As I've said before, not all of Iraq is the barren wasteland many people imagine it to be. In fact, around this area I think it is quickly approaching harvest time for the local farmers. When on patrol we sometimes pass entire fields of blooming sunflowers, many of them over 6 feet tall. Some areas are very beautiful this time of year, though it's often hard to appreciate it in 120-degree heat.

On a few occasions some locals have stopped to give us gifts of fresh produce from their farms. We've been given tomatoes, cucumbers and even have a giant watermelon ripening in our hallway as I type this.