Friday, July 11, 2008
Whooo-hoo!
We are pleased to announce that at 7:31 pm last night, Ed arrived back in hot and smokey Sacramento. Kind of like being back in Iraq. But better. The cats even remembered him and he spent his first night at home with both of them sleeping on top of him.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Still enjoying the cool weather in Washington
No less than four people asked Kathy last week how it was having Ed home. Folks, he's still in Washington. We promise that we'll wrap this blog up and let everyone know once he finally makes it home.
We are happy to report that he made it through the fourth of July fireworks show without protectively throwing Kathy to the ground when the explosives detonated.
While at first they did remind him of the mortars that occasionally hit his base, the aftermath was far more beautiful (truth was, most of the mortars that he encountered were duds. Apparently you learn to recognize the different noises after a little while).
In the meantime, if you are looking for some interesting Iraq reading, check out the General Accounting Office's progress report on the stabilization of Iraq, issued late last month. Although popular media and certain candidates like to claim the "surge" is working, the GAO lays out the more complicated state of affairs. Yes, the violence is down, but the true goal of the "New Way Forward (aka “the Surge”) was to facilitate the Iraqis’ efforts to enact all key legislation by the end of 2007 - a situation which has had less success. However, as Ed notes, after a year of working as a PAO, complicated doesn't work well as talking points.
And, if you are the type that likes to rehash mistakes, ideally with the goal of figuring out where things went wrong so that they don't happen badly again, the U.S. Army has recently issued its own report on the run-up to the war. Nothing too new or surprising at this stage, at least for those who have followed the various reports and books on Iraq, but an honest self-assessment and one that hopefully prevents such a blunder in the future.
We are happy to report that he made it through the fourth of July fireworks show without protectively throwing Kathy to the ground when the explosives detonated.
While at first they did remind him of the mortars that occasionally hit his base, the aftermath was far more beautiful (truth was, most of the mortars that he encountered were duds. Apparently you learn to recognize the different noises after a little while).
In the meantime, if you are looking for some interesting Iraq reading, check out the General Accounting Office's progress report on the stabilization of Iraq, issued late last month. Although popular media and certain candidates like to claim the "surge" is working, the GAO lays out the more complicated state of affairs. Yes, the violence is down, but the true goal of the "New Way Forward (aka “the Surge”) was to facilitate the Iraqis’ efforts to enact all key legislation by the end of 2007 - a situation which has had less success. However, as Ed notes, after a year of working as a PAO, complicated doesn't work well as talking points.
And, if you are the type that likes to rehash mistakes, ideally with the goal of figuring out where things went wrong so that they don't happen badly again, the U.S. Army has recently issued its own report on the run-up to the war. Nothing too new or surprising at this stage, at least for those who have followed the various reports and books on Iraq, but an honest self-assessment and one that hopefully prevents such a blunder in the future.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Nope, still not home
While Kathy thrills in the prolific production of her cherry tomato plant, Ed continues to languish in Fort Lewis, WA. Yes, you read that right, he still isn’t home.
He has now entered his 14th month of active duty. Although, his duties aren't all that active. He sees a doctor for an hour or so every two or three days. The rest of the time, he spends at the post Starbucks, “sucking down coffees” and reading. On his plate right now (or perhaps more accurately, next to his coffee cup) are the Wallace Stegner classic, Angle of Repose; Tis, Frank McCourt’s follow-up to Angela’s Ashes, and Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, by Mary Roach.
When will he come home? Well, it could be as early as next week. Or, maybe next month. Perhaps three months from now. We’ll let you know when we know. Promise.
He has now entered his 14th month of active duty. Although, his duties aren't all that active. He sees a doctor for an hour or so every two or three days. The rest of the time, he spends at the post Starbucks, “sucking down coffees” and reading. On his plate right now (or perhaps more accurately, next to his coffee cup) are the Wallace Stegner classic, Angle of Repose; Tis, Frank McCourt’s follow-up to Angela’s Ashes, and Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, by Mary Roach.
When will he come home? Well, it could be as early as next week. Or, maybe next month. Perhaps three months from now. We’ll let you know when we know. Promise.
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