[Covertness]

And why would you think the IP for the troops in Iraq would be down for three years?

And all of my really good friends have phones I can contact them on. Even if they were overseas I'd at least be able to contact their home or one of their friends.

Did you never ask your reporter friend in the same AO as your really good friend to get a word to him. "Hey I have this really good friend who works with Triple Canopy there in Baghdad. Do you think you could help me contact him?"

I also welcome you to the forums but I warn you. We care a great deal about everybody that is deployed. Subsequently, we hold OPSEC and PERSEC in very, very high regard. (that's Operational security and personell security for you civilians). That being said, your story sounds like BS.