The sun sets over crossed swords in Baghdad (photo by SPC Lisa Bates).

As most of you know, I’m currently assigned to the Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad. I live (and will soon work) at Camp Prosperity — one of the places the U.S. military is located here. It’s an interesting camp with lots of trees and open space, large man-made pools, a bustling shopping area with restaurants and stores with a variety of goods, and, best of all, a former palace of Saddam Hussein. The palace was damaged in March 2003, but a large part of it is now occupied by U.S. military (despite the “air conditioning” that we added). Overall, the camp is a nice place to be, if you find yourself in a combat zone.

A dust storm settles over Baghad. The dome of the palace can be seen in the distance (photo by SPC Lisa Bates).

The “mayor” of Camp Prosperity is MAJ Michael Bobinis from the New Jersey National Guard. He is a very motivated to get MWR opportunities available for the soldiers he serves. He has already put internet and phone service into the palace for soldiers to stay in touch with their family and friends, and he has plans to repair and clean up the pools to make them available for soldiers to use in the summer (when it is 130 degrees, a dip in the pool is a great relief). However, the best part of his plan to provide a break for soldiers is his current project: with the support of donors, he is building a beautiful first run movie theater in the palace in one of the former ballrooms with doors opening to outside.

View of the palace from the pools (photo by 126th PAOC).

The commander and I had the chance to preview the space with MAJ Bobinis. The theater is already more than half done, and he told us he expects it to be done before Oscars night. The theater will have same kind of plush reclining chairs as in theaters back home, the red velvet rope to guide you in, and an incredible refreshment area built on a huge marble tiled veranda with columns and a palm tree view over Baghdad. This is the same place that Saddam looked over his country — and soon our soldiers will be eating popcorn and drinking soda between movies. MAJ Bobinis has also confirmed that he will be able to play first-run movies here (a few days ago a mortar could be heard from the balcony of his new theater).

It’s obvious that MAJ Bobinis is very dedicated to enriching the lives of soldiers. He also has an equally animated NCO sidekick who is assisting him — MSG Robert Greco, also from the New Jersey National Guard.

I know this is shooting for the moon — but I think this would be a great place to be spotlighted by the Oscars. They did it before — with a military unit announcing one of the technical awards. I think it might be more appropriate for MAJ Bobinis and MSG Greco to announce the best foreign film.

Entrance to Camp Prosperity (photo by 126th PAOC).

Years from now, the rest of the world will be able to visit this palace and the theater. They will see the ceilings and walls have carving and relief work. The theater area has carved wood and a chandelier. There is artwork that shows the Desert Storm area, and only a couple hundred feet from the theater is a huge head of Saddam Hussein that has fallen from the top of the palace (seems very appropriate, doesn’t it?).

So, if you know someone in Hollywood, tell them that Prosperity is waiting, and MAJ Bobinis has not signed a contract with any motion picture company.