Originally uploaded by Basinbob.

The Italians have a new briefing room that is a big step up from the air conditioned tent we used to meet in. Here we're briefing the newly elected Iraqi officials from Dhi Qar on our $287 million active construction program in the province. The guy with the video camera is from the Iraqi media. We don't get this channel in our hooches, just the Armed Forces network from Germany.

Went the Commander left to catch a flight, he introduced me with "Mr. Bob will answer all your questions..." I was the sacraficial sheep left for a crowd eager to complain about shoddy work from earlier efforts with contractors they called Ali Babba. The impressions that we have to overcome about our capabilities and the actual cost of construction are staggering. The Iraqi General stepped in to save me and put everyone on a bus for lunch in the Italian mess.