Geographically Separated Celebration

Today is a very special day.  35 years ago in West Point, NY Doug and Vickie Brown brought a wonderful baby into the world who developed into a mischievous, sassy little girl, transitioned to a a preppy East Coast high schooler, and finally became the brilliant, sophisticated, professional, beautiful, amazing woman who let me marry her.  Happy Birthday to the love of my life, Ashley.  I wish I could be there to celebrate with you, but we'll Skype during football, and the knowledge that we're both watching the same games at the same time makes me feel connected even across all the miles.

Ashley on the roof of St. Peter's Basilica

Happy birthday, darlin.

So another week is gone, and another big milestone is here with Ashley's birthday.  Next week it will be October, and we'll only be a few weeks from my birthday.  After that it's November, and, well, you can see where I'm going from there.

I have some more thoughts, but I'm going to wait until mid-week, and let this post be all about Ashley, how much I miss her, and how much I can't wait to be back home with her.  Until next time...

Back in the Saddle

The last time I managed to post to my blog, the debt crisis was in full swing, Republicans and Democrats couldn't get along, the President's approval ratings were in the toilet, and I was still in Baghdad.

Maybe things haven't changed as much as I thought.  In the last 6 weeks it seems like a lot has been going on here, but the outside world seems to be in the same general state it was then.  One big difference is that I've moved from Baghdad out west, to a base called Al Asad.  I can't really go in depth regarding the reasons but suffice to say that someone in high places thought it was a good idea.

It's not bad here though.  The weather is a bit cooler than in Baghdad due to lower humidity (and getting cooler every day), there aren't any rocket attacks (at least not yet), and my walking commute has dropped from 24 to 2 minutes, which is a SIGNIFICANT time saver.  I'm also fully recovered from a tweaked neck suffered throwing around moderately sized weights, so I'm getting back into a good workout routine.

The base was one of the jewels of Saddam's Air Force.  It's gigantic in scope, with a couple big runways, miles of taxiway, and several hardened aircraft shelters that used to house MiG fighter planes.  My boss remembers flying over the base in his F-15 during the first Gulf War, getting shot at by surface to air missiles.  Now we're here living in old Iraqi spaces 20 years later.  Interesting how things turn out.

I'm proud to report that in the 5+ weeks since my last post, I've gone over the halfway point in this odyssey.  In fact, I'm almost 2/3 of the way done.  If I'm lucky, I'll be home to watch the NFL playoffs and college bowl games.

Speaking of football, let me spend a few minutes talking about the sports viewing experience over here, particularly watching football.  As you are probably aware, we're 7 hours ahead of Eastern time, which means the noon college football games start at 7 pm.  On Sundays, the NFL kicks off at 8 pm.  There are positives and negatives to this arrangement.  One good thing is that we're usually mostly done with work by 7 or 8 pm, so we're able to watch the games.  Another is that we generally take the morning off on Sunday, which allows us to sleep in after a late night of football.  The biggest negative comes from the primetime games, which start between 8 and 9 pm on the East coast which means they start between 2 and 3 am here.  Most of you know how much I like to watch football, so you can imagine the extremes I'm forced to go to for viewing these games.  Last night for example, I went to bed around 10:30 pm and woke up 4 hours later to lay in bed and watch the Buckeyes stink up the field against Miami.  Tonight I will probably stay up until 1:30 or 2:00 am watching the NFL.  Of course, all complaining about the schedule aside, one great positive of being here (or at any overseas base) is the American Forces Network, or AFN.  Each week AFN gets its pick of college and NFL games, and broadcasts as many as possible.  For instance, tonight at 8 pm we get the Cardinals and Redskins, along with the Bears and Saints.  We're not locked into any regional games or subject to blackouts.  For the late games, we'll get all three matchups while most areas of the US will only get 1, maybe 2 games.  It's the next best thing to DirecTV.  The only negative associated with AFN is its commercials. Because AFN is not a for-profit network, they can't show normal commercials.  This means that they fill the time with public service announcements about everything from the Base Legal Office (Ashley's favorite kind!) to different events going on in US Air Forces Europe (the source of our feed).  When we were stationed in Europe and Asia I always thought the commercials were horrible and couldn't get any worse.  I was wrong.  Seeing the PSAs on travelling around Europe, and knowing I can't go see any of the cities, is way worse than what we had to deal with before!  Needless to say, I'm really excited for the NFL and college games to be back in full swing.  The games give us something to look forward to each week, and it's nice knowing that as the season draws to a close that will be a signal that it is time to head home.

I think I've mostly caught you up to speed on what's been going on out here.  There has been a lot of news regarding whether we'll stay here past 2011 and I can tell you that we are still planning to "go to zero", and that anything that comes from Washington will be a joint decision between the U.S. and Iraq.  I don't think their citizenry wants us here any more than most Americans want us here, but leadership on both sides believes that the fragile gains that have been made will not be sustained without further training and assistance.

I plan to get back to a once a week posting schedule at the least, we'll see if there's anything more interesting to post in the interim.  Until the next time, take a second to wish the Air Force Happy Birthday.  The service turned 64 today...

What I'm Reading and What I Wish I Was Watching Vol 2

tGreetings everyone.  I'm getting ready to transition to a new location in the near future, so this will be my last post for a little while.  It's time for another addition of "What I'm Reading and What I Wish I was Watching".

Reading


The Next 100 Years - George Friedman
This is a very interesting read about the way the world will evolve over the next 100 years.  Friedman (no relation to Thomas) evaluates the world in 20 year chunks, maintaining that the events that seem pressing and urgent in the present time pale in comparison to history.  For example, the two wars we're in and the "debt crisis" are issues that will have no significant long term impact.  Even the 2008 recession, when viewed in context, is just another part of the cycle.  His long term view is that the United States is uniquely postured to be a world power that will be challenged by various actors and coalitions, but that we will mature as a country and civilization as we progress.  I didn't agree with all of his ideas, but they were very interesting.  I give this 4 out of 5 Niall Fergusons.

Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
I'd never heard of Louis Zamperini before reading this book.  I have no idea why.  This is easily one of the top five most amazing and inspiration stories I've ever read.  The things this man went through during the course of World War II are nothing short of earth shattering.  He endures so many various situations, any one of which would be enough to kill a normal person.  Throughout the book Hillenbrand does a great job of revealing the context of the war in the Pacific and the attitudes of the US in the context of WW II.  I give this book 5 out of 5 Band of Brothers.

Revelation: A Matthew Shardlake Mystery - C.J. Sansom
This is the next book in the Shardlake series.  Since I already wrote about the series in my previous post, I'll just say that this one is probably the best yet.  Our hero has to investigate a series of grisly murders based on the Book of Revelation.  Very much in the vein of a Dan Brown DaVinci Code book, but with much more English History.  I give is 4.5 out of 5 Tudor Roses.

What I Wish I Was Watching

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Horrible Bosses
Bad Teachers
Captain America
Cowboys and Aliens
NOT The Smurfs

Until next time...

The Last Residence of the Most Hated Man in Iraq

The Front Door to the Last House of Saddam

 On December 13, 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by US forces near his hometown of Tikrit.  He was eventually brought to Baghdad to be held while awaiting his trial.  I was able to tour the prison cell where he was held.  It was a very interesting trip, because when I was here in 2006 I drove by the place that turned out to be his prison, and was only able to see a very tightly secured building in the middle of a lake on Victory Base.  There is a single causeway that drives out to the palace, which was secured by a vehicle barrier, locked gate, and armed guards.  The guards are gone now, and the key to the lock on the fence is available to anyone who wants to see the cells.

Saddam's bed and toilet

 As you can see, the conditions were sparse.  In addition to Saddam, they held several other "high-value" prisoners, including "Chemical Ali" Hassan, who was notorious for his use of chemical weapons to kill thousand of Kurds in northern Iraq.

"Chemical Ali's" Cell

It was a very eerie place to visit.  I wasn't able to talk to anyone who was here when the detainee operations were conducted, but it was very interesting to see nonetheless.

The Road to the Prison

Not a whole lot to say about this post.  Just some interesting photos that I thought I would share.  You can see that the prison itself is rapidly deteriorating.  In a few years it will be destroyed and another remnant of Saddam Hussein will pass into history...

Promotion, Better Than Relegation!

Yesterday I was promoted to Major in the United States Air Force.  The ceremony was on Sunday, the last day of July, but the "official" day of promotion was yesterday.  The rank of Major is a milestone in the military because it represents a step up from the "company grade" ranks to the "field grade" ranks.  This is supposed to represent the increased leadership responsibilities and burden as an officer progresses through a career.

This was the third time I've been promoted in the military (the first three are pretty regularly scheduled, 2nd Lieutenant to 1st Lieutenant at two years, 1st Lieutenant to Captain two years later, and Captain to Major about 6 years later), and the second time I've been promoted in a war zone.  Each time I've been promoted I've been lucky to have someone I care about perform the ceremony.

My first promotion happened the day before I left Kuwait in 2003.  Mission Accomplished had been declared in OIF, and we had no clue what kind of hornet's nest had been stirred up.  I was at the end of a 190-day deployment, which back in those days was really an anomaly.  I remember being happy to have the ceremony in front of the Airmen that I served with in Kuwait, and having my good friend Derek administer the oath.  I also remember thinking I was cool for not having my squadron commander, who was not well liked, promote me.  I've grown up a bit since then...

The second promotion of my career happened on one of the best weekends of my life, Memorial Day Weekend 2005.  I married Ashley on the 29th, and her father promoted me to Captain on the 30th.  It was very impressive to see him put on his Army Service Dress more than 10 years after he'd retired, looking like he could step right back into command.

Even though those two ceremonies were very special, I think it will be hard to top this one.  My previous boss in Korea, a 3-star general, was able to connect to our building via Video Teleconference and officiate my promotion as about 30 of my colleagues looked on, and my mom and dad watched over Skype.  What's even cooler is that when Ashley's computer died, my dad was able to connect to her on his cell phone, which usually has worse service than in the Sudan, and she could hear the remarks from my old boss coming from a conference room on the other side of the world.  It was a very special ceremony because I had the people who mattered the most there, even if they were there via Skype.  I never cease to be amazed when I think about how people dealt with separation during World War I and II, Vietnam, and even the first Gulf War.  My generation is truly lucky to not be burdened by the utter loss of communication when they are away from their loved ones.

I plan to post at least 3 more times over the next week, and then I'll go quiet for a bit because I'm moving to a new base.  Until the next time, stay safe...

The Cycle of Violence

It seems like months since I posted last, but it's really only been 18 days.  I understand that is a long time to go without a blog entry from me, so I understand your excitement to have a new post to read.  I must beg your forgiveness for the absence, although it hasn't really been my fault.  Unfortunately the power adapter on my laptop (which was a replacement of the original) finally gave up the ghost on me, and I had to order a new one from the Interwebs.  Thankfully there was nothing else wrong with the laptop (besides the fact that the mike doesn't work and the speakers are losing strength, but I digress) and when I plugged in the new adapter it sprung to life.

Since my last post a lot has happened.  The 4th of July came and went, the US Women's team made an inspirational run to the World Cup Final, Albert Pujols broke his wrist and healed, and Darren Clarke won The Open.  Of course, Clarke literally just finished winning The Open, and our USA women are getting ready to take the field, so hopefully I don't curse them by mentioning the team here.

For one reason or another, this was my first 4th of July spent deployed.  In my previous deployments I've been lucky enough to miss most of the summer.  Not so much on this go round.  We were given a "minimal manning" day, which meant we got the afternoon off and were able to relax a little bit.  The DFAC (dining facility) put out a pretty good spread, hanging up all kinds of red, white, and blue bunting, American flags on all the tables, things like that.  I always wonder what the contractors who work in the DFAC think about our American holidays (they are almost all Third Country Nationals from Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, etc).  It also gives me cause for reflection.  Will Iraq ever have a day they celebrate as their "Independence Day"?  What will this country be like in 10, 20, or 50 years?  If you look at our history, we didn't just spring from 1776 to the world's lone superpower.  We have several moments in our history that we shouldn't be proud of.  I wonder if the current insurgent violence and illegal militias in Iraq are a sign of their own troubled times, or a permanent state of struggle that will take decades to change.  Speaking in terms of the World Cup, one can only hope that in 65 years, Iraq could be playing Kuwait in soccer at a field in Iran, with all three countries at peace.

Of course, I also reflect on the state of our own country.  I see and hear bits and pieces of the "Debt Crisis" debates and it really just depresses me.  I think our founders would shake their heads in disbelief if they could see how poisonous our politics have become.  It's really too bad that those in Washington can't remember the spirit of 1776 and how people of all political stripes, from liberal northeasterners, to plantation born southerners, and frontier folks who had already begun exploring the west came together and signed a document that would have had them all hanged had the war turned out differently.  We can be great again, but it's not happening anytime soon with our current representation.

By now, you're wondering what in the heck the title of my post means.  You've read this far, probably hoping for some juicy description of killing bad guys, or cracking down on militant religious fanatics.  Unfortunately, the Cycle of Violence refers to a process I've been deeply involved in over the past 3 weeks, called the Joint Plans and Operations cycle.  Anytime there is a big decision to be made by the USF-I Commanding General (4-star General Lloyd Austin), a briefing has to be developed and delivered to the Joint Plans and Operations Group, a room full of Colonels chaired by a 1-star who pick the briefing apart, ask a lot of questions, and decide whether it is good enough to go forward.  If it is, the briefer goes back and makes changes and then briefs another group, this time called the Joint Plans and Operations Council, a room full of one and two star generals chaired by two 3-stars.  These guys are the Deputy Commanding Generals for USF-I, and they do the same thing as the previous group, from a more strategic perspective.  If the briefing passes their scrutiny the briefer is cleared to take it to the Joint Plans and Operations Huddle, a small group of generals with a colonel or two in the CG's office.  The briefer delivers the brief one on one with the 4-star and if he approves, it is then briefed again, one final time, at the Joint Plans and Operations Board, the full complement of USF-I leadership.  The CG usually makes his decision at that time.  My involvement with this mind numbing process was building each version of the brief for my Colonel boss to give at each level.  I can't tell you what the decision was about, but it was a very interesting process, and it taught me a lot about how the Army operates.  We're a "Joint" community (meaning we have Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine forces in USF-I), but most of the processes have Army roots.

I wasn't planning on boring everyone describing that process, but Ashley said I should, so if it sucked, blame her.  If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch the USA take down Japan.  Until next time...

What I'm Reading and What I Wish I Was Watching Vol 1

I've been getting a lot of reading done.  I walk for 45-60 minutes every morning first thing (walking at an incline at a heart rate of about 60% of your max in a fasted state is fueled almost exclusively by fat, a great perk if one is trying to get to single digit bodyfat), and as I walk, I read my Kindle.  I also read for 15-20 minutes each night before going to sleep.  I thought I would take a few minutes each month to let you know what's in my Kindle, in case you're looking for reading ideas.  I'll tell you a bit about what the book is about, and what I think of it.


Reading
Sovereign: A Matthew Shardlake Mystery - C.J. Sanscom
     This is the third Matthew Shardlake novel, a series of books set in Tudor England about the adventures of a hunchbacked lawyer working for low level nobility in the employ of Henry VIII.  This author was introduced to us by Suzy, our neighbor in England, and Ashley and I enjoy his books a lot.  They're very well researched historical fiction, and interesting mysteries without being too procedural.  I'm in the middle of this one now, and it's outstanding so far.  I also have the next two books on my Kindle ready to go when I get to them.  So far, I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 "Murder She Wrotes".

The Five Love Languages:  The Secret to Love that Lasts - Gary Chapman
     This book was recommended to me by Brandon, the guy I replaced.  He and his wife (married just over a year) used it to help themselves communicate while he was away.  Obviously Ashley and I have been through this a couple of times before, and we've been married 6 years now (Wow!) but I thought it would be neat to read this together in stages and discuss a chapter a week on the phone.  It has little "Your Turn" moments at the end of each chapter where you apply what you've read to your own marriage.  The Five Languages are:  Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch.  The idea is that each of us has a primary love language, and if our spouse learns to communicate with us in that language, our love tanks will be fuller.  The idea is fantastic, and a lot of the ideas he gives will be great to use when I get home.  The book has also lead to some good discussions.  I highly recommend this to all couples, married or not, it can only help your relationship.  I give it 4.5 out of 5 "Stuart Smalleys".   Oh wait, I'm sorry, that's 4.5 out of 5 "Senator Stuart Smalleys".

The End of Overeating:  Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite - David Kessler
     By now you can tell that I like to intersperse my reading for pleasure with reading for spiritual or mental growth.  This book was recommended on the fitness website I mention below, and it was only $2.99 on Kindle, so I got it.  It starts off a bit slow and sciency, but if you hang through that part it has fascinating insights on why we can't resist eating things that we know aren't good for us, even when we know we'll regret it later.  The author gives some great guidance on how to change your habits, and possibly change your future health.  It was fascinating for me learning more about the inner workings of the human psyche when it comes to food, but it didn't really tell me anything I didn't know about what to eat, when, and what was good and not good for me.  I give this one 3 out of 5 "Richard Simmons".

Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords - George R. R. Martin
     I started these books because the HBO series looked like something right up my alley (medieval setting, kings, knights, battles, etc) kind of like Braveheart, Gladiator, and Kingdom of Heaven all rolled up into one 13 hour movie (and that's just the first season!).  If you're a fan of fantasy books or medieval writing (Tolkien, Eddings, Brooks, Jordan, King, etc) then this series is for you.  Fair warning though, I bought a four book set on Kindle thinking it was complete and it turns out that book five comes out in two weeks, and there are two more planned after.  Curses!  If you know me well, you know my saga with Roland and his ka-tet, and how I suffered for ten years to see their adventures concluded.  Because of that I can't give the books perfect marks, but I can still give them 4.5 out of 5 "Dark Towers".

The Accidental Guerilla:  Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One - David Kilcullen
     This was an interesting, insightful look into how to best fight a war against extremists of one sort or another.  As interesting as it was, it was also depressing because the techniques Kilcullen outlines are hard to execute without cooperation from the people you're trying to help, and because the timelines to deliver effective, noticeable aid are so long.  I probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone who wasn't planning a vacation to Afghanistan, but it really hit the mark with what it was trying to accomplish.  It gets 3.5 out of 5 "Lawrence of Arabias".

Bossypants - Tina Fey
     This is a hilarious autobiography of one of the funniest, most talented women in entertainment.  There were several bona fide laugh out loud moments, and her story is pretty inspiring.  There's definitely something for everyone here, and it made me want to go back and watch every episode of her series 30 Rock.  It also made me want to go see the Second City comedy troup in Chicago.  When I get back, Ashley and I are coming to visit, Kate and Pete, and we want to go!  In fact, because Tina Fey is also an unabashed feminist, I'm going to give this book 4.5 out of 5 "Kate Richards Endicotts".

The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
     I read this series right before I left, so I'm not sure it counts.  Plus, it's aimed at young adults, specifically girls in their late teens (I think).  That said, these three books are phenomenal looks at a post-apocalyptic society in which a country resembling the United States is divided into 12 districts.  These districts are required to send one boy and one girl to compete in the Hunger Games each year as punishment for a revolt started by the 13th district, which was obliterated by the Capital.  I know, it sounds pretty hokey and science fictiony, but it's a very powerful story, with fantastic characters.  The books are also being made into movies, the first of which is due out in early 2012, so you have a few months to get on board.  You won't regret it.  I give this series 5 out of 5 "Mad Maxes".

www.grantland.com - Bill Simmons, et al
     This is a brand new website founded by my favorite sportswriter, Bill Simmons (ESPN's The Sports Guy).  He's rounded up a group of talented authors who will give their takes on all things pop culture, from sports and music to movies and TV.  I think it has something for everyone, and I check back every few days for updates.  Looking forward to great things.  It's also nice because ESPN.com is blocked at work for some reason, so this is my only outlet for The Sports Guy.

Thomas Friedman
     Everyone following this blog is aware of my man crush on Thomas Friedman, so we'll just move on.  You can find his pieces on the New York Times' website, or frequently posted on my Facebook wall.

Peter King
     Hopefully less controversial than Thomas Friedman, Peter King writes Sports Illustrated's "Monday Morning Quarterback", a weekly look into professional football, as well as some off the wall observations and commentary.  He's a great source for all things NFL, and I like his writing style.

Fareed Zakaria
     Oh here we go again, more political stuff.  I think Zakaria and Friedman are two of the most important voices we have in the media today, and I think if a few more Members of Congress listened to them and thought about how to implement some of their ideas, even while keeping them within the fabric of their political party, we'd all be a lot better off.

www.t-nation.com
     This is my go-to website for fitness and nutrition info.  I've been following it for over 8 years now, and it's *FREE* advice and articles have helped me and many of my friends learn a lot about some pretty complex stuff.  If you're thinking about starting a new fitness program, a new diet, want some awesome protein products, or just want to look at pretty girls (they have a Fitness Athlete page), this is the place for you.

Well, I wish I could review the titles below, but that's kind of the point of the post.  I can't!  Of course, I could probably by a bootleg copy of all these and watch them on my computer, but summer movies are the kind that need to watched on a gigantic screen with the volume set to 11, so I'll just have to wait until I get home to see these.  Anyone have any recommendations to add to the list?  (Don't list anything that's not out yet, I'll update my list as things are released)

Wish I Was Watching
Thor
Pirates of the Caribbean IV
Hangover Part II
Super 8
Transformers III
Game of Thrones (HBO)

Hope you enjoyed this post...I enjoyed writing it and reflecting on all I've read and what I have to read.  I'll probably do this once a month and keep you up to date on my literary travels!  Until next time...