Dinner over Iraq

I lean forward in my seat as I gaze out on the desolate plain that is Northern Iraq. We're at FL370 over Kirkuk watching the sun set to our right and a thunderstorm to the left. Down below the clouds I can see the bright pinpricks of light that are oil fields burning off natural gas. It is quiet here in the cockpit, made even more so as the the dark races across the sky and blue fades to grey and then black. Other airplanes are visible with their flashing position lights as we make our way across Iraq. Above us is a British Airways 777 visible at the same time is a unknown tri-jet using a Reach callsign. We are all headed for the Persian Gulf and this airways across Iraq is the shortest route.

Soon the lights of Baghdad and all the fighting down there will pass off the right side of the airplane. Baghdad is visible as we pass it by. Sometimes on the frequency we hear aircraft being cleared to change to a tactical frequency to do whatever missions they have been assigned. I watched this documentary on PBS about a family living in Baghdad before I left New York. Life just seems precarious there as people just try and live their lives. The violence covers all aspects of life - from shopping to staying in their house. I hope that the US decides that democracy will do better without the military presence and leave.

After more gazing out the window, I lean back and work on my dinner - Lasagna was the choice I made tonight, although I had the choice of probably five or six meals to choose from. The pasta plus a roll and some fruit made for a complete dinner. Tomorrow as we come out of Dubai we should get middle eastern food - always tasty.