Entry #31: February 22, 2006

Camp Buehring, Kuwait (Somewhere near the Iraq border)

I’m going to Baghdad. The past four and a half years of training will culminate in this, my true test of preparation, inspiration, perspiration, and, above all, doing something meaningful in life. I will the chance to hunt and catch the bad guys. I’m looking forward to it.

Can’t tell you when, for how long, where exactly in Baghdad, or what I’ll be doing. That’s just part of the deal. I’m not bringing my entire platoon; the rest of my fellas will remain in Kuwait continuing to do the mission we’ve been running all along. Some of them have the same desire to get north and join the fight in an active role, but the mission just doesn’t dictate having them all, as much as I would like to take them with me.

I know what most of y’all are thinking. “Be careful, remember to duck, don’t be a hero” etc., etc. All can say is, don’t worry, you can’t do anything but pray, and besides, I’m not a big target. However, it is an interesting time to be heading up there. Today, as I write this, we’re getting news that a very important Shiite shrine, the Mosque of the Golden Dome, has been sabotaged and blown to bits. In the words of an Army spokesman, “The destruction is catastrophic.” Not good news. This could very well be the opening salvo of an all out religious sectarian war between radical Sunni and Shiites. I hope that the people of this region learn restraint and moderation, though it seems most Arabs lean towards some sort of extremism. Extremism in any form breeds intolerance; a hatred for all things not allied with its cause. This cannot be allowed for it only divides the world and destroys everything humanity has labored for millennia to liberate itself from. So I’m gonna head to Baghdad and knock some sense into these guys, or else I’ll arrange a meeting for them with Allah. And so the Soldier’s life continues…