Gulf War II: World War IV part 2

I lived in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, during the first Gulf War. Satellite television, which has totally transformed the whole region, had recently arrived, and we all thought CNN was the greatest channel ever. The allied troops used Dubai as a regional R&R spot, and it was striking to see a gang of big soldiers wandering around the streets. After the war was over, McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Harley Davidson, the Hard Rock Cafe, and various other US companies began showing up there. KFC and Hardees, strangely enough, had been local stalwarts for years.

One of my friends from U Chicago was with the US SEALs before going back to school, and he was called up a few months ago as a reservist. He sent out an email yesterday letting us know he was OK, and that they were starting to mobilize. Best wishes to them all.