Just a quick update. Jennifer called me at work today. She was very matter-of-fact with her hello. She said, "Well, hi, Ken Lyon, how are you?" She and her unit were able to catch a flight out of Baghdad at 1:00 in the afternoon on Monday and flew into Kuwait City and Camp Doha. Jennifer will be there for nine days and fly back to Ft. Bliss in Texas for debriefing and to turn in her equipment. She is thrilled to be out of the green zone in Iraq. There was a fuel transport truck that was bombed over the weekend and the thick black smoke hung over the camp. She has fifteen rolls of film to develop when she gets back to Georgia and I'm sure we'll all see the pictures one way or another.

One of the reasons she is happy to be out of Baghdad (besides the obvious) is that she doesn't have to cart her weapon with her at all times now. The camp was on high alert and all soldiers were required to have a weapon with them at all times. The bombs and explosions are a distant memory for her now, but the explosions were quite real even up until the time that they flew out of the airport on Monday. I have trouble even imagining the stress and fear that the troops endure on a daily basis in Iraq.

By the way, anyone who'd like to debate the merits of our occupation in Iraq...just shut up.

Ken