1/02/07

It's been a couple days now since Saddam's execution.

Mostly everyone is still just wondering what the reaction will be and how it will affect CF. The morning of the execution we received SAF, nothing substantial though.

We have had several threats of "Broken Arrow", (a gate breach, but I think it really now refers to a stolen nuclear weapon, or a John Travolta movie, take your pick, anyway), as it seemed several unfriendlies were testing the resolve of those soldiers manning those areas the past few days, and unfortunately for a couple of them, they will never test anything again.

A couple hours ago we went to "Broken Arrow" for real. All ex-pats and other civilians are to standfast and not move around on the camp, as you will be treated as a hostile. Alitle while ago we received the "all clear" on the radio.

This is a very scary time for any ex-pat of course, the threat that a bad guy has snuck on the camp somehow, knowing in his mind he will surely will be killed and is on a suicide mission, but trying to kill as many as he can before that happens.

However, the potential of being mistaken for one of these bad guys during a "broken arrow" is also just a tad bit sobering...not that your already stone cold sober...dammit!!

Turns out it was just a false alarm, but with the helos circling all around, and with all the soldiers running out of our tent, as soon as the word came across the radios, no one was taking it lightly.

The morning they executed Saddam was very surreal.

We heard from Operations that more than 100 Iraqis had applied to be the one to pull the handle on the trap door. Just the fact that he was captured all by himself in Tikrit, and in the years since he was being held captive, not one "jail break" occurred, speaks volumes on how he was viewed by Iraqis, no matter what these demonstrations you see on the news would otherwise have you believe.

We watched the Sat TV that morning, but knew before they announced it on TV that he had, in fact, been hung. What hit me the most was between the news talking about his imminent execution, they would flip over to former President's Ford's remains being brought to Washington D.C.

The stark contrast between the two events was staggering.
President Ford's convoy of limos bringing him to lie in state, while Saddam was being led into a stark, concrete execution chamber that he had many Iraqis in the years of his reign executed in this very same location, in this very same manner.

And hearing about the Iraqis who put the noose around his neck, and in the room, taunting him and telling Saddam he had destroyed Iraq.

After knowing of Saddam many years before he even invaded Kuwait, and all the destruction he was responsible for, before and since then. Plus, all the things that I have been told by the Kurds and Iraqis I have talked to in my past 2 tours here.

Well, it was just strange to finally see him hanging from that noose. I guess I just really didn't think it would ever happen.

It astounds me such an evil person can remain in power over millions of people for that long....he was, without a doubt the personification of evil. Unfortunately though for the human race, this wasn't the first time, and I fear it is not the last.

On a brighter note...our New Year's Eve celebration went very well. Even with the threat of something about to happen at any moment. Everyone seemed to have a great time. One of the soldiers hooked his laptop up to our sound system and he played some hip hop, latino, and even some arabian tunes during the night. We did a countdown at midnight, and everyone went crazy with their noisemakers, confetti poppers, and crazy hats on...

One soldier actually came up and told me, (and it made me happy, yet a little sad for him), that this had been the best New Years party he had ever been to.

I personally, am just glad we are past this holiday business, and everyone has escaped unscathed...

Hopefully in the coming weeks I will be able to echo that sentiment....