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!