Saying hello, and I really need a ? answered.

bracgypsy · 08-06-2007, 03:32 PM

Hi Everyone,
Just dropped in to say hello, and wish all of you guys the best of the best.

I do have a few questions that I hope someone here has an answer too!

I will need to explain before I ask the questions, so here goes.

Back in Sept. 2004 as you all well know there was a really bad devastating Hurricane hit the Cayman Islands. "Ivan"........... My husband and I had a very good friend working just north of Baghdad at the time Ivan hit the Cayman's.

To make a long story short we lost all power here for quite some time, and the commuications wasn't up to standards. So we lost contact with our friend who worked in Iraq for a few months. Then all power and commications were restored and wa-la we were back on Planet earth.

I got online to "Yahoo Advanced Member Search", to see if anyone in Iraq near Baghdad was online. I found hundreds of people on Yahoo members search. THEN WOW... I found a Journalist working at a Newspaper office in Baghdad online right then and there, so who better to ask than a Journalist from Baghdad Iraq about "if he had heard about Ivan hitting the Caymans. I knew if he had heard about Ivan, then our friend working in Iraq had heard about Ivan also. I know our friend would have at the least tried to contact us, but months after Ivan hit he had never contacted us. And to this day "3 years later" we have never heard anything from or about him at all. So we don't know what has happened to him.

NOW.... Since then' the Iraqi Journalist from Baghdad whom I have kept in close contact with since Ivan on Yahoo messenger has become a really great friend to both myself and my husband. We always chatted at least 3 to 4 times a week, now no word at all has come from him. I haven't chatted with him now since last month, 7/8/07.

My QUESTION is: Has something happened to the Internet Provider in Baghdad? Or could there be a power problem in that area? I know with all the bombing I hear about on the news there could be something like that wrong with the I.P. or power stations. BUT I am not sure at all.......

I am very worried about my Iraqi friend. Does anyone here have any answers?

Thanks so much!!
BracGypsy..........

**ClutterbusterNY** · 08-06-2007, 04:32 PM

Welcome to the Forums.

Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Just curious, why would you think anyone here could brief you on the state of the technology infrastructure in Iraq?

**Covertness** · 08-06-2007, 06:23 PM

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.

**66MP1** · 08-06-2007, 08:01 PM

Welcome aboard

**Infantrymen** · 08-06-2007, 08:48 PM

Your post raised the red flags with me also and since Covert's post more than stated how I felt I'll post it to be re-read:

Quote:

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.

**Brad** · 08-06-2007, 09:30 PM

Welcome aboard - hope you get your problem straightened out - if it's legit.

bracgypsy · 08-07-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClutterbusterNY

Welcome to the Forums.

Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Just curious, why would you think anyone here could brief you on the state of the technology infrastructure in Iraq?

Thanks for the welcome ClutterbusterNY.....

I am from the US, Florida... I moved to the Caymans 6 and half years ago. I love here it's a safe place to be. There are 3 Cayman Islands, I am on Cayman Brac. These Islands are one of the top diving spots in the world. It's a Great place...

To answer your question I just thought maybe since the Military is in Iraq, that they would know if the IP was still up and running there. This is a Miltary forum' right? I did read online that the IP in Iraq back in 2004, "I think that was the year" went down because it was bombed by insurgents. I just thought since I haven't heard from my friend in Iraq for a whole month' that maybe the same thing could have happened with the IP, and one of you guys might have an answer if IP is up, or down there.

Quote:

BradWelcome aboard - hope you get your problem straightened out - if it's legit.

Thanks Brad for your welcome also, and I hope my problem gets straightened out too!! Also I would not have ask the questions here on a Military site if they were not legit questions.

Quote:

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.

Covertness.......It looks as if you have misread what I said in my first posting. I never said that I thought the IP was down for 3 years. Please read my first posting again. Thanks....

I am sorry you think my posting is B.S. BUT I do asure you it is nothing but the truth. Maybe I have come to the wrong place to ask my questions. You sure know how to make a person feel bad....... Now I am sorry I even ask my questions here....

......... and As for phone numbers, YES I do have phone #s for both my friends in Iraq, The friend we had there a few years back, we tried calling his number but we never got an answer. The Iraqi friend on yahoo messenger, YES I have his phone # too, I have tried calling but I get no answer.

Thanks for the welcome....

Quote:

66MP1 Welcome aboard

Thanks 66MP1

Quote:

Infantrymen Your post raised the red flags with me also and since Covert's post more than stated how I felt I'll post it to be re-read:

Why do you feel my post raised red flags? I am not at all understanding some of you guys. I came here only to try to find out a few questions.... Some of you guys act as if you have no trust left for people. I have ask only honest questions here. Maybe I have ask the wrong people, and place? So sorry to have wasted everones time.

You guys have a nice day, and stay safe, and remember this: There are some people in this world who are still honest.

Take care....

**Covertness** · 08-07-2007, 02:08 PM

when it comes to the safety and security of our brothers and sisters deployed overseas you betcha we're paranoid. You are also correct in the assumption that this is a military oriented site. Most of the members here are veterans or serving on active duty. All of us understand that there are some things we know that have no business getting out in the open on the internet. For example, my little brother is currently in the 82nd Airborne and is serving in Iraq. I will not mention his name, where in Iraq he is serving, when his unit is rotating back home etc. Stuff like that could be used by the terrorists to compromise him, his men and their safety. You are essentially asking us how to get in contact with somebody overseas. For that kind of information, yes you have come to the wrong place. While I do wish you the best of luck in re-acquiring contact with your friend(s) I don't know you and I ain't telling you shit. If he really is your friend you should appreciate that.

And I said your post sounds like BS, I didn't say it was BS. Maybe it is you who should re-read my post.

Again, I wish you the best of luck but it might be time for the harshness of reality to set in. If you have phone numbers and get no response to messages or no answers at all, it might be that they don't want to contact you. I'm sorry I don't have answers for you.

bracgypsy · 08-07-2007, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Covertness

when it comes to the safety and security of our brothers and sisters deployed overseas you betcha we're paranoid. You are also correct in the assumption that this is a military oriented site. Most of the members here are veterans or serving on active duty. All of us understand that there are some things we know that have no business getting out in the open on the internet. For example, my little brother is currently in the 82nd Airborne and is serving in Iraq. I will not mention his name, where in Iraq he is serving, when his unit is rotating back home etc. Stuff like that could be used by the terrorists to compromise him, his men and their safety. You are essentially asking us how to get in contact with somebody overseas. For that kind of information, yes you have come to the wrong place. While I do wish you the best of luck in re-acquiring contact with your friend(s) I don't know you and I ain't telling you shit. If he really is your friend you should appreciate that.

And I said your post sounds like BS, I didn't say it was BS. Maybe it is you who should re-read my post.

Again, I wish you the best of luck but it might be time for the harshness of reality to set in. If you have phone numbers and get no response to messages or no answers at all, it might be that they don't want to contact you. I'm sorry I don't have answers for you.

Quote:

when it comes to the safety and security of our brothers and sisters deployed overseas you betcha we're paranoid.

Wow you sure know how to hurt someone feelings.
I am not asking for anyone here to get in contact with anyone in Iraq for me... I am not asking about anyone who is deployed overseas or one of your brothers or sisters. Where did I say that in my first posting? I am getting very confused on why you are saying things that I haven't even ask or said!!...

Quote:

You are essentially asking us how to get in contact with somebody overseas.

NO............. I kindly ask a simple question about the Internet Provider there, if it was up or if it was down in Iraq.......... I never asked anyone here about getting in touch with a person there for me. NOW did I? Where did you read that in my first posting?

I just have not been able to get in touch with my friend in Iraq for a month now, I am a bit worried about him. Then here you are going off on me very rudely, and saying things I have never said or ask.. What's up with that?

LET me paste my questions again.... OK?

My QUESTION is: Has something happened to the Internet Provider in Baghdad? Or could there be a power problem in that area? I know with all the bombing I hear about on the news there could be something like that wrong with the I.P. or power stations. BUT I am not sure at all.......

I don't think I was rude in how I ask my 2 questions, BUT you being rude to me is not a nice way to treat someone who is just asking a simple question about the IP in Iraq.

Thank you!

**Covertness** · 08-07-2007, 08:09 PM

You're welcome but you should know that I have yet to be rude to you. If your widdle feelings have been hurt by words on your computer monitor I can't help you.

Kindly allow me to past back to you eh?

Quote:

I do have a few questions that I hope someone here has an answer too!

Implication that you have multiple questions...

Quote:

blah, blah, blah, I got hit by a fucking hurricane, lost power and commo with outside world

Not a question per se so I didn't comment on it in my first reponse to you but since you want rudeness.... Hey you live on the water that kind of shit happens.

Quote:

I got online to "Yahoo Advanced Member Search", to see if anyone in Iraq near Baghdad was online. I found hundreds of people on Yahoo members search. THEN WOW... I found a Journalist working at a Newspaper office in Baghdad online right then and there, so who better to ask than a Journalist from Baghdad Iraq about "if he had heard about Ivan hitting the Caymans. I knew if he had heard about Ivan, then our friend working in Iraq had heard about Ivan also. I know our friend would have at the least tried to contact us, but months after Ivan hit he had never contacted us. And to this day "3 years later" we have never heard anything from or about him at all. So we don't know what has happened to him.

Not a direct question but an implied one. In short, once your power and commo was restored you tried to re-establish commo with your friend in the sandbox. You discovered a reporter pogue there and in a round about way tried to see if maybe your friend heard you went through a hurricane (re-interject comment vs living on the ocean). Now three years later you still haven't been able to contact your friend. Here's the implied question that you're trying to find a way to contact somebody overseas in a war zone. This is the part I have a problem with.

Quote:

NOW.... Since then' the Iraqi Journalist from Baghdad whom I have kept in close contact with since Ivan on Yahoo messenger has become a really great friend to both myself and my husband. We always chatted at least 3 to 4 ti