Fair point, Basrah is a dump ..... wasn't known as GIFA for no reason. However....... it's not here! And senior officer politics aside, I don't have to put up with half the crap I have to put up with when I am in the UK, I work less hours than when I'm in the UK and the constant sparring with the RSM is a good laugh.
Yes I miss my family and friends, but life in Basrah is a hell of a lot easier than life in the UK