VIRB

Al Asad is massive.

This was a former Iranian air force base, so all of the buildings and structures were already there, most built by a Yugoslavian company. Today we have a show here, so this morning we got another tour - this time we got a tour of the EA-6B Prowler, which is an electronic warfare plane, and then our handler Capt. "Pizza's" ride, the F/A-18 Hornet. This is a wicked piece of machinery. We got a tour of the shop where a couple of the guys got to try on some flight suits - when you see everything the pilots have to put on in order to fly, you totally understand why the put all the controls in a single stick. There's no way they can move around in all that stuff in such a small cockpit. We also got to check out night vision goggles - awesome. Would revolutionize night driving. Then, up close and personal with an F/A-18. Maybe it's a guy thing, but being up close to these things is just cool.

After lunch at the West's largest DFAC, setup and soundcheck. Tonight we're playing in a theatre that was already on the base. Can't help but imagine Saddam giving a speech there, kind of eery. But it's really a nice room.

The show was another good one. I'm sure for Alan, and the entire band, it's got to be a trip to play a show with Marines guarding either side of the stage, and EVERYONE in the room having either an M-16 rifle or .45 sidearm. But this is a war, and who knows, myabe Bob Hope thought the same thing the first time he did it. Anyway, everyone like what they heard, and Alan has now gotten brave with the new in-ear monitors and is running out into the audience during HiFi Connection to get people to sing along. I think he was hesitant to do that before because it's a cardinal sin to get near the PA speakers, much less get in front of them. But Dallan's in complete control, and it's really cool to watch Alan cruise into the audience.

After the show, a little Burger King and Pizza Hut - yes, they've managed to develop trailers that they just drop in, wire up, and voila. Everyone working in them are TCN's (Third Country Nationals), and everyone was tempted to buy a hat that said Pizza Hut Iraq. But no, just food was fine. A few phone calls from the AT&T Call center, and then off to the trailer/container for a little sleep. Tomorrow, another chopper ride....TM