Beer (in Iraq)

I'm headed back east in 2 days! Though Jordan isn't supposed to be as energetic as Cairo, I can't wait.

Surprisingly, people have been shocked that there is liquor in the Middle East. I think I've mentioned that Egypt has its own brand of beer, right? Stella. It isn't Stella Artolis - but it comes in bigger bottles! Jordan has an Amstel brewery.

So maybe these American soldiers in Iraq get to have Amstel for their two-beer Superbowl quota.

All sorts of rumors have sprung up here since the Army announced that each soldier in Iraq would get two beers -- and two beers only -- during Super Bowl XLIII, a rare break from the no-alcohol-in-a-war-zone policy. While people at home fixate about the game, troops in Iraq talk about the beer. Is it good? Will they actually get it? Where is this beer hidden? One whisper has it with the ammo. These guys, who are members of the hard-charging 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, joke about staging a midnight commando raid. Covert ops, baby. One says he's going to mix the beer with an energy drink, a Baghdad Jagerbomb. The anticipation is palpable.

The article is an alternatively fun and serious look at Iraq soldier life. The writing is heavy-handed, but it's interesting. There are the battle scenes, people who just want to go home, a discussion of caffeine, and here's a young soldier complaining about not fighting:

He has been here two months and hasn't been engaged. He might be baby-faced, but he's a trained soldier and believes he'll react with courage and honor when his time comes. He wants some contact, wants to fight for his country. Let's get it on. "Ready to go kick in a door," he says, "and we're here walking, giving kids soccer balls."

Peacemaking? Sucks! But really, it warms a girl's heart to see pictures like this:

Good luck soldiers! Come home soon and safe.