Scientifically speaking, the article was correct. The temperature should "officially" be read in an open area away from hot surfaces. And when it is, the "official" temperature stays below 130.

Now ask yourself how many of our troops out here (I am currently stationed in Iraq as well) spend most of their time "in an open area away from hot surfaces". Not many. They are in guard towers and vehicles with air that barely moves. They are walking (or running and fighting) in boots and long sleeved shirts and gloves and helmets and goggles and vests loaded with ammo and weapons and radios. And they are doing it for eight or ten or fourteen hours a day. Several days in a row.

It is now mid-September and the "official" temperature in Baghdad is still breaking 100 every afternoon. I invite the author or anyone else who thinks "oh, but it's a DRY heat" to join me out here for a day or three. I won't even ask any of you to wear all the gear and endure the stress of being shot at on a daily basis and put in a 12-hour day outside on duty. Just come stand outside with me for a few hours. Just walk to the dining facility at lunch or the sleep area with me. I assure you that you will find areas where it does indeed get above 130 degrees during the day. And you too will become irritated when you get home and some smarmy techno-geek tries to tell you that it only "officially" got up to 107 degrees while you were here.

As someone who lives in Las Vegas where we have had 70 straight days of over 100 degree heat, I would like to tell you you are right. When its 110 degrees its hot regardless of the humidity and it just saps your energy and desire to do anything. That is why the nonsensical "surge" is "working" in Iraq.. Even the insurgents don't want to run around in that heat and, as they are the result of generation after generation living in that area they have a genetic predilection to take it easy in the heat. Wait until the cooler weather gets there and watch the body count climb. Though, even with increasing American and Iraqi deaths, the "surge" will be working because it is the mindless concept of a delusional President, has little basis in reality and will always be touted as a "success" regardless of how many young Americans and Iraqis are robbed of their lives..

leeanddonna,

Another factor when it gets cool that you may have overlooked,,,,,the bad guys show up better in our thermal sights,,,so their body count will certainly go up.(more than ours)