Well we finally made it to Baghdad International Airport (BIAP.) We have to come to Baghdad to get our media credentials for Iraq...pretty dumb to have to fly here for a stupid badge..but oh well. We waited for the shuttle to take us to camp Liberty which is about 20 minutes from BIAP. Once there we found out we have to take an MWRAP (military vehicle all wrapped in armor) to Camp Prosperity about 30 minutes away. The problem...we have to catch the MWRAP at the Palace which is about a half mile away and we have toms of luggage and gear. no way we can walk it and there is no shuttle. LUCKILY...my friend Todd who I have not seen in two years lives in Baghdad and works as a civilian contractor. When he heard I was coming through he gave me his number and we finally connected. He came and picked us up and made sure we got to our MWRAP spot. We had some time to kill so he also got us into the Palace...Al Faw...a beautiful place belonging to Saddam Hussein. The toilets were marble and everything was regal. It is now used by the US dignitaries in Baghdad.
We said goodbye to Todd and got onboard the MWRAP in full body armor. An armed Marine manned the top of the vehicle to make sure he was ready in case we were fired upon. It was an intense ride to Camp Prosperity but we made it and were met by the CPIC reps. (Combined Press Information Center.) We got our media credentials and got to nap for 2 hours before having to go check in for the midnight Rhino (armored bus) back to Camp Liberty and then to BIAP for our flight to Al Asad. We have barely slept and eaten and Dan is testy. Bill is doing fantastic. A real trooper. We finally get back to Liberty and THANK GOD Todd found out we were headed back and met us there. CPIC sucked pretty much...wouldn't even let us use the phone and pretty much left us on our own to figure out how to get back to BIAP. Luckily....I have done this before and we were fine. Just tired and grouchy from exhaustion. We arrive before midnight and Todd is there with good news. We would not have to spend the night in the BIAP terminal...he had made arrangements! We got a hot meal, 5 hours of sleep and best of all...A HOT SHOWER! I felt like myself again as we headed to catch our flight to Al Asad which was due to leave around 11am. We had to be there at 7am...I hate that we always have to arrive so early. A lot of "hurry up and wait." This is why I admire our troops so much..nothing is easy here in the Middle East.
More to come...gotta go!
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