December 21, 2004

"I'm on a highway to hell..."

and not just for that last post. I'm in Amman, Jordan, right now. It's a beautiful and safe city and we get to stay at a nice hotel ... for about 5 hours. It's 3:46am and I need to check out by 9am and head back to the airport for the flight to Baghdad.

Which means after I land I'm back on BIAP road (see prior post from last trip about the "shooting gallery") for the trip to the Green Zone. If there ever were a highway to hell this might be it. Although the US Military allegedly has it all under control now (on my way out this past summer we went past tanks and checkpoints several times on our way to the airport) it's probably the most dangerous part of my trip.

Which is to say it's not that dangerous. Think of it this way: when I was a kid I wanted to join the Marines and fly F-14's off an aircraft carrier. I'd still do that given a chance. But being in the military is dangerous, on the other hand being a civilian contractor here means that you've got the military between you and the bad guys. My job is a walk through the park compared to the guy sitting on top of the Humvee with the .50cal on this same road all day every day working to keep me safe. Thanks guys.

Bed time.

Posted by rick at December 21, 2004 05:52 PM