Dawood Khan

Posts Tagged ‘Afghanistan’

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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

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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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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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Touring Herat with the ANP

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

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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.http://hereticdhammasangha.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/p1200792.jpg?w=222&h=294

http://hereticdhammasangha.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/p1200794.jpg?w=221&h=294I 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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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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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…

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Walking around Camp Stone on a Friday morning

In Afghanistan, culture, Thailand, thinking out loud, Travel, Unny on February 19, 2010 at 2:01 pm

Art for Unny's Bangkok Cafe

I walked over the bazaar to say a final farewell to a friend.  Hossein sells bootleg DVDs at Coalition Camps all over Herat.  I’ve run into him all over the place.  Primarily at the RTC, Camp Stone and Camp Arena.  I’ve seen him tooling around downtown Herat once or twice as well.  We struck up a friendship of sorts over the past couple of years.  So I stopped by to say farewell.

While I was doing that, I ran into the Tea Pot.  Unny wants to have a small cafe in Bangkok.  So I figured it would make a nice piece to display at such a place.  I picked it up for her.  It’s inlaid with turquoise, lapis and some kind of red stone.  I like it.  It’s a nice little piece that I think she’ll like as well.  It’s decorated with figures from Hindu and Buddhist mythology which ties in nicely with Thailand.  Garuda is front and center in the picture.

The other pics are just random shots taken as I waswalking about the bazaar area and the camp.

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Pictures from the Road ~ Gozarah District and the Farah-Herat Road

In Afghanistan, culture, Travel on February 13, 2010 at 12:01 am

Enjoy!

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Gifts from Amrikkiya

In Afghanistan, Kids, thinking out loud, Uncategorized, Unny on February 12, 2010 at 12:08 am

Since the Larry Vaught article a few people sent messages via email that they were sending gifts for my kids.  The first box arrived on Wednesday night.  I called and asked the military for a ride to the RHQ and took the gifts to Nahida, Jalil and Ali.  They were so excited to receive the toys and other items.  It was a cool day for all of us.

This particular box was from a friend from WildcatNation ~ PsychoCat.   Thanks to PsychoCat, I was finally able to give some real girly stuff to Nahida.  Like I said earlier, I’m clueless as to what a girl might want. Nahida loved the gifts and so did the boys. We played frisbee together for about a half hour and then I watched as the boys wrestled and tried to go all John Cena on me. lol Their words, not mine. I barely know who John Cena is…

I want to get these pics posted and I’m tired.  So since a picture speaks a thousand words…

Nahida is so much more vibrant in person than these pics portray.  She’s just super shy.  A lot of it is cultural.  I showed her a picture of my girlfriend Unny and told her that Unny said hello and that she (Nahida) was “such a pretty little gal.”  You should have seen her smile when I told her that.  So cute.  She seemed extremely reluctant to give it back to me.  So I gave it to her.  She kept looking at it.  Then she’d put it in her pocket and then take it out again for a peek.  She asked Shoaib to tell me that Unny was “besyar makbullah.”    I laughed and smiled and told her that I agreed.

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Another Excellent Cartoon Commentary on Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, Central Asia, islam, Military, Politics on February 4, 2010 at 11:52 am

Rape and Murder: The Tools of Karzai Democracy

The Karzai Government is corrupt and beholden to Thugs, Thieves and scandalous, corrupt Mullahs who want to force medieval religious “values” on the common people as they use Islam to rape the country.  These thieving scoundrels use Islam as a tool of rape, plunder and intimidation.  They use their power in the government and their association with the United States to empower themselves and to bully the people.  They use rape and murder to intimidate any voice which rises in defense of the people of Afghanistan.

The worse thing about this situation is that it is American money and influence which allows this situation.  Rumsfield, Cheney, Bush and, now, the Obama Administration are keeping these men in power.  These scum are the anti-thesis of Democracy.  They are Taliban lite and in some cases, they are worse than the Taliban.  They have become so under the protection and with the help of the US and NATO forces.

We empower these corrupt “leaders” and allow them to use Democracy as a guise under which they protract a decrepit despotism that they started after the fall of  King Zahir Khan.

America is not spreading Democracy in this region.  We are doing the very opposite.  It’s shameful.

We should be supporting the Malalai Joyas of Afghanistan.  Instead, we are supporting the evil, murdering and raping despotic Warlords who are democratic only in the sense that they mouth the word from time to time.

IT IS SHAMEFUL!

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America ~ Exporting Democracy

In Afghanistan, Central Asia, culture, Politics on February 3, 2010 at 9:31 pm

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This is the basic accomplishment in Afghanistan after 8 long and deadly years.

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Afghanistan ~ Pushtoon Culture, Pedophilia and Homosexuality

In Afghanistan, culture, islam, Middle East, Religion, thinking out loud, Travel on February 1, 2010 at 12:05 am
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The "chaste and glorious" love of the Pushtoon version of Islam. Kuni Bacha!

Afghan Men Struggle With Sexual Identity, Study Finds

An unclassified study from a military research unit in southern Afghanistan details how homosexual behavior is unusually common among men in the large ethnic group known as Pashtuns — though they seem to be in complete denial about it.

As if U.S. troops and diplomats didn’t have enough to worry about in trying to understand Afghan culture, a new report suggests an entire region in the country is coping with a sexual identity crisis.

An unclassified study from a military research unit in southern Afghanistan details how homosexual behavior is unusually common among men in the large ethnic group known as Pashtuns — though they seem to be in complete denial about it.

The study, obtained by Fox News, found that Pashtun men commonly have sex with other men, admire other men physically, have sexual relationships with boys and shun women both socially and sexually — yet they completely reject the label of “homosexual.” The research was conducted as part of a longstanding effort to better understand Afghan culture and improve Western interaction with the local people.

The research unit, which was attached to a Marine battalion in southern Afghanistan, acknowledged that the behavior of some Afghan men has left Western forces “frequently confused.”

The report details the bizarre interactions a U.S. Army medic and her colleagues had with Afghan men in the southern province of Kandahar.

In one instance, a group of local male interpreters had contracted gonorrhea anally but refused to believe they could have contracted it sexually — “because they were not homosexuals.”

Apparently, according to the report, Pashtun men interpret the Islamic prohibition on homosexuality to mean they cannot “love” another man — but that doesn’t mean they can’t use men for “sexual gratification.”

The group of interpreters who had contracted gonorrhea joked in the camp that they actually got the disease by “mixing green and black tea.” But since they refused to heed the medics’ warnings, many of them re-contracted the disease after receiving treatment.

The U.S. army medic also told members of the research unit that she and her colleagues had to explain to a local man how to get his wife pregnant.

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This lovely young girl is unclean? According to the Pushtoon version of Islam she is. Amazing!

The report said: “When it was explained to him what was necessary, he reacted with disgust and asked, ‘How could one feel desire to be with a woman, who God has made unclean, when one could be with a man, who is clean? Surely this must be wrong.’”

The Pashtun populations are concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country. The Human Terrain Team that conducted the research is part of a military effort to learn more about local populations.

The report also detailed a disturbing practice in which older “men of status” keep young boys on hand for sexual relationships. One of the country’s favorite sayings, the report said, is “women are for children, boys are for pleasure.”

The report concluded that the widespread homosexual behavior stems from several factors, including the “severe segregation” of women in the society and the “prohibitive” cost of marriage.

Though U.S. troops are commonly taught in training for Afghanistan that the “effeminate characteristics” of Pashtun men are “normal” and not an indicator of homosexuality, the report said U.S. forces should not “dismiss” the unique version of homosexuality that is actually practiced in the region “out of desire to avoid western discomfort.”

Otherwise, the report said, Westerners could “risk failing to comprehend an essential social force underlying Pashtun culture.”

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Mullah Omar ~ Boy Bugger Extraordinaire

Fortunately, I work in a predominantly Tajik area.  The Tajiks call these little boy buggers “Qandaharis.”  Because they say that all of the men down in the Southeast love to capture little boys and keep them for sex (I cleaned that up.  They’re much more graphic about it).  It’s pretty much common knowledge here.  The Pashtuns may be in denial about it, but, the Tajiks aren’t and  make fun of them all the time.

The call them all kuni bacha’a which pretty much translates to “boy buggers.”  lol

Not news to me.  lol

The Egyptians say the same thing about the Arabs of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.  Isn’t Saddam famous for having made a similar statement about Saudi Arabia.

Aside from that, anal sex is pretty common in the lands of Islam because of the importance of female virginity.  The vagina must be pristine with hymen intact at the time of  marriage.  Apparently, though, the anal cavity and sphincter muscle can worn to hell and back.  lol

Hooking up for Man Love Thursday!

What a strange bunch.  It’s Arab culture.  The Pashtuns are more heavily influenced by the Arabs.  The Tajiks are influenced more by China, Asia and Russia.

I’m going to show this to my terps.  They’ll laugh their butts off.

Of course, they’re all Tajik.

Here’s an interesting link for additional information.


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US Policy in Afghanistan ~ Failure 101

In Afghanistan, Central Asia, islam, Middle East, Military, Politics, Quotes, Religion, Stupidity, thinking out loud on January 30, 2010 at 3:31 am

JALALABAD, Afghanistan — The leaders of one of the largest Pashtun tribes in a stronghold said Wednesday that they had agreed to support the American-backed government, battle insurgents and burn down the home of any Afghan who harbored Taliban guerrillas.

Adam Ferguson for The New York Times

Shinwari tribal elders meeting this week in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, established harsh penalties against Taliban sympathizers.

Shinwari elders united against the Taliban on Wednesday in a pact set in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Elders from the Shinwari tribe, which represents about 400,000 people in eastern Afghanistan also pledged to send at least one military-age male in each family to the Afghan Army or the police in the event of a Taliban attack.

In exchange for their support, American commanders agreed to channel $1 million in development projects directly to the tribal leaders and bypass the local Afghan government, which is widely seen as corrupt.

“The Taliban have been trying to destroy our tribe, and they are taking money from us, and they are taking our sons to fight,” said Malik Niaz, a Shinwari elder. “If they defy us now, we will defeat them.”

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This is a band aid. We are bandaging one wound to cover up a sucking chest wound that lies across the heart of Afghanistan and Central Asia.

We have not proven to be a friend to all of Afghanistan. We are seen as an occupying force to many Afghans.

With that in mind, I’m not surprised that it takes money and other inducements to obtain the loyalties of these people. Even after World War II, we purchased the loyalties of Europe via the Marshall Plan and other economic programs. There is no free lunch. We aren’t in Afghanistan simply to help the Afghan people. They know that. We know that. Everyone knows that except for brainless Americans who are half illiterate.

The taliban are still supported in the country side. Many Afghans thought that America was going to come in and introduce democratic reforms. We didn’t. We didn’t support democracy or democratic minded leaders. We came in and we supported Warlords and persons who had destroyed Afghanistan for their personal gain and to enhance their personal power.

With that in mind, how could we expect anything except the situation that we have at present. Karzai is beholden to the Warlords.

We pay taliban and warlords to NOT attack our convoys. When we do go into an area, we bring with us “collateral damage.” The Afghans see this. They don’t like it.

We pay off the very people against whom we are supposedly at war. We spent 2002-2008 and on to the present giving monies to Pakistan that we knew were being funneled to the extremists in the FATA and the NWFP. Yet, we continue the same failed policies. We refused to bring Musharaf to heel and instead poured money into his coffers. Even though, we knew that he was essentially hiding the very men for whom we “searched.”

We’ve not done our best. Sometimes, I think we’ve done our worst.

We’re told and it’s preached by locals that we should support our soldiers. Yet, our government engages in activities with persons and groups and strategies that ultimately lead to the deaths of our soldiers.

American leadership is confused and many individuals are confused about Afghanistan and the taliban. We are told that we are looking to make peace with “moderate” taliban. It’s like seeking a moderate serial killer.

The only way to defeat the taliban in my opinion is to go into the FATA and NWFP. That would put us at war with Pakistan. What would Pakistans reaction be to a full scale invasion of the FATA and NWFP.

My opinion is that it’s time to give Karzai an ultimatum.

He’s got 18 months to get his shit together or we are pulling out militarily.

Give the same ultimatum to the Warlords.

Tell them that if they want our support, they must play ball. They must go legit.

Produce a series of milestone. If they meet them, they get so much in return. If they don’t, they get nothing.

We’ve been dancing in circles with these murdering thieves long enough.

I see no strategic advantage to Afghanistan.

The real enemy is sitting in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

We sit in Afghanistan and Iraq.

We are insane.

We’re looking for a Unicorn to solve our problems when the beasts that attack us sit in plain site in Golden Palaces built with Black Gold.

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Spreading that Big Blue Love!

In Afghanistan, Humor, Military, Sports, thinking out loud, UK Basketball on January 21, 2010 at 10:18 pm

Today was my last Graduation ceremony at the Regional Police Headquarters in Herat.  Seems like I’m doing a lot of “lasts” these days.

The ceremony started about like most of them have.  It ended like no other.  I’ve graduated around 30 classes in the past 2 1/2 years.  Each course had about 20 students.  Pretty good.  That’s not counting individual one to three day classes and seminars and our Work Shops on Camp Zafar.  We’ve held our classes mostly in Herat.  Either at Zafar, the MRI/RHQ or at the Park Hotel when it was the RHQ.   We’ve also held classes at Shoust, Shindand, Ghalla Attar and Chaghcharan.  We tried to edge into other locations, but, were unsuccessful.  Eventually most of the students from the areas to which we could not visit made it to one of our classes in Herat and Shoust.

The Graduation started with prayer.  In the beginning, this practice made me feel awkward.  Today, though, without consciously realizing it, I found myself participating.  Surprised myself.  At the end of the prayer, the Afghans simulate cleansing themselves by holding their hands in front of themselves palm facing inwards and “washing” their hands over the faces.  They don’t actually touch their faces but raise their hands up to their foreheads and then sweep their hands down their faces from forehead to chin.

After the prayer, MG AK rose to give his speech.  He tore into the Regional Logistics folks.  Really let them have it.  I chuckled at first.  As he ran on for 30 minutes, I began to wonder if he’d ever come to a conclusion.  He’d come to low rumble and then return to a blood curdling crescendo and do it again.  30 minutes passed and finally COL Zahir called Shoaib up to the front.  That was the hint that people were about to pass out from his screeching.  We could take it no longer.  It’s funny, but, the General tends to keep it going long past the point wherein folks start to drown him out.

Finally, he reached his conclusion.

COL Zahir called me up to start the Graduation Ceremony.  I hadn’t intended to make any sort of speech.  I’ve said my speech.  Going so far as to do my own screeching a time or two.  Since AK had touched on the Logistics Cadres shortcomings, I reiterated the simple correction for said shortcomings stating that “they’re one indispensable guide is the Log Policy which had been issued by the MoI.”  Therein are instructions and guidance for any task that an ANP Loggie is expected to carry out.  Easy policy guidance and step by step instruction to the MoI Logistics Program.  I didn’t add “GET OFF YOUR DEAD @** AND READ IT!”  As I’d stated that two days previously for the millionth time during our course.

I finished my little talk and it was time to get down to business.  I’d planned this last course as a kind of friendship tour.  I was able to get around and visit with old friends.  Greg gave most of the course and I was free to socialize.  The Graduation was the final step in cementing a life long friendship in Herat.  I had purchased the carpet that I posted last week as a parting gift for MG Akrummudeen.  Part of was a show of appreciation for support that he’s given me since I’ve been here.  He’s always treated me like a long time friend.  Since day one actually.  I convened the graduation and then stated that before we recognized the graduates that I had a gift for the General and for COL Zahir.

I called the General to the front and presented him with the carpet.  He seemed to be genuinely touched and blushed at the gesture.  A few folks remarked that they’d never seen anyone get a reaction out of him.  Apparently, I had set a new mark in Afghan~US relations.  It’s part of the job, I reckon.  It was a nice feeling to see genuine gratitude in his eyes and smile.  I was told that it was a fairly touching scene.

MG AK took over at that.  He really talked us up.  He told them that I was one of the top Mentors in the region and that I had worked tirelessly to mentor and train the Logistics Cadre.  I wish I had been able to have been properly utilized for the whole of my time in that manner.  As it was, I probably was only able to do about 30% of that which I should have accomplished with the proper logistics/transportation support from MPRI and the Military.  It’s not the local Military’s fault, though.  Herat Region has always been underfunded, under-supplied, under-equipped and undermanned.  It’s how it is and with the Italians taking over, it will only get worse for whoever replaces me.  MG AK then presented me with a Certificate signed by the Deputy Minister of Interior.  That was pretty cool.  After MG AK handed me the cert and we shook hands, the loudest applause that I can remember broke out.  It shocked me.  lol  It was probably the size of the room.  We were in a small conference room.   MG AK then presented Greg and Milton with their certificates.

Afterwards, MG AK handed the event back to me.  I called COL Zahir up to the podium.  Faced the crowd and told them that I had one more presentation before we could move onto the the graduates.

I stated:

Since I started working with COL Zahir, he and I have developed a great friendship as well as a professional relationship.  As I am a fan of the Big Blue, I always try to spread the faith.  With that in mind, I want to take this time to present this #54 Patrick Patterson Kentucky Jersey to COL Zahir as a small token of thanks for both his friendship and for his support during his tenure.  GO BIG BLUE!

I, then, presented the Jersey to COL Zahir.  We shook hands and, hell, we might have hugged.  I can’t remember.

Then that same loud applause broke out.

We handed out the certs to the students and the ceremony was brought to a conclusion.

After the ceremony, I explained to COL Zahir the whole Big Blue hysteria and talked a bit about
Patrick Patterson.  Compared him to Pele and David Beckham in soccer.  I told him that this time next year, Patterson would be playing in the NBA with the likes of Kobe and Lebron.  We chatted for a bit longer and then it was time to get ready to roll back to Camp Stone with the Army.

Later on, Milton and I were talking and came to the conclusion that it was the most emotional and sincere ceremonies in which we had participated in Afghanistan.

It was damn fine day.  Another day of being blessed with a simple happiness and contentedness.  Days like this make me feel privileged to be alive and to be part of all of this.

And to top it off, I was able to bring the BIG BLUE into it.  Ya gotta love that.  Spreading the Gospel.

GO BIG BLUE!!!

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Last Class

In Afghanistan, culture, Holidays on January 17, 2010 at 1:57 pm

January 2010 Class ~ Probably my last

This is the group of gentlemen who will more than likely comprise my last course with MPRI/Herat Region.  At least for this contract period.  I was told that February would not be a good month to conduct a class.  As I’m leaving, I didn’t really fight it that much.  I’ll try to get guys in to do conversion work shops over on Camp Zafar and I might try to go out to a couple of places.  After that, I’m out the door.

I’ve got less than two months to go and I’m pretty excited about getting home for a while.  It will be nice to spend time with family.  Really looking forward to seeing and spending time with Momma.  I don’t know what else I’ll do or where I’ll go while I’m back there.  Plan on playing it by ear.  No specific plans other than the SEC Tournament.

I’ll spend a day or two in Dubai after I depart Kabul and then go on to the US.

The guys in this class, as usual, did not bring their information.  They kept saying; “Oh yes, we have everything. We are prepared.”  Then we finally sit down to start the conversion to the new system and they tell me that they do not have the correct information.  One guy brought his maintenance documentation.  Another guy brought his furnishings and housing data.  No one brought anything about end items or weapons, vehicles or comms gear.  I just laughed.  Business as usual.

We’ve made some decent progress over here.  Not near as much as I would have liked.  But with the assets available and the paltry support from most of the military, I feel we did a pretty good job for the time we’ve been here.

Being over here.  In Afghanistan.  In the midst of religious civil war.  I have come to the conclusion that religion is madness.  All Religion.  Islam and Christianity especially.

Today, I gave the Regional Commander a Jayavarman VII statue.  Just thought it would be a cool gift.  I told him the story of JVII.  How he is the most revered of the kings of the Ancient Khmer Empire.  How he came to be revered and admired because of his dedication to the people in that he built schools, hospitals, roads, aqueducts and other infrastructure in and around Angkor for the people.  That he cared for the people.  And I spoke a bit about how the people of Afghanistan and the people of Cambodia have much in common.  That the Khmer people lost their way and descended into madness but eventually found their way out.  That the Afghans had followed a similar path and that I hoped that they would finally find their way out.

The taliban and the Khmer Rouge have many similarities in that they both wanted to erase history and start over from year one.  They were both murderous regimes who cared not for the people but for an ideology.  Both were violent and oppressive.  Both disgusting stains upon the history of humanity.

Both should be eradicated.  But we know this will not happen.  Even as we fight the taliban, we strengthen them.  We pay them off.  We seek a moderate taliban where none exist.  Not in the sense that we in the West understand moderation.  Moderate to a talib simply means that they don’t go to war at the drop of a hat.  All taliban believe in Sharee’ah.  They all believe that women have no rights.  They all believe in a soul crushing, medieval Islam that corrupts the soul and enslaves women and non-beleivers.  That Obama and Bush believed that we could come to an agreement with these folks only highlights the ignorance of the politicians of the West.  That our leaders are willling to talk to these decrepit, souless men only shows the corruption that exists in the hearts and souls of our political leadership.  They are all disgusting to me.

But!  It’s time for me to move on.  Find my own life and a new path to follow.

Fare thee well, Afghanistan.  Until we meet again.  I’ll miss ya.  But I’m happy as hell to be going out of here.

Go Big Blue!

.

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Farewell to Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, culture, Military, Politics, UK Basketball on January 16, 2010 at 10:03 pm

6o6th Ansaar Zone HQ

I had this carpet made after the pattern of the Regional Police uniform patch. Plan on giving it as a “Fare Thee Well” gift to the Regional Commander ~ MG Akrumuddin.

Sort of a way of immortalizing myself. haha

I told him a while back to keep a space open on his office wall because I would be giving him something to hang there.

I think it’s pretty cool and had one made for myself as well.

I’ve got 43 days remaining in country and then it’s off to the SEC Tournament, My Family and Unny.   It’s getting close.   Gotta keep my head down and not do anything foolish.

Peace…

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Nahida, Jalil and Ali Say “Go Big Blue!!!”

In Afghanistan, Central Asia, culture, family, Kids, Sports, thinking out loud, UK Basketball on January 14, 2010 at 4:46 pm

GO BIG BLUE!!!

I purchased a couple of UK sweatshirts to give to my little friends over at the RHQ.  I wanted to give the sweat shirts to the kids before I left for leave as a Christmas gift.  I didn’t have the time, though.  So I put them away until after my R&R.

Wahid, Shoaib and I took the  sweatshirts and a few other items (puzzles and candy) to the kids today.   It was fun playing with the kids and explaining them the meaning of the puzzles.   I explained to them who Donald and Daisy  Duck and Huey, Dewey and Louie are as well as the 101 Dalmatians and the Cookie Monster.  As I was doing it, Shoaib reminded me that I used to call Wahid the cookie monster.  When I first met Wahid, he scammed one of my cookies off of me.  I got mad and told him that I’d kick his ass if he ever touched my stuff again.  lol  Then I started messing with him and nicknamed him cookie monster.  It ran on for a year and finally I just let it tail off.  He was pretty embarrassed by it.   Of course, that just made me rub it in all the more.

We gave them the sweatshirts and the candy.  Baba brought over his baby girls as well.  They were cute little girls.  One of them was scared to death of me and the other just looked at me as if I was a curiosity.  I laughed and laughed.  Kept tell ing her; “so you’re the brave one of the family” and laughing.  She let me hold her and talked to me and generally was a fearless little gal.  I loved it.  Too cool.

After the boys put on their sweatshirts, I got them to pose with the flags and yell “Go Big Blue!”  It was too funny and too cute.  I wish I had my vidcam, but, I left it in Thailand with Unny.  I had to coax Nahida over to get into the picture.  She gets shy when the camera comes out.

I sometimes wonder what these kids think of all of this.  I’m some strange American man and I bring them things for no reason.  Shoaib teased Nahida today and told her that I wanted to take her back to the States to marry my son.  She didn’t take to the idea.  I told her that he was joking and I don’t have a son.  No need to worry about that.  Even so, she seemed nervous the whole time.  As if she thought we might take her away.

I kept re-assuring her that it was in no way going to happen.  Although, I’d love to adopt her and take her home with me.  Get her away from the fate that most likely awaits her as an adult Afghan woman.  Send her to school and lead her to a happier life.

I gave Shoaib the camera and he snapped away as I played and acted like a kid myself.  I think they enjoyed it.  Little Jalil called me Dear Uncle today.  I can’t remember the Dari word for Uncle  or I’d type it here.  Then Jalil and Ali started calling me Dawood Khan.  lol  That’s what was on my name tag on my uniform when I first met them.  I laughed and laughed.  I got them to yell “Kentucky!” and “GO BIG BLUE!”, “Patrick Patterson” and “John Wall.”  I was trying to get them to say “The Great Wall of Kentucky!”  But I think it was too long.  lol

Then I got them to yell “UK is Number One” and “Go Big Blue!” again.

It was a fun time.  Always nice seeing my little friends.  Peace!

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A Gift from Mazr-e Sherif

In Afghanistan, culture on December 12, 2009 at 12:05 am

My good friend and Terp Shoaib visited Mezr-e Sherif last week.  He brought this Chapan (Traditional Coat) and kolah-e Uzbeki (hat) back as a gift.  I look like a dork, but, it’s pretty cool.

Journalist Christina Lamb on Hamid Karzai:

It was very odd to go to Kabul in early December 2001 and see him sitting in the palace, shivering by the single bar electric fire that was the only heat.

I laughed to see him in traditional dress. He explained that his long striped silk coat, or chapan, and astrakhan hat had been given to him to keep warm as he’d been flown in there from the south with no clothes. Later, when Tom Ford described him as the “chicest man on the planet”, he had little choice but to adopt that as his look.

Hamid Karzai


The Nutty Professor!

In Afghanistan on December 10, 2009 at 12:05 am

The Nutty Professor of Khwarizm

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Truth!

In culture, Humor, Middle East, Politics, Stupidity, thinking out loud on November 25, 2009 at 12:01 am

http://johnfenzel.typepad.com/john_fenzels_blog/images/2007/05/28/memorial_day_cartoon.jpg

 

This is one of my biggest complaints about the media.  They almost completely ignore any positive story or spin on anything.  They’re all about manufacturing outrage.

 

 

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Mice take out our Printer

In Afghanistan on November 16, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Photo of the House Mouse/Ratón Casero

A few days ago, our printer stopped working.  Somehow a brand new ink cartridge was gone in less than a week.

A few days later, the scanner started acting crazy.

We open up the printer cover and there are two little gray mice inside there.  One was blue and yellow and red from eating away at a second printer cartridge.  The other was tangled up in the wiring of the Printer and was chewing away either for a bit of lunch or to untangle himself.  The colored mouse took off and excaped but the little guy eating the wires was still tangled in the wires.  So we took the printer outside and shook the little dude loose and he scurried away as well.

Who knew that mice thought printer ink delicious.

Another printer destroyed by Afghanistan.

http://www.olg.cc/Rev/PrinterProblems.jpg

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