Pics from Iraq.

[Jake D]

A friend has a brother over in Iraq.  You know in the movies when a sandstorm it coming and there is just that wall of sand in the sky?  That is pretty much right on.

[Ed_in_Az]

Of course I'd prefer to think that's not real.

If it is, then:

1. Why are those people just STANDING THERE???

2. It makes me love this Arizona version of desert even more.

[Jake D]

Oh that is real.  He sent like three more pictures too where the sand is actually closer.  I just thought that one was the coolest.  In one photo the sand is really close and you can see GI's running in the foreground trying for cover and then one guy is just standing there, looking right up at it.  He said that it is calm and then all of the sudden the winds gust to 50 mph you can't see crap.  Then after it passes there is just dust on everything.  They are expecting another one tonight.  Also, he is stoked because he might get to meet Toby Keith.  

If you want I may be able to get more pics of that storm.

[Jake D]

He wrote:
"Hey everyone,
The other night we had a bad sandstorm here.  The storm went through Al Asad in the Marine sector a couple of hours before it reached us.  Here are some pictures that the Staff Weather Officer took as the Sand Storm hit.  It looks like something right out of the movies.  By the time it got to us it was dark so we could not see it coming like in the pictures but when it hit it was unbelievable. The winds were gusting over 50 MPH an the dust made it impossible to see.  My CHU has so many holes in it, the sand came right thru the walls.  There was a thick layer of dust everywhere.  I spent hours cleaning today.

There is another sand storm coming in tonight.  When I came to work at midnight, there was no wind at all.  Within 30 minutes the wind was steady at 30 mph and gusting to 50 mph.  I've switched shifts (yet again) and I am now working midnight to 8 am.  It is really hard to switch shifts like this.  I am sooooo tired right now and I've got over 4 hours to go.

We just got word today that Toby Keith is coming here soon.  Since I am one of the only country music fans here (these New Yorkers don't appreciate good music) it looks like I'm going to the show.  He is going to travel to several bases and give an acoustic concert for the troops. We are in charge of flying him around while he is here so I'm going to try and jump on one of the flights.  I'll let you know how it goes

All is well here except for the sand storms.  I hope to hear from you all soon,
Leif "

[john]

I believe we have those here in Phoenix too.

[Jake D]

Does it look like that?  That big?  

I'd still take one over the tornados we have here.

[Altruism111]

Better have good air filters on your engines!

[iandunn]

here's some more photos

[yamahonkawazuki]

I believe we have those here in Phoenix too.

.
damn right you do, those are why, while i lived there i never washed my truck   ive still got some of the az desert in my trucks tail-light housings :lol: