Dallas Journal

The Arab gentleman in the red and white checkered kefiyeh is talking to a linguist who is talking to the soldier explaining the Arabic position. This is protocol. The soldier is one of the 69 tactical human intelligence teams that have been operating in Iraq for 13 months, long before the assault began. The Arab is listening, as is the soldier and there should be more of this and less shooting. Nice chat with SP, really got crowded in there and they were off the topic a few times but what the heck, a chat room in a chat room is a chat room, right? Take care, I am getting fitted for a "flak" vest. Should be plenty tomorrow morning.

Operation Pencil Box, Tikrit, School Opens

Photographs are compliments of JIN, captions in brown are provided by unit personel

..the soldiers are in complete battle gear to protect the engineers who were putting the school together and the children. If any parent objected to their child being photographed, the photo was destroyed. The cameraman in the back is from a Baghdad Newspaper. They take their own photos to publish. The one with the General shows he is not armed and there is not an armed unit around. No need to as it was a safe zone. The professor cutting the ribbon was one of the instructors. The Military gave the School a camera so as to take "school" photos of the kids for their own use and for the use of the school. The photo was the first one taken. Incredible kids are targets, even more incredible, they came to school to learn. The smiles are real, so are the tears. Take care...........