Kearsarge (LHD 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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Imo es G66 Jj6LWr'T6' T lfm ro U g h M y E ye S We hover low and travel for miles over nothing but a great barren land. Roads leading from nowhere to nowhere... vast. empty diy desert. As we go further inland. the terrain turns a dark cammi beige and light brown spotted with yellow and green vegetation. Hayfield blanket the horizon. Sparse tiny foundations abide alone.Camels and sheep roam freely Visible signs of life. of people. of another culture begin to take form. Bouncing and yawing in the back of a Jeep. the images l'm computing around me are harrowing. The land is in ruins. but not from us. The destruction l see now occurred way before this conflict began. And it's almost as if it's not destruction. not devastation at all, but a country where time stands still. A people jailed together with no chance for accomplishment. An impoverished country ruled in contrast bya dictator surrounded by palaces of gold. As we enter town. children run to the sides of the road. They wave. they smile, they ask for food. Most of the images l capture are from the back of this steadily moving Jeep. Even though the majority of the iraqi people l witness support the military invasion, l've been told minor protests have taken place in the last few days. l'm advised. we want to keep moving. I spend the night speaking with and photographing our Marines. For over a month now. no showers. no hot meals. Still. not one complaint. Just a wish to go home. to be back with friends and families. l listen closely to the state of mind with which lam engaged. Each face. each name. none the same, but all sharing a common thread... the chance for change. to give hope for a new beginning. its now 22:30. I settle myself on a piece of cardboard in the dirt. I am thankful for my life. Saturday April 26 2003 Alicia Tasz 3 Days in iraq - joural excerpt Ap ' APRILA75

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