NEW FEATURE

Next time you're feeling hot, or cold, or miserable due to the weather, click on the button below Think You're Hot on the left top. It's the weather in different cities in Iraq.

Now, I once calculated what we carried for a four-day mission in the Central Highlands. The weather ran from the low 50s to 100-plus depending on where you were working (it could encompass both extremes). You also had monsoon and dry seasons to contend with.

Now, we didn't wear helmets or protective armor and we didn't carry anything heavier than a a CAR-15 or an AK-47.

I figure our loads ran about 80 to 110 pounds.

Now take a look at the average GI or Grunt in Iraq. Take the 110, add helmet. body armor, even more water (if that's possible), more electronics, etc., etc., etc.

Next time the weather has you down, click on that button to the left, and think for a moment.

Right now I'm trying to find Afghanistan, but — believe it or not in 2008 — there isn't any weather info for that Godforsaken place. But I'll keep digging.

[UPDATE: 6-9-08: Thanks to Linda H, I now have the Afghanistan weather aboard. It'll come up in Afghani when you click on the link, but clicking on the city will bring you to an English weather forecast. — GPJ]

Say a prayer and STFU.