A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage

No chance for Herbert Hoover's dream here in Afghanistan. Just had to share this picture. Everyone is already getting ready for the parliamentary elections coming up in September. These guys are supporting their picks as they enjoy their "sahar" (morning) chai. I don't think they were expecting visitors that day.

For the elect's sake

²²And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Matthew 24


The days pass like hours when you are busy. I guess I am thankful for that. Back in my navy days, we would say that if you sleep 12 hours a day, cruise is only 3 months long! If I can't sleep like a junior officer back on the ship, then I guess I'll take the "busy."

I left you with my trip around Kabul, so I thought I would just tell you about a few more sights. The first one is this famous wall. Read the link and it discusses its origins in the 3rd paragraph. I took this shot of the wall while at a local car wash. You just drive up over this ditch and they wash it up. it's the thing to do on Friday...assuming you own a vehicle.

Another great view of Kabul was from this shrine / monument where many presidents are buried. Notice that nothing was saved during the civil war of the 90's. Everything is marked with the scars of war. Notice my man-jams as they are called by the gringos back on the base.

On a positive note, the picture on the right shows the cricket fields where many young people are active on this weekend. Afghanistan actually has a pretty good team although they can't quite compete with India and others. Perhaps in time.

After a bunch more looking around this city, we made it back to Sayeed's house. The Afghanistan hospitality is unequalled!! I was spoiled rotten. He has the cutest kids. 3 of the 5 are pictured here. How do you raise them on $150 per month? No idea!

The girl in the middle is eleven and she was our very capable and willing servant for the entire day. She waited on us, served us lunch, tea (chai) and dessert too. I practiced my Pashto, she practiced her English. I was blessed.

I hope to get off the base soon and see them again. By the way, I mentioned that the picture was only 3 of 5 kids...I never saw the grown daughters or his wife...I was there for 6 hours! Enjoyed her cooking and hospitality and never thanked her. More on that cultural difference next time. Gotta go sleep some more of this cruise deployment away. Make the days fly, Lord!

Life in the fast lane

My ANA friend picked me up around 0800 yesterday. We toured the city by car and saw some interesting sights. I never cease to marvel at the absolute poverty of this city. Yet, somehow the people keep going. You don't see this first picture in the U.S. streets. Back home, I have seen plenty of kids washing windows to make a few bucks. This guy has a can of "spand." It smells like it should be illegal but everyone says it is not. He runs around the car waving it in your open window to fill your car with this incense smell...and ward off any evil stuff from your travels. I've seen 6 or 7 year olds doing this in the street.

With all the bad traffic, you just might get out-paced by a donkey cart. This guy was hauling the mail! I have a few other donkey shots I will share later. Still others load up in cars, vans or motorcycles like the family in this shot. Jawad, the guy that was driving and leading the tour for me is a photo journalist. He said he has a famous shot that he has sold many times with seven people on one motorcycle. I'm going to have to find it on the Internet. Send it to me if you find it!

Lots of beggars here. They one upped the normal beggars by laying their kids right in the middle of a busy street. Some of these kids were nearly naked laying on the hot concrete. Unbelievable! It's a living and just an addiction of sorts according to my friend.

Can't end on that note, so here's a more upbeat topic. The city streets do have a lot of red push carts...full of ice cream goodies! We had to stop and sample. Tip to all you cream lovers out there. The quality gets a little shaky the later in the day you catch these guys, especially in the summer time!!

More about my tour of Kabul tomorrow...

Thanks for the helo, boss!

"Our policy was always to have a good and friendly realtions with everyone. But we never have accepted being oppressed and we will never accept it."

Ahmad Shaah Massoud

I was all set to fly out to another camp the other day with my general. At the last minute, he had to go to a different meeting. He handed me his speech (gutsy move, Mav), shook my hand and told me to pass his regrets. Open invitation to...steal his helo! Ok, it was only a flight of two blackhawks for a 9 minute flight, but getting airborne in something other than an airliner was long overdue!!

It was a great ride. The first picture on the left is looking down on Massoud Circle. The upper right corner is my base...New Kabul Compound (NKC). To the upper left is the U.S. Embassy. The picture on the right is after landing. You can see the Queen's Palace in the background. Click the link for a picture from 23 years ago when the Russian 40th Army was housed there.

The eye-watering presentation was followed by an hour long ride back. Much longer because I missed the return trip when I stayed to answer questions and took the truck back. It was a better ride. You see, taking this path, I get to see the people, all the colorful people. The kids playing "futbol" in a dirt lot beside the road, the pedestrians, the shopkeepers...and of course, the bakeries. Most only sell "doe-day," but that's what I needed. The hottest, freshest bread in Asia right out of the oven. That night it served as a complete meal based on the hour I returned to base.

Anyway, I'm just catching up after some busy days so I will close this one and see if the skype is working...more to follow!