Get a load of the kids in the truck in front of us. New Iraqi Policemen on the job. The new trucks have a "technical" look to them, remember Somolia? The kids are all carrying AK47s and happy to have a decent job.

I'm encouraged by their enthusiasm, and worried about their future. Policemen have some of the most dangerous jobs in Iraq right now with routine reports of firefights even here in the south. They are poorly equipped, but that is improving with new vehicles, uniforms and training. They get about 6 weeks of training to become a policeman. Don has the new police station design almost complete and we are going to get it out on the street this week (cross your fingers).

Ken is still at Smitty and Pat left this morning on R&R. Ken has a contingent of Iraqi engineers that are making him look good out in Muthanna Province. He is managing over $23 million of ongoing construction right now. I envy his posting away from the flagpole. He sounds like he's having fun and doing well when I talked to him on our Iraqi cell phones today.

My hospital elevator extensions are still not under construction by Parsons and probably won't be before I leave. Another meeting today, video teleconferencing with Baghdad, to tell me that they still have trouble with the language of the modification. Errrrr. My Iraqi engineers sent pictures today of the roof under construction, finally, and said the air conditioning in the occupied wing was repaired so the patients would be a little more comfortable.