What have we been doing?

This has been a pretty busy week, plus there is a wicked stomach thing going around and I caught it, so I haven't had too much time to blog.

We are still working on the SOI Pay Plan, I think the plan is in place and we brief all of the Generals later on today. Just imagine having a 3,000 man work force that just shows up on your door and now you are responsible for all of the administrative paperwork that goes along with it. Also imagine that you don't have the internet, a database, a computer, no checking system, no banking system and you have to track paying those 3,000 people in cash, by hand, with a pen and paper. That is the challenge facing the National Police these days. Previously, the Coalition Forces just gave a stack of money to the SOI leaders and let them take care of it. Now the Government of Iraq has absorbed the SOI into the Iraqi Security Forces and has taken over paying the sofwah and wants to do it straight to the individual, not to the leaders. Gonna be an interesting week next week when all of this goes into effect.

We also had a small ceremony to honor three Iraqi Patriots - - One of the National Policemen that was killed in the line of duty and two that were wounded. I thank my lucky stars everyday that I am in the US Military, as bad as folks think our veterans get treated, it is 1000% better than any other program. In the US, there is the Veteran's Administration as well as the Military Medical system to take care of wounded vets, and if everything goes wrong, you can call your congressman up, here, NOTHING. Basically, the wounded soldiers are given a pat on the back, a letter explaining that they weren't terrorists and they were in the National Police, a few dollars and they are sent on their way. One of the wounded guys had lost the use of both of his legs and the Iraqi government couldn't even scrape up a wheelchair (we think we have one coming from one of the US hospitals). Kind of sad.

We also executed a large operation designed to keep the insurgents off balance - - clearing an area that was suspected to be an insurgent stronghold, confiscating weapons and showing the National Police treating folks correctly. Very big deal. So, it has been a busy week.

In our AO there are three larger cites: One down south, one in the middle, and one way up north. From now on, I will call them South, Middle, North. Each of the cities has a National Police Battalion stationed in it and they are working on countering the insurgents in that area. Each of the National Police Battalions has a Coalition Force company working with it, so there is a pretty good relationship. Here next week, each of the NP Battalions will be absorbing several hundred SOI sofwah each, so they will be very busy, the first step is paying them, and then figuring out how to do everything else.

Husker Notes:

The Huskers are currently 5-4, with losses to respectable teams: virginia tech, missouri, oklahoma and texas tech. There are three games remaining against kansas, kansas state and colorado. Some of the Nebraska haters on the team have made a bet with me about how the Huskers will finish off. One of them (Superman) does not believe the Huskers will win another game and bet a pound of peanut M&Ms on it. 6.5 thinks they will only win one other game, as does Smooth. When the Huskers win 7 or 8 games I will win: One pound of peanut M&Ms, Smooth will be wearing my Special Forces combat patch for a week and 6.5 will be pulling my next shift of radio watch.

Fantasy Football:

Team Wade pulled a little closer and may get even closer or pass me this week: The Cowboy's, who are the basis of my fantasy football team, have a bye week. After that though, Tony Romo comes back. It will be an interesting finish.

Final note:

New pictures have been posted. They cover us leaving Kansas, going to Kuwait, going from Kuwait to Taji and our first few weeks here. Let me know what you think.