Well, what a surprise.  No flight panned out all week.  We made arrangements this a.m. to hold two Shabbas services here- one on the Army side and one on the AF side.  Had an email sent out and posters made, and we'll see.  Threw in some laundry and will spend the rest of the day organizing and packing.  Show time is early early, but we are not scheduled to be wheels up until 14+ hours after show time.  Gonna be a LONG journey.  Once we make the roll call, we are on lockdown and will be held in a segregated area until liftoff.  No sense doing too much organizing, as every single thing from every single bag and pocket has to be dumped on the ground for Customs to go through.

Orders will have to be amended, appointments will have to be rescheduled, but, with any luck, I should be in Phoenix by late Wed.

Shabbat Shalom.

A correction to my previous email:

The biggest heartache, of course is that I am missing precious moments with Sarah who is home on winter break!

Okay, I'm making my peace (not really, but what choice do I have?) with spending Shabbas at Ali Al Salem.  I'm really frustrated and, frankly, angry that my higher headquarters has been unable to extricate me from here.  The people at the APOD say they've never seen anything like the back-up here; I made a joke of it and told them that based on my experience they did not have great credibility.

The environment adds to the grim-ness- we are having a major wind/sand storm so the visibility is poor and there's a cold wind blowing.

Do I sound like I'm whining?  SFC Cohen and I were smoking cigars and the SGT who joined us suggested that we should be happy no one was shooting at us.  I guess he's right.  He then regaled us with his war stories.  Said someone asked him just yesterday if he had ever killed anyone and  he said yes.  She asked if he felt anything- he said- sometimes yes, sometimes no.  

There was a contract spy guy (I'm not kidding) sitting with us- his response was- the recoil of the gun?  (As in, that's what he feels!)  So this dude claims that in an attempt to fire a warning shot at a 14 year old who was poised to launch an RPG into his FOB in Afghanistan (one I've visited, BTW), the bullet richocheted and not only shot and killed the boy, but his step mom who was standing behind him.  He was cleared in the subsequent investigation.  Secret Agent Man was impressed with his conservation of ammunition.  

This is clearly another universe.  

I gave it up today and checked out some linen, made my bed and SFC Cohen did an awesome job of packing up my sleeping bag, body armor and helmet, and, a bunch of clothes, into one duffle bag.  I've been a bit worried about getting all my stuff into the 4 authorized bags, and this did much to quell my anxiety.  The above mentioned cigar was in celebration of that success.  I actually asked my tent-mates if they minded if he came in to work, since it made now sense to work on this project in the blowing dust.  They were okay with it- there's a no male in female tents rule, and vice versa, obviously.

I'm hoping to get confirmation that I won't make the last R&R flight on Fri. so that I can plan for Fri. night services.  I'm going to do one in our area and one on the Air Force side of the base.

Another heartache- When I get back, I'm stuck with my regular Army drill ("Battle Assembly") 10-12 Jan.  I would just tell them to stuff it, but we're doing the groundbreaking for our new building and I am to offer the invocation, and it's a  pretty big deal.  I also haven't been to drill since Oct.

In the time since we left Ali and since we've been back, they cleaned up all the graffitti in the restrooms.  Now it's coming back, and here are a few thoughts that I think capture the essence of the experience for most participants:

"I miss my kids! "

"There's nothing like a deployment that will end a marriage."

"F**k this deployment"- underneath- "There's nothing like getting paid to eat and sleep all day.  Are you serious?"

Dec. 30th and still no flight for tomorrow.  This is breathtaking- I can take that flight with a unit redeploying, and then pay my own airfare to get to Ft. Benning from wherever they land.  Can you imagine???

However, we had an amazing day today and I'm only sorry that I won't remember every little detail.  Had a quick breakfast and then had my eyebrows threaded.  From 9:45-10:30 I checked and responded to 10 emails on the excruciatingly slow AKO system.

A quick shower, then I treated myself and SFC Cohen to 30 minute back, neck and shoulder massages at the PX Spa.  Quick lunch, then we boarded a bus to Camp Arifjan, which is the big theatre staging ground about 30 km from here.  We were going just for him to see the place.

We checked in at the chapel and made two phone calls- to the Rabbi, Henry Sousan, who is assigned there, and to our HQ, ARCENTCOM.  Made a quick stop by the latter to say hi, and arranged to meet Ch. S. at 1700. 

In between I bought myself a lovely 21 carat (?- that's what the bill says) gold bangle bracelet to match the earrings I bought here years ago and the ring I bought many years ago in Korea.

Met the Rabbi- incredibly interesting and charming gentleman.  Not sure how the U.S. Army is lucky enough to have him.  He grew up in Germany where his father and brother are both rabbis, and has a wife in medical school in England.  He showed us his Khanukka photos, and amazing photos of tashlikh on the beach in Kuwait.

He was with two members of the Jewish congregation here, and, as our SPC T. had rightly observed, when Jews get together the conversation soars.  Meanwhile, the CPT who was with him saw me and shouted, "You were here LAST time I was at Arifjan!"

We talked about growing up in Germany and what that was like- he was in Freiburg and more in a French than German environment.  He was recruited to the Army by the fabulous retired Rabbi/Chaplain Ken Leinwand, who wrote me the Officer Evaluation Report that got me promoted to  COL.  I learned that Ken is now a rabbi in Holland.

When I was here last time I adored the lady who sells Persian rugs at the mall, and stopped in to say hi to her.  It was a very warm reunion.  At the time she had a daughter studying at the U. of A., whom I called when I got back to the States.  (Want/Need quality rugs- sarvnaz@hotmail.com- Nazi is her name.

We had such an interesting conversation with her.  She showed photos of her 3 daughters, and SFC Cohen commented- "I'll take that one."  We reminded him that he is in a place where a second wife is not outside the realm of possibility.

Nazi said, though, that the contemporary generation of Kuwaiti women would never put up with such a thing, and that the Kuwaiti men tend to marry women from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf states.  It was amazing to hear her casually refer to a friend as "a princess"- like- for real!

Oh- and the Jewish CPT described in lavish detail the weekly dimaniya he attends with his local Kuwaiti contacts.  It's every Wed. night and the only females present are American.  He enjoys fabulous food and great relationships with Emirs, Princes and Sheikhs, and they are aware tht he is Jewish.  Unfortunately they are not meeting tomorrow night due to New Year's Eve.

After a quick dinner, we went back to the chapel area to smoke the best cigars I have.  The chaplain assistant happened to come by, and happened to mention that they are going in to Kuwait City tomorrow on a humanitarian mission, and I asked if SFC Cohen could join them.  

When we got back to Arifjan I found out that I do not have a flight tomorrow, so I'll go too!  We have to wear civilian clothes, of which I have none, but SFC Cohen thinks he has some extras.  (He's about 5'6" and 135 lbs. so that should work perfectly!)

Not quite sure about this getting home thing. . . . More later.

Dec. 31- Another fun day in Kuwait. Every moment is an interesting educational
experience, both learning and teaching.  I was barely out of my tent, when a
young LT stopped to question me about the disconnect between my hat and my rank. 
(As I indicated, this is an ongoing source of confusion for others and amusement
to me.)  I told him that I was a Jewish chaplain, and he showed me the bookmark
he was studying as a sort of morning devotion as he walked.  It was from a
Christian religious supplies shop, and had a number of names of God
transliterated from the Hebrew and with references in the Tanakh.  I was able to
share a bit of insight about each one.

Got into the DFAC, and saw a sailor with a kippa- turns out he's the lay leader
at Ali Al Salem, so I had a conversation with him about the challenges he faces-
mostly, insufficient participation in his services.  If we're still here Friday
night, we'll certainly attend.  I hope not to be!

After breakfast we boarded the bus to Camp Arifjan once again, and got here in
time for lunch and to change into civilian clothes.  We traveled with the local
chaplain assistant, the Area Support Group Chaplain, and the Army (COL) Priest
into Kuwait City, where we brought some humanitarian supplies, especially rice,
to the local Protestant Church.  We saw, and photographed, the Catholic
Cathedral and the Grand Mosque, albeit from a moving vehicle.  It was
interesting to see the extravagant Kuwaiti homes the oil money buys, and the
men's and women's attire in the streets.

By the way, we were the only two people on this bus this morning- I don't know
about SFC Cohen, but I felt very important having two armed guards accompanying
us and another escort vehicle with two more "shooters."

The Protestant community has one compound where they hold a broad variety of
services.  They are not in need of the aid provided.  There are many TCN's- Third Country Nationals,

who work in Kuwait.  They are sometimes abused, and flee to places they feel may

be safe.  Those places can't always sustain them, so we give aid to the

churches which gets it to those who are caring for these individuals


  A special treat was a stop at a local
restaurant for some very good Turkish coffee and dinner to go. 

Camp Arifjan is divided into various areas, which they call "zones", and we got
back in time to get to "Zone Six" to check out the shops there.  (Or so we
thought.)  Being the small world that it is, we not only ran into the Rabbi
there, looking for a gift for his wife, but the female Jewish COL we had met
yesterday.  She rode the shuttle back to Zone One with us, we loaded up our
stuff, and went to wait for the 1700 bus, thinking it would be nice to be home a
bit earlier.  (My roommates (I guess I should say tentmates) were worried about
me last night!- I had never even met them but they saw all my stuff there and no
me.)

Anyway, at about 1645 SFC Cohen decided to double-check the bus schedule, and,
lo and behold, the bus was actually at 1600- the next one is not till 2100. 
Oops- another late night.  Bottom line is that we can do the same things here-
check email, eat, make phone calls, smoke cigars, as we can there.  I just feel
bad because my choices are either to turn on the overhead light when I get back
to the tent and potentially wake whoever is in there, or try to grope my way
with an inadequate flashlight. 

I think I'll go pick up some more AAA batteries. . .

Hey All- Just a quick note from Kuwait.  Nine hours from show time to arrival.  It's 11:00 p.m. (2300) local time.  The bags have not been unloaded yet so we decided to do the computer thing while we wait, then we're gonna hit midnight chow.

The big "plan" was for us both to wait until Sat. for the "Freedom Flight" (redeploying soldiers) to Ft. Benning.  That means I wouldn't start outprocessing until Mon. Jan. 5th.

Somewhat an issue as my orders expire on Jan. 4th.

SFC Cohen has no choice, as he has a weapon and no weapons case, so he is stuck here.  Army Central Command is trying to get me on an R&R flight.  Only drag is that I then have to find a way to shlep myself and all my stuff from the Atlanta Airport to the CRC at Ft. Benning.  AND- I have to be separated from my beloved assistant!

It's good for him, 'cause if he's in Kuwait after 31 Dec., his salary for Jan. will be tax-free.  In my life, time is more valuable than money, and I will happily fly out on the last flight on 31 Dec.; I've done it before!

As an act of faith, I claimed a tent, but no linen- figure I can sleep in my sleeping bag on top of the mattress tonight, and use the laundry bag as a pillow!!!

They'll let me know in the a.m., so stay tuned.

Getting ready for havdala and the 7th night.  Only took an hour to drop off

laundry this a.m. and an otherwise relaxing Shabbas.  It’s a little chilly, but

SFC Cohen and I toughed it out and enjoyed a late afternoon cigar.  Missed the

martini- favorite alcoholic beverages is a HUGE topic of conversation.  Last
week we said havdala on two cigarette lighters held close together- this week we

discovered dozens of havdala candles among the Jewish supplies. 



We met one of our “stranded in Kuwait” friends for lunch, and I brought along a

Jewish soldier who had arrived recently and thought that in order to maintain

any kind of kashrut observance he would have to live on MRE’s for the year.  I

suggested that, if it accorded with his personal comfort zone, that there were

many things that he could eat in the DFAC in order to add some variety to his

diet- whole/cut fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and cheese, eggs, etc.  I

think that he was very relieved to have rabbinic “permission” to cut himself a

little slack.



I sat with a very interesting young man who works as a civilian on an HTT- Human

Transition Team.   This is a group of sociologists and anthropologists who

travel the country interviewing locals.  His assessment of the problem facing

the coalition forces is that we are more concerned with protecting the force

than protecting the locals.



The Taliban will tell the local village- Do what we say or we will kill you.  We

come in- Do what we say or we won’t build you a well.  A well might be nice to

have, but surviving might be nicer.



He suggested that there is too much emphasis on military responses- “Winning the

hearts and minds, yeah- two to the heart and one to the mind.”



Other accomplishments of the day- I sent a box to a Jewish psychologist who is

at a camp near Kabul and unable to get to Bagram.  He and a few other Jews are

there with zero supplies, so I pulled together a tallit, prayerbooks, Tanakh,

shabbas and yahrtzeit candles and some literature.



I also happened to be the only person in the building when a soldier who is

heading home happened by, in tears, looking for some on the spot counseling. 

Her friend had committed suicide in one of the tents here, and it was bringing

up a lot of guilt and sadness for her.  She was second guessing herself and

imagining that if only she had done more, she might have saved his life.  I

tried to say all the things that you are supposed to say in such a situation. 

She really wanted to talk to a chaplain who had been here at the time, and I was

able to connect her with an appropriate individual.



Apropos winning hearts and minds- headline in today’s Stars and Stripes- “CIA

Sees Rise in Intelligence Thanks to Viagra.”  I am NOT kidding- apparently this

is how we are making friends with local village elders.  Here’s the final

paragraph- unedited- “Four days later, when the Americans returned, the gift had

worked its magic, the operative recalled.  ‘He came up to us beaming,’ the

official said.  ‘He said, ‘You are a great man.’’  ‘After that we could do

whatever we wanted in his area.”



Dec. 28-



Getting ready for the final night.  We packed up the leftover supplies and have

the table set and khanukkiyot at the ready.



Did I mention that one of my regulars has a sister in Gilbert who knows me?



We have a flight scheduled to Kuwait for Monday.  From there we will likely

catch a “Freedom Flight”, a military charter of re-deploying soldiers heading to

Ft. Benning.  It will take a few days for paperwork, mandatory briefings and

equipment turn in, and then I’ll be home!



One of our congregation members here invited us to stop by her office today. 

Her 19 year old assistant had some questions about Judaism.  While we were

there, she invited their unit cameraman to stop by so that he could tape me

explaining the story of Khanukka to send back to her 5 year old daughter. 

Hoping she’ll send me a copy.



We had 7 guests last night, include one LDS soldier who saw the advertising and

just came because she was interested.  We were going around the table reading

aloud a Khanukka story that made reference to the Holocaust, and she started

crying and couldn’t continue.  Tonight it was just 9 of us Jews, and the

Combined Joint Task Force Chaplain stopped by to present us with Certificates of

Appreciation.  Don’t know if I mentioned that they had invited me back for

Pesakh.  I respectfully declined and suggested that I would begin now to clear

my schedule and plan for Pesakh 2010.  And I will request SFC Cohen as my

assistant!



Another participant tonight was telling us that all his roommates work different

shifts, so the room is constantly dark.  He considers this a good thing, as he

can sleep any time.  (He currently has night shift.)  I thought it was sweet

when he said that the electric menora we gave him is currently providing light

for him. 



Note from mom- she said I didn’t make clear at any point that there are little

spa shops in all the PX malls.  I mentioned something about wanting to have some

work done, ideally in Kuwait, prior to returning to civilization.  I DO find it

constantly amusing how much to guys who are deployed enjoy these services.  It

is a common occurrence to see a seasoned, male soldier laid out having a facial

and a pedicure.



We picked up laundry today.  I also want to make clear that this is an activity

unto itself.  We estimated that it’s about a half mile walk each way, and then

you have to stand in line to drop it off and pick it up.  SFC Cohen was smart,

and suggested that we arrive early to be the first in line.  Good plan, as we

had that office all to make right after the laundry opened.



BTW- If you would like to follow his version of events, you can check

out-www.derftheworld.blogspot.com.



It was bittersweet to say goodbye to the guys this evening.  Such characters. 

Favorite line tonight from my favorite soldier- “You know, I get out and people

ask me what I’m going to miss the most about the Army, I’m gonna have to say,

‘Kicking down doors.’  And he meant it!



Won’t write again till Kuwait- will leave you with some of the best, most

memorable lines from the Religious School kid’s cards, of which we read every

one:



Dear People in the Amy



Make every day happy

Keep up the good fighting

Thank you for sacrificing your life

and. . . .. Good luck staying alive

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