BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

On Camp Liberty.
Unfortunately I never managed to get to the races ....

CHRISTMAS AT CAMP VICTORY

The entrance to JCCS-1, where I worked, is decorated for the Christmas party.

The Operations Department. That's me at the far right.

And yes, Santa did make a stop to visit the JCCS-1 crew!

RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM IRAQ

Flying out of Baghdad enroute to Kuwait late at night, I was struck by how dark the landscape beneath the aircraft was. One could see the lights of the cities, towns, and villages, such as they are, but nothing -- absolutely nothing -- in between.

Contrast that with flying over even the most desolate parts of the US. Not only are the cities and towns visible from the air, but there is always traffic on the roads and highways in between.

That suggests to me that the greatest differentiator between first-world and third-world countries is roads. Inter-city roads. Perhaps part of the greatness of the United States can be attributed to the Eisenhower Interstate Highway system.

INAUGURATION FEVER

Just for curiousity, I drove by the Manassas Regional Airport to see how many business jets were in town for the inauguration. Here are a few of the fifteen or so I counted at the two terminal areas.
I'd be curious to know how much the owners paid for their carbon offsets. And to whom ....

KILROY WAS HERE

Anyone besides me remember the old "Kilroy was here" graffiti?

Shadow does a very good Kilroy imitation.

SATURDAY NIGHT CAT BLOGGING

Our JCCS-1 cat mascot. Coal black and very friendly, she would visit our building on Camp Victory about twice a week. Obviously not feral, we think she must have found a "tunnel" through the wall that surrounds the camp.

Here she is again, checking out the DFAC (dining facility) food I offered her.

MOSQUE AT CAMP VICTORY

Taken November 8, 2008 at sunset from outside my "office."

[UPDATE] The mosque is within the Victory Base Complex (VBC). The mosque and grounds that surround it are maintained but off-limits to Coalition personnel.