2 May

As the Logistics Advisor to the Iraqi's there are many opportunities for me to provide guidance to the Iraqi staff throughout the course of the day. However, I was at a lost for words when today I learned at 6 PM we had 750 unexpected guests only 2 hours from our front gate. The problem was that we had no "room at the Inn." All of our bed spaces were full and there was no way we could handle 50 let alone 750 more Iraqis who I am sure would be expecting food, water, and a place to sleep upon their arrival. Are plan - whatever we do - do not let them in! After scrounging and pillaging for food and water, and a few frantic phone calls, we decided we would meet the travelers at the front gate, give then a handshake and a hug, a package of food, a liter of water, map to their new destination, and a wave good bye. We had the food and water staged by the front gate and the senior Iraqi Soldiers were standing by to wave hello and good bye as the visitors pulled-up. Fortunate for everyone involved, the convoy was re-routed before they got to our front gate; crisis avoided. I hate to think of what would have happened had the convoy stopped and the soldiers got out and stretch their legs only to learn that they need to turn around and head back to where they came from. Oh well...just another day in Iraq. Have a good day.