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• USO in Iraq, model Mayra Veronica says hello to the troops

  Photo caption: Model Mayra Veronica sings during a USO show at Camp Liberty, Iraq, Nov. 14, 2008. Veronica is traveling for the second time with Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright on a USO tour. DoD photo by... Posted Nov 23 2008, 09:18 AM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq, USO

• Farewell to the Mighty MH-53 Pave Low Helicopter and a "well done" to the men who flew her and those that maintained them

  Photo caption: MH-53 Pave Low helicopters prepare to take off for their final combat mission Sept. 27 in Iraq. The MH-53 was retired from the Air Force inventory Sept. 30. It was the largest and most technologically advanced helicopter in the Air Force... Posted Oct 04 2008, 10:03 PM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: SOF, Iraq, AFSOC, USAF

• Iraq update, even the New York Times gets it: "enablers" will be the key for the long run exit strategy

  While I was visiting a friend who owns a company back in Youngstown Ohio, he implored me to tell some folks working with him “tell them what’s really happening in Iraq” and they looked to me for answers. I pulled up my web page here that showed the metrics... Posted Aug 06 2008, 11:46 AM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq, O'Hanlon

• Much on my mind, much to do

  Now that I am back in "the land of the big PX" as the old saying goes, I am returning to a sense of normalcy, at least for me. In the past few days, have met a few good friends, completed (nearly) all of my out processing from active duty, and... Posted Jul 13 2008, 12:42 PM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq

• Top 10 reasons I won't miss Iraq

  I'm in the final packing throes and all that entails and I haven't really given this much thought, but here's some reasons why I won't miss this place: 10. The heat 9. The dust 8. the architecture: Most US military bases are a maze of... Posted Jul 07 2008, 06:08 PM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq

• How are we doing in Iraq?

  When I put out word that I had volunteered to deploy to Iraq, I got many well wishers and more than a few "be carefull over there." But I did get one request that was a bit different, a friend of mine named Judson, who I went through Navigator... Posted Jun 02 2008, 09:31 PM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq, Nagl, US military

• News articles: Koran shooting and Social Security Number concerns

  In the Stars and Stripes a couple of days ago, there was a cover story about some bonehead soldier over here in Iraq shooting a Koran on the rifle range. Here's the story in the New York Times about a General apologizing for the incident and now comes... Posted May 20 2008, 07:31 PM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq

• Combat patch issue clouds real issue: Thanks for serving!

  This recent article in the Stars and Stripes newspaper I read here is about a soldier stationed in Iraq wanting to wear the first combat patch he earned, rather than the current unit he's serving with. To a soldier, there is an incredible amount of... Posted May 15 2008, 07:34 PM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq, Soldiers' Angels, SAC

• Planes, cranes, and MRAPS

  Recently I was able to do a little traveling and in some ways, it was a gear heads dream come true, it even felt like my own version of mega-movers or any of those big machine TV shows on Discovery or History channel. I had to help move a group of folks... Posted May 08 2008, 08:43 PM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq, MRAP

• Sat down for carrot cake, got served some humble pie from a Army NCO medic

  For the last couple of days and for a few more, I'm away from my normal place getting some folks moved, all in all, much better than sitting at the computer typing away. Tonight, after a hard day, went to the local dining facility and on the way out... Posted May 02 2008, 04:24 PM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq, IED's, US Army, medic

• SECDEF wants unconventional thinkers, Air Force general "offers" to rebuild the P-51, how about instead some light airplanes like the AT-6 for my friends in the Phillipines?

  There has been quite a lot of discussion about ISR these days, thats Intelligence, surveillence,,and reconnassiance. During two speeches, one at Air War College and another at West Point , SECDEF Gates said to West Point Cadets in part: But in order to... Posted Apr 26 2008, 07:43 PM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq, COIN aircraft 2, Special Forces, Phillippines, soft power

• Celebrity justice and our troops overseas: a free idea for judges everywhere

  Two of the main ways our troops get the news over here is "Stars and Stripes" newspaper, a semi-independant newspaper published by the military and Armed Force Radio and Television Sevice, AFRTS. I read and watched both hungrily when I was stationed... Posted Apr 12 2008, 08:17 PM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq, Afghanistan, Hollywood

• Paratroopers, truck drivers, and staff weenies

  Anytime you spend long hours in close proximity to someone, you tend to learn a lot about them. In the "gym" I work in, I spend about 12-16 hours there, except for sleeping, working out, and the occasional trip, thats my duty while here. We... Posted Apr 08 2008, 08:59 PM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq

• Another milestone?....and "our messages weren't immediately returned" (From Otto)

  Disclaimer: When I was home and had time on the computer, I really enjoyed linking and writing complete thoughts, out here, my time on the computer is limited, so please forgive relying on my memory, if I screw it up, oh well. This past week, the MSM... Posted Mar 30 2008, 06:34 PM by Cliff with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq, MSM

• Friday Fun Photo: why is this man smiling?

  Perhaps he's getting comfortable with the situation in Iraq? U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, left, commanding general of Multinational Forces Iraq, stands among a crowd of Iraqi boys at the Al Zawra Stadium in the Karkh District of Baghdad, March... Posted Mar 07 2008, 02:46 PM by Otto with | with no comments Filed under: Iraq, friday fun photos, Petraeus