Today was really an interesting day. We were invited to tour one of Saddam Hussein's 99 palaces. The one we visited (and still relatively intact) is called Al Faw Palace. It contains over 62 rooms and 29 bathrooms and is the headquarters for a lot of the top brass and very tight when it comes to security. They even hold on to your passport and you don't get it back until you exit the palace.
Many of the rooms have now been converted to serve as offices where we met the folks who program the shows for the MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) that is responsible for providing the entertainment to the bases all over war zones in Iraq. The palace, although looks pretty impressive on the outside was built really shabby in part because Saddam had strict deadlines for the construction workers and if they didn't finish on time were executed. Talk about an incentive to finish early huh? There is an artificial lake surrounding the palace that has a special breed of large bass dubbed the Saddam bass as well as large carp. We tossed pieces of bread out to them and there must have been hundreds of them fighting for the bread. We were allowed to take pictures so Graham and I ate it up taking a bunch. Scott has been here so many times in the past it was old news to him.
One highlight was on the top floor of the palace the military has this small 4 by 6 stage-like platform with artificial turf where they hit golf balls out into the lake. I hit a couple of shots with a 9 iron they provided me with and I need some lessons but did hit the ball straight. If I never play another golf course ever I can say I hit a couple of balls from the second story of Saddam's palace and didn't slice it. Scott 
came back to join us and he was presented with a flag in honor of his mother who passed away just a few days before we flew out. It was moving experiece coming from a Colonel Vitale (who also attended one of our shows tonight too). All three of us were also presented with medals for entertaining the troops and I wasn't expecting that so that sort of took my breath away some. All I keep telling everyone is that I just tell jokes but to have others say that it is just more than that once again is very humbling. It's almost embarrassing to accept anything when it is those men and women out there who should be getting the recognition but again humbling when they say thanks for coming out to make us laugh. It just doesn't seem comparable, but I'm glad they laugh and get a break from everything they go through.The first show we did was for the Air Force at Camp Sather inside of this enormous tent and that was pretty special because for the first time I was able to use some of my experiences being flown on a C-130, which they can relate to and gets a sizable laugh from the airmen (and women). The second show was for the Army's SF (Special Forces) unit and both Scott and Graham warned me not to expect too much laughter from these guys as they are pretty intense. We did an abbreviated show because they are all very busy (especially at night) and the show was held where they also eat their meals so that was interesting.The next place we performed at was one that Scott said might be a little intense. It was the Army's Special Forces at Camp Falcon and these guys (and a few gals) are very specialized at what they do.
Sort of like the Navy SEALs but an Army version here. Graham was joking with me reminding me not to look at anyone too long because they don't like to have people recognize them and to also NOT take any pictures of the personnel here which is an obvious 'duh' hello? The palace (yes, another one that used to belong to Saddam) was called Falcon because of this huge marble sculpture that you can't miss when you enter the facility. We arrived at their DFAC (dining facility I'm getting used to some of the terminology now) and was able to grab a quick bite to eat before we did the show right there. No microphone was needed because the place really echoed anyway and we were performing in front of no more than 15 people. They did smile and some laughed but again they had just finished their shift (I didn't ask what or where) but were cool with outsiders doing a show for them. After the meet & greet we were taken on a brief tour that included a sharp shooting range and an incredible look at Baghdad from this tower that took a ways to climb. Of course no pictures were taken not so much because of where we were but were reminded the last thing they needed was our flash going off to let people know where we were. Okay....makes sense to me. Tomorrow will do three small bases leaving at 9am and not returning until midnight, weather permitting. I will bring six pounds of coffee (two bags for each small base we go to) and the letters from both South Lake Tahoe City's Mayor Webber and Sgt. Lovell from the Tahoe (El Dorado County) Sheriff's Department.
I gave both today to colonel Joe Vitale who works inside Al Faw and is one of the folks responsible making available entertainment for our troops out in this part of the world. I had Graham (and our military escort) take pictures presenting the letters to the Colonel 'cause I think it'll be cool to say that both their letters will be framed and hung here at Saddam's Al Faw palace in Baghdad, Iraq. You gotta know that they'll find that kinda cool.Hopefully there won't be any sandstorms when we tour these remote bases as one can only stuff so much into a back pack to have enough clothes for the shows. It feels way longer than seven days that's for sure and looking forward to just coming back and using a real shower and a bathroom that flushes although they have made some great improvements in these portables.
Oh, have to say that one of the things I really like hearing is that the soldiers are glad that none of us are politically correct. Sound familiar? Instead though of people not being able to say what they want without retribution in the workplace the troops here can't say the same things in a military setting. They love too the bit about me being asked to come out not because I am funny but because I am Jewish because they need a decoy out here. It's weird saying it outside of the comfort back home where I know I won't get into trouble from real Arabs over here, but then again who is going to mess with troops packing some pretty heavy artillery I ask you?
I bought two American flags at the base's PX store and filled out two 'Flag Request Forms' where the flags will be flown over Iraq on a Black Hawk and then the flags will be sent to me with certificates honoring who the flags were dedicated too. They did that for Scott's mom and he received a certificate today saying in effect that his mom was being honored but they did it for Scott in part because of the twenty-two times he has flown here with comics to entertain the troops. I filled out forms to have my dad honored who served in the Navy during WW II and when they mail me the flag and certificate will give it to mom. The other I am doing for Sgt. Timothy M. "Smitty" Smith from South Lake Tahoe so that when I receive the flag will give it to his mom or wife. I thought that might be a nice tribute since their son / husband died over here serving our country. When you see it here, it's simply beyond words to express the gratitude for the sacrafices these men and women make everyday,... all for us back home. How can we say "thanks," I try to with my humor, with the letters, and with everything else, but what they are doing for our country, for us, it remarkable.
I guess I'll log off for now and get a shower in since it's been a few days since I've had one and don't want to waste any water at these smaller outposts. I emailed Nancy and told her (besides the personal things) that our dogs Mo and Brody better not to get too used to having the bed all to themselves.
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