There is some risk in being in Iraq-- I thought it was safer than Washington, D.C. The first contingent of Bulgarian soldiers were base in Karbala, a peaceful religious center for Shia muslims. However, on December 27, 2003, three carefully planned and sophisticated attacks were conducted at the Bulgarian Brigade quarters, the Government office building and the logistics base near Karbala. I participated in daily meetings in the Bulgarian compound with the Polish Government Support Team. My office was in the Government Office building and I made regular trips to the Logistics base. Fortunately, I had been tranferred to Hilla when the attacks occurred. The only information I received was that my office mates had left for lunch prior to the explosion, which destroyed our offices in the Government Office building. It was an agonizing month before, I received details of the attacks. Unfortunately, several Bulgarian soldiers were killed and three of my Polish friends were injured, as was the Governor. My son was an Army officer in Baghad and his base was located in one of the worse neighborhoods. Visiting him during the Christmas holidays, I received an unusual Christmas present. At 6:20 am Christmas morning a RPG exploded just above the building we were in. That was followed by a mortar round that fell short of a nearby building. Fortunately, there were no injuries. They had previously experienced 85 mortar/RPG attacks. Being in Iraq had its risks but it also had its rewards- helping the Iraqi people. The Bulgarian soldiers I encountered daily were polite and helpful and excellent representatives of Bulgaria. Oh yes, a truckload of Bulgarian soldiers came and pulled my SUV that was stuck in the sand in the desert south of Karbala. All of us were at risk at that time. May all of the Bulgarian soldiers who serve in Iraq for the next year be kept from danger and return home safley. Jerry Kuhaida Local Government Expert, USAID Iraq Local Governance Project.