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"Kuwait
Series" - by Gaylan King
Contents:
I've got to admit that it's a real kick riding around in 3 new Mercedes, with drivers, guards, and an AK47 by my side and a 9MM pistol in a shoulder holster, going out to do something worth doing. (Actually, we keep the weapons very low key; we let our Iraqis show their weapons, which disturbs no one; Americans brandishing them does draw the wrong kind of attention.) But we have them and are very careful. This project will put significantly more water and power into the city. The news gives you a very biased picture of what is really going on here. I haven't seen a frown while here and I go everywhere and shake hands and talk to children and drive my buddies nuts. There are places where we just don't go, but the Iraqis love us and fear our leaving from lack of resolve. More later.
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Iraq 9 -
September 29 2003 -
I'm having the time of my
life. It's as if God aimed my whole life towards these
moments. I have every skill that I need (strangely
enough, campaigning experience is a real help, here),
I love the Iraqis, our business partners are the cream
of the crop and take me everywhere. They have a
touching habit - when they shake hands, if they like
you, they'll smile and put their right hand over their
heart. There are seven brothers; the leader is not the
oldest. Satar is 37 and the Godfather of the pack.
He's also a kind, good and Godly man who calls me his
brother. We've worked side by side for several days
and have developed a real friendship. Today we started
visiting the 20 or so water and power sites with the
USAID guys that we are protecting (for $10K per DAY!).
I went to Satar this evening to discuss the day's
business (we're using his translators and drivers).
When I walked in, he told me that he had missed
working with his brother all day; he's great company
and I'd missed his presence, also. He's one of those
men that everyone comes to and wants to know. He took
me aside last week and told me that we were brothers
now and that if I ever needed anything, house, car,
money, to come to him (The family is very wealthy.) He
meant it. I find myself in a position to make more
money than I've ever made in my life and I absolutely
love the environment in which I can do that. Baghdad
is the best game in town; there's no place in the
world with the energy and money in Baghdad.
