Hello friends,

It has been awhile since I've been on and updated. Here goes nothing.

I'm about 5 months into my tour now and I still have 7 months to go. It has been getting pretty frustrating over here in Iraq as of late. The presidents decision to send 20,000 more troops was followed by increased violence in Baghdad. I've been worrying about my friends who are there doing their jobs. I miss my family terribly. I have been thinking a lot about what we're doing over here. It's frustrating me. I find no reason to keep doing what we're doing over here because our efforts seem futile at best. They are going to keep putting the pressure on the troops over here until we have no choice but to turn back around and leave. More and more I question how I look as a soldier. The rest of the world must not think much of us. There has been an outpouring of support from back home. People supporting the troops who do not support the war. Yet there is nothing that can be done about our situation. The Democratic majority has been trying to lay out ultimatums for the President without much success. They can only threaten him so much and it's not going to work. I just hope that the next 7 months go quickly and safely. I just want to go back home to my friends and family. The news seems to think that everyone is in high spirits over here, I beg to differ. It's not helping much to write about it. I'd rather not think about it anymore. I just wanted to let anyone who cares know that I am alright. I'm doing everything I can to be happy and to keep my chin up. I'll try to update again soon.