I'm back.

[solypsist]

#1. No more trips to warzones for me.
#2. The Greenzone is no more safe than other parts of Baghdad*. We were shelled daily, sometimes twice.
#3. I spent more time outside the Greenzone than I had previously planned.
#4. Soldiers will maturbate anywhere, anytime.
#5. There are good bars and restaurants outside the GZ. They're kept secret from most people.
#6. I met several reporters who had never been outside the GZ, and they'd been there for months.
#7. It's damn hot. No way anyone can comprehend - beyond Texas heat; beyond Death Valley heat.
#8. Stricly Fox news on all TVs in there. Remote controls were rare, so no changing the channel.
#9. These soldiers are young. the media doesn't really go into how young these kids are.
#10. Yeah, I was shot at. I think.

I spent 14 days in Iraq, 2 days in Pakistan, 2 days back in Iraq, and finally home. I need some time to sleep and get myself back on track, then I will sort through the pics that will go unpublished and post them.

* edit: only in the newer perimeter. the zone grew day by day, so at the innermost section it was totally safe; i saw women in skirts and shorts. but the outer parts were pretty bad; i saw guys take it.

[Ser Clegane]

Welcome back, Soly

It's good to see that you returned home safely

:bow:

[Louis VI the Fat]

http://churches.wcg.org/akron-oh/images/alive2c.gif

Can't wait for your pics!

[Tribesman]

Glad you made it back in one piece:bow:

[yesdachi]

Glad you made it back, cant wait to see the pics and hear your two cents on the situation.

[Lemur]

Congrats on making it back in one piece. And thanks for putting the image of our brave soldiers wanking on the street into my head.

[Kralizec]

Welcome back Soly! It's good to see nothing serious happened to you. I hope you got the chance to shoot some good pics.

[solypsist]

https://i4.tinypic.com/10gl460.jpg

the first measure is the temp inside the vehicle - the second is the temp outside.

[Lemur]

That's 101 degrees farenheit inside, and 136.6 outside to you and me, kids.

[edit]

For some reason, Soly's comments on the Green Zone remind me of the infamous 213 Things Skippy Can't Do in This Man's Army. (http://www.skippyslist.com/skippylist.html) Admittedly, Skippy was in Bosnia, but the rules probably still apply. For instance, #200, "My chain of command is not interested in why I 'just happen' to have a kilt, an inflatable sheep, and a box of rubber bands in the back of my vehicle."

Rules like that still apply.

[drone]

Welcome back, glad to hear you made it safely. Can't wait to see the pics/hear the stories.

Were you able to supply the soldiers with some of your portfolio? You know, help with the war effort? ~;)

[discovery1]

Welcome back Soly! Congradulations on getting out of Iraq and getting some pictures in the process. Where will your pictures be published? And what kind of food did those hidden resturants carry? Wow. Those temps are insane. Thanks.

[Bar Kochba]

OMG did you cook eggs on the front of the car i would die in 3 seconds in that heat!!

[Alexanderofmacedon]

That's so cool! I want to go!

Welcome back dude. How was Pakistan?

[Kralizec]

#4. Soldiers will maturbate anywhere, anytime.

In that case I have a couple of friends who'd be well suited for the military :inquisitive:

Gross.

[UglyandHasty]

Glad you made it back safely. I hope you will share some of your stuff with us.

[yesdachi]

#4. Soldiers will maturbate anywhere, anytime.
I immediately thought about the female soldiers.:2thumbsup:

[Kagemusha]

Im glad you are back Soly safe and sound.:bow:

[Lemur]

#4. Soldiers will maturbate anywhere, anytime.
I immediately thought about the female soldiers.:2thumbsup:
Yeah, that would be a lot less objectionable. I'm all in favor of a hypocritical double-standard for public wanking. Lads, keep it to yourselves. Ladies, feel free to do as you please!

[Tachikaze]

#4. Soldiers will maturbate anywhere, anytime.
Is that why some of the forumers like the military so much?

[BHCWarman88]

lol Tach

Welcome Back Soly, Kill anyone??

[Ser Clegane]

Welcome Back Soly, Kill anyone??

Now that's what I would call an awkward and outlandish comment...

[Vladimir]

Now that's what I would call an awkward and outlandish comment...

He's young. PARTY!!! Solly's back! :balloon2: :balloon2::balloon2: :elephant:

[spmetla]

Hey hey!! Welcome back. Glad to know someone else here now knows the terror of Iraqi summer, the hottest month is July so feel lucky with what you experience.

As for being shelled daily, I'm honestly surprised it's down to once or twice a day, it was a lot more when I was there last year. Bear in mind this part for the safeness of the greenzone, there no IEDs and no ambushes inside the greenzone. Glad you went outside though, too many people get excited by the booms and never leave their trailers (civilians I mean). A lot of the booms you heard were probably controlled dets (blowing up captured munitions). How'd you like the sporadic gunfire everywhere you go?:laugh4:

The fox news was always annoying though(It really is one EVERYWHERE), thank goodness for internet at the MWR.

How many soldier's did you find masturbading?:inquisitive: It's a bit worrying if there's guys wanking it in towers and guard shacks (I know it happens but to my knowledge not too wide spread).

As for the bars, don't you find it frustrating that the military doesn't have access to alcohol inside bases to respect the local culture so everyone has to resort to getting from the locals. I know there's a few bars inside the greenzone but not really open to everyone.

Did you go to BIAP at all?
Did you travel with the military or contracters?

[LeftEyeNine]

Welcome back, soly. Glad you made it back. After all those fearsome axe swings and brick-bombings, we feel safer now.

:tongue:

[Blodrast]

welcome back, soly. Glad to have you back in one piece. :2thumbsup:

[Divinus Arma]

You're alive. Good job.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Welcome back Soly!

I'm glad you made it back unharmer and look forward to seeing some pics!

[Gregoshi]

Welcome back soly. I'm glad to hear the only harm to you is your desire to return to a warzone. :army:

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

If you're going back to moderate here, then it's more like out of the frying pan and into the fire...

Good to hear from you alive, and I wanna see some pics! (Just no male wanking, please.:inquisitive: )

[BHCWarman88]

He's young. PARTY!!! Solly's back! :balloon2: :balloon2::balloon2: :elephant:


Happy Hour!! He Back,Lets PARTY!!:balloon2: :balloon2:

[Zalmoxis]

Welcome back soly, we'll anxiously wait for your pictures.

[AntiochusIII]

Whoa. Soly in Iraq!

Tell us everything!

I mean everything! Even the ugly part! Who cares about PG-13? Those kids can take it! :2thumbsup:

[Csargo]

Welcome back Soly glad you made it back in one piece.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Pleased to read that you're back safely, soly. I look forward to hearing your impressions.

[ZombieFriedNuts]

Good to hear you’re alive.

[Marcellus]

Welcome back Soly, it's good to hear that you're OK.

[doc_bean]

Welcome back Soly, I hope you didn't forget to have fun :2thumbsup:

Got any pictures of hot Iraqi women ?

But 60° ????? the hottest I've ever been in was 45-ish, which was admittedly, doable, but i'd hate to experience 60° :sweatdrop:

[Ianofsmeg16]

https://i4.tinypic.com/10gl460.jpg

the first measure is the temp inside the vehicle - the second is the temp outside.
It actually got that hot when I was in Salt Lake city, man when you come from a cold climate like the good ol United Kingdom, it can be unbearable, i feel your pain soly and Welcome back to Safer, more hospitable climes :2thumbsup:

[Idaho]

Welcome back.

I have been in 48C in the shade before. Not sure what the temperature was in the sun. You can't really function in that heat.

[Mount Suribachi]

#4. Soldiers will maturbate anywhere, anytime.


You've never read Blackhawk Down and its talk of the "combat jack?" :inquisitive:

welcome back anyway

[Hurin_Rules]

WB Soly; glad to have you back in one piece.

As to FoxNews: that is surprising. Do you mean it's on everywhere in the green zone, or everywhere else too? Is it the Iraqis that prefer FoxNews or the is it the Americans?

[Avicenna]

Welcome back to the org soly, have a balloon! :balloon2:

Hurin: I'd think it's due to the connections between the Bush administration and Fox.

[Ironside]

Welcome back Soly! :2thumbsup:

[Mount Suribachi]

Hurin: I'd think it's due to the connections between the Bush administration and Fox.

More likely at the request of the troops. During the invasion British sailors and airmen requested that their news feed be changed from BBC to Sky because of the anti-war/defeatist tone of the BBC. And the soldiers on the front-line were also furious at the BBC for the same tone and style of reporting on the World Service, pretty much their only link with the outside world whilst the war was going on. I've read of SAS soldiers deep in Iraq in GW1 stopping what they were doing on Saturday evenings, pulling out their LW radios and getting the football comentary off the World Service :laugh4:

Sorry for the hi-jack, hope I haven't turned your thread into a debate on the reporting of the war Soly :dizzy2:

[Xiahou]

More likely at the request of the troops. During the invasion British sailors and airmen requested that their news feed be changed from BBC to Sky because of the anti-war/defeatist tone of the BBCI heard in some places they actually destroyed the BBC provided television equipment.

[Dâriûsh]

Welcome back, Soly. ~:)