So we went to TQ on a convoy it was long. We were escorting TCN’s(Third Country Nationals) these guys mean well and are just trying to earn a buck but man the suck at driving. We spent St. Patties day there and come back the day after. The ride there was boring and to be truthful it was hard to stay awake. We stayed in the convoy billeting area, it was really nice there. They had a TV, phone, food , microwave, and most importantly beds. Our return trip wasn’t eventful either. to be honest things here have become almost friendly its weird. Last year we stopped everyone and searched whomever we felt it was necessary. This year there is no need, with all the IP( Iraqi Police) check points there is no need to search them. At this point we allow the Iraqi public within 20- 30 meters of our convoy where as last year that would have been close enough to kill them. So I guess that there is a lot of progress being made. I know that when I left last year I wondered if what I spent 7 months doing made a difference. The answer I see out there when ever I go out is that singularly what I did wasn’t much, but as a whole our presence here in Iraq is doing that which we work for. It is freeing an oppressed people and giving them control over them selves which from what I saw before, they never had.
My take on this is that those on the ground, whom have been there before, are seeing a difference. It is still an extremely dangerous place but things are better than what the mainstream media is relaying to us.
