a costco mattress pad in baghdad...and shrapnel

a former co-worker requested another costco mattress pad. this time it is for his roommate, a 65 year old iraqi, at the embassy in baghdad.

i learned that when you send something to an apo address you are only charged for domestic postage. i'm thinking of a side business.

i can send mattress pads around the world for bunk beds. how much would you pay?

i thought they may want to sleep under the pads since shrapnel is flying into the not-so-green zone. then someone told me that shrapnel cuts through walls so a three inch mattress pad won't save a life.

while googling schrapnel i found the correct spelling- shrapnel...here is some history:

Shrapnel, the best mankiller the Artillery possessed for over a century, was invented by Lieutenant Henry Shrapnel, Royal Artillery. Before its introduction in 1803 the Artillery defeated attacks by Infantry or Cavalry with 'canister' or 'case', a tin container filled with iron balls or bullets varying in weight from 57 to 142 grams each, according to the nature of the gun. When the gun fired the container burst open at the muzzle, releasing the balls which spread out with a shotgun effect. Up to 300 metres it was guaranteed to cause heavy casualties.