This day trip was so cool it deserved it's own gallery... My boss sent our head engineer, Ion Irimescu, & I to Camp Anaconda outside of Balad to do a site inspection on May 15th, 2005. All I really cared about was the helicopter ride there and back, a half hour each way. Awesome! I wanna grow up to be a helicopter pilot now. Anyway, the experience also afforded me the opportunity to get some nice shots of the Iraqi countryside... http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021481/85500021_MKi7d-Ti.jpg http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/gallery/539192_2RzgS/ 2006-08-01T20:20:35Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Man, I really just don't look like I belong here at all. But what do you know? I am! This is a Blackhawk we're in. Woo hoo!</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500021_MKi7d" title="Man, I really just don't look like I belong here at all. But what do you know? I am! This is a Blackhawk we're in. Woo hoo!"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021481/85500021_MKi7d-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Man, I really just don't look like I belong here at all. But what do you know? I am! This is a Blackhawk we're in. Woo hoo!" title="Man, I really just don't look like I belong here at all. But what do you know? I am! This is a Blackhawk we're in. Woo hoo!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-15T11:55:36Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021481/85500021_MKi7d-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 07:23:10 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Ion, our Romanian engineer.</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500022_JXrUu" title="Ion, our Romanian engineer."><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021430/85500022_JXrUu-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Ion, our Romanian engineer." title="Ion, our Romanian engineer." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:33:43Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021430/85500022_JXrUu-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 12:01:09 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Ion & I. Nope, still don't look like I belong in a helicopter.</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500023_6rXLK" title="Ion & I. Nope, still don't look like I belong in a helicopter."><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021431/85500023_6rXLK-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Ion & I. Nope, still don't look like I belong in a helicopter." title="Ion & I. Nope, still don't look like I belong in a helicopter." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-15T12:00:26Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021431/85500023_6rXLK-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 12:01:21 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500024_AGrBi" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021433/85500024_AGrBi-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:30:57Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021433/85500024_AGrBi-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 12:05:46 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500025_PWX6s" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021434/85500025_PWX6s-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-15T11:56:23Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021434/85500025_PWX6s-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 12:06:05 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500026_n9Cci" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021441/85500026_n9Cci-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:34:07Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021441/85500026_n9Cci-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 12:11:02 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500027_X9eVV" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021439/85500027_X9eVV-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-15T11:53:49Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021439/85500027_X9eVV-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 12:10:05 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500028_pVe62" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021435/85500028_pVe62-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:31:57Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021435/85500028_pVe62-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 12:06:21 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500030_VDSGL" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021436/85500030_VDSGL-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:30:51Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021436/85500030_VDSGL-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 12:07:26 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500034_bxi9e" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021437/85500034_bxi9e-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:32:55Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021437/85500034_bxi9e-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 12:08:23 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500035_NqdeX" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021447/85500035_NqdeX-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside with a gun pointed at it" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:31:05Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021447/85500035_NqdeX-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 12:15:42 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside and the tigris river with a gun pointed at it</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500036_tpY9w" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside and the tigris river with a gun pointed at it"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021440/85500036_tpY9w-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside and the tigris river with a gun pointed at it" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi countryside and the tigris river with a gun pointed at it" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:34:44Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021440/85500036_tpY9w-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 12:10:48 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Arriving at Camp Anaconda</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500038_tX2Va" title="Arriving at Camp Anaconda"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021450/85500038_tX2Va-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Arriving at Camp Anaconda" title="Arriving at Camp Anaconda" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-10T06:47:39Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021450/85500038_tX2Va-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 12:23:15 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Arriving at Camp Anaconda</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500039_59Cn5" title="Arriving at Camp Anaconda"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021498/85500039_59Cn5-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Arriving at Camp Anaconda" title="Arriving at Camp Anaconda" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-15T11:57:48Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021498/85500039_59Cn5-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:04:42 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Dust Storm at Camp Anaconda... I know it's not a very interesting photograph, but hey, dust storm. duh.</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500040_WkCcC" title="Dust Storm at Camp Anaconda... I know it's not a very interesting photograph, but hey, dust storm. duh."><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021472/85500040_WkCcC-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Dust Storm at Camp Anaconda... I know it's not a very interesting photograph, but hey, dust storm. duh." title="Dust Storm at Camp Anaconda... I know it's not a very interesting photograph, but hey, dust storm. duh." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-15T12:03:26Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021472/85500040_WkCcC-Th.jpg 2003-01-01 15:54:41 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Getting back on the Blackhawk for Baghdad</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500041_MaE8F" title="Getting back on the Blackhawk for Baghdad"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021479/85500041_MaE8F-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Getting back on the Blackhawk for Baghdad" title="Getting back on the Blackhawk for Baghdad" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-15T12:05:06Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021479/85500041_MaE8F-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 07:19:50 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Another Blackhawk taking off, as I couldn't very well get a picture of ours taking off, now could I?</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85500042_NU2uD" title="Another Blackhawk taking off, as I couldn't very well get a picture of ours taking off, now could I?"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021482/85500042_NU2uD-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Another Blackhawk taking off, as I couldn't very well get a picture of ours taking off, now could I?" title="Another Blackhawk taking off, as I couldn't very well get a picture of ours taking off, now could I?" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-15T11:53:54Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021482/85500042_NU2uD-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 07:43:29 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi country side with a gun pointed at it from inside the Blackhawk</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509003_6uQJg" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi country side with a gun pointed at it from inside the Blackhawk"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021503/85509003_6uQJg-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi country side with a gun pointed at it from inside the Blackhawk" title="Okay, there are alot of these, so I'll just leave the caption the same unless I have something better to say... pretty Iraqi country side with a gun pointed at it from inside the Blackhawk" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:34:09Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021503/85509003_6uQJg-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:09:23 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Another inside the Blackhawk photo</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509004_U6HUc" title="Another inside the Blackhawk photo"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021506/85509004_U6HUc-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Another inside the Blackhawk photo" title="Another inside the Blackhawk photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-15T11:54:11Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021506/85509004_U6HUc-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:14:31 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />What should have been a really awesome shot was partially ruined by dirty Blackhawk window glass...GRRRRrrrrrrr</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509005_T5pDG" title="What should have been a really awesome shot was partially ruined by dirty Blackhawk window glass...GRRRRrrrrrrr"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021501/85509005_T5pDG-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="What should have been a really awesome shot was partially ruined by dirty Blackhawk window glass...GRRRRrrrrrrr" title="What should have been a really awesome shot was partially ruined by dirty Blackhawk window glass...GRRRRrrrrrrr" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-10T06:49:19Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021501/85509005_T5pDG-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:07:19 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />If you look closely, you can see farming Iraqis going about their business!</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509006_YPZvJ" title="If you look closely, you can see farming Iraqis going about their business!"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021510/85509006_YPZvJ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="If you look closely, you can see farming Iraqis going about their business!" title="If you look closely, you can see farming Iraqis going about their business!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:31:07Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021510/85509006_YPZvJ-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:17:32 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />If you look closely, you can see farming Iraqis going about their business!</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509007_HigAZ" title="If you look closely, you can see farming Iraqis going about their business!"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021509/85509007_HigAZ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="If you look closely, you can see farming Iraqis going about their business!" title="If you look closely, you can see farming Iraqis going about their business!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:34:25Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021509/85509007_HigAZ-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:17:08 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />If you look closely, you can see farming Iraqis going about their business!</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509009_asyAP" title="If you look closely, you can see farming Iraqis going about their business!"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021514/85509009_asyAP-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="If you look closely, you can see farming Iraqis going about their business!" title="If you look closely, you can see farming Iraqis going about their business!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-10T06:29:46Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021514/85509009_asyAP-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:18:15 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />If you look closely, you can see Iraqis going about their business!</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509010_Jipcy" title="If you look closely, you can see Iraqis going about their business!"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021515/85509010_Jipcy-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="If you look closely, you can see Iraqis going about their business!" title="If you look closely, you can see Iraqis going about their business!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:31:35Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021515/85509010_Jipcy-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:18:32 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />If you look closely, you can see Iraqis going about their business!</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509012_hiMzZ" title="If you look closely, you can see Iraqis going about their business!"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021519/85509012_hiMzZ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="If you look closely, you can see Iraqis going about their business!" title="If you look closely, you can see Iraqis going about their business!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-15T11:52:50Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021519/85509012_hiMzZ-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:19:52 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Arriving on the outskirts of Baghdad</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509013_EixpT" title="Arriving on the outskirts of Baghdad"><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021523/85509013_EixpT-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Arriving on the outskirts of Baghdad" title="Arriving on the outskirts of Baghdad" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:32:56Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021523/85509013_EixpT-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:21:13 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Baghdad proper... I absolutely loved this. Seeing Baghdad from the sky was a total mindblaster... I am not a hippie. ...For saying mindblaster, I mean. -but it was, so leave me alone.</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509014_Dx4SN" title="Baghdad proper... I absolutely loved this. Seeing Baghdad from the sky was a total mindblaster... I am not a hippie. ...For saying mindblaster, I mean. -but it was, so leave me alone."><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021527/85509014_Dx4SN-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Baghdad proper... I absolutely loved this. Seeing Baghdad from the sky was a total mindblaster... I am not a hippie. ...For saying mindblaster, I mean. -but it was, so leave me alone." title="Baghdad proper... I absolutely loved this. Seeing Baghdad from the sky was a total mindblaster... I am not a hippie. ...For saying mindblaster, I mean. -but it was, so leave me alone." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:33:16Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021527/85509014_Dx4SN-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:23:04 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />Crossing over into the Green Zone...</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509015_M3ZpM" title="Crossing over into the Green Zone..."><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021528/85509015_M3ZpM-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Crossing over into the Green Zone..." title="Crossing over into the Green Zone..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:33:01Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021528/85509015_M3ZpM-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:23:19 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />...and this is the showstopper, ladies and gentlemen. If you check out my Baghdad gallery, you'll see close up ground photos of this stuff. If you look real close you can also see Celebratio ...</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509016_j8NbE" title="...and this is the showstopper, ladies and gentlemen. If you check out my Baghdad gallery, you'll see close up ground photos of this stuff. If you look real close you can also see Celebratio ..."><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021529/85509016_j8NbE-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="...and this is the showstopper, ladies and gentlemen. If you check out my Baghdad gallery, you'll see close up ground photos of this stuff. If you look real close you can also see Celebratio ..." title="...and this is the showstopper, ladies and gentlemen. If you check out my Baghdad gallery, you'll see close up ground photos of this stuff. If you look real close you can also see Celebratio ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-10T06:39:40Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021529/85509016_j8NbE-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:23:37 <p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com">messiestobjects</a><br />And the final shot as we're about to descend. I can't figure out what building this is, though.</p><p><a href="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/539192_2RzgS#85509019_jWs5b" title="And the final shot as we're about to descend. I can't figure out what building this is, though."><img src="http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021530/85509019_jWs5b-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="And the final shot as we're about to descend. I can't figure out what building this is, though." title="And the final shot as we're about to descend. I can't figure out what building this is, though." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-17T22:31:35Z messiestobjects http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com http://messiestobjects.smugmug.com/Travel/My-Middle-Eastern-Days/Blackhawk-Ride-to-Balad-Iraq/1021530/85509019_jWs5b-Th.jpg 2003-01-02 08:23:55