First off, I'd like to apologize for the long time in between updates here.  I'm still alive, still kicking ass and taking names and rocking on for the free world.

That being said, I'm sucking a little bit from a concussion sustained four days ago, so I'm sorry if this is more rambling and disjointed than normal.  My ability to concentrate has returned, but not 100%, and while I don't want to vomit constantly anymore, my head still hurts a bit. 

So anyway...

They moved me off the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and up to the M240 Medium Machine Gun.  The M249 is a 5.56mm light machine gun while the M240 is a 7.62mm gun.  Apparently I was doing something right as a '249 gunner.  While the M249 is lighter and much more mobile, the M240 is much more stationary, yet much more devastating. 

We went after a hard target recently.  Asshole was a grocer, of all things.  He'd receive shipments of food and overprice the food, then use the profits to buy weapons, ammunition and explosives to use against the infidels.  Someone tipped him off as we were setting up to raid him.  We already had my gun position set in, but this guy and his thugs decided it'd be a good idea to open fire with several AK47 assault rifles, RPK automatic rifles and a PK medium machine gun.  We ended up exchanging lead at about 20 yards, firing across a street in the middle of the night.  I unloaded about eight hundred rounds of ammo before the Apache fast attack helicopters on station came about and were authorized to fire their Hellfires.  Expecting a quiet raid, I didn't put in my ear plugs.  Which is a bad thing.  Shooting 5.56 ammo without ear protection is bad for you, but you'll be alright.  After about 150 - 200 rounds of 7.62, you're deaf and you've got a raging headache.  The '240 is LOUD.  And then, I got to watch three Hellfire missiles hit my target, 20 yards to my front.  They're loud.  Really loud.  And I don't remember anything until we were on the Stryker and my assistant gunner was yelling something about me burning him with my barrel.  Apparently, after the Hellfires went off, I got up, dusted off my goggles and went cyclic on the '240 and dumped the remaining 400 rounds into the building.  Completely spent an entire combat load. 

So now I'm sitting here, half the platoon's down with concussions or knocked out fillings, and I have some time to sit down and gather my thoughts. 

If this is truly a religious war, why does religion bring out the absolute worse in people?  I mean, seriously, what possessed this scumbag to overcharge for food of all things?  The people around here are dirt poor and its hard enough to feed their families as it is, so why does this shithead feel it necessary to make it harder for people to feed themselves so he can help make things worse?  This place is already a fucking war zone.  If religion is so peaceful, where does this guy fit in?  He's stealing from the poor to make their lives worse.  This war has already made it almost impossible to get by on a day to day basis. 

I'm so disgusted by this I don't even know what to say. 

These Muslims, peaceful people that they are, are blowing themselves up.  And for what?  I recently dealt with a casualty that was so fucked up after a bomb blast that his chest caved in when I attempted CPR.  That was just fucked up and I don't know what to say about that either.  Just...  Fuck. 

So I watch as these people fucking destroy themselves a little bit more every time I turn around.  Blowing one another up is much more important than getting food.  Blowing up your neighbor is acceptable as long as he believes in something slightly different than you.  I'm at a total loss, and I don't think that's the drain bamage speaking.  I've never been able to explain or rationalize this shit.  We're over here trying to pull these people out of the gutter, but they keep shooting themselves in the foot because of their damn religion.  I don't get it. 

Fuck this shit.  Next time I enlist, I'm shooting for the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).  Their area of operations is in Central and South America.  At least I can make a difference there in the drug war.  I can't make a difference here, I don't have enough ammo or the authorization to use it all.