Afghanistan « Silk Roads and Siamese Smiles

Posts Tagged ‘Afghanistan’

Afghanistan, desecration, hamid karzai, Marines, taliban, Urinating on taliban corpses

US Marines Urinate on Dead Combatants

In thinking out loud on January 12, 2012 at 8:40 pm

OK. It’s not good. I get it. US Marines shouldn’t run around desecrating the corpses of the dead.

That said, I don’t want to hear it. Almost any time that an enemy combatant is captured in the Muslim world, they’re beaten, kicked and dragged through the streets. If an enemy combatant is killed and the body is somehow left in possession of the taliban or whomever in the Muslim world, that body is mutilated, dragged through the streets, kicked, beaten, sexually molested, sodomized with clubs and sticks and rifle barrels. They hang dead bodies from light poles and light them on fire.

The taliban is most guilty of this behavior.

If a Westerner is captured by the taliban, expect to be beaten and then beheaded.

Yet, the Media, Hamid Karzai, the taliban jumped on this event like it was the worst behavior ever witnessed in the history of mankind. They even issued a statement speaking to the horrifying torturous behavior. Stating that the US Military is trained to terrorize the world.

Of course, Hamid Karzai the hypocrite has issued a statement condemning the behavior. He issues a statement anytime someone other than an Afghan does something terrible. When Afghans do something or the Taliban, who, let’s face it, are mostly Pakistani, Karzai is strangely silent.

Our politicians, led by Hillary Clinton, fell all over themselves lining up to apologize and condemn this behavior “in the most strong terms possible.”

Al Jazeera has been running this story every ten seconds. It makes me laugh. Go back and run those pictures of the taliban beheading Gurkha soldiers down in Qandahar. Run the pictures of Najibullah being hung from a telephone pole in Kabul. He hung there for weeks. Run those photos of Muslims sodomizing Qaddafi again. Run the photos of the Blackwater guys being dragged through the streets in Fallujah.

It’s idiotic.

5 or 6 Marines. They look to be around 20 years old. They acted foolishly. There is no doubt. They pissed on dead bodies. Dead bodies of taliban who more than likely have done much worse than pissing on a corpse or two. Let’s not kid ourselves here. Those dead enemy combatants when they were alive belonged to the most heinous gang of monsters to run across the pages of history. They’re lucky that a few drops of urine were all that dropped on them. The taliban are the most disgusting and decrepit group of genocidal criminals in history. They’re 100 times more monstrous than Stalin or Hitler. These people are criminals who are not deserving of human dignity. How concerned were the taliban with human dignity when they were the power in Afghanistan? How concerned were they with human dignity when they forced women to confine themselves to their homes and starve to death because there was no male family member extant to take them to the market to purchase food. How concerned were the taliban with human rights when they captured US and ISAF soldiers and desecrated their bodies? How concerned are the taliban with human dignity when they’re attempting to assissinate Malalai Joya and other dissidents in Afghanistan.

A taliban spokesman speaking about human rights and human dignity is comparable to Hitler talking about respect and love for Jews and Judaism. It’s farcical. I’d rather listen to Iran talk about human rights for homosexuals and freedom for woman. It’s the same thing.

I’m disgusted that we’re talking to the taliban at all. We should be annihilating them. The taliban are inhuman. They’re disgusting, child molesting monsters. They should be treated exactly as we treated Hitlers minions. Every last one of them. Hunt them down and kill all of them.

All of this whining about a squad of Marines pissing on a few talib djinn is fluff. It’s beside the point. Punish the Marines for being complete Jackasses and then get on with annihilating the taliban once and for all.

And then, we have this:

The Council on Islamic-American Relations, a prominent Muslim civil rights and advocacy group based in Washington, quickly condemned the video.

“We condemn this apparent desecration of the dead as a violation of our nation’s military regulations and of international laws of war prohibiting such disgusting and immoral actions,” the group wrote in a letter faxed to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

Would CAIR give a damn about this incident if these taliban were not Muslims? I’d say no. Not at all. Did CAIR send a fax to the taliban the last time that they desecrated the dead. I doubt it. Hypocrites.

The difference between the US/West and the Taliban could not be more obvious in times like this. The taliban celebrates this behavior when their people act in this way. America and Americans condemn it. America and the West will punish those responsible for behavior like this. The Taliban would celebrate and reward such behavior.

So, please, Mr. Taliban Spokesman, please. Shut the hell up.

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Afghanistan, FATA, GWOT, Haqqani, ISI, Pakistan, taliban, US Pakistan Relations

It’s not Afghanistan.

In Afghanistan on December 23, 2011 at 4:27 pm

“If you stand back,” said one American who is in the thick of the American strategy-making, “and say, by the year 2020, you’ve got two countries — 30 million people in this country, 200 million people with nuclear weapons in this country, American troops in neither. Which matters? It’s not Afghanistan.”

This article is a primer on the future of the region. It’s a must read, if you want to understand the future of American relations in this region.

Special attention to Pakistani views of the Afghan National Security Forces.

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Afghanistan, Benzine Truck, BIG BOOM, Crash, Fire, Jalalabad Road, Kabul, Roadside Accident

Fire on Jalalabad Road

In Afghanistan on August 7, 2011 at 1:32 am

Big Fire on Jalalabad Road. A Benzine (that’s gas for my American friends) truck overturned and BOOM!!! Up in flames. It was a helluva fire. I swear it was like 30 to 40 feet in the air and spread at least twice on the ground. Burned for a good couple of hours before they got it under control.

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Afghan, Afghanistan, Amu DArya, islam, Mujahideen, Muslim, Retreat, Soviet, soviet army, Soviet Tanks, Soviet Union, Soviets, T-34, T-55, Tanks

Casualties of the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, Central Asia, Middle East, Military, Politics, Stupidity, thinking out loud, War on June 28, 2011 at 4:58 am

Scenes like this are ubiquitous in Afghanistan. Old shells of Soviet Armor and Trucks. Every type of Soviet Equipment can be found out there. Aircraft down at Bagram. Personal and Crew Served Weapons of various sorts are everywhere. Bridging equipment. Soviet Armor and Personnel Carriers. Soviet Mobile Kitchen Trailers. Everything needed to field an invasion. The Soviets left much behind when the hightailed it across the Amu Darya in ’88 or ’89.

Now it’s all rusting out on Afghan Bases, outside the Herat Airport and across the highways and byways of the country.

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Afghanistan, Anarchy, Chaos, Chaox

Afghanistan Chaotic

In Afghanistan on June 6, 2011 at 2:15 am

Deceptive Peace, Lost Tranquility...Violence stirs below

The Second Coming

TURNING and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

William Butler Yeats

I have to wonder if he was writing of Central Asia and the Middle East.

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Afghanistan, Central Asia, culture, gross, Hygiene, islam, Sanitation

Two Rocks

In Afghanistan, culture, Humor, Middle East, Travel, Useful Information on May 27, 2011 at 12:08 am

OK…

See the two rocks…

Well, some Muslims believe that it is forbidden to touch the penis (even one’s own penis) with one’s hands.

In order to urinate, they’ll take two rocks and hold their penis.

Being the polite and considerate culture that Islam is…they leave the rocks in the toilet so that they’ll be conveniently available for others.

Yes! The next guy WILL use those same two rocks to hold his penis.

And the next one…and the next one…and the next one…lol

Crazy Scheit!!!

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Afghan National Army, Afghanistan, ANA, Artillery

Afghan Artillery on the Way!!!

In Afghanistan on May 25, 2011 at 11:48 pm

Afghans training on Artillery

I wish I had taken this photo.

It’s cool as hell.

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Afghanistan, ANP, herat, Mentor, police, training

Graduation — First Class of 2008

In Afghanistan, culture on January 18, 2011 at 12:01 am

I wrote this up in Feb 2008. Made it Private for the Military. Now, I’m putting it out here. Most of these folks are moved on. So it’s safe.

__________________________________________________________

We graduated our first class of 2008. The Big Man–MG Ak– wasn’t around so BG Ali Khan was our Master of Ceremonies. The ceremony usually consists of the General giving a few “encouraging” remarks to the class. Then I stand up and announce the names. I may make a few remarks first. Sometimes, I don’t. The students walk up as I call their names off and a ranking officer and I and a guest or two congratulate the student and hand them their course certificate. The students walk up. Salute the General. Sometimes, I get a little confused. Because I feel like they are saluting me as well. So one in a while, I’ll return an awkward salute. The student is then handed their certificate and whomever the presenter is shakes their hand and congratulates them.

Everyone involved seems to really enjoy these ceremonies. The Generals get to show up and wax poetic or harass the loggie students. The students get recognition. I get a buy in to my classes and my job security. haha Our guests and other attendees get some nice cakes and cookies and some of that good old Afghan (Indian) chai. And, of course, I enjoy talking to the Generals and other Officers. I thoroughly enjoy this job. In case, anyone hasn’t caught that.

After the certificates are presented and a few more remarks by the Regional Press Officer COL Arkuni (I think), BG Ali Khan invites me to sit beside him. He offers me a cookie from the desert tray. Once I take one, that is the signal for everyone else to eat as well. It’s all so formal that it makes me laugh at times. Then we sit and chat for a bit. I didn’t realize it at the time but everyone was watching and listening to us talk. I get fairly animated in conversation as you can see in the video. Sometimes, I don’t pay attention to anything or anyone else. I tell the General that this class was our best. My favorite so far. The Officers were engaged. They actively participated. Even got heated a few times . I enjoyed the exchange even as the students attitudes towards one another sometimes confused me.
Once the General and I conclude our conversation. BG Ali Khan gives a nod and his assistant barks the room to attention and he exits.

That concludes the festivities.

This class was exceptional on many scores. At one point, LTC Khoda Daad was talking too much for one of two of our other students. Sayeed Mohammad stood up and told him that if he knows so much, he should teach the class. At first, I thought he was telling me that I was a poor teacher and that he’d rather hear LTC Daad. I finally realized that he was telling LTC Daad that I was the teacher and he should listen more and talk less. I laughed. It seems that in every class we have what I call the “question man.” This is a guy who will ask a question or two every hour. Sometimes more. When Afghans ask a question, it is extremely formal. They stand up and very respectfully state their question and it seems that it goes on and on. Usually, the question is loosely based on the class. Often, they will be asking something to the effect of how should they enact a certain policy if their commander will not enforce it or actively opposes it. This is a large and loaded question. In Afghanistan, policy quarrels can result in death. Often times, the issue is money. Active property management may keep a corrupt official from earning his extra-occupational funding for the month. An active logistician will keep money out of a corrupt officials pockets. In Afghanistan, these things are often settled in violence. It’s a hard line to follow. If the Logistics Officer is hard line, it could well result in violence against him. Is it worth the risk to life to call out your Commandhan over a policy matter. You may be staking your life, your families health or your career. I have to present the course and answer question with that in mind.

On breaks, we sat and talked politics, religion and culture. We even watched Jennifer Lopez, Shakira and Katherine McPhee videos. We talked much of Pakistan and the eastern frontier. This is the area bordering Waziristan. The no man’s land of Pakistan’s western frontier. The home of the Taliban. They asked me why the US did not declare war on Pakistan. I often times wonder tha same thing. Politics plays heavily there. War on Pakistan and destabilize a country with nuclear capabilities. Dangers. The unknown. Who knows what becomes of the region in that instance. Could be better. Could become much, much worse.

After the ceremony, the students invite us to visit them in their respective districts. Abdul Qhayooum tells me that if I visit Bala Baluk that I should be his guest in his house. I have to tell him that this is impossible as the military and my company requires that I stay on a FOB or PRT. He understands. But that doesn’t stop other students from extending the same invitation.

Afghanis are a hospitable people. It’s part of their national characteristic. This country was famous for it’s hospitality prior to the Soviet Invasion. That is why it was a primary stop on the hippy trail of the 60s and 70s. Afghanistan is a fascinating country. It has much to offer. If the insurgents and bandits would step down and accept law and order, Afghanistan could have a thriving tourism industry. Trekking in the mountains. The history of this country extends from pre-Alexandrian Bactria to the time and conquests of Alexander to the Genghis Khan to the Moghul Empire of India. Buddhism once thrived in the North. Zoroastrians once traveled across these lands. The whirling dervishes of Sufist Islam and the poetry of Jami, Rumi and Ansari. Herat once was a major center of culture and literacy. These lands and this people trace their history back to antiquity and beyond. Such incredible adventures that could be played out in the dramatic landscapes of this country.

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Afghanistan, herat, holiday

I’m in Kabul. Again…

In Afghanistan, Holidays, Travel on January 17, 2011 at 12:23 am

This is an old post that I had made private due to the Military.

____________________________________________

My holiday has commenced. I woke at 5 a.m. to grab a ride with the SECFOR. Got to the Herat airport shortly thereafter. I was supposed to fly with Kam Air to Kabul. As I was waiting for my flight, fortune smiled on me. There was an Italian PRT flight preparing to depart for Kabul via Chagcharan. PRT flights are run by NATO. Mostly Spanish or Italian. This flight was scheduled to depart at 0800. So I was excited to be getting out early and without the hassle of flying with Kam Air.

The Kam Air flight was supposed to depart at 0900. I’m guessing that it probably landed in Herat at 12 noon. Typically late.

I signed up for the PRT flight. We departed at approximately 0900. The aircraft for Kam Air hadn’t shown up yet.

During the flight, a rather ancient Afghani fellow sat next to me on the flight. Apparently, he had never flown before. I had to buckle his seat belt for him. During take off and each time we hit turbulence of any sort, this fellow reaches across and grabs the seat in front of him and white knuckles it. It was a little humorous. I felt sorry for the guy though. He was pretty frightened. Once we landed, he jumped to the ground and wouldn’t let go of the aircraft.

So now, I’m in Kabul. I need to get pages added to my passport (again). Monday, I’m off to Dubai.

A few days later, I’ll be standing in front of the Taj Mahal with my brand new Olympus e-Volt SLR. Awesome.

As an aside, I have to wonder why everything that involves the US military is such a hassle. With US Mil Air, you have to sign up 3 days in advance. You need two copies of your orders. One must be “officially” stamped. Then you must show up 4 hours early for your flight to get manifested with the “officially” stamped orders and ID Card in hand. Then stick around for four hours waiting for the aircraft to show or be cancelled. They collect all ID cards as you are manifested. In order to board the aircraft you must wait until they call off your name and return your ID Card. When you land, they collect you ID Card again. You have to wait for another 30 minutes to an hour to get it back and your bags may take an hour.

NATO PRT. I showed up expecting to take a commercial flight. Asked if I could hop on the PRT flight. They said sure and took my name down on his list. I waited about two hours and boarded the aircraft. 90 minutes later, I was in Kabul. I exited the aircraft. A German ground controller escorted us off the tarmac. He asked who was continuing on to other destinations and told the rest of us to have a nice day.

Bureaucracy. Idiocracy. US Mil Air.

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Afghanistan, herat, police, training

The Taliban Song and a day in Class

In Afghanistan, Politics on January 16, 2011 at 5:25 am

Another old post that I’d made private due to the Military

_________________________________________

These are some clips from the Taliban video that I placed on here earlier. I thought it would be fun to piece it together with Toby Keith’s The Taliban Song.

I teach a logistics class here in Herat. For each class, we take a group picture. At graduation, we present the students with a certificate and this picture in a folder. The certificate gives them credentials as a “trained” logistician. This is an MoI ANP requirement. The picture is a memento of the class from our group of instructors.

While taking the pictures, my fellow instructor asked one of our students if he was nervous about having his picture taken with Americans. The taliban catches him with the pic, he’s liable to find himself in a bit of a pickle. The guy in question is from Bale Baluk which is down south in Farah Province. Farah is “Indian country.” It’s a hot area with a high level of bandit/taliban activity. Bale Baluk’s immediate reply; “f*ck the taliban.”

We all had a good laugh at this comment.

Earlier in the week, Bale Baluk told me that he was Muslim because his parents were Muslim. But that it wasn’t important. He and another student went on to tell me that Islam is the religion of the Arabs. They brought it here and left it. But it has caused many problems for the Afghan people. They stated that “Afghanistan would be better off without it.” A profound statement. An unexpected statement.

I am not real fond of Islam as a religion or as an institution of any kind. Because of this, a friend of mine recently asked me why I would come to a Muslim country in support of a program that would modernize Muslims. This endeavor could very well serve to elevate them into a more serious threat in the future.

I see his point. That said, there are days like today and guys like our Bale Baluk student who make it seem a worthy endeavor. 40 is probably the median age of our students. We’ve had a couple of guys who were in their mid to late 20s. A few guys who were pushing 60. Most are around 38 to 45. Senior guys who were around for the Russians, the taliban and the War of the Warlords in Kabul. Now, they are on board with America and our attempt to modernize their country.

I try to engage our students in each class period. Sometimes, they are willing to talk when pushed a bit. Some of them don’t really say a lot to us. They listen. They might ask a question or two. Mostly they sit and learn a bit to take back to their districts. About half of them will engage us in conversation.

Our current class is a little different. There are three guys in the class who have come back for reinforcement training. A second go round. They felt like they could learn more by coming back. These guys are extremely open. At the end of each class, thus far, they have taken to engaging ME in conversation. Asking my opinion on world affairs. Asking me what I think about Karzai and Bush. Asking why I think Bush has not attacked Pakistan.

Something that some of you might find surprising is that Afghanis have no love for Pakistan. They (rightfully) blame Pakistan for the rise of the taliban. These guys have no love for Iran. But they absolutely abhor and completely distrust Pakistan. They think that we (the US) should turn our guns on Pakistan as that is the origin of much of the trouble in this country. The taliban is trained in Waziristan. Peshawar is a hot bed for insurgents. Hekmatyar Guilbuldin is in hiding somewhere in the neighborhood of Peshawar.

Guilbuldin is one of the worst of the warlords from the time of Civil War in and around Kabul. He fought against Massoud for control of Kabul after the Russians retreated across the Amu Darya.

Massoud is another surprisingly complex conversation. Not all Afghanis consider Shah Ahmed Massoud a National Hero. He is not universally loved as some of the international press would have the world believe. Massoud launched many a rocket into the civilian population of Kabul. He, also, is said to have treated often with the Soviets during the 80s. This allowed the Northern Alliance to lick it’s wounds. But it came at the expense of the rest of the country.

Afghanistan is a complex country. There are no easy answers here.

Some of these guys are pretty intense. Some of them are extremely reserved and dignified. You have to be careful. They can’t lose face in this society.

These guys. This class. They are extremely laid back. One of the older guys asked me to play him some sexy videos because he hadn’t seen his wife in a month. He’s from Farah and has been waiting for our class in Herat for a couple of weeks. Travel here is difficult and time consuming. Earlier in the week, I had been playing my Ipod and they all wanted to listen to it. I promised them that I would bring my personal laptop to class the next day. I have 100 gigs of Itunes music and videos on my laptop. They all wanted to hear and see the music videos. And, of course, they wanted to see “sexy videos.”

I connected my laptop to our Sony video projector and a set of speakers that I had one of our Terps purchase downtown when I first arrived in Herat. They wanted sexy, so I played Jennifer Lopez. They loved her. I played a few others like Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood and Katherine McPhee. Katherine McPhee would be a Superstar in Afghanistan. They seem to love her. One of my terps told me that I “can not compare anyone to Katherine.” “She is the best.” I could only laugh.

The funniest part of the day came when Bale Baluk jumped up on the table and started to dance. I never thought I would see any of these guys do such a thing.

It was a good day. A day I am not likely to forget.

Enough of my ramblings…

Below is a video of one of our classes and a few pictures of our students and us cutting up.

Above is Bale Baluk. He was our table dancer. Now tell me you could predict that one. lol

One thing that is humbling for me is the respect that these guys show me as their mentor. I don’t feel “worthy” of such respect. When I chance upon one of my students on a visit to the Regional Headquarters, they address me as “Teacher” and place their hand over their hearts as they greet me. I get the full hand shake/hug and double cheek kiss as well. Most of these men are older than me by ten years or more. They’ve been through war and terrifying experiences. Some of them risk their lives just to attend these classes. I’m always humbled by their greeting and by their sacrifice. These men have a quiet dignity with which they carry themselves. I feel greatly honored when they feel comfortable enough with us to let down their guard and to allow us a glimpse of themselves on such an informal level. This does not occur so often in my experience. It’s an awesome feeling to sit on an equal step of humanity with these men.

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Afghanistan, Egypt, India, India~Pakistan War, Israel, lebanon, NATO, Pakistan, US Bases and Deployment

Why are our Armed Forces still in Europe?

In Afghanistan, Central Asia, Introduction, Middle East, Military, Politics, Stupidity, thinking out loud, Travel, Useful Information, War on July 16, 2010 at 12:01 am

04.04.2008: Steve Bell on Nato

We need strategic relocation.

Europe needs to pay for their own defense. See how they like being out from under our Defense umbrella. The cowards would have to foot the bill and they’d have to back their talk with more than “We disagree with America.”

I’d say out of Europe altogether unless they want to pay us for having our troops there. Europe should be paying the US for their defense. As should South Korea. We should not be paying them for the privilege of defending them. I’ve never understood the concept of renting bases from Germany or the RoK. We’re there or were there to keep their sorry asses from being invaded. They should have been paying us.

I’d say withdraw from NATO and form a separate treaty organization with Australia and Great Britain.

We should withdraw completely from Saudi Arabia unless they start paying us for their protection with billions of barrels of oil.

We should negotiate a base in Ethiopia. Hell, at least they’re Christian. We should negotiate a base with Israel and all of our aid should be dependent on their allowance of our use of their lands. Put a base right square in the Negev. Negotiate another base with Jordan and one with Egypt. We give aid to all of these countries. That gives us an eye for Europe. A quick hop across the Med and boom ——–> Italy and Greece. I’d even be for placing a base in the Christian areas of Lebanon to counter the Iranian Rev Guards, Quds Force and Hizbollah.

We should negotiate a base with India as well. In Hindu or Christian areas. Stay out of Muzzie areas of India.

Keep a small force in Afghanistan and a small force in Iraq for the foreseeable future but draw down the rest and let those countries build themselves.

That puts us strategically located across the globe and gives us some damn fine opportunities for sightseeing.

The best thing that we could do is to get out of Europe.

We should declare war on Pakistan and let India go in with us and kick their asses.

Solve Pakistan and Afghanistan is solved. It’s that freakin’ simple.

That will scare the shit out of Iran and China as well as put Russia on notice.

We screw around way too often. End this shit. NOW!

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Afghanistan, Korengal Valley, Pakistan, Sebastian JUnger, war

WAR by Sebastian Junger

In Afghanistan, culture, Introduction, War on July 13, 2010 at 12:01 am

My take on WAR by Sebastian Junger from a Political Forum to which I contribute (or decimate…depending on your view point…lol)

It’s a damn good read.

I read it in two days while drinking beers in Phnom Penh. I couldn’t put the damn thing down.

Closest thing I’ve ever read to being there. Though, I’ve never been in that kind of situation as those in the Korengal Valley. He gets the feel of Afghanistan and conveys it to the reader as flawlessly as it is possible to do on the written page.

Best book I’ve read about the Afghan War.

The guy captured it perfectly. It’s in the little nuances and in the way that he talks to the reader.

The story of those soldiers in that valley is well worth the read.

And Sebastion Junger has balls the size of Afghanistan. That guy voluntarily walked out and was airlifted into combat so that he could tell that story as authentically as possible.

While I was there, I went out with the expectation that I’d run into something. Sometimes we did, sometimes we didn’t. I never came close to what those guys experienced though. Not remotely close, I may as well have been on Mars as compared to their experience. BUT I NEVER went out there HOPING for contact. I was always hoping for as little action as possible.

Those guys in that Valley have my utmost respect for having been there and Junger too for writing that book.

Though, I didn’t go through the crucible that those guy have gone through, I know exactly what they are talking about when the express their apprehension to returning Stateside.

After being out there, there’s no way that living in America can measure up to the experience of being out there. Where life can be measured in inches and seconds and chance serves you as well (or as poorly) as preparation and planning.

I don’t know…I’m having a hard time not going on and on about this book.

If you are interested in Afghanistan or the Military, Read It!

If you are looking for a political hit book….this one isn’t your book.

I hope that no Republican types starts trying to target this book as Liberal writing and that no Democrat tries to hype it as an anti-War book. It’s so much more.

So much more…

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Afghanistan, Congressional Medal of Honor, Eastern Afghanistan, Hero, Heroes, Korengal Valley, Medal of Honor, Soldiers, u.s. military, US Army

Soldier from the Korengal Valley up for the Medal of Honor

In Afghanistan, Central Asia, culture, Military, thinking out loud on July 12, 2010 at 5:26 pm

A US paratrooper who took part in some of the heaviest fighting in the war in Afghanistan – in the remote Korengal Valley – has become the first living nominee for the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam war.

The highest American decoration for military valour, the Medal of Honor has been awarded only eight times, all posthumously, since 1973. Two were given to snipers for the part they played in the battle of Mogadishu in 1993 in protecting a downed helicopter pilot. Since then, there have been six awarded from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but none of them has been given to a surviving serviceman.

Although the Pentagon has refused to comment on the identity of the soldier, the Army Times reported on Friday that it had established that the proposed recipient was Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. His name is understood to have been put forward after he charged into a wall of fire from Taliban fighters, who were attempting to overrun his position, to drag away another US soldier.

The episode, which took place on 25 October 2007, is described in Sebastian Junger’s new book, War, which describes the fighting in the Korengal Valley. A documentary, Restrepo, made by Junger with cameraman Tim Hetherington and covering the same period, is released this weekend.

Describing his attempts to reach a wounded colleague, Giunta told Junger: “I did what I did because that’s what I was trained to do. I didn’t run through fire to save a buddy – I ran through fire to see what was going on with him and maybe we could hide behind the same rock and shoot together. I didn’t run through fire to do anything heroic or brave. I did what I believe anyone would have done.”

Read those last few words again. This guy is a true, real and live hero.

Neither Afghanistan nor Iraq are light situations. They’re deadly serious. There are areas in both that are deadly. There are areas in which one can sit on a FOB for a year and never come under enemy fire. The media doesn’t run stories on this phenomenon. The enemy-less FOBs out there that see no real enemy combat. I’ve been on quite a few FOBs over there that see no enemy contact. I’ve been on some that see rocket and mortar attack. And I’ve been on some that have taken enemy fire.

I’ve never been anywhere close to the Korengal Valley or it’s daily hazard of enemy contact.

The guys in that valley acted heroically on a daily basis for weeks at a time. There are lulls, of course. Times when the taliban and the Arab fighters crawl back into Pakistan to lick their wounds and re-supply. Even so, the danger is ever present in a place like Korengal. There is no let down. The stress is unimaginable. The bond created by that stress. A bond forged in fire is indescribable. Seeing your friends killed or wounded and the unspeakable horror of the possibility or likelihood that you could be next. How does one speak to that.

I had conversations back in the States with some civilian friends of mine. Guys who had never been in a combat zone. They kept telling me that all of our soldiers were heroes. Some even characterized me as a hero. I’m simply a contractor over there. I can leave any time that I feel the pressure is too much. Hell, I could leave just for the hell of it. I was able to take holiday every 3 or 4 months.

Not so for soldiers. They’re there. For the duration. They’ll rotate in and out on leave once during their 12 to 15 month tour. Other than that, they’re stuck. No choice but to sweat it out.

But. There are two types of soldiers over there. Those who see combat and those who don’t. Some soldiers never leave their FOB. Never see an enemy combatant outside of CNN, Fox News or MSNBC. Some of these sit at FOBs that directly support combat troops. Some sit in rear areas like Bagram or Camp Phoenix and never leave the FOB. Others drive around green zones wherein no enemy contact is made.

I spent 18 months at Bagram Air Field (BAF). We were rocketed or mortared once a month at best. There was always a rumor that the insurgents would try to infiltrate. Bullshit rumors at best. Anyone with any knowledge of the situation in Afghanistan and of the insurgency knew that the insurgents had neither the equipment nor the manpower to breach BAF. It just wasn’t going to happen. Aside from the occasional rocket and the daily detonation of mines being detonated on the perimeter, I never felt truly threatened at BAF and the war rarely intruded on my day.

That’s how a great majority of soldiers and almost all of the Navy and Airmen spend their tour in Afghanistan. Contractors are, for the most part, in the same category.

Not so for your average Combat Soldier in Afghanistan. Not so for your average Marine in Afghanistan. These guys are sent out to do the heavy lifting. These guys fight. For those in Western Afghanistan, it’s a bit of a lighter load. Excepting parts of Farah and Badghis Provinces. I know this because I was there for 30 months as a mentor and trainer for the Afghan National Police. I know how much more dangerous some areas are than others in Afghanistan. I’ve spent time in Qandahar as well and up in the Mountains of Ghor. I’ve experienced some of these places and have spoken with folks just out of other areas. I know people in some of these places right now. Out in the East and the South, the fighting is much more intense. Korengal is in the East. Curved up next to Pakistan. I’m sure that during some of the Ops that those guys ran in Korengal, they looked straight down into Pakistan.

Those guys are fighters. Those guys are heroes.

I knew Officers and NCOs over there who never left the FOB. 12-15 months sending Soldiers and Marines out in harm’s way. Never once did they inspect these troops. Never once did they share their hardships and dangers. These Officers and NCOs were not heroes. They weren’t even leaders.

I know this is not politically correct of me to say, but, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who sit at FOBS and never see the enemy. They’re just Joes doing their job. There doing nothing heroic. Contractors out there are hired to do a job. They’re not heroes. There are exceptions to this, of course. Some men and women will fall into situations and become heroes. Others will fail and become cowards.

The men who fight on those hills. They’re guilty. Guilty of going above and beyond and becoming heroes. These are the men who in earlier times would have inspired tribal tales and cultural myths such as Hericles, Perseus and Achilles. These are the rough men standing ready to defend us. They join the military for adventure. They join the military for college funds. They join the military because if they didn’t, they’d probably spend their lives in prison. They join the military for as many reasons as there are individuals out there fighting. Regardless, they find themselves in hell. They fight for their brothers and die for their brothers.

Personally, I feel it’s a stain on the honor of the truly heroic to call all members of the military heroes. It’s even worse the way the term is bandied about as concerns Sports personalities and others of the like.

The title of hero is an honorific that’s earned. It’s an honor above all others. It’s about selflessness. It’s putting the lives of others above yours.

Despite their protestations. these men in the Korengal Valley and similar places are heroes.
We should not diminish their legacy by such easy use of the word.

If you want to delve more deeply into the War in Afghanistan or the Korengal Valley, I recommend reading WAR by Sebastion Junger. It is an amazing read.

It’s true that heroes are inspiring, but mustn’t they also do some rescuing if they are to be worthy of their name? Would Wonder Woman matter if she only sent commiserating telegrams to the distressed?
Author: Jeanette Winterson

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” Arthur Ashe

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Afghanistan, Baht, Bamian, buddha, Cambodia, china, Dubai, French Indochine, herat, Indochine, Jewelry, Kuchi, Kuwait, Laos, Money, Piastre, Riels, Teak wood, Thailand, This and that, Vietnam, Yuan

Monetary Notes of the World

In Afghanistan, beauty, Cambodia, Central Asia, Commerce, culture, Middle East, thinking out loud, Useful Information, Vietnam on July 2, 2010 at 10:36 pm

Unny and I had this table custom made for our new digs out in the ‘burbs. Cost a bit, but, not too much. It’s made from teak wood. I wanted something in which to display the monetary notes which I’ve collected from my travels. I only wish that I had some of the notes that are in my storage room back in the States.

There are notes in there from China, Dubai, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, India, Iran, Bahrain, Egypt, Vietnam, North Korea and a few other countries. As well as notes from old French Indochine. The note with the tiger is from Vietnam during the US war era. I actually got that one from ebay.com because I thought it was cool.

There are also coins in there from all over (Japan, Malaysia, EU, England, etc). Some old ones but mostly newer coins. I placed my three French Indochine Silver Dollars. They’re probably counterfeit, but, I don’t care. That actually makes them a little more interesting to me and I paid a pittance for them. 3 or 4 bucks. Nothing to cry over. I knew or thought that they were fakes when I purchased them.

I also placed of couple of Greco-Bactrian coins in there. Supposedly, they’re silver and over a thousand years old. I don’t know. So many fakes being sold in Afghanistan these days. Even so, those coins are supposedly a dime a dozen over there. Chances are they’re real. They’re not rare, though. At least not for anyone who’s traveled in Central Asia. They’re all over the place there. It is said that one can find them walking out in open ground or on fields and such. They’re that common place. Neat little pieces of history.

The necklace is a Kuchi piece that I purchased at a bazaar in Herat. It’s made of brass and copper with a few worthless gems thrown in for good measure. It has an old animist relief on it. Looks to be an old Ganesh likeness to me. I also placed my Bamian Buddha stamps in the lower right corner and four little jewelry/snuff boxes. The two with Camels depicted on them are from Dubai and made from silver and glazed to make the camel likenesses. The other two I purchased in Herat. Those two are supposed to be silver as well. Though, I doubt it.

There you have it. My little collection of monies (and sundry items) from around the world.

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Afghanistan, Kabul, Kabul Beauty School, puppy love, Rashid Doostum, Sher Khan

Kabul Beauty School

In Afghanistan, Literature, Spirituality, thinking out loud, Travel, Useful Information on June 16, 2010 at 12:01 am

This is an old post that I wrote up a few months ago while I was in Herat, Afghansitan. This happened between June and September 2007 in Kabul.

I read the book Kabul Beauty School and decided to seek out the real place. The actual beauty school. Try to meet the author and get her to sign the book. The books more about life in Kabul than just a Beauty school. So I get there and decide to get a hair cut. This is a few years back. The reason that I decide to get a hair cut is that the receptionist is pretty as hell. lol Just an excuse to talk to her and stick around longer. And she smelled so good I didn’t want to stop inhaling her scent. Whatever it was. Some combination of fruit and flowers that left my knees weak. haha

I get my hair cut and while in the middle of that. I’m talking to the receptionist. I get her name ~ Muzghan. She’s Afghani but had moved to London with her parents during the diaspora. I figured she was about 24 or 25. We talked for a while and eventually I talk her into meeting me for lunch at my hotel. We exchange phone numbers.

Back to the hair cut. The gal cutting my hair had underarm stench that cut the freakin’ wind. A couple times I actually thought that I was going to start gagging or pass out from it. It was strong. Like she hadn’t taken a bath in a month stink. I just started laughing. I let her finish my hair. She does an ok job. I spike my hair up anyway so if they screw it up, it usually looks like I did it on purpose. lol

Back to Muzghan.

Muzghan calls me up and asks me to meet her in the lobby of my hotel. I get all excited. Woohoo, I’ve got a DATE in Kabul, Afghanistan! hahahaha You have no idea how big a deal that is until you spend a few months in Afghanistan.

She shows up with a body guard and stinky hair cut lady as a chaperon. We have tea and talk for a while down in the coffee shop in the mall area of my hotel. And it’s actually a pleasant afternoon and good conversation. I seem to have met a Kabuli socialite.

Her body guard has an AK47. And stands there like he’s ready for the attack from hell.

Of course, I am the perfect gentleman during this meeting and each subsequent meeting under the watchful gaze of the body guard. The last couple of meetings she didn’t bring the chaperon. But she never went any where without her body guard. She laughed at me for being nervous.

Turns out Muzghan is only 20.

And she is a member of the extended family of Agha Khan.

If you don’t know who Agha Khan is…look the dude up. He’s so rich that he has his own consulate in London and a couple of other countries. He’s the head of the Ismaeli Clan. The Ismaelis are a sect of Islam. Shi’a Islam. They’re small. Maybe 30 million worldwide. The largest group is in Canada. Agha Khan is their leader/father/benefactor. He sets up scholarship foundations for them. Businesses and keeps them organized and in touch. He’s no Osama bin Laden. Quite the opposite. He believes in education. For Muslims. Men and women.

Anyway, I meet with Muzghan a few more times. At first because I’m interested and I think I might get laid. lol Then later, I figure out that there ain’t a prayer in hell of getting laid and it’s just interesting talking to this girl.

Out of curiosity, I asked a guy named Sher Ahmad (a whole other story) who is the Security Boss of Rashid Dostum (look him up). I asked Sher what would happen if I wanted to marry Muzghan. He told me with a straight face; “David, they would kill you.” I looked at him in disbelief at first. Then I just laughed. Realizing that he was telling the truth. That’s when he told me that she was a relative of Agha Khan and she would be matched with another Ismaeli and never have a worry in her life.

She emails me out of the blue every once in a while. She returned to London not long before I departed for Herat. Apparently, they’d found out that she was meeting with some strange American. Thankfully, I had sense enough to not make any Rico Suave moves on her or anything stupid like that. The bastards probably would have killed me had I tried. For me, it was enough to meet an nice, educated Afghan woman and learn a bit more about the culture.

I tell ya. Lots of crazy experiences over here.

The first email that I got from her after her return to London: “David, I miss you so much.” I must have been her first crush. It was a cute email. She was a nice girl and pretty as hell. Had this lilting sing song voice that made ya wanna break out in song yourself. It was a great experience for me and a beautiful side of Kabul that not too many Westerners are privileged to have.

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Afghan Museum, Afghanistan, Darulaman Palace, Kabul

Kabul Blast ~ Afghans and Americans Slain by Islamic Suicide Bomber

In Afghanistan, Politics, Quotes, Religion, Stupidity, thinking out loud, Travel on May 19, 2010 at 12:06 am

[carbomb0518]

By ALAN CULLISON

KABUL, Afghanistan—At least 10 people, including six coalition force members, were killed and almost 50 wounded when a suicide car bomb targeted a U.S. military convoy outside an Afghan military-recruitment center in Kabul Tuesday morning, police officials said.

A spokesman from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said six “international service members were killed and several wounded” in the attack, but wouldn’t reveal their nationalities.

Gen. Khalil Dastyar, the deputy police chief of Kabul, said the dead NATO members were American. The Associated Press reported that five of them were U.S. troops; the nationality of the sixth wasn’t immediately disclosed.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that a car loaded with 1,200 pounds of explosives rammed into a U.S. convoy at about 8:30 a.m. local time.

The blast destroyed at least 12 civilian vehicles, one of them a civilian bus; its charred remains were left resting near the road. NATO said five of its vehicles were damaged.

The bomber targeted a small convoy of U.S. military vehicles that were moving along the road near the recruitment center, officials said. The road also skirts a U.S. military base, Camp Julien, that hosts a counterinsurgency training academy for both Afghan and U.S. military personnel.

I stood at this spot not two months ago. This exact spot. That pillar that is knocked over is from the 19th Century from the time of the Afghan Kings. Off to the right of the pillar is the National Museum of Afghansitan. I took a photograph standing next to that pillar when I stopped at the Museum. Strange to think that this could have been me getting hit. Wrong time, wrong place. I was lucky. Right time. Right place. No bombs. Aside from the scant traffic, it was just begger kids, Afghan Police, a few other tourists and a few merchants. No talib assholes or other Wahhabist scum around.

Thank God!

May God Protect our Soldiers and Civilians in Afghansitan and may he protect the Afghan People as well. May he strike down the scourge of evil that is the taliban. Amen.

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Afghanistan, Ghorid, herat, islam, Khoda Hafiz, khorasan, Masjid Jami, Moghul, Timorid

Masjid Jami

In Afghanistan, Central Asia, islam, Travel on May 13, 2010 at 7:28 pm

Sometime during my tour in Afghanistan, I got outside the wire. I tend to do this from time to time. Get out and wander around with a friend or two.

This particular time, I was doing some business with the ANP Province Headquarters. While there, I crept out with a few guys and one ANP Colonel and strolled over to the Masjid Jami in Herat. COL Khoda Dad spoke with the head Mullah there and asked him to give me a tour of the Mosque. After intros were made, I was escorted about and taken to almost every part of the Mosque. One of the more interesting parts of the tour were when they showed me the room where all of the repairs are made for tiles and such. They do all repairs by hand. Exactly the same process as hundreds of years ago when the Mosque was first created. They even hand paint the ceramics onto the tiles.

I took these pictures as I walked around in awe of the agelessness of the place.

I’m very lucky to have been able to have had this and other experiences in Afghanistan. I’d venture to say that not everyone has such incredible and unique adventures over there.

Khoda Hafiz!

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Afghanistan, Alexander the Great, Babur Khan, genghis khan, Ghowarashad Shrine, herat, Herat Citadel, Martyrs Museum, Minarets of HErat, pictures of Afghanistan, Tamerlane, Western Afghanistan

Touring Herat with the ANP

In Afghanistan, culture, islam, Middle East, thinking out loud, Travel on May 1, 2010 at 12:01 am

Last few days in Herat.

I had asked General Akrummuddin and COL Zahir to arrange a tour of Herat for me. There are hundreds of architectural and historical wonders in and around Herat. The Primary locations being the Minarets, the Citadel and the Masjid Jami. All beautiful with centuries of history. These structures have been witness to Alexander, Tamerlane, Genghis Khan, Babur Khan and a host of other historical figures of greater or lesser renown.

With about a month to go, I felt safe to get the tour underway. COL Zahir and General AKs Securty Deputy were worried. What would happen to them if I were kidnapped or harmed in some way under their watch. Probably would be a mess. Not that I’m a huge target or an important target.

I talked to General AK and COL Zahir again. They arranged everything.

I was given a two vehicle entourage with security guards for protection. I was driven around the city and taken to the Martyrs Museum, the Citadel, an ancient aqueduct, a couple of Shi’a Shrines in the area the names of which I can’t remember right now (I’ll have to update this later) and to the Minarets and the Ghowharashad Shrine.

The Minarets had to be magnificent in their day. They’re still a site to behold. Especially considering the age of the things. The Citadel was extraordinary. I was able to get our and mix it up a bit with the locals right around the Citadel.

It was an incredible adventure about which I plan to write more in the future.

For now, I simply wish to share the photos from the event.

Hope you enjoy.

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Afghanistan, AH64, Apache, aviation, Blackhawk, CH47, Chinook, Helicopter, UH60, Vulcan

Helicopters in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan on March 9, 2010 at 12:01 am

This was the view outside my front door in Afghanistan. I watched these birds come and go all the time.

Speeding off to places like Farah, Bala Magob, Bala Baluk, Delarom or Torqundi. Carrying men, equipment, ammunition, food. You name it. Taking the battle to the insurgents. Some days it was non-stop. Some days it was a trickle.

I took these pics the day after Thanksgiving 2009 while I was working for MPRI.

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Afghanistan, ANP, Camp Zafar, hail and farewell, herat

Farewell Party

In Afghanistan on February 21, 2010 at 6:17 pm

I planned a Farewell Party for my guys (and me, of course).

I had Shoaib bring in a Kabob guy from downtown Herat. Had the whole Afghan Kabob platter. Cucumbers, tomatoes, lamb, beef and chicken. Nan (Afghan bread). Apples and Oranges. Soda and water. The meat was grilled right there on Camp Zafar by the Kabob shop owner. He knew he had to get it right because of our guests. I don’t reckon it would be good for his business to piss off the Regional Police Commander. lol

That morning (18 Feb), Shoaib was dropped off downtown. He picked up the fruit, drinks, the kabob shop guy with all of his supplies and meats and such. Yama drove them all to the gate.

At about 1030, I headed for Camp Zafar. 15 minutes later, Shoaib calls from the gate. The ANA (Afghan Army) didn’t want to cooperate. They wouldn’t let the kabob guy into the base. I jumped into one of our vans and raced to the gate. We were running late. I had expected everything to be set up and smokin’ by 1030. I rolled up to the gate like the Po Po in Miami Vice and started my routine. Talking loud. Shaking hands and walking straight through to where Shoaib was being held up outside the main gate. I stormed up to the ANA sentry and loudly proclaimed: “Hey, these guys are with me!” I pushed them all to the gate and started walking that way myself.

No problem. It’s fairly easy to deal with the ANA if you are an American.

Finally, my man was on the scene and ready to start cooking.

Fortunately, the ANP are always late. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them on time. It’s that whole “insha’allah” mentality. Things happen according to God’s will and timeline. It’s just part of dealing with Muslims in general.

We got the kabob guy set up and cooking. I had told Shoaib to have different types of meat. I wanted an Afghan style party. All we needed was for someone to get up in the middle and dance and we’d have been on it.

MG Ak and COL Zahir arrived with about 20 ANP Officers and the security detail at 1200 hours. We greeted them at the side of our class room building and brought them inside to start the party.

I got everyone seated and then stood in the middle to get everyone’s attention. It was time to give out certificates to my guys ~ Milton, Wahid, Farhad and Shoaib. I gave a short opening remark then brought my guys in along with MG AK and Al, our MPRI Team Leader, and we gave each of them a Certificate. I also gave Milton an Afghan Flag on a marble mount with Herat, Afghanistan 2007 ~ 2010 inscribed on it.

I gave a little speech in effect saying that all of my success was due to these guys and that it was an awesome opportunity for me to have worked with them and the ANP as well as all of the MPRI team members. Over all, Afghanistan has been an excellent experience for me. I feel honored to have been able to take part in this grand adventure in some small capacity.

MG Ak stepped up next and presented me with another Cert and a beautiful carpet that I’ll probably have framed and hang at home. It depicts the Minarets and the Ghowharashad Masjid. It’s quite colorful as well. I liked it. He gave a little speech and saying that he’d enjoyed our time together and that I was a true member of the team and had become a part of the Afghan family. So much so that they had given me the nickname “Dawood Khan.” Everyone got a laugh out of that. He presented Milton with a Cert as well and talked him up a bit.

Milton spoke a bit after that. Thanking everyone for the successes out here and saying that the Herat Team was his favored place of the teams with which he had worked. And this is true. We’ve had our squabbles. Some ongoing. For the most part, though, we’ve got on like family. To include the squabbles. lol Some of it reminds me of sibling rivalry. Some of us just want to do the job. We don’t care about recognition or awards. Some want to be heroes and want to be recognized as such. All part of the game.

We had a good group out here. And it was a joy to work with these guys.

I gave a few last remarks and then said; “Alright, time to eat!”

Then I walked out and started pushing the guys to get the food in to our guests.

At some point, I sat down to eat with MG Ak. We talked about my plans after Afghanistan. He asked me if I’d be coming back at some point. I told him that I didn’t plan to do so, but, that only God knows the future. Of course, sometime during the conversation he told me to take care of my health because I’d gotten a bit heavy since I’d been here. lol I laughed and told him that Unny was making me join a gym in Bangkok. He got a kick out of that. As always, he asked after family. Wanted to make sure that I was keeping in touch with Momma. I told him that, of course, I was.

I have to say that Shoaib did a most excellent job with arranging everything. The guy has been key to all my endeavors out here. I’m lucky to have had such a great friend and co-worker. Gods blessings.

Everyone ate. We joked. Laughed. It was a good time.

I stood up to ask MG AK for a last picture together. Called COL Zahir over for the pic.

As soon as MG AK stood, the whole of the ANP stood and started filing out.

We took pics with the General. All of us together. Before COL Zahir got away, I grabbed him for one last photo. He started talking about Bangkok and told MG Ak that I was soon to be married. lol MG Ak asked me about Unny. I showed him a picture of her. He complimented her effusively saying how pretty she was and that I should take care of her. Not let her get away. Get married and have a family. I told him that this was in my plans.

Then we said farewell for a final time. MG AK wished me well in my future endeavors and told me to give greetings and his thanks to my Mother for sending him such a “fine young man” to mentor his Officers. COL Zahir started joking on me and we exchanged a few last jibes.

Then it was over. As sudden as it started. In with a bang, out with a bang.

It was a great end to my time here in Herat.

That night and the next day, all of the MPRI guys kept stopping by to tell me that it was a great party and they had appreciated being a part of it.

They had to be a part of it, though. They were part of my time here. It’s only fitting that they be in on the end.

I’ve had a great time here in Herat. It’s been a joy to work here with my American colleagues as well as the ANP and ABP. They’ve been a great bunch and have helped to make this “tour of duty” extremely rewarding for me.

Below are photos of the event. There are a bunch, though. lol Enjoy and Khoda hafiz.

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave a comment or two…