Mike Tharp: Why am I going back to Iraq?

But that's the plan.

This time Mission No. 1 will be to find out if American troops remain hoo-ah and ooo-rah about their mission -- even though that mission has changed as often as the Iraqi "shamaal" winds since they were first sent to The Sandbox in March 2003.

Even though the promotions and medals will now come from Afghanistan where the Obama administration is sending 30,000 more troops to fight on that front.

One question for the grunts, which came from Randy Riggins, a major in the Persian Gulf War (who let a reporter sleep in a body bag next to his Humvee during Operation Desert Storm), is the same one asked by John Kerry in 1971. Whatever you think of Kerry, then or now, his question bears repeating: "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

Mission No. 2: Try to get a handle on what will happen there once Americans leave the cities and, eventually, the country. Civil war? Failed state? A mostly stable Arab nation with the only elected Muslim government in the region? An oil-producing ally of the west? A client of Iran? More questions than answers.

This time feels different.

Son Nao provided three CDs and DVDs of his Zen reggae funk sound, photos of Yosemite and other national parks and video of natural wonders. Daughter Dylann handed over three wristbands she got in South America early this year. They've been a fashion statement for her dad since a 1970 visit to Vietnam's Central Highlands, where a Montagnard slipped a brass bracelet on his wrist.

They'll fit well with the brown leather one engraved with a green peace symbol Nao gave last year. Young soldiers thought it was cool. Old soldiers and officers never said one way or another.

On the way to Nao's apartment in Torrance from the hotel, another wristband lay lost on the sidewalk. White letters spelled out "BELIEVER."

Turn it inside out, and it's just a black rubber wristband.

This time feels different.

Time to saddle up.

Think pleasant thoughts.

Executive Editor Mike Tharp can be reached at (209) 385-2456 or mtharp@mercedsun-star.com