DAY 36: Durka, Durka, Durka!

Sat, 1 October 2005
For most of the tour, the aircrews have been chanting weird phrases like, “Durka, Durka, Durka” and “Sherpa, Sherpa, Sherpa, Mohammed Jihad.” I just thought it was one of those made-up things that simply caught on and that I had missed the inside joke. But, if you recognize the phrases, then you saw the movie, “Team America” the puppet-movie made by the makers of “South Park” a couple years back. Someone purchased a copy from the bazaar and I saw it for the first time tonight. Oh my god – this is one absolutely hysterical movie! Ironically, it is also a good parody of Operation Enduring Freedom. A key scene is where one of the heroes – the “actor” – gets dressed up as a muslim and attempts to infiltrate a terrorist organization. At the gate, the patrol interrogates him in Arabic and starts to get more irritated with the actor’s lack of a response. Just as the actor was about to blow his cover, he starts to blurt out a random Arabic phrase, “Durka, Durka, Durka. Mohammed Jihad. Park Sherpa, Sherpa, Sherpa. Mohammed Jihad.” The patrol is pleased, then acknowledges, “Ahhhhhhh. Durka, Durka, Durka. Mohammed Jihad” and lets the actor pass through. Many of us were laughing and rolling on the floor watching this movie. You gotta rent this if you haven’t seen it yet.

Rocket Attack
During the late evening hours many of us hear an unusual explosive sound originating from the west side of the base. It was confirmed that an enemy combatant had launched a rocket mortar attack from the east side aiming for one of the flying helicopters. The rocket missed the aircraft and flew over the base and blew up on the other side just outside of the perimeter. Fortunately, no one is injured here but nevertheless the close call frays our nerves as we await possible new attacks…

Combat Rescue Saves: it’s official – we have 20 confirmed saves!
P.S. – Happy Birthday to my Dad!