Flights from Africa to Iraq? '03-'04 - war stories
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Flights from Africa to Iraq? '03-'04 - war stories
Hi Guys,
I'm currently putting together a book proposal for a publisher recounting the life and times in Iraq between 2003 and 2004. The book will divided into different sections in regards to the war so getting the points of views of different sets of people in different places on the ground (or up in the air in this case) each chapter moving into the next via anecdotal stories.
I originally posted in the ME forum but a pilot friend mentioned to me I'd probably get more stories from those flying into ME from Africa.
I know Baghdad International Airport was quite the hub so it will have a section of its own therefore:
1. I'd love to hear some anecdotes, stories, or any tales of "local legends" you all could share with me if you were operating there at the time - military and non-military tales welcome. If something is too sensitive, no need to name names, you can always nickname a character as needed (although if I get a 'second' witness to a confirm tale in this thread - verifications are always helpful!). Colorful tales make books interesting and really help kick off and finish off each chapter and engage the reader between what would otherwise be dry facts.
2. If anyone knows any facts regarding the airport (i.e. what companies were flying in and out during the period besides the usual military bunch, security situation, were there good regulations in place regarding the receipt of cargo and people or was it a total mess? etc.) that would also be helpful. If anyone could point me to good research sources for this, such as where to request paper information or even books you think are worth reading, that would be great. I'm entirely unfamiliar with aviation as an industry and where to get this kind of info. My library has been somewhat helpful albeit limited on this point.
3. I'm also writing about Iraq Reconstruction: one of the more interesting stories on that is all the money flying in and out of the country to stabilize the economy and aid reconstruction efforts there (i.e. US dollars flying in, old Iraqi currency flying out, new Iraqi currency flying in). I've gotten an aneurysm reading the news online between '03 and '04 on this. One news clip claimed there was only one official for the entire period in the airport between '03 and '08 who was counting and signing off on billions of dollars for reconstruction. I found that insanely unbelievable, saw it confirmed in an official US audit report, but I still find it unbelievable anyways: is it true??? If anyone has any stories on the "monopoly money" flights it would be helpful. Here's the media link- NY Fed's $40 Billion Iraqi Money Trail (for kicks: I also read in that US audit in small print next to a footnote that the Iraqi Minister of Finance drove up to the Baghdad International Airport and signed off on USD 150 million directly from one of these cash flights and ran off with it. The audit report noted this withdrawal was 'unauthorized'
)
4. The Insurgency & security situation: What was your experience landing in Baghdad between '03 and '04? What was the security situation like? When flights came into Baghdad to land were they able to do so on all occasions or did they have to post-pone flights into Baghdad due to security reasons? If you made a stop in Baghdad and stayed grounded for a while due to security issues - where did you guys stay? Did you meet any interesting characters on the ground? Any vivid memories worth recounting? Memorable characters?
I probably have a lot more questions than this do forgive the seeming lack of organization and general lack of knowledge as I've only been doing all the news research for a few months now so my brain is Iraq-saturated right now on several different issues.
If you think there are other forums in PPRuNe I could post this too that would be more helpful to me, do let me know.
Look forward to your war stories!
I'm currently putting together a book proposal for a publisher recounting the life and times in Iraq between 2003 and 2004. The book will divided into different sections in regards to the war so getting the points of views of different sets of people in different places on the ground (or up in the air in this case) each chapter moving into the next via anecdotal stories.
I originally posted in the ME forum but a pilot friend mentioned to me I'd probably get more stories from those flying into ME from Africa.
I know Baghdad International Airport was quite the hub so it will have a section of its own therefore:
1. I'd love to hear some anecdotes, stories, or any tales of "local legends" you all could share with me if you were operating there at the time - military and non-military tales welcome. If something is too sensitive, no need to name names, you can always nickname a character as needed (although if I get a 'second' witness to a confirm tale in this thread - verifications are always helpful!). Colorful tales make books interesting and really help kick off and finish off each chapter and engage the reader between what would otherwise be dry facts.
2. If anyone knows any facts regarding the airport (i.e. what companies were flying in and out during the period besides the usual military bunch, security situation, were there good regulations in place regarding the receipt of cargo and people or was it a total mess? etc.) that would also be helpful. If anyone could point me to good research sources for this, such as where to request paper information or even books you think are worth reading, that would be great. I'm entirely unfamiliar with aviation as an industry and where to get this kind of info. My library has been somewhat helpful albeit limited on this point.
3. I'm also writing about Iraq Reconstruction: one of the more interesting stories on that is all the money flying in and out of the country to stabilize the economy and aid reconstruction efforts there (i.e. US dollars flying in, old Iraqi currency flying out, new Iraqi currency flying in). I've gotten an aneurysm reading the news online between '03 and '04 on this. One news clip claimed there was only one official for the entire period in the airport between '03 and '08 who was counting and signing off on billions of dollars for reconstruction. I found that insanely unbelievable, saw it confirmed in an official US audit report, but I still find it unbelievable anyways: is it true??? If anyone has any stories on the "monopoly money" flights it would be helpful. Here's the media link- NY Fed's $40 Billion Iraqi Money Trail (for kicks: I also read in that US audit in small print next to a footnote that the Iraqi Minister of Finance drove up to the Baghdad International Airport and signed off on USD 150 million directly from one of these cash flights and ran off with it. The audit report noted this withdrawal was 'unauthorized'
) 4. The Insurgency & security situation: What was your experience landing in Baghdad between '03 and '04? What was the security situation like? When flights came into Baghdad to land were they able to do so on all occasions or did they have to post-pone flights into Baghdad due to security reasons? If you made a stop in Baghdad and stayed grounded for a while due to security issues - where did you guys stay? Did you meet any interesting characters on the ground? Any vivid memories worth recounting? Memorable characters?
I probably have a lot more questions than this do forgive the seeming lack of organization and general lack of knowledge as I've only been doing all the news research for a few months now so my brain is Iraq-saturated right now on several different issues.
If you think there are other forums in PPRuNe I could post this too that would be more helpful to me, do let me know.
Look forward to your war stories!
