"Notes from the field" - by Gaylan King
- Last Updated: Sunday, March 02, 2008 08:28:39 AM

Contents:

VOTE TODAY!
Election Day, Our Founding Fathers on March 20, 1775, held the First Continental Congress' bitter debate on "the posture of defense" in relation to raising and training a militia. This spawned Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech. I quote parts of it:

"No man thinks more highly than I of patriotism... but different men often see the same subject in different lights... I hope it not be thought disrespectful if, entertaining opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve... only in this way can we hope to arrive at truth and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country..."

Bin Laden just crept out of his hole to attempt to frighten this greatest nation on earth. Speaking of our fledgling country's then-terror 229 years ago, orator Patrick Henry said:

"They tell us we are weak, unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed? ... Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our back, hugging the delusive phantom of hope until our enemies have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power... armed in the holy cause of liberty and in such a country as that which we possess, we are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us...

"We shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. It is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat, but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston. The war is inevitable...

"Gentlemen may cry peace, peace but there is no peace... our brethren are already in the field...

"I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

Quoting the above is to influence no person's choice. It is merely to urge all to vote. Our forefathers died for that privilege. Our loved ones are dying for it today...

Iraq 17 New year - January 07 2004 - I hope everyone’s Holiday Season was complete and renewing, and that all is well with you and yours. I’ve survived the Holiday Season, literally, and have been enjoying a few days idle time in Kuwait, where I still keep an apartment, before I return to Iraq...

Iraq 16 - December 20 2003 - I’ve been in Kuwait for the past three weeks and finally returned to Iraq. We’ve all seen the same news stories and listened to the TV “journalists”. Coalition Forces appear to have begun a new campaign to actually pursue the enemy, no matter the circumstances...

Iraq 15 - December 11 2003 - I'm trying to avoid a holiday funk; staying really busy with interesting stuff is one way to do that. This life gets more and more like someone else's that I'm just closely observing. I'm getting invited everywhere (I sat with the Ambassador and discussed Iraq at a very schmaltzy party a couple of nights ago; we're the only company from Kuwait that's working in Iraq and every knows it). The party was at a Kuwaiti mansion, outdoors in a very luxurious tent; servants everywhere. I was given about 35 business cards that night from some of the best families in town...

Iraq 14 - November 15 2003 - I just returned from a trip to Baghdad and the CPA. I escorted my old friend, retired M/Gen. Dick Secord, and we had a wonderful trip. Dick has a grandson in the 82nd Airborne with whom we were able to spend a few hours, and this was the major reason for the trip. We had an appointment with Paul (his friends call him, "Jerry") Bremmer, but he'd been recalled to the U.S. to meet with the President. We met with Bremmer's second, Ambassador Clay McMann, and it was a fascinating meeting...

Iraq 13 - November 03 2003 - I'm back in Kuwait for probably a week, watching the drama in Iraq like the rest of you...

Iraq 12 - October 27 2003 - The blast was loud and close. (The Red Cross car bomb was a block away, but that's close enough!) I happened to be looking across the hotel dining room, at breakfast, when the thing went off. In that slow motion clarity that I often experience in pure chaos, one of my few gifts, I saw people duck, get up and run about and, some of us older ones, sit still and try and figure exactly where one should be in th next few moments. Another explosion occurred a few minutes later but more muffled and farther away. I realized that I was still holding out my coffee cup for a refill...

Iraq 11 - October 25 2003 - I've been back and forth to Baghdad twice in the last week and a half and am taking a day off here to rest, which always makes me want to write. Therefore, you get 2 unedited vignettes...

Iraq 10 - October 05 2003 - We've spent three weeks going to 40 different water and power sites in and around Baghdad. This project will soon provide more power and water for the 4th largest city in the world (after Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Delhi or Calcutta). We spent several days along the Tigris River in some of the prettiest country you could ever see...

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!)...

Iraq 8 - September 19 2003 - We had an uneventful trip up to Baghdad from Kuwait. The farmers are planting crops in the South, fields are green - even in the desert, Baghdad's streets are crowded with shoppers and women and children (this was not so 2 weeks ago when we were here). We're staying in the best hotel in town with entertainment, good food, air-conditioning and cold beer, but there's still danger for the unwary - or those in a U. S. Army uniform...

Iraq 7 - September 14 2003 - As you know, I've taken a job as the Director of Security for a company in Kuwait. It was pure luck ( or Lord!) that I got the opportunity. Iraq is a goldmine; they're the richest country in the Gulf and they need everything. I've hired a bunch of Special Ops soldiers, not guards, and we take convoys to and from Iraq at great price. I'm leaving Tuesday to guard, along with 2 other guys, the president of a big company that's doing billions of dollars worth of work in Iraq and will do a bunch with us on his projects...

Iraq 6 - July 7, 2003 - We sat in a Thai restaurant on the 19th floor of a very fine hotel, The Safir, and looked out over Kuwait City's skyline. We could have been in Miami, New York or any other large American city. I smiled as I thought about some of my friends stateside who, no matter what, will always see Kuwait as a dusty desert crossroads with sleepy camels about.

The food is excellent, served by the kind of superb staff found only in very rich countries. The Indian staff is perfect, as is the food. They dominate that service role in this town. They also are the majority of the workforce on Camp Doha and everywhere I look. There appears to be two distinct classes of Indians here: one does all of the manual labor while the other professional class manages and staffs every kind of store and business in Kuwait...

Iraq 5 - June 30, 2003 - The hot weather is just seriously starting but this place, though hot and sometimes dusty, is fascinating and compelling. It can also be very beautiful.

I've been walking a great deal. I sometimes walk in the heat of the day- it doesn't seem to bother me much and there's normally a little breeze by the water. Last weekend, in mid- afternoon, I walked along a beachside park filled with large palm trees and green plants; it was very nice. Kuwait, one of the richest countries, has great civic projects and pride, and is very clean. Both adults and children were enjoying the water; there were dogs and Frisbees...

Iraq 4 - May 23, 2003 - The temperature is still relatively cool here; I walked 3-4 blocks each way to lunch today and barely noticed the heat. The very hot weather is out there, we all know that it's coming but, so far, it's been very nice. The Brits continue to provide the best entertainment through the bi-weekly musical get together and the Hash House Harriers (an amazing international group), weekly. Next week I'm attending the British Dart Club's yearly dinner and evening out...

Iraq 3 - May 5, 2003 - I attended this weeks Hash House Harriers meeting (#955), which was held about 20 Km south of Kuwait City at a wonderful Apartment/Villa Complex. We were right on the Gulf, with swimming pools and wonderful food and about 75 attendees. It reminded me a lot of Destin, except the driving was easier and there was more room along the beach. Any "Hasher" from anywhere in the world, can attend these meetings. We had visitors from Russia, Scotland, U.K., Bulgaria, Australia and some that I probably missed. The catered food was Lebanese with a lot of wonderful charcoal-cooked meat, melon, great salads and some spicy dishes...

Iraq 1 - April 15, 2003 - Today's Kuwait City is a very modern, beautiful city. I shop in stores nicer than we have in Destin. The produce is wonderful and from all over the Middle East. I have an apartment on the top floor of a new building; swimming pool; a new Maxima to drive, a job that I really like and, to top it off, 25% DANGER PAY! The biggest danger around here would be to get run over by some Sheik's son's Ferrari. Actually, there are probably some crazies around somewhere but I'm used to that. The $30.00 a day FALA (Cost of living required by Kuwaiti law; $10,900 per year) goes to a local bank in Dinars. I shop in one of the really upscale markets for $60-70 a week. The richest country in the world really looks like just that. I live across the street from the shoreline drive, which is almost as pretty as Destin's. However, the streets are wide and perfect and the Gulf Shore Road drive is a sight to see on any evening. I'm a car and bike freak and they're all here. I'm amazed at how different Kuwait actually is from my pre-conceived notion of it. The weather isn't really hot, yet, and it's been delightful just to wander around. I got to the Friday market last week and will hit my first gold sooks this coming "weekend", i.e. Thursday - Friday. I haven't had a lot of chances to use my Arabic lessons, but that time is coming and I understand some of the remarks that I hear. I should have done this 10 years ago and I doubt that I'll come back at the end of this contract. The instant I left the states, it was like a whole level of irritation disappeared. I've gotten so tired on 24 hr. news and the constant whining by almost everyone; guess I needed a break. We have 365 channels from all over the world, so what little TV I watch is fun again! I also get FOX and BBC, etc...

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