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Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171246] Sun, 11 September 2005 19:59 Go to next message
Crimson is currently offline  Crimson
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Posted on behalf of Ripintou:
------------------------------------------------------------ ----
Unclassified -

Christine / Everyone

Yes, everything is going ok ... still in one piece. Was out and about the other day when another rocket hit the area; missed us by about 100 yards and the explosion was extremely loud, never did find out what kind of rocket that one was.
Baghdad appears to be a mess ... always some car bomb, insurgent attack and we're still loosing too many dam soldiers! It also appears that the Iraqi's can't seem to reach an agreement on a unified government; all to do with different sects of their religions and control of oil ... a commodity that I'm sure will be used against the US in the future.

I can tell you that you won't hear about one fifth of what goes on here in the news. The chow (food) hall is pretty good. The soldiers eat very well here considering the dangers they face everyday. On the north side we get mortared frequently. The rounds usually land where no one is. Thank God the insurgents can't shoot for shit.
Children are very receptive to getting something from the Americans. The principle idea behind these programs are to win the hearts and minds of the kids, hopefully they will influence their parents who might be anti-coalition and this influence might keep one of them from shooting an RPG at our forces. Some children are afraid of the soldiers but that’s normal. Imagine you are an eight year old and some big monster-looking guy/gal with a gun and helmet comes into your classroom.
http://www.n00bstories.com/image.fetch.php?id=1024677526

http://www.n00bstories.com/image.fetch.php?id=1075016893
It is plain to see that they have nothing in their classrooms. Quite the contrast to what American schools have for resources. As you can see some of the girls wear a covering on their heads. Not all of them do. It depends on how religiously conservative the family is. All of the girls wear dresses and have fairly long hair. The boys usually have a pretty short haircut, may wear short pants or regular pants and sneakers. Not much different from American kids.

Not all Iraqi's live like paupers, there are upper class homes/areas in Baghdad as you can see in these photos -
http://www.n00bstories.com/image.fetch.php?id=1191553764

http://www.n00bstories.com/image.fetch.php?id=1009992526

http://www.n00bstories.com/image.fetch.php?id=1262794719
Communication in Iraq was almost non existent. Computers and the Internet are two more things that did not exist except for a select few in the upper levels of Saddams' regime. Computers were against the law. If you were caught with one, it usually resulted in your execution. And in a matter of 2 years, computers are here and internet access is here. Cell phones are the primary means of phone communication in Iraq. Regular telephone service is almost non existent. They are starting to modernize.

Don't believe everything in the news
When you hear on the news about an “innocent Iraqi shot by US Forces” don’t take it at face value. We have rules of engagement that are very specific. When these locals get shot at checkpoints or other places it's because they are doing dumb stuff. When soldiers gesture for them to pull over and stop or gesture to get back, they will gun their engines and keep on coming. When a local is shot, it is because they did something wrong. This is a combat zone, there are people who want to kill soldiers and there have been many attempts to do it. When “Ali Iraqi" ignores everything and keeps on coming, he leaves a soldier no choice.

Had another dust storm the other day, it was impossible to see anything and everything was orange. Just had to wait it out, it lasted almost 2 days.
http://www.n00bstories.com/image.fetch.php?id=1003448383

The tour is starting to wind down. Our replacements will be here soon and we will train them and then prepare to go back to the states. Look forward to being back home. Made pictures small because it takes forever to upload/download anything here. I think our speed it 6-12 kbs!

Anyways, take care and hopefully I'll be back before ya know it ...

Dave
Ripintou
------------------------------------------------------------ ----


I'm the bawss.
Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171248 is a reply to message #171246] Sun, 11 September 2005 20:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
DarkDemin is currently offline  DarkDemin
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I am so glad that he is ok and will be home soon.

http://www.tiberiumforums.net/sig/tiberiumforumssig.jpg
Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171251 is a reply to message #171246] Sun, 11 September 2005 21:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Hydra is currently offline  Hydra
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What an appropriate time to hear from him, too.

We're all pullin' for ya, Ripin' (except SFLT; he still thinks we're losing the war and that Iraq was better under Saddam; he also still blames every death in Iraq on George W. Bush)! Hurry back soon!


Walter Keith Koester: September 22, 1962 - March 15, 2005
God be with you, Uncle Wally.
http://www.warriorforums.net/forums/images/warriorsforchrist/statusicon/forum_new.gif(<---New(ish) Prayer Group Forums)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v632/venompawz/cross.gif(<---Archived Prayer Group Forums)

[Updated on: Sun, 11 September 2005 21:26]

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Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171255 is a reply to message #171246] Sun, 11 September 2005 23:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dave Mason is currently offline  Dave Mason
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I know it's all been said before but you can't even begin to imagine what he's seen out there.

I'm very glad to hear he is ok, looking forward to seeing him back.


www.myspace.com/midas
Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171257 is a reply to message #171246] Mon, 12 September 2005 01:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
exnyte is currently offline  exnyte
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My best friend is also in Baghdad... Much respect to both of them.

Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171258 is a reply to message #171246] Mon, 12 September 2005 01:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jecht is currently offline  Jecht
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Good to hear from him. That last picture looks straight out of Tiberian Sun. Wicked stuff.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9146/hartyn4.png
Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171276 is a reply to message #171246] Mon, 12 September 2005 10:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
NukeIt15 is currently offline  NukeIt15
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Glad to hear he's ok over there. Tell him and all our other servicemen and women to keep up the good work; we're proud of them.

"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. Horrid mischief would ensue were (the law-abiding) deprived of the use of them." - Thomas Paine

Remember, kids: illiteracy is cool. If you took the time to read this, you are clearly a loser who will never get laid. You've been warned.
Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171280 is a reply to message #171246] Mon, 12 September 2005 10:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Javaxcx
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It's good to see the progress he's made over there. Any idea how long his tour will go until?


http://n00bstories.com/image.fetch.php?id=1144717496


Sniper Extraordinaire
Read the FUD Rules before you come in and make an ass of yourself.

All your base are belong to us.
You have no chance to survive make your time.

[Updated on: Mon, 12 September 2005 10:57]

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Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171286 is a reply to message #171246] Mon, 12 September 2005 11:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Opalkilla is currently offline  Opalkilla
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Good to know he is ok. I hope he comes back safely.

 http://bf2tracker.com/bf2_usersignature2.php?userid=66335&sigstyle=1&sigbgcolor=1A1A1A&textcolor1=FFCB00&textcolor2=1DFF00&textcolor3=FFFFFF
icon7.gif  Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171290 is a reply to message #171246] Mon, 12 September 2005 12:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tooncy is currently offline  tooncy
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Good to hear from him. Hope he makes it back okay.

http://www.n00bstories.com/image.fetch.php?id=1096263174
Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171334 is a reply to message #171280] Mon, 12 September 2005 15:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Crimson is currently offline  Crimson
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Javaxcx wrote on Mon, 12 September 2005 10:57

It's good to see the progress he's made over there. Any idea how long his tour will go until?


Before he left, he said October. Sounds like the timetable still fits that. I'm afraid to be on the business end of his sniper rifle in Renegade when he gets back. Very Happy


I'm the bawss.
Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171336 is a reply to message #171246] Mon, 12 September 2005 15:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rm5248 is currently offline  rm5248
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Quote:

Don't believe everything in the news
When you hear on the news about an “innocent Iraqi shot by US Forces” don’t take it at face value. We have rules of engagement that are very specific. When these locals get shot at checkpoints or other places it's because they are doing dumb stuff. When soldiers gesture for them to pull over and stop or gesture to get back, they will gun their engines and keep on coming. When a local is shot, it is because they did something wrong. This is a combat zone, there are people who want to kill soldiers and there have been many attempts to do it. When “Ali Iraqi" ignores everything and keeps on coming, he leaves a soldier no choice.


The problem is, that's what is news. Frankly, I'm sick of it. Basically, all the news people have to do is go: "Iraq. 2 or 3 servicemen died today, the same thing that's been happening for the past 2 years.


Slightly unrelated, this war hasn't really made Americans as a whole safer, because so many people DIE in Iraq that it's close to being another terrorist attack on the US.


Also, did you know that we actually know LESS about Bin Laden's whereabouts now than we did 4 years ago? He's probably the man most wanted by the US.


w00t?
Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171403 is a reply to message #171246] Mon, 12 September 2005 18:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
cmatt42 is currently offline  cmatt42
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Bin Laden's corpse was found! It's true! I saw it in the National Examiner!

Back on topic, it's nice to hear from someone defending justice in the world. Thumbs Up


Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171406 is a reply to message #171246] Mon, 12 September 2005 19:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Blazer is currently offline  Blazer
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Good to hear from ya Ripintou, we will all be glad when you are reading this very thread from the comfort of your house.
Re: Live from Baghdad - word from Ripintou [message #171420 is a reply to message #171406] Mon, 12 September 2005 21:26 Go to previous message
Ryan3k is currently offline  Ryan3k
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Quote:

except SFLT; he still thinks we're losing the war and that Iraq was better under Saddam; he also still blames every death in Iraq on George W. Bush


I'm glad you guys have fun harassing each other but was that really called for?


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