Still in Iraq

So far, the new president has not changed anything for us here, which is good.  Also, the Status of Forces Agreement has not affected anything significant, but it does make some things more of a hassle.  But, it's all designed to give this place back to the original occupants.  For the most part, people in our area love us, or are at least afraid of us enough not to try anything stupid.  Even though we sit around and drink chai and shake hands with them doesn't mean that we won't turn around and detain them the next day.  I've experienced lots of bizarre Iraqi cultural things that guys on previous deployments missed when there was more of a war going on, such as one of my squad leaders walking down the street holding hands with an Iraqi man because it's rude to let go.  They also like the man kiss, so I suppress the gag reflex and the urge to kill and use my helmet to keep some space between our heads.  Whatever it takes to win, but I draw the line somewhere.  The two coolest things I've gotten here so far are a man dress and a virgin Mary prayer rug.  Don't know how that whole thing works out, but Shias definitely use Mary door mats to pray on.  Our medic became a tribal sheik, and they gave our commander a plot of land.  None of this is official, of course, but it is a sign of great respect to the Americans and a subtle plea for us not to arrest them.  Probably the worst thing here is the amount of begging done by the kids.  Kids are all well and great until they crowd around you asking for a soccer ball when they have one in their hands.  Also, I make Iraqi babies cry about 95% of the time, which doesn't bother me but my guys get a good laugh out of it.  Eventually I'll compile an extensive list of all the random stuff we see/do here and post it for everyone's reading pleasure.  It's sure to bring mirth to all.

"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion to use them." 

-Thomas Jefferson