Story from a Contractor in Iraq

I got to go on my first trip outside the gate yesterday.  Myself and another IPLO/IPA (International Police Laison Officer recently changed to International Police Advisor), Little Jim (he is normal sized, but we have another Jim that is bis, so...).  He has been here about three months and has only been out the gate four times before today.  I have tried to keep from useing the alphabet soup that is so prevelent here, but ned to throw some in just this once.  Jim and I loaded up with a small group of MPs in three HMMWV (humvees) and an ASV (Armored Security Vehicle) and headed out the gate to the local IHP (Iraqi Highway Police) station.  Just outside the gate is MSR Tampa (Main Supply Route), the largest supply route in the country.  It is a big four lane with a median strip that starts down in Kuwait, goes up past Baghdad and runs clear out west to the Syrian border.  It is one of the heavest traveled roads for convoys and so attracts more then its share of trouble.  THe IHP dont patrol it so much, but they do set up checkpoints at frequentenough intervals that they are within sight of each other, the Idea being the they can monitor the road for any shady insurgent behavior.

During the day.  They have to go out every morning at sunrise to see if the badguys have been up to thier tricks during the night.  So, anyway, we got out on the road and headed up to the IHP station bout five miles up the road.  It was a nice change to get off post.

Everythoing inside the gate is a dull sand color, but outside, there is a lot of greenery and color in the Euphrates River Valley.  There is also a lot of trash.  The countryhas a general seedy apperance, but for thoes not living in palaces, finding a meal and trying to stay alive seem to be bigger priorities than adopt-a-highway programs.  Like everyware else in the country, there was a lot of trash lying around which includes blown up vehicles and equipment.  Once at the police station there was a lot of meet and greet with handshakes all around as we met the Police Chief and his officers for the region.  In Iraq, an officer is a policeman of the rank of leutienent or above, everything else is a police man.  Jim, a couple of the soldiers and our interprater, Paulie located the station classroom and assembled an audience of six policemen and we conducted a class on building entry and room clearing.  THe class went well and the Iraqis seemes to be eager to learn and enthusiastic about training.  Myself and a couple of the soldiers critiqued and played bed guys, generically referred to as Ali Babba.  After about an hourof that we wrapped up the class and went to visit with the Police CHief.  Aside from doing a bit of training on these visits, we are required to get some stats from the Chief that we submit to our admin people.  We spent an hour doing that, then saddles up and headed towards our next objective, the IP (Iraqi Police) station in Tunis, back down Tampa and across a side road a couple of miles.  More of the same, a little handshaking, and another half-dozen guys for the same class taughtby your's truly.   

 To Be Continued..............