17 Mar 09 Iraq may by downsizing but....

17 Mar 09 Iraq may by downsizing but....
A few weeks back, President Obama put forth in  a speech that within 18 months (or so) combat forces would be out of Iraq and only 'support troups' would be left.  Well, if the current building rate is any indication, we (the US) will be here longer, indeed much longer than 18 months from now.  Above is a pic of a new steel water tank here at Balad.  Initially before there were water tanks, water bladders were used.  Water bladders only last about a year though.  Also the new DFAC (dining facility) was started about the time I got here at Balad about 2 years ago.  Evidently it was decided to add protection from mortars aftere the facility was completed.  So this will probably take about another six months before the new DFAC is even open.  One wonders why 'they' didn't start on the anti-mortar protection as soon as the outside building was completed.  And in case you're wondering, the anti-mortar protection is simply a hard roof made of kevlar that is about the building's roof.  And as it happens, we had a mortar attack just this day and had to go to the bunkers.  Such is life in Iraq.
R/Chris