APRIL 21 – Politically, I have been forced to reconsider the relative merits of war versus diplomacy. I’ve been generally surprised with how much precision and restraint the US military can afford to use on the battlefield in its current position of absolute dominance. Waiting in Kuwait City, a colleague likened war to doing brain surgery with a blunt instrument. I, too, have long put great stock in the diplomatic process as a more stable way to solve problems than brute force. But the final tally of this quick war’s dead is likely to be lower than the number of civilians who died as a result of a decade of sanctions. Which was the blunter instrument?

At the same time, wars like this one create an untoward dependency on the US that we seem reluctant to acknowledge. In Iraq, I stood at an air base checkpoint where civilians had come to petition the US for help. One man carried his adolescent daughter, who he said had leukemia. This military that can sweep cruel dictators aside in weeks is becoming seen as a miracle worker around the world. We’re already seeing disappointment percolate in Iraq as the US has still not been able to bring the power back on after several weeks of securing cities. With war, the US takes on responsibility for the well-being of millions, but it’s rarely spelled out to the American people in those terms.

Socially, I realized that I had something in common with the troops. We are all idealists - and I was surprised how much this made other differences seem insignificant. The troops believe strongly in their mission, and they respected that I volunteered to join them out of a commitment to my own craft.

Do any of the servicemen or women need or want anything to be sent to them? My school is having a fundraiser to send anything they are looking for - we would be more than happy and willing to get it for them! We are behind them 110% and hoping you keep safe! We are rooting and praying for all of you! We are all thankful for what you are doing! And don't forget there might be protesters, but there will always be more supporters!!!!
Claire A., Norwood, Mass.

APRIL 14 – Claire - It's great that you are getting involved in your community at your age. What the troops here say they enjoy the most from students are handmade cards and posters that show their support. Many of the operations buildings on base have these kinds of posters and cards hanging up. As for monetary support, there is a program set up that allows citizens to donate money to purchase phone cards so that troops can call home. See http://www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html for more details.

Do the US troops show interest in public opinion about the war that is [expressed] in other countries?
Frances Torti, Bellville, Argentina

APRIL 14 – Yes. Before the war in particular, many US troops followed the diplomatic maneuvering with great interest. Some troops are bitter at French opposition to the US and UK over Iraq in the United Nations. When crowds came out to cheer US forces in Baghdad, one soldier quipped, "I wonder how that translates into French?"

In general, military personnel are more knowledgeable about foreign nations than average citizens. This is because so many of them have been deployed all over the world. At this point in US history, the sun never sets on the US military. I still remember how surprised I was when I overheard a teenage soldier refer to "Tajikistan."

I find it interesting that I have heard very few negative comments about the Germans here, even though they were just as much against the war as the French. My guess is that many US service men and women have served long rotations in Germany, making them more sympathetic to German culture.

I just read your Dispatch #21 regarding the Giant Voice. Welcome to the military! Been there, done that, got the T-shirt! :-)
Tod Hegstrom, Phoenix, Ariz.

APRIL 14 – That dispatch has generated the most positive feedback of any of the dispatches. I guess people everywhere can relate to dealing with red tape.

Where do you sleep? Are there Port-A-Potties? Do you have weapons, and if so, do you know how to use them? If you don't personally have them, do you feel safe? Are there special soldiers who protect the embedded guys? Of course, reading your comments, I assume you are in a rather fixed area. Will you be moving up?
Carolyn Dain, Golden, Co.

APRIL 6 – I am embedded with the Air Force, which means that I am staying on fixed bases. The base in Kuwait where I've spent most of my time has a surprising number of amenities. There are several mess halls and bathroom trailers with running water and regular toilets. I sleep in a tent, as do many troops on base. Others sleep in warehouses or trailers.

When the Air Force moves forward, it moves personnel to other fixed bases. I have just moved forward to Talil in Iraq. The facilities here are only starting to get built up. So I am sleeping on a cot inside an aircraft hangar, which has wide openings on either end. There is no running water, and we use homemade portable toilets. They are essentially wooden booths with a piece of plywood inside to sit on. The hole is very thoughtfully lined with duct tape to avoid splinters.

I do not have a weapon. The Pentagon forbids embedded journalists to carry firearms - not that I would want to carry one, anyway. It compromises a journalist's civilian status. And, personally, I have no firearms training. Generally, I feel safe, but that is because both Talil and the base in Kuwait have extensive perimeter force protection. There are no special soldiers with the Air Force to protect embedded journalists.

With the weather getting hot, do troops sleeping in tents have outlets near their cots for small electric fans? What kind of fan could they use? I'd like to send my daughter one.
Beth Kelly, Franklin, Mass.

APRIL 6 – At the air base in Kuwait, most tents in Tent City have pretty fancy air conditioning systems. The air is blown into a canvas pipe that runs along the ceiling. There are slits in the pipe that circulate the air in the tent. It's perfectly comfortable. The marines on base, however, do not have air conditioning in their tents. I would imagine it would depend where your daughter is stationed. If she's in a fixed location, then a larger fan would be practical. Otherwise, get her something small and portable, because everyone already has a ton of gear to move around. You might also consider sending along a small power converter.

I don't have a question today, but would like to comment. Our son is in the Hounds of Heaven Squadron. I want to thank you for your dispatches from the 332nd. I was so happy to find out about the website and to be able to read them. They are giving us an additional perspective on what our son is experiencing and what else we can do to support him. Information is so important to families as we wait for our loved ones to return. Thank you again.
Lynne Engberg, Rosemount, Minn.

What has disturbed you the most during your stay?
Zachary Wong, Jericho, N.Y.

APRIL 6 – I have only seen mini-outrages:

Have you met any Iraqis that speak fluent English? What do they say?
Hillel Felman, New York, N.Y.

APRIL 6 – Not a lot of Iraqis hang out at air bases in Kuwait. The last Iraqi I met who spoke English was with me at the Kuwait City Marriott waiting with all the journalists to embed. He worked for Radio Sawa, an experiment by the Voice of America to get the US government's perspective heard in the Middle East. Interestingly, he escaped Iraq after the Shiite rebellion in southern Iraq was quashed by Saddam Hussein's forces following Desert Storm. (The rebellion failed when the US decided not to assist it.) He predicted that people in southern Iraq would rejoice if the Baghdad regime was toppled -- but that they would be more hesitant in the early stages of the war after what happened the first time they rebelled.

I'm continuing to read your dispatches as often as you post them. I wanted to pass along that not only have I been reading them, but I heard you interviewed on our local KTAR AM 620 radio station. Well done, keep up with it!
Tod Hegstrom, Phoenix, Az.

APRIL 6 – Thank you!

What is the most beautiful or touching thing you've seen there?
M. Lorraine Cook, Lakemont, Ga.

APRIL 6 – One day, I needed a ride to a store on the Kuwaiti side of the base. One of the Combat Search and Rescue guys agreed to swing by the store and drop me back at the press center. We got horribly lost trying to find the place. Not a lot of the Kuwaitis on base speak English. I knew that my escort had better things to do and I started to feel badly. We finally found the place and I purchased much-needed Kuwaiti cell phone recharge cards. When we walked out of the store, I noticed he bought a variety of candy bars. He mumbled that Iraqi kids probably haven't had a good candy bar in their lives. I was touched by his spontaneous gesture.

Are there any journalists who are not "embedded"? If so, are they beholden to any more or less restrictions than you are as a representative of both a newspaper and the United States?
Elizabeth Manley, New Orleans, La.

APRIL 3 – In my capacity as an embedded reporter, I don't feel like I am a representative of the United States. However, I am the guest of the US military, and that does involve some restrictions. In exchange for letting me on this base, there are certain topics I have been told in advance that I cannot cover - almost all of these have to do with "host nation sensitivities."

The average airman is incredibly tight-lipped about operational details. During interviews, they usually censor themselves beyond the actual restrictions the Pentagon has placed. For instance, I cannot report any details about pending or ongoing missions. However, when a flying mission is over and the targets determined to be destroyed, I am allowed to give details, unless the particular mission needs to remain classified.

There are indeed "unilateral" reporters, who are moving about the theater of operations. Some eventually join up with particular military units with whom they've developed a personal rapport. These reporters still have to play by similar rules or risk being escorted off the battlefield.

Others operate independently in key cities, and with the aid of a translator and driver have a much better chance of interacting with locals. They can make their own schedule, enjoy freedom of movement, and aren't subject to Pentagon restrictions. Most of the Monitor's reporters in the region are "unilaterals."

Are the troops aware that many of the antiwar protesters support them fully, but blame the president for starting military action needlessly?
Leander Kalpaxis, Ridgewood, N.Y.

APRIL 3 – I have gotten mixed feedback on this issue. Staff Sgt. David Kennedy, with the 332nd Communications Squadron, says about half the friends and family who write him and wish him godspeed are against the war itself. "I get e-mails all the time basically saying that we know that you gotta do what you gotta do, but we'd rather have you home. They know I have a job that I've got to do," he said. These troops accept that protesters can be opposed to the war and remain loyal to them.

But, Navy Seabee Tyler Aholt expresses the predominate attitude when he says, "If they are not backing up those that are in charge of us, then in the long run, they're not backing us up."

How strong is [the troops'] faith? Is it as strong as their conviction that what they are doing is right?
John, Bangkok, Thailand

APRIL 1 – First, let me refer you to a recent dispatch on religion and war convictions.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to judge the depth of someone's faith. However, I have been impressed with some people's religious discipline.

The small Eastern Orthodox community here has been maintaining a no-meat, no-dairy fast for Lent. The chow hall cannot accommodate that kind of diet, so, they glean what they can from the offerings. Orthodox priest Timothy Ullmann says, "I eat a lot of tomatoes and cucumbers, and peanut butter for protein." Along similar lines, the chow hall does not offer kosher foods, leaving Jews who want to keep kosher to eat kosher Meals Ready to Eat. Many of the things that Catholics would normally give up for Lent are not available on base anyway, including alcohol. Maj. Neal Murphy with the 190th Fighter Squadron. decided to give up sweets. Not long after, a CARE package arrived filled with baked goods and treats. He gave them away to his squadron.

What effort can we put forth here in the US that will help the troops keep up their morale?
Maureen Scott, Hopewell, Va.

APRIL 1 – The troops have appreciated the efforts of church groups, classrooms, and other organizations that have sent messages of support. A lot of the “ops shacks” (operations buildings) hang posters, one I saw was from an elementary schools that read: "We're proud of you."

One thing that keeps coming up in my discussions with servicemen is how they have been hearing from people they haven't talked with in years. Often a spouse at home will send out the e-mail address to distant relatives, former co-workers, or long-lost friends. This helps people remember how wide a support net they have.

How do the American and British troops get along on the base? Do they hang out together or are they kept separate?
Matthew B. Walker, Lisle, Ill.

MARCH 30 – The British do have their own sector within Tent City and their own operations buildings, but I do notice Brits and Americans chatting together. Armies are cosmopolitan organizations. People deploy so frequently to far corners of the world that they develop a strong ability to interact with different cultures.

I understand that being on an air base you may not have much contact with this, but, in your experience, what has been the reaction of the civilians liberated by the US forces?
Dan Metzger, Bluffton, Ohio

MARCH 30 – It's almost impossible to gauge this from an air base. The pilots are the only people who go into Iraq and come back, and all they can report is what they see from the air. Helicopter crews say they have been waved at, though that was in southern Iraq. And one pilot mentioned he noticed much less waving the deeper into the country he flew.

Do you have to pay to go over there, or does the government pay you?
Phyllis Hall, Gastonia, N.C.

MARCH 30 – The military provides embedded journalists with a gas mask, chem-bio gear, transportation between civilian and military locations, and room and board. The Monitor covers all my other work-related expenses. And the government certainly doesn't pay me any form of salary.

What is the weather like? Do the troops seem to be in good spirits? My son is with the 101st Airborne, and April 3 will be the second birthday missed with his family.
Beverly Phillips, Cincinnati, Ohio

MARCH 24 – I talked with Master Sgt. Dave Scott, a military weather forecaster on base. For this past week, the average high temperature was 78 degrees, and the average low temperature was 60. We are currently in the extended part of Kuwait's winter. The temperatures are mild and it rains about once a week. "All of the sudden, out of nowhere in mid-April, it will stop raining and it will get real hot," Scott says. Temperatures at that point should be consistently above 100 degrees. Luckily, the humidity here is currently only about 15 percent.

It is nearing springtime in the central US and there is a rush of waterfowl, redwings, and robins to signal the change of season while we are preparing for spring planting. What are signs of spring's approach in the desert? For example, is there is an increase in poisonous insect activity?
A. Chase Turner, Great Bend, Kansas

MARCH 24 – According to a weather expert here, the jump from winter to summer comes quickly in mid-April. In terms of poisonous creatures, few remain on base as it has grown more crowded, says Staff Sgt. John Cogley, who works in the base's pest control office. Outside the base perimeter, there are some dangerous lizards, snakes, scorpions, and camel spiders. A camel spider is a cross between a scorpion and a spider. It's about the size of your fist and it has large fangs. California has a smaller species of these, known as wind scorpions.

There are four species of scorpions, including black-tailed and yellow scorpions. Black desert cobras and sand vipers are among the poisonous snakes found in Iraq. However, rats, mice, and flies give pest control the biggest hassle, Cogley says.

Can you explain the code name, 10-03 Victory?
Sarah Josephson, Fargo, N.D.

MARCH 23 – That's the name the military was using prior to the conflict receiving an official name, in this case Operation Iraqi Freedom. There has been some grumbles on the base that the moniker "Iraqi Freedom" isn't terribly creative. Although, after the "Infinite Justice" fiasco, bland might be better.

( See related dispatch: Code name: '10-03 Victory' )

How do the troops generally feel about the perceptions and actions of the French?
David Mowry, Butler, Pa.

MARCH 21 – As in some restaurants in America, troops have started to refer to French fries as "Freedom fries." Some of them believe strongly that if the United Nations could have presented a tough, united front against Iraq that the conflict would not have been necessary. Others denigrate France's 20th century battle record. By and large, however, troops seem more troubled by American peace protests.

How have people not only on the bases but on the street reacted to [the war]?
Rhea, Acton, Mass.

MARCH 21 – I am no longer in Kuwait City, so I cannot gauge how civilians there are reacting to the war. A little over a week ago, few people had made preparations for missile attacks. Now that warning sirens are sounding in the city, I wonder if more residents have gone out and purchased protective gear or made a safe room.

How do the troops feel before battle? Is there a difference in how they feel after the 1st battle happens?
Steve Hlastala, Dallas, Or.

MARCH 21 – Before the battle, the mood on the base was extraordinarily casual. Beach volleyball matches and a talent show occurred as late as Wednesday evening. Everyone's attitude grew considerably more serious after the first of eight "Alarm Red" announcements on Thursday, around noon. Alarm Red signals an imminent attack. Missiles fired from Iraq triggered the alarms. Three of the alarms went off in the very early morning, disrupting many people's sleep. By Friday, many people in camp looked very tired.

Do the troops interact with the Kuwaitis? How do they get along? Have the soldiers had any education re: cultural differences?
Mary-Jane Emmet, Lenox, Mass.

MARCH 19 – The troops here do not interact with the Kuwaitis much. A while ago, the wing commander canceled all "base leaves" except for essential trips. Recent arrivals have come either on military transports, or on specially commissioned flights into Kuwait International Airport.

Troops are trained in cultural differences. Here's a good article on the topic.

When I was in high school, our Sunday school wrote letter to Vietnam soldiers. Is there a generic address we can use to send letters of cheer and support?
Victoria Simmons, Seattle, Wash.

MARCH 19 – Check out Dispatch 4. The rules for well-wishers have changed significantly since Vietnam.

Has most of Kuwait recovered structurally from the 1990 war?
K. Cassell, Church Hill, Tenn.

MARCH 19 – Downtown Kuwait City has definitely recovered from the Iraqi invasion. The only evidence of the conflict I saw was a plaque at the Golden Tulip hotel that marked the spot of a restaurant destroyed by the Iraqis. The highway of death that sustained heavy coalition bombing has been repaved and expanded. The base I am at shows signs of structural damage done by American forces driving out Saddam Hussein's forces.

What percentage of the troops believes this is a just war? The US used nuclear weapons against Japan. Are the troops prepared for the chemicals Saddam will use to defend himself against an overwhelming US military?
Ralph Rau, Dubai, UAE

MARCH 19 – Everyone I have talked to supports the war. Some express a hope for peace. "If I go home and this doesn't happen I'm not going to be upset," said Tech Sgt. Thomas Wilson, who is with the 301st Rescue Wing. "I'd like to see it end without violence, but if it comes to that, I'm here to do my job.... I'm here to serve." But most believe that war is inevitable, and therefore want to get it over with so they can see their families sooner.

The troops are prepared for a chemical attack. Many here believe that before this is over, they will have to take shelter and don their gas mask and NBC suit at least once.

How many reporters are with you?
Alexis Nissenbaum, Washington, DC

MARCH 19 – On this base, there are 20 embedded reporters. Eight, including myself, are embedded with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing. Six are embedded with the British forces here, and another six are with the Marines.

What can I mail to the frontline Marines that would help them? Baby wipes?
John McIntosh, Portland, Ore.

MARCH 18 – See our dispatch regarding care packages. Funny you should mention baby wipes. One officer told me: "You'd be amazed how many smiles you get on adults when you hand out baby wipes."

What do you expect to happen when you are there? Do expect the war to come as quickly as possible or for Iraq to disarm?
Emily, Yantai, Shandong, China

MARCH 18 – At this point, the talk here on base is not whether there will be a war, but when. I share the belief that war is practically inevitable.

I have weather-related questions. Do the dust storms cause problems? Also how are you personally dealing with the dry heat? Lots of sunscreen/sunglasses and caps? As well as drinking water constantly?
Bob Wohlers, Tumwater, Wash.

MARCH 17 – Dust storms are a part of life here. Any sustained winds pick up the ultra-fine sand. During a storm, the sand pelts your face, gets in your teeth, and obscures your sight. Sand drifts build up around steps and walls like snow in a blizzard. Worse, the sand air gets inside all the buildings, unless the windows and doors are sealed with tape. Many people wear white surgical masks. The flight maintenance crews by and large say the sand is a nuisance. During a storm, they will cover the airplanes. After a storm, they will clean off vital parts, such as the landing gear. Sometimes they wash the plane’s exterior, otherwise they let the sand blow off in flight. In the long run, however, the sand wears down the equipment. Regarding the heat: While it doesn't feel terribly hot outside, I find that I am drinking tremendous amounts of bottled water. Other crucial items are a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and lip balm.

I was wondering how many female journalists are embedded, and how have they have found the Kuwaiti culture? Do they react to female troops or journalists differently?
Julia Kalow, Newton, Mass.

MARCH 17 – Two of the eight journalists embedded with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing are women. I asked each of them your question. Tara Copp, a reporter for Scripps-Howard, said she felt her gender might have given her an advantage in Kuwait City. "I really got to talk to some of the Kuwaiti women in ways that the male journalists couldn't." When speaking to one Kuwaiti couple, she noted that "it was a little strange to have to ask her husband for permission to ask to take a photo of his wife." However, "to get the story I was willing to work within the parameters of that culture," she said Paula Bronstein, a photographer with Getty Images, came here from Afghanistan. By contrast, she finds Kuwait a liberal place, with fewer restrictions on photographing people. In Afghanistan, she says, there were some instances where you couldn't photograph the women, even as a woman photographer, without permission of the men.

Please tell us which other TV networks (besides FOX) the troops have access to.
Annie Hudson, Austin, Texas

MARCH 17 – Base TVs carry a wide variety of stations. For news, the choices are Fox News, CNN (2 channels), Sky News, BBC World, CNBC Europe, and Armed Forces Network news. That last channel is a compilation of programming from mainstream sources put together for the military. Beyond news, there are entertainment and sports channels like MTV and ESPN. The vast majority of TVs in public spaces are tuned to Fox News.

Do you have a staff photographer with you or will you be writing and taking photos? With this being a state-of-the-art war (I served in Vietnam in 1965), are you using a film camera or digital?
Chuck Pike, Charlotte, N.C.

MARCH 16 – I am using a digital camera, a Canon PowerShot G2. It's a great camera with terrible software. But I am not a professional photographer. The pro in our midst is Paula Bronstein, with Getty Images. She shoots digital photos, and then uploads them to her home office using a satellite phone. It hardly makes sense to shoot film and try to ship it from here.

How do the Arabs feel about the GIs?
Carl Hoover, Colorado Springs, Colo.

MARCH 12 – Check out the Day 2 dispatch for the bigger picture about how Kuwaitis are feeling. The question of the GIs was of particular interest to me as well. I expected there to be greater resentment here to the presence of hundreds of thousands of US and British troops. However, almost everyone that I've talked to regard the troops as protectors.

I am a French teacher at Newton North in Newton, Mass., and I have some of my classes watching and discussing your articles. We are all fascinated and excited by your work and a bit afraid for you. You are in our thoughts.
Nicole Engborg, Sudbury, Mass.

MARCH 11 – Please tell your students that my many years of studying French have come in handy on this assignment. The majority of people living in Kuwait are not native Kuwaitis, but are "guest workers" from other countries around the Muslim world. One Moroccan couple I interviewed didn’t speak English. And I don't speak Arabic. But, being from Morocco, they spoke French. I took years of French in school and never seemed to make much progress with it. But I could pull together enough to communicate with them. I wished at that moment that I had put more effort into the language. Even that little bit, though, helped to establish a connection.

I am thankful the necessary human steps are being taken to ensure your safety. However your thought being God-centered and full of trust that He is around, above, beneath, over, to your left, and to your right and with every other person is a sure defense. That is what I cling to as my son and family live in Dubai. When my five children were growing up, I would tell them that they work for God, they work with God, and God does the work.
Trudy Herrington, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

MARCH 11 – The day I left the Monitor offices for the airport they held a little bon voyage party. It ended with the singing of a hymn, which was a nice reminder of the other "satellite phone" that I can always use.

Are there Kuwait citizens working on the base? Have you had a chance to talk with them? Do they view the potential invasion of Iraq as a war against specific terrorist groups/individuals or against all people of the Islam faith?
Charlie Meyer, Hingham, Mass.

MARCH 10 – The military is getting people out to their units very slowly, and so I am still in Kuwait City. However, it's given me more time to gauge Kuwaiti opinion. Nobody I talked with sees this conflict in terms of terrorism. They see it in terms of one man, Saddam Hussein. Even people who do not support going to war say that Mr. Hussein is a menace to the region and would like to see him go.

How easy/difficult has it been for our troops to stay in touch with loved ones back home? Do they at least have Internet access to e-mail?
Karyn Harper, Kennesaw, Ga.

MARCH 09 – At one base I visited, soldiers are allowed to make two 15-minute phone calls a week. The calls can be made from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., which makes sense given the eight-hour or more time difference with their loved ones in the US.

The calls are usually placed to a base in Mississippi, which has a big switchboard. From there, an operator dials the requested number. The connection sometimes takes several minutes, and, in a few cases, it can take the entire 15 minutes.

If there are troubles at home, soldiers can work through the chaplain to gain extra calling privileges. One of the officers also told me that they know a few of the guys have called home more than twice a week, and that supervisors are allowing them the extra time for now.

The troops also have access to the Internet in their recreation facility, which also includes dartboards, TVs, and movie players.

Do you have anything you would care to say to someone inquiring about your situation?
Marcel St. Germain, Garland, Manitoba,Canada

MARCH 09 – At the moment, I'm in limbo. The military has been slow to process the scores of reporters that arrived this week. As a result, most of us aren't camped in the desert, but in Kuwait City hotels. While I am anxious to get out to my assigned unit, I have enjoyed getting to know many fellow journalists. There is a surprising degree of camaraderie given the competitive nature of our business. To save on expenses, reporters will often team up to hire drivers and translators. And we share even the slightest tidbit of information wheedled out of the military's press officers as to when we will be sent out to “embed”. As a result, the rumors on this topic spread like wildfire.

What news do the soldiers read? Can they read newspapers like the Monitor?
Dick Mozzer, Tolland, Conn.

MARCH 09 – I'll keep an eye on this one when I embed with my unit. However, on my day trip to one air base, the Seabee camp had TVs in the administrative offices, the chow hall, and the recreation hall. All of them were tuned to Fox News. Apparently there are other channels, but Fox gets the eyeballs.

According to the mess chief, when Secretary of State Colin Powell presented his evidence before the UN Security Council several weeks ago, you could hear a pin drop in the chow hall. The place seats about 250, so it was a remarkable statement.

Given you're in the desert where does your water supply come from? Is water rationed for simple things like washing clothes?
Joy Bencivenga, Franklin, Mass.

MARCH 09 – Excellent question. It takes A LOT of bottled water to hydrate all the troops and support staff stationed in Kuwait. At one air base I visited, everyone carried a 1.5 liter bottle of water around. Boxes full of these bottles were stacked everywhere. According to our Kuwaiti driver, local news reports have said that the military consumes 1.5 million bottles a day! Apparently, there is no one bottling company in the Gulf that can handle that big an order, so the water comes from all over the Middle East.

I will look into questions of rationing and recycling when I get a chance.

Editor's note: csmonitor.com reporter Ben Arnoldy is on assignment in Kuwait as part of the Pentagon's program "embedding" journalists with troops involved in the expected invasion of Iraq.

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