The 98th Division was supposed to go inprocess today and be assigned to our various sections, but as we were walking over to the area where we catch the bus to the building we were informed the parking lot was locked down because of a possible VBIED (Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Device). Essentially a car bomb. This is the second or third time I've heard someone mention a possible bomb since we arrived in Baghdad. Security people are especially nervous right now as they had those two bombings here just a couple of days ago. Personally, I think it's just people being cautious as aside from those bombings the other day I've not heard of anything happening in the Green Zone aside from the occasional random mortar fire. I've heard a few thuds off in the distance (mortars?) but otherwise the most threatening situation I've been in has been my encouter with the State Department spook.

Actually, the bus ride from Baghdad International to the Green Zone was an experience too. I was on the first bus in the convoy so I was able to see the Humvee with the MP's providing security up in front of us. We didn't stop for any traffic, and I'd routinely see the gunner on the top of the Humvee motion emphatically for other cars to pull to the side of the road to let the convoy pass. And they did, as I imagine they didn't want to get shot. There was one instance where a car merged onto the highway from an on ramp and ended up next to the convoy, simply as a natural result of the flow of traffic. The MP motioned rather forcefully that he should pull off to the side of the road. You would have thought he lost both front tires the way the car pulled over! I saw the car swerve hard to the right to get off the road, and then we passed.

The convoy was swerving left and right on the highway, and at the time I couldn't figure out why the bus driver kept driving all over the highway. Someone later on explained that whenever the convoy would come up on an abandoned car on the side of the road they would move to the opposite side of the highway to get as far away as possible from it. The insurgents will set up an IED in an abandoned car and then set it off as a convoy drives past.

Well, I just heard they still haven't opened up the parking lot, so I'm going to see if I can't find an internet connection somewhere.