2008.11.05 - The election is finally over...
I haven't updated in quite a while. This hasn't really been on purpose, but more because of my laziness combined with lack of motivation combined with everything going on over here in the desert.
I've got approximately 2 months under my belt, with another 10 to go. The president-elect's "plan" to pull out of Iraq within 16 months shouldn't affect this deployment. It's cooling off over here, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s at night. The duststorms have died down, but it has rained a bit. Unfortunately, when it rains, our little living area floods and everything turns to mud. We still have puddles from the last storm that hit over a week ago.
Work is easy. In fact, life over here is easy for me. It doesn't really feel like a deployment. On a no-fly day, I get up at about 8am, mess around on the computer for a few hours, get showered, eat lunch, and go in to the office where I stay until about 6pm. At the office, I usually read the paper, do the sudoku and crossword puzzles, check the office email, and work on some Army coursework (every time you get promoted, there's an accompanying school to complete).
On fly days, everything revolves around the flight. Today is a fly day for me, but we don't take off until later this afternoon. Many of our flights involve early morning departures - I've taken off as early as 4:40am, which usually means getting up around 2am. We primarily fly VIPs and dignitaries - I've flown people like Ambassador Crocker, General Austin, retired General Barry McCaffrey. I've also flown privates who need to get out on emergency leave, and given rides to soldiers and civilians who just need to get from one point to another. I've flown Brits, Aussies, and even a Romanian General. I've flown to just about every airfield in Iraq and Kuwait, and I have an upcoming trip out of the country that, due to security reasons, I can't really talk about yet. I promise I'll have pictures of that one.
It's no coincidence that I chose the day the election results were in to write again. I woke up this morning, looked over at the TV, and saw that the now president-elect had significantly more votes than his Republican opponent. I don't consider myself democrat or republican, but I have to admit that most of my values tend to lean to the right. I'm very much of an open mind and am willing to listen to anyones point of view, but it takes a lot to convince me to change my opinion on core values. In other words, I voted for the old guy. That being said, as an officer on active-duty in the military, I have to be careful what I say in a public forum.
So some questions I have that will inevitably be answered in the next 4 years:
-With the president-elect's tax plan, how are American jobs going to be protected? If you raise taxes on businesses, they will move parts, if not the whole business, overseas. Why? Labor is cheaper. So what happens to those people who lose their jobs in the process? My dad's company is already shipping jobs to China and India. Is it not going to get worse if you tax the hell out of businesses?
-Does the president-elect really think that he'll be able to pull American forces out of Iraq in 16 months? He has stated that by setting a timetable, it will force the Iraqis to action. Really? Is he sure about that? These guys kill each other based on the side of the street on which they live (can you say gang wars a la Compton?), and he thinks he can force them into action? If we pull out before the Iraqis are ready and willing to accept their own responsibilities, we can definitely expect others nations to influence this new government, nations like Syria and Iran. In such a volatile yet important part of the world, is that what we need? I'm all for the US not being the world's police, but can we afford to have the Iranians control or have influence over this much territory?
-What is the president-elect's plan for combating illegal immigration? What is his plan for dealing with the 11+ million illegals already sucking this country dry?
I have more, but I'm frustrated right now. I just don't see any good coming of this election, at least not for me and my family. Prove me wrong, Mr. President-elect.
