, though, I must carry my laundry over to the \"Palace\" so that I will have fresh uniforms to start the new week on Saturday.


3.


Woke up with the beginnings of a migraine. Had the luxury of time and drugs to deal with it nicely. Otherwise, it's been a quiet day. Cut my hair--water rationing is undoubtedly in our future, not to mention significant heat. Then I went to the gym to work out. Felt better after that. Now I'm doing laundry--as is everybody else, just about.

I have asked our cool Brit \"Force Protection\" guy for a copy of a neat photo he had taken of himself in downtown B'dad. You may recognize the landmark he's posing in front of. He's going home in two more weeks, so he's emailing it today. It was bounced twice because of security issues, but he's trying again with his private email. You'll know it when you see it.

Speaking of Brits, his replacement would like to copy/download the \"tactical Iraqi\" program/tutorial onto his thumb drive. Can you look for it in my email? I forwarded it to myself--the link--in March, I think. Then I need to know how he can access/copy it. Thanks a bunch. Needless to say, I want anybody looking out for our safety to have every advantage--including most particularly tactical Iraqi.

I simply have no idea what will happen to Iraq. These are good people, but they are bled dry, exhausted and discouraged. The young ones mostly just want to get out. Who can blame them? That's what my ancestors did.

Saturday,

My students made me cry today. They haven't been paid in 3 months, and are thinking that it would be better to go back to working as body guards in Basrah than to stay on with an air force that isn't paying them (despite BILLIONS of US $ put into the IQAF for just that) and that can't seem to make good on anything it's promised them. Here they would learn English--a possible way out of IQ someday--in Basrah is certain death not if but when. They work so hard--and the staff at the MOD works maybe 3 hours a day, never really getting anything done. God, I hate them. I feel so powerless to do anything that can help them in any meaningful way.

My glasses came today. Thank you! But I may not be able to wear them all the time. They hurt my nose. Now I'm looking very different.

When we left class this afternoon at 4 pm local time, we --Richard and I--were making the regular walk along the side of the road towards the Chateau. Suddenly, just past the gate, so that we were in the NATO compound, not the IQ base, I heard something flying past overhead, then a siren went off. I was looking up and saying to Richard, \"Wow, what was that? Then I noticed that Richard was running for the nearest bunker, calling out to me \"Sandra, get in here!\" So I waddled as quickly as I could in my vest over to the bunker. He yelled at me to get inside, not just stand in the doorway. So I got in and put on my helmet, then we waited in the heat for 20-30 min. No place to stand, no water to drink. Eventually, the Force Protection guy went on the PA sys. and told us to remain where we were.

Finally, after another 10-15 min, we got the all clear and we walked on to the Chateau. There I had just enough time to open the two boxes that came today and put on my new glasses when there was another explosion, which meant back into battle gear and downstairs to the Rendezvous Point to be accounted for. After 5-10 minutes standing in the inner hallway, we got the news that it had been a \"controlled detonation,\" meaning our guys were exploding additional enemy ordinance they had located with the blimp's triangulation capabilities.

Just now finished 2 hours of typing up citation memos for the team as Richard and I thought them up. Am very tired. Thanks for all the care packages you've sent. Richard says \"thanks\" too for the kit bag.

Must get ready for tomorrow. I hope I don't cry anymore. One of my students was starting to cry because he felt so bad about making me cry. This place, these poor wasted people are breaking my heart.

The night chopper patrol just flew overhead. It's time to hit the sack.

Another letter.

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It has been rather quiet here for the last 1'0 days or so. That's because our guys have stepped up their offensive posture. Our uniform status is U1 rather than U2 right now. that means that night and day we only need to have our body armor within 10 minutes' reach--except for the teachers. Our workplace is easily within 10 minute range, but they would expect us to be cut off in the event of an attack at the gate. So I must continue to wear the vest--larger than the others to get around my chest (50 lbs) , carry the helmet and my 9 mil. in the rising heat. Nonetheless, no battle drills in almost 2 weeks.

The newest wrinkle is the increased pressure on our students to quit the Iraqi Air Force or they or their families will be killed. They've gotten phone calls, been accosted in barber shops and on the street. One very sweet boy was taken and is probably dead. Usually they dump the bodies in the river--or what is left on the family's doorstep, depending on how much airplay the victim can draw.

Here are a couple of excerpts from emails to bring you up to date.

1 June:

No sign of any packages yet--delayed by holiday, maybe. Turned out ok though, the senior most lieutenant heard about my students not getting paid and offered to lend them all enough money to go home if they needed it. So they all got to go home. Even so, I will give the drawing supplies to the one who draws. I doubt he's ever seen such things in his life. He's been too sad lately to draw much-and no privacy or place in the barracks. He sleeps on the floor in a room with the other senior Lts. After all these weeks the IQAF still hasn't gotten them beds.

Seems that almost all the shattered glass has been replaced in our classroom building so we will be able to return there on Monday when classes resume. It's been boring while the students are away. Not that much to do. I have worked out 3 times, though, and that was good.

(Later that same day)

Yay, the balls and art supplies and stuff arrived! We had to go wake up the guy in charge of the mail--he was taking a siesta and had the mail locked up in his office at 4 pm. Wasn't answering his room door either, until the 4th person knocked--jerk.

The balls are great. My only concern will be keeping the guys from breaking the light fixtures in the ceiling when they check out how high they bounce. I will only take 2 of the squeeze balls, keeping one in reserve for me to use. The drawing things are wonderful. I'm not sure how I'll go about giving them to him--it will have to be discrete, but I can't wait to see what he does with them.

We didn't get to go to the shooting range the other day. As we headed out the door, we were met by a Brit saying the shooting practice had been delayed an hour, then the next we knew, it was scrubbed altogether because a film crew was shooting footage of the Iraqi IMAR students practicing their marksmanship. So it goes.

Students should start coming back on Sunday--we'll know on Monday when classes resume if everyone made it back safely.

It's been quiet the last few days. No more incoming. The US Army and Iraqi Army have been raiding in Sadr City several times in the last week. And there have been a couple of prolonged pitched gunfights. That may account for the quiet.

Was awakened this morning by the sweet smell of sewer gas, possibly from the Diyallah River that is just on the other side of the wall, possibly somewhere more local. It was sickening--woke me up out of a sound sleep. Not the first time that has happened.

I looked at the satellite photos you printed up for me of Ar Rustamiyah. At the next to the highest magnification, you can plainly see our compound. At the highest, the screen is too far north. Look for 2 hollow square buildings more or less side by side near the river. The Chateau is the northernmost, the Palace is the other.

3 June:

I think Iraqis are so attuned to political danger that they will go along w/whoever in a given group seems the best-connected to the powers-that-be, no matter what their own convictions are. Two of my nicest/brightest students asked me if it was true that W had added a 51st star to the US flag--one was actually counting the stars in a tiny drawing/illustration of the flag in our text!--and that it represented Iraq. When I reacted with astonishment and surprise and asked who had told them that, the one shushed the other. They have lived with everyone spying on everyone else for centuries--it's part of how Islam and the Middle East operate--that you will rarely hear an honest opinion--unless they speak to you in private, individually. That is questionable and risky for them to do with me, since I am a woman, but a few have risked it, so I have had some interesting conversations with a few. The culture is so insidious and destructive--so efficient at controlling and manipulating people. That's the reason Islam is so successful, and so subversive.


4 June:


I decided not to worry overmuch about my bp over here. I take my pill, I
battle dehydration constantly, so I figure that's like being on a diuretic
all the time, so I'm not going to worry about it. Yesterday it was probably
up because I was waiting to see if all my students made it back from a week
off. One of my former students--a very sweet young man--didn't. He was taken
hostage last Thursday by terrorists. He's probably dead by now. A week ago
he was telling me his plans for his week off--he was going to buy his mother
a big fish for grilling because they have no electricity, like everyone else
here in this oil-rich country. He was looking forward to his mom's good
cooking.

One of our students was abducted last Thursday during their week-long
vacation. He is a very quiet, sweet boy. I hate to think of what they are
doing to him. Our students are definitely being targeted. One of mine was
threatened over the break. A militant accosted him in a barber shop and
waved a gun in his face saying that he better not come back here or he and
his family would be killed. Some of the students want the program moved to
NAMAB at the Internat'l Airport--thinking it will be safer, but it won't.
What's more, they don't have enough classrooms. Other students have been
called and threatened. The US can't do anything to protect them--it must be
their own people--who don't seem to care a bit.

It was tough slogging in class today. They loved the things you bought them.
The balls were a welcome sight. The artist just glowed when he looked at his
pencils and paper. He said \"Wow.\" Then he took one out and smelled it.
Started to try it out on the sketch pad, thought better of it and used it on
a piece of notebook paper instead. Smiled really big and then said he
couldn't do anything with it because he was so sad about our missing
student, which was understandable. They have a book quiz tomorrow morning,
so he didn't take it back to the barracks. I need to impress upon him that
he does not have to draw for me. The supplies are just for his own pleasure.
The last thing any of them needs is additional pressure brought to bear to
do something.
5 June

Meanwhile, the other lieutenants are
trying to either get classes to stand down for a \"month--or two\" until the
terrorists think they have quit, or get the program moved to the Green Zone.
They were trying to get my 4 guys to go along--and they were until I
explained that DLI would send me home if I had no students to teach for a
month or two. At that, one of my students asked me for permission to go back
to their dorm and tell the older Lt's. That is when the other Lt's modified
from the original plan to asking to move to the Green Zone for a month or
so. There were various meetings w/USAF trainers and the older Lt's. My
students didn't go along w/ them--promising me to stay in class as long as I
am here. We will see what happens. Much of this is due to Frank Burns' (my name for our chief here--after the nutty Major in the movie Mash) incompetence/lack of leadership w/ the students.

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Security issues are still up in the air for our students. The USAF folks here and in the 'States teleconferenced about it on Wednesday, since the Iraqi's seem indifferent to the students' situation--just like they don't care if they get paid or not, and believe me, the US $$ are there to pay them! We have yet to see any results of the conference. They are restricted to base for the moment, but that hardly solves the problem for their families.

all the best,

S