Ramadan Knowledge

Ramadan is coming up. Expected dates are Sept.23 through Oct. 23. Here is some basic knowledge about Ramadan which I found intresting.

Principals of Ramadan:
Ramadan is the most sacred time of worship for all Muslims to honor Allah and to remember the giving of the Qur’an.

During Ramadan, Muslims will:
-Ingest nothing by mouth including food and water or anything nutritional (fast) from sunrise to sunset.
-Abstain from sexual activity from sunrise to sunset
-Try to read the whole Qur’an
-Spend addtional time in prayer

When is Ramadan?
~Ramadan is based upon A Islamic (lunar) calendar and will start once the religious scholars see the first signs of the new moon by the naked eye.

Lailatul-Qadr (Night of “Destiny”)
~ The most significat night during Ramadan in which Muslims remember the giving of the Qur’an to the prophent Muhammad. Also Known as the “The Night of Power”.
~Muslims spend the night asking for forgiveness of their sins and reciting the Qur’an.
~It Falls on one of the last odd numbered days of Ramadan (usually the 27th day of Ramadan)

EID-UL-FITR (End of Ramadan)
-Eid-Ul-Fitr is the most important festival in the Islamic calendar.
-The festival marks the end of Ramadan.
-Eid marks the end of fasting with communal merrymaking that occurs in mosques, homes and open spaces in towns and cities. It symbolizes Islam’s world wide Fraternity.
-Eid resembles Easter.

Thats A little knowledge about Ramadan for those of you who don’t know. We just got our brief. Coalition forces (thats us) have to refrain from eating or drinking in front of them. Using profanity or vulgar language, eating meals and snacks during daylight hours.

An Najaf and Karbala are considered to be holy cities. There will be an increase of Muslim pilgrims to those cities. There will be A lot of gunfire of celebration during El Fitar.

Now, heres something else they told us. There will be more violence during Ramadan then before. Some of the insurgents feel like Allah will grant them more if they attack during Ramadan. For the past 4 years violence has increased during the month of Ramadan. (ex) USS Cole bombing and other attacks on US and coliation forces were done during Ramadan.

Other Pics Of Me

Pictures of The Tower I work at and A small Iraqi Village over looking the Tower.

Iraq and the Violence

I had the day off today. The soldiers from Uganda are taking over some of the towers. So, I decided to play Halo today. All day. For those of you who don’t know, Halo is A video game on xbox (which is the Video game system). Well, I started at 8pm and now its 3:29am. Yes, Non stop Halo with 10-15 other people. We have about 15 tv’s here and they are all linked togather. So, we can all play at the same time. Very popular spot. Thats what I do all the time. Play Halo. Who said Iraq was so bad?? I work for 8 hours and play Halo for 7 hours. But I think Im addicted!

I have been chatting with some of the Uganda soldiers. Some of them told me that they have three wives!! Can you blieve it?? I can’t!!.. Let alone 1, but three?? Man, I have 1 wife and I cant imagine having to worry about three!!

Im kind of  missing Indian food. Umm some appum and motta curry sounds really good right now. I told Anitha to send me some indian sweets. We eat the same food day after day! There are no resturants here, no fast food, no choice! Theres only one place to eat. The local store here does not even carry food. They do have A store here that sells boot leg dvds. We call it the Hajee shop. Hajees are what we call the locals here. We have dvds that here that are still in theatres. I guess in wartime bootleg movies are not A big issue.

Theres also A turkish shop here. Everytime I go in there, the guy wants me to buy A suite from here. “Mister, Mister, 300 Dollar for Coustom Made Suite”. He sells suites. Custom Made suites. He also sells lots of leather jackets shirts and shoes.
“Cheaper then US” Hey, the suites are not bad. They also sell Loui Vatton knock off bags and fake rolexes. If you want anything from Iraq, Just email me.. Let me know if you want Iraqi money or Iraq souvieners or even A custom made suite!

Iraq, amazing….(sigh) The land, the culture, the rich history. I had A chance , to view the land that was in front of me while sitting in the towers. . I wondered how life was in Saddams time.
The other day we had A truck driver trying to come through the gates with A fake ID. He was carrying A 14 year olds ID and we clearly can tell that it was not his ID. When he was questioned, he told us that he was A Sunni Muslim and that the city of  Fallujah was mostly Shite Muslims. He told us that if he go caught here, he would be beaten by the locals.

How life has changed in Iraq. Many Iraqi’s I have talked  at the barber shop and other places  say that life was better on Saddams worst days in Iraq, then it is now with all the violence and loitering .  For example,  A week ago, British troops pulled out of A base A few miles  from here.  They did not inform the IP or the Iraq Police and The local towns people looted everything on the base from doorknobs to whole doors.  The crowd was too much for the Marines or the Local Police to handle. 

  Iraq, is war stricken with Kurds ruling Northern Iraq, and constant fighting between Shites and Sunnis in the South to gain political control.  Violence is getting worse in places like Bhadad and Ramadi. Roadside bombs are common. Mortor Rounds coming into base is common.   We have become accoustomed  to these kind of things.

 This week A famous soccer player and the bodies of 36 Iraqi’s  were found on the streets of Iraq.  I would not be suprised if A civil war broke out today. 
As far as American troops leaving anytime soon… hmm  I don’t  think, in my opinon, American troops will be leaving anytime soon.  The Military will be in Iraq for A very long time. 

Some Pictures!!

Its getting cooler

The weather is getting cooler.  No more hot days.  Some of you want to know why I have not posted pics yet.  Well, We are not allowed too.  They wont let us upload pictures or download them on these computers.  

I just got back from work. Its about 7am here.  Work was boering as usual.  Nothing exciting.  Yesterday we had British troops attacked while bringing A convoy through our gates.  Some of the bullets from the firefight hit our Towers.   This morning A Humvee came through our gates after running over A roadside bomb.   Attacks are getting more frequent as we get closer to Ramadan.  
I been talking to the indians here.  Most of them are leaving.  There contracts are up.  Some of them are staying.  They come here on 17 month contracts from Kerala, AP, Mumbi and other places.  They all have been talking to me. 

We were joking around the other day and said, someone has to be crazy to rob one of the stores here on base or even attempt to.  Everyone here is carrying  A weapon.  Imagaine walking outside your street and every single person you see is carrying A rifle.  

Thats how life is here. 
Theres not much to do.  You go eat, go to the gym, or use the internet.  Thats about it. Theres not much else to do.  I spend most of my time sleeping or using the phone and internet.  I work 8 hour shifts from 8pm to 4am and I get 16 hours off. 

 MY job is to sit on these towers that over look the city.  Making sure there is not any Insurgent Activity.   Tower 9 is my fav. It over looks A small village.   I see kids playing soccer and men with flocks of sheep. I hardly see the women.  The evening prayer sounds off at 7pm.  They have A curfew here. They cannot be out past 11pm.  So, Lights usually go out by 9pm.  They hardly attack at night.  Daylight is when they do all their dirty work.   We try to watch out for rooftop snipers or anyone who looks like they dont belong their. So far I have not seen any activity.   We have not gotten any shots or we have not gotten shot at yet.   The greeters or the gate is A little bit more dangerous.  The gate is outside the base.  They are the first point of contact.  All the conveys come through there.  Sometimes 20 trucks sometimes 50. I got to do that twice.  We also have Iraqi truck drivers.  We have to pull them out and check their passports and check to see if they are carrying any weapons or bombs.  Then we check their trucks.  Alot of saftey measures here.

3am..just another day in Iraq

I just got off work.. Its about 3am and I find myself doing the same thing day in and day out.  I get off work at 2:30 am.  I drop my 30lb flak with bulletproof sappy plates back at my room and walk down this dark road to the internet cafe.    

I am about to go to the gym.  I have been working out, trying to get bigger.  Thanks Ruby for that comment and your insight on my selfishiness  Your right.  I have someone else to think about now.  Update on those guys.  They are doing fine. The IED blew up the tire on the humvee.  Lucky for them .  5 more months to go.

Heres my address for those who were asking.  Send me letters please.. Also candy, and anything else your hearts desire.  I have all the time in the world to read letters. 

LCPL JOSEPH, VINU
Bravo CO. 4th PLT
2-136 CAB DET 1
APO-AE 09387

For those with curious minds, let me answer your questions..

No, I have not killed anyone yet.
Life is actully good here. The food is good.  I still suck at Halo..

HEy

5 minutes ago, one of the marines that are in my company came up to me and told me that they got hit with An IED or roadside bomb while doing patroll! He was freaked out.. he told me they were checking for IEDS and all of A sudden there was a blast on his right side. Nothing happend to them.. Thank God they didnt get blown up. I was asked to be put on that patroll but my STaff SGT wont let me . He told me that I just got married and he wants to see me to go home in one piece.. I am an action junkie.. I like to live life on the edge.. not fair that I have to be stuck on the towers.. Am I being selfish? I love Anitha but man I want to see some actions as well..and I guess my Staff NCO’s are looking out for me . Anitha, be thankfull for them…I was orginally suppose to go do patrolling and I was switched to tower duty..and removed and put on Tower duty….I Guess God is watching out for me..

how come my post wont get posted?

Just got to Germany

We got to Germany. I am here for A couple of hours then we are off to Kuwait.  I slept for the whole plane ride over here. It is 10pm here.  We should be in Kuwait in the next couple of hours.