Kirkuk is on the border of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, which is very pro American. Safety is a concern ALL over Iraq, but not so much an issue in the Kurdish controlled areas. However, Kirkuk is where the Kurds, Arabs and Turks all come together - and there is lots of petroleum reserves yet to be developed. So while it is safer than Basra in the south, it is not without risks. One such risk is IDF (indirect fire).
Anyone wanting to harass and harm Americans can simply shoot his rocket up over the base and hope it lands somewhere to make great damage. We have systems in place to detect "incoming" fire and sound the alarm. You hear a mechanical voice screaming "incoming, incoming!" Baaahnnkkk, baaahnnkkk, baaahnnkkk!" Then you grab your protective vest and helmet, dive into the nearest bunker and hope you're not hit. Kirkuk's system gives more warning than most other posts in Iraq...you get all of 20 seconds before impact. LOL, I know it is nothing to laugh at, but most of the time the devices cause very little damage or don't even explode. I, of course, have never been hit and have never lost friends due to such an attack. But I am of the mind that you do have to be able to shrug it off or else you will constantly live in fear...and I simply cannot live that way.
Before I arrived the base was taking about 1-3 IDF per week, and for quite some time after I arrived it did not happen. Once it happened at 2 in the afternoon on my day off and I was in my CHU napping with the air conditioning and TV on, and the generator running (constantly) just outside my door...I never even heard it. I have met a guy who went to the gym early in the morning and came back to find that the IDF had landed in his bed...He's happy he likes to work out early in the day.
The base, our compound was maintained by the military, but they have since gone. It is too large for us alone to manage and maintain so we need to find a new home. For the time being our Consulate Kirkuk will physically be located in the city of Erbil, about 60 miles north. Yep, we're moving - again!
Several of us were sent ahead by a few days to begin receiving and setting up offices. We flew via helo from Kirkuk to Erbil. The "new" compound is a construction zone, but it does not take any IDF.
Several of us said this was the most bored we have ever been...locked inside a small acreage with nothing but a DFAC, offices and CHUs. The CHUs themselves are larger and nicer than we had before.
Honestly, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the rest of our group, who seem to be delayed daily by some glitch, some security issue...and our old compound and Kirkuk in general is experiencing a much higher rate of attacks. We worry for their safety though most of them are the ones who protect us. We will all breath easier when the move is completed.
Anyone wanting to harass and harm Americans can simply shoot his rocket up over the base and hope it lands somewhere to make great damage. We have systems in place to detect "incoming" fire and sound the alarm. You hear a mechanical voice screaming "incoming, incoming!" Baaahnnkkk, baaahnnkkk, baaahnnkkk!" Then you grab your protective vest and helmet, dive into the nearest bunker and hope you're not hit. Kirkuk's system gives more warning than most other posts in Iraq...you get all of 20 seconds before impact. LOL, I know it is nothing to laugh at, but most of the time the devices cause very little damage or don't even explode. I, of course, have never been hit and have never lost friends due to such an attack. But I am of the mind that you do have to be able to shrug it off or else you will constantly live in fear...and I simply cannot live that way.
Before I arrived the base was taking about 1-3 IDF per week, and for quite some time after I arrived it did not happen. Once it happened at 2 in the afternoon on my day off and I was in my CHU napping with the air conditioning and TV on, and the generator running (constantly) just outside my door...I never even heard it. I have met a guy who went to the gym early in the morning and came back to find that the IDF had landed in his bed...He's happy he likes to work out early in the day.
The base, our compound was maintained by the military, but they have since gone. It is too large for us alone to manage and maintain so we need to find a new home. For the time being our Consulate Kirkuk will physically be located in the city of Erbil, about 60 miles north. Yep, we're moving - again!
Several of us were sent ahead by a few days to begin receiving and setting up offices. We flew via helo from Kirkuk to Erbil. The "new" compound is a construction zone, but it does not take any IDF.
Several of us said this was the most bored we have ever been...locked inside a small acreage with nothing but a DFAC, offices and CHUs. The CHUs themselves are larger and nicer than we had before.
Honestly, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the rest of our group, who seem to be delayed daily by some glitch, some security issue...and our old compound and Kirkuk in general is experiencing a much higher rate of attacks. We worry for their safety though most of them are the ones who protect us. We will all breath easier when the move is completed.
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