I was in Iraq, I looked at the pics you put up, That town looked just like Iraq, but with mountains in the background.
When I was there, it wasnt as bad, but it was the worst summer in Iraq, 135 degrees, 85%humidity. I took my door off, and my CO freaked "what the hell are you doing?"
"Sir, it's to hot to drive with the windows up, if a grenade enters the vehicle, I'm not going to let this door stop me from jumping out Sir." (hardbacks are notorious for the doors not opening from the inside)
"Sounds good" (I actually pulled my door off cause it was Freaking HOT!)
The next day a truck from a differnt unit had a grenade tossed in the door and blew up a dudes foot. After that NONE of our trucks had doors on them, thats how the iraqi's in the area knew not to attack our trucks.
On another not, we chased a stolen semi truck through a town, We got up to around 85 MPH in a A2 hmmwv problem wasthe semi truck topped out at the same speed and had a lead =( On the FLIP side, he couldnt out run the Mk-19 rounds when we got to open country. 85! I remember when I first got in, we had a1 hummers, if they pulled 55 on flat ground they were considerd fast, and if it could pull a moderate hill in 2wd it was considered torquey.
Now the a2's (new to the marines) can pull 80 on flat ground, and bomb up hill's in 2wd! throw it in 4 and your up damn near anything! Good time.
The only consolation is I have more firepower and could just ram them.... 
