Hot milk for breakfast

**Phaedrus** · 02-07-2009, 04:36 PM

I made a commitment to myself to write about my experiences throughout the next year in Afghanistan.

I had a bunch of cool stories happen to me already, but it's 2:30 am here and I've been flying for nearly 3 days, now. Gotta sleep. In my 9th floor suite, in my luxury hotel in downtown Dubai.

I was met at the flippin' PLANE by a gorgeous Phillipine woman in a traditional silk outfit and I had "people" walk me through all the admin parts of the airport. They had me wait in the VIP lounge with a bunch of sheikhs and princes, drinking Mango juice and eating fresh dates and chocolate chip cookies, while they made crude comments about my "hostess".

The customer sent me a stretch Lexus and driver to take me to my hotel, where I tipped everyone and sent them away. I never saw my passport or luggage until they magically appeared in my room.

Something tells me that State Department beats Defense Department 10 times out of 10 when they send you to crappy places where people want to kill you. So far, I feel like a rock star.

**NobodyBeatsCy** · 02-07-2009, 04:42 PM

Sounds exciting and very cool! Stay safe!

**CyAggie** · 02-07-2009, 04:44 PM

Make it better for your having been there, but come back safe.

**Cyclonepride** · 02-07-2009, 04:50 PM

Anything that you can share would be awesome. Take care, Phadreus.

**kgreeny** · 02-07-2009, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by Phaedrus

Something tells me that State Department beats Defense Department 10 times out of 10 when they send you to crappy places where people want to kill you. So far, I feel like a rock star.

I'll take your word for it. Defense Dept sucked so much that have not really wanted to see the rest of it. Be safe!

**superdorf** · 02-07-2009, 08:18 PM

Hot hostess... luxury hotel... stretch lex... If it wasn't for the getting shot at thing this wouldn't be so bad.

Mase would be jealous:
That mean my sleeve's on it,
You know I dress as I'm suppose to,
Stretch Lex with a chauffeur,
Never sober

**Phaedrus** · 02-07-2009, 11:05 PM

So, it's morning in Dubai, and I finally got a solid 5 hours of blissful sleep in this marvelous bed. (Sadly, alone; I'm told they will fly my wife to Dubai once I've completed a certain percent of my tour)

I had a jacuzzi bath last night just prior to going to bed. The jacuzzi tub is rather oddly shaped, with stylized shelves and curliques cast into it. It took me a few moments before I realized that it wasn't style, they were a series of rather functional stirrups. Not that I got the opportunity to try them out, or anything

.

Flew into Dubai from DSM to MSP to Amsterdam. Had a few hours layover, and all I have to say is "God Bless the Dutch. A very attractive people, there.

KLM has reverted to the throwback sky blue uniforms for their flight attendants. Looked really sharp, especially with the few pillbox hats I saw, but my inner flaming gay hairdresser (named Andre' of course) wondered that they are probably a bear to keep clean, especially considering what flight attendants do for a living.

Saw two movies that were kind of a good "compare and contrast" about government service. Body of Lies and Burn After Reading are examples of good and bad Hollywood portrayals of certain types of gov't service. Surprisingly, the latter is the most accurate portrayal about how things work, more often than not. I swear I worked for a guy who acted and made decisions just like the Deputy Director.

The whole torture scene in Body of Lies just like to tick me off. The assumption that we torture is just idiotic. Like Hani, the Jordanian security chief says, torture just doesn't get you what you need. If you want information, drink tea and be sympathetic. Either that, or puff their ego up by telling them how hard they are to interrogate.

[bitter]Hey, but anything that sells to the ignorant and pre-disposed.[/bitter]

The key to winning wars against insurgents is to find out what they really want, and find a way to get it to them, while preserving your own interests. It's not killing insurgents. That's the current US and DoD policy, btw.

Well, I'm off to walk around Dubai.

**cyrevkah** · 02-07-2009, 11:23 PM

Glad to hear you got there safely! Thanks for your mini bloging!!

**cybsball20** · 02-07-2009, 11:36 PM

That's it, I'm convinced that Phaedrus is a mercenary...

**ISUCyclones** · 02-07-2009, 11:42 PM

Dubai dangerous, haha. Been there done that, totally enjoyed it.

**Wesley** · 02-07-2009, 11:45 PM

Let's see. the spa had stirrups for the gals? Those Arabs have everything. Must be a birthing function.

**Erik4Cy** · 02-07-2009, 11:47 PM

Ok, I'm convinced that Phaedrus is the coolest person on Cyclone Fanatic.

Enjoy reading your stuff as always. Keep it coming!

**joefrog** · 02-07-2009, 11:58 PM

Stay safe and keep in touch. I want to see Dubai someday. I actually had a neighbor in Ames who was from there. Really great kid, said it was quite a place.

Amsterdam airport rocks. I love the Dutch.