Iraqi Colonel Seeks Shelter in the South

By John

An Iraqi air force colonel who fled from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., where he was in training, is the subject of a wide-reaching manhunt, according to federal officials.

The officer has not been identified, and officials at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could not confirm when he first went missing.

Officials at Maxwell referred all questions to ICE.

“ICE has joined the investigation into the whereabouts of an Iraqi military student, and his wife and two young children who disappeared while attending a U.S. Department of Defense training course in Alabama,” Richard Rocha, a spokesman for ICE,” said in a statement. “Now ICE is working with our international and national law enforcement counterparts, and does not suspect foul play in the disappearances. Furthermore, there is no indication that this case is a national security or public safety concern.”

Rocha said officials would not discuss specifics of the ongoing investigation.

Lt Col Patrick of Duty in the Desert writes:

Too much flicker ball could make anyone want to run. And those volleyball games with crazy rules? Don't ask.

Flicker ball is some stupid game forced upon hapless Squadron Officer School students at Maxwell. Never had to play it during my stint at Air University, but I did suffer under the official "Air Force" version of volleyball, the end result of fusing a 20 pound regulations book with competitive sports.

And yes, it was bad enough to make you want to go AWOL. Although not in Montgomery, AL though, yikes. Not much of an improvement from Baghdad.

Now before Mary Katharine or any Montgomery natives get all huffy-puffy at me for trash-talking a "jewel of the south," I know and acknowledge that there are parts of the city that are beautiful. The area around Maxwell, however, is a dump.

Also, you need to check out MKH's latest Ham Nation. Cracked me up. I know that has nothing to do with an Iraqi officer going AWOL, I just didn't want to start up another post to link.

Hotel Tango: Patrick

March 23, 2007 07:35 AM Leadership