Crossing Bridges Divided

Under the Kandahar sun

It has been a week or more since my last blog posting. However, I have been busy with work while avoiding the desert heat.  After few months in Kandahar, It feels a little like you've landed in another universe or landed in a minimal security prison. Either way, you may wonder to yourself "where did I go wrong?".  NOT really, life has not been so bad. It is amazing how the smallest things can make you so happy when your daily luxuries have been temporary removed.

I've been lucky in many ways thus far during my tour in Afghanistan. First of all, I have received amazing support from all of you, thanks for the awesome, thoughtful notes, care packets, swedish fish, and all that you have done for me.  Special thanks to my Friends from France, awesome care packet, "fatty duck liver has never taste so good, foie gras, oui oui"! I am much happier now. Merci Beaucoup et bientôt.

And then there is my cartel under the Kandahar sun.  I have been extremely fortunate to have a great team of folks to work with, Rod "Naplam" Brigano, Andy "The Tick, McClaw, Brian "The Repo Man" Southoni, Anisa "Lucky Lady" Rodriquez, and Jim "The Regulator" Smith. I have acquired the "mob name", Six Toes. In addition, My dear friend from Louisiana bought me to a meeting of men in search of becoming better men, fathers, husbands, etc. I appreciate my friend for this invitation as the discussions of becoming an Authentic Men have been awesome.

And finally, I have adapted a few survival tips for my deployment. Funny or not so funny, there are similarities between a military deployment and prison, although I have had limited experience with both.

Nevertheless, Prison (and War) is something we all want to avoid, but the time may come when you have to spend some time there (whether or not you are guilty). If you follow some basic rules, your stay maybe more tolerable.

1. Do not get involved with the wrong people. I have tryed to avoid the wrong people. Since, I am in a war zone, not sure how to identify the wrong people?

2. Do not discuss your crime. I do not have a crime, I volunteered! Since, most people did not volunteer, do not discuss that you volunteered. However, time is shorter for volunteers, another reason not to discuss it. Only discuss "how long you have" with other volunteers. 

3. Work out, Working out not only helps to pass the time, it also helps to to bulk you up – making you less of a target. You should not appear weak – this means walking with your head up – do not look at your feet while you walk. Avoid the temptation to get a tattoo – they often lead to diseases like hepatitis (not sure, but I will avoid getting tattoes in Afghanistan).

4. Be respectful and polite. This is very important when anyone has a gun or two. Always be polite and respectful to other prisoners. You do not want to make enemies in war zone, as you have enough as it is.

Finally, remember, being in prison is like being at war – so it is better not to commit a crime in the first place.

A look at Pakistan from Afghanistan:

Afghanistan–Pakistan relations began in 1947 when British India was partitioned into the Republic of India and the state of Pakistan. Afghanistan and Pakistan are usually described as inseparable states due to their sharing of similar history, religion, culture, linguistic, and ethnic ties, as well as sharing of multiple trade and economic ties. Both neighbouring nations are Islamic republics and part of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. However, the relationship between the two has been affected by the 1980s Soviet war, the rise of the Taliban, the 2001-present war in Afghanistan, the issues of Pashtunistan and Balochistan, the Afghanistan-Pakistan Skirmishes, and Afghanistan's strong relations with India.

Things Soldiers like to eat...Swedish Fish, Beef Jerky, etc

The hottest fish in town are "Swedish Fish".  Swedish Fish are chewy winegum candies especially notable apart from other varieties of winegums in Sweden.

In Sweden, the Swedish Fish candy is marketed under the name "pastellfiskar", literally "pastel colored fishes". The fish in Sweden are generally much paler in color and more translucent (save the black fish).

The green fish is not lime flavored; the green candy color in Scandinavia is usually associated with apple or pear flavor. They are slightly thicker, have the text "Malaco" instead of "Swedish" embossed, and stick less to the teeth.

All stories have an irony, when I lived in France I visited some friends in Sweden.  I asked about purchasing some since they were not sold in France,...to my surprise ..Swedish are not sold in Sweden..go figure. So imported Swedish fish back to Sweden..my friends loved the candy and the idea that "Americans" enjoyed them so much.

So, this brings me to my point, Americans love them so much, "American Soldiers" love them even more..Swedish Fish are to die for...not really, but maybe a "petite wound".   If we receive enough Swedish Fish, then we can share with the Afghans....maybe one day we will have Afghani Fish.

So in Swedish "skicka fisk" =  please send fish.   Soldater älskar dem = Soldiers love them

Senseless gun violence that claimed the life of three young Americans

Many of you are aware of my affiliation with my college fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Unfortunately, we (APA) have lost two educated productive, young men to random gun violence.

All members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity are mourning the recent cold-blooded murders of Brother Michael Muchioki, 27(and his fiancé Nia Haqq, 25) of New Jersey, and Brother Steven Lee, 32 of Chicago.  Brother Muchioki and his fiancé were shot and killed after returning from their engagement party in Jersey City, N.J. on Saturday night. Brother Steven Lee, was shot while walking on South Ingleside Ave. in Chicago’ East Chatham neighborhood. According to police, Brother Muchioki’s incident appears to have been an attempted carjacking.

It is very sad when one is more likely to die in some American cities than in combat in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, both situations are unfavorable and saddens American families each and every time we lose one of our young Americans.

So far this year, eighty eight U.S. solders have died in Operation Enduring Freedom as of April 3rd 2010. Those Afghanistan casualties are a high price but pale when compared to the losses in the undeclared war in our inner cities. As a nation we have decided that the Afghanistan price, as hard to take as it is, is worth the price. But the price we are paying in our inner cities pays no return. The lives lost there are squandered-wasted. LA reported 145 murders for the first three months of 2010. Chicago reported 76 homicides. Baltimore had 38. The small area comprising our Nation's Capital, D.C., reported 24.

Bottled Water: Is it worth it?

Are we addicted to bottled water? What did we do prior to bottled water being sold?  Is it better for us than tap water? In the United States, bottled water costs between $0.25 and $2 per bottle while tap water costs less than US$0.01. In 1999, according to a NRDC study, U.S. consumers paid between 240 and 10,000 times more per unit volume for bottled water than for tap water.  Typically 90 percent or more of the cost paid by bottled water consumers goes to things other than the water itself -- bottling, packaging, shipping, marketing, retailing, other expenses, and profit.  What are your thoughts and opinions? I will discuss the bottled water story for military forces in Afghanistan. It may change your mind about bottled water!!!

Driving in Afghanistan: Some things will never Change!

So, what happened was...the picture and story tells it all....I was driving and drove into a T Barrier; damaged the tire and the front end of the 2006 4 Runner.. so, the good SFC Smith, our NCOIC (Non-commissioned officer in charge) did a news story on it. NCOs help us, poor Officers stay in place and cover for us when stuff go wrong. I need 3 or 4 NCOs to stay out of trouble. Smith and my team wanted to highlight my deficiency. I attempted to hide it, but my battle buddy dimed me out to Smith.  So, Smith did what a good NCO does gave me a hard time and helped me repair the truck. My co-pilot, the truck, and I survived. My battle buddy is confident that he is more likely to die from my driving than any other means. Any one that has ever been in my car with me can confirm this....The good thing is that the speed limit is only 5 miles per hour (see the sign in the picture).  Wow, those T Barriers! Mom, we are in great shape, no injuries, only my pride.....however my team will never let me live this one down.

Bazaar..Saturday Life in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Last Saturday, I decided to go to the bazaar after taking a break from it last week. Every Saturday we have a medium-sized bazaar where Afghans come in to sell everything from blankets, booted movies, rugs, and other strange stuff.

As soon as you steo into the bazaar area young Afghan boys will attempt you trying to sell Afghanis, Iraqi money, hand necklaces, you name it. "Mister, mister, please stop." They also say that the price they are giving you is a "special" price..."special price for you...please Mister stop", with very sad face, what else is there to do? but...keep walking.  Sorry...we do stop at times, but there is only so much Afghani (local money) that one can buy.

Given that the money here has changed ever decade with each new government, Taliban money, Afghani, etc , etc.  After a while, it is impossible to know how bad of a "special" price it is. Nevertheless, week after week we visit the Bazaar in search of something interesting. It is possible to find all kinds of things for dirt cheap, but the trick is knowing how to haggle down to a good price.

If you stop by a booth, you will buy something, yes yes you will.  If you look too long you will buy something, if you talk it is a bought item in the making. The best thing to do is offer a very low price, "I will give you $5.00 for that rugs!", this is normally followed by a pause, "you can have that one for $10.00 it is a very special price, just for you, Mister" (it is a very small version of the rug or item that you initially wanted).  I guess if you are going to take advantage of someone, going into it with "Mister", is an excellent start.  However if you start to walk away without the rug, "the price is extremely special, lol!".  This is how it goes in Kandahar, Afghanistan at the bazaar.

I think that Soldiers get as much fun out of it as the locals, haggling is a cultural thing here, some Americans are better at it then others.

Geography of Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a landlocked nation in south-central Asia. Strategically located at the crossroads of major north-south and east-west trade routes, it has attracted a succession of invaders including Alexander the Great, in the fourth century B.C. Currently, the United States continues the global war on terrorism here or whatever the new name is..

The Hindu Kush mountains, running northeast to southwest across the country, divide it into three major regions: 1) the Central Highlands, which form part of the Himalayan Mountains and account for roughly two thirds of the country’s area; 2) the Southwestern Plateau, which accounts for one-fourth of the land; and 3) the smaller Northern Plains area, which contains the country’s most fertile soil.

Land elevations generally slope from northeast to southwest, following the general shape of the Hindu Kush massif, from its highest point in the Pamir Mountains near the Chinese border to the lower elevations near the border with Iran. To the north, west, and southwest there are no mountain barriers to neighboring countries. The northern plains pass almost imperceptibly into the plains of Turkmenistan. In the west and southwest, the plateaus and deserts merge into those of Iran.

Fields of Afghanistan: What is growing below US?

What is Afghanistan's cash crop? The Afghan population has nothing to grow, no water to irrigage any food crops, so they grow opium that needs almost no water. Their whole life is built around the few dollars they get from this crop.

Senior US military and civilian officials believe the Taliban cannot be defeated and good government in Afghanistan cannot be established without cutting off the money generated by Afghanistan’s opium industry, says a US Senate report released on Tuesday.

The report notes that the illegal Afghan drug industry supplies more than 90 per cent of the world’s heroin and generates an estimated $3 billion a year in profits. As I flew over I thought to myself what is growing in the below? What are your thoughts? Maybe the Afghan population could raise crawfish? I would really like a bowl of crawfish  etouffee. Oh, yes they would need water to do it!