tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37673451991513698882024-03-05T18:45:52.562-05:00Writer's MusingsJ. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-61253728374348690962010-02-26T05:26:00.007-05:002010-02-26T06:12:56.675-05:00My Day Started With a BANG!I shuffled to the bathroom at the crack of dawn. I'm still recovering from broken ribs that I collected last week and I'm still not moving briskly. I have to go outside and down a little walkway about twenty feet in our compound to get to the bathroom. The bathroom is in the same building, mind you, it's just not connected to the rooms via an interior access.<br /><br />I assumed the seat and BANG! An SVBIED (Suicide Vehicle Borne IED) exploded a few blocks away rattling the windows...then the gunfire. And I'm sitting there thinking, man is this bad timing!<br /><br />As the shooting didn't sound too close I stayed where I was. Completing my mission, I went outside and stood in the rain for a bit and listened to the pitter patter of AK fire. Someone was having a bad morning. I went out to the street and asked our Afghan guards if they knew what got hit. They told me it was near the Safi Landmark Hotel, which is a four-star hotel that opened up in 2006 at the edge of the diplomatic quarter in town. OK, far enough away not to get excited.<br /><br />It turns out the attack was done by five bad guys this time. The first one blew himself up in the SVBIED. The second one was shot and killed before he could detonate and the other three holed up in a guest house nearby until the police went in and killed them. Luckily it was a Friday and The Prophet's birthday (PBUH). The attack occured before folks really got moving around and the normally busy shops in the area weren't open yet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKUi4wtQClDrWVmPrAIZP2gpkX2GthMeD0DYwUGcKFtFDLRge2KpWxcCG55bW6zjHbzTffvtR7eAuSdvAc27HHZJd39ZFXbWlkdIdX424L48Mq4YJiesPEj-8HbrGliJzz91mCJydZdPH/s1600-h/SafiLandmarkHotel.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 329px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442501864555559250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKUi4wtQClDrWVmPrAIZP2gpkX2GthMeD0DYwUGcKFtFDLRge2KpWxcCG55bW6zjHbzTffvtR7eAuSdvAc27HHZJd39ZFXbWlkdIdX424L48Mq4YJiesPEj-8HbrGliJzz91mCJydZdPH/s400/SafiLandmarkHotel.jpg" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:80%;"> The Safi Landmark Hotel<br>Apparently most of the windows in the front were shattered by the blast.</span></p>By noon it was all quiet and things were starting to return to normal with cleanup crews and the fire department hard at work. Looks like about nine civilians (mostly Indians) and three police officers were killed and about thirty-two people wounded. Timing is everything. It could have been much worse just two hours later.<br /><br />The pictures below are of the scene afterwards by Reuters photographer Ahmad Masood. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXEFH7T4YfkKYawZ03_5RmQu3f6tiEsjNfnb1Wnvv_US0SBHmTRFm1hhSFB_lCTquoRZxgF4U2BJ5yT4VU5twrI7jDLad3p_yvQj_aMGwDshodo0Qp_aiB7KCYisuVEyEhCGtjA7I5fqU/s1600-h/Kabul26Feb2010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442501889637959906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXEFH7T4YfkKYawZ03_5RmQu3f6tiEsjNfnb1Wnvv_US0SBHmTRFm1hhSFB_lCTquoRZxgF4U2BJ5yT4VU5twrI7jDLad3p_yvQj_aMGwDshodo0Qp_aiB7KCYisuVEyEhCGtjA7I5fqU/s400/Kabul26Feb2010.jpg" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:70%;"> ©Reuters/Ahmad Masood</span></p> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LhOvJ8jLf1kTc7KF9CsWFxcnegTRe91IFfdYwP_-oEWi25prpRqVvXEkz12khIbcoJsb2S1UZ-BoK8xwON3CnIP1UOwAsj-BK5NmltttjTr6yvMY-pGzcwkigLRUPJDLSFNy2r8YomRd/s1600-h/atk3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442501887360875682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LhOvJ8jLf1kTc7KF9CsWFxcnegTRe91IFfdYwP_-oEWi25prpRqVvXEkz12khIbcoJsb2S1UZ-BoK8xwON3CnIP1UOwAsj-BK5NmltttjTr6yvMY-pGzcwkigLRUPJDLSFNy2r8YomRd/s400/atk3.jpg" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:70%;"> ©Reuters/Ahmad Masood</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaOWC1fL5YmtU93j3i1NYehKFrCS2hw7_MtmMFuZDCe29W-U_X06Q8VxjHiEfP5aNdIqa34SXa_f4qLZ5K3pJPHHZakg5jV2LGFjsotmw_dKCzeiceFf0lfTOs3j41d3AQdyXAQ3QL1gM/s1600-h/atk5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442501878148369698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaOWC1fL5YmtU93j3i1NYehKFrCS2hw7_MtmMFuZDCe29W-U_X06Q8VxjHiEfP5aNdIqa34SXa_f4qLZ5K3pJPHHZakg5jV2LGFjsotmw_dKCzeiceFf0lfTOs3j41d3AQdyXAQ3QL1gM/s400/atk5.jpg" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:70%;"> ©Reuters/Ahmad Masood</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eDKgeRk1mhEWfQZkEYCyvlL_6lOdZhgkeP9rXKmjc3rnhriX2YwKekuo_un_2FvGGQj6UTFnulRcv6jjF1mbLiI__0gpnRGKFJC3QqbknTZ_zpTBlXoMuI8V7D9cMrz-w12NjtpwVfS9/s1600-h/atk2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442501872127835634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eDKgeRk1mhEWfQZkEYCyvlL_6lOdZhgkeP9rXKmjc3rnhriX2YwKekuo_un_2FvGGQj6UTFnulRcv6jjF1mbLiI__0gpnRGKFJC3QqbknTZ_zpTBlXoMuI8V7D9cMrz-w12NjtpwVfS9/s400/atk2.jpg" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:70%;"> ©Reuters/Ahmad Masood</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-41142661446104569242010-02-12T06:55:00.005-05:002010-02-12T07:46:05.057-05:00Yes, I'm Still Alive and In AfghanistanFirst off, let me thank all who've enquired after my health during my long silence. Second, no good excuse for the silence except perhaps exhaustion...mostly mental. Every week I've thought I'd post and then simply didn't. So, here's the latest update.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGypmv8brN5ZT2eH1EwcEIuuRpGlzFwfYNEhD2mtdXXK-KNJtb_VJdl4GTHXzumqn6RzUxbYWThjOSyLzxVCFKp2tDO8_oOCDE6FWu1Q9uWJKuQTbVkezMMk9d0StdqUfov9QVjBVrvt_F/s1600-h/Queen'sPalaceatDawn.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437325337435903634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGypmv8brN5ZT2eH1EwcEIuuRpGlzFwfYNEhD2mtdXXK-KNJtb_VJdl4GTHXzumqn6RzUxbYWThjOSyLzxVCFKp2tDO8_oOCDE6FWu1Q9uWJKuQTbVkezMMk9d0StdqUfov9QVjBVrvt_F/s400/Queen'sPalaceatDawn.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Queen's Palace at dawn. <br>The wee sliver of the moon is visible in the upper right.<br>Yes, we got snow...and rain...and snow.<br />Surprisingly, mild winter overall in Kabul, <br>though last week was pretty cold.</span><br /></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgko7rjBzhjP26J6lSJ_zYENmXLRFEkjnjc1IOqUqPjuTQ4aScilltI5o2Hj0_78NsHKfyOAHpJ9CsZgISWyEMklqdRTS57_IUpCM-sCZ9YRSWVYW1XEeD8IKxC2t26YG08Dk_iM5tetq3d/s1600-h/BadAirDay.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437324927923099234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgko7rjBzhjP26J6lSJ_zYENmXLRFEkjnjc1IOqUqPjuTQ4aScilltI5o2Hj0_78NsHKfyOAHpJ9CsZgISWyEMklqdRTS57_IUpCM-sCZ9YRSWVYW1XEeD8IKxC2t26YG08Dk_iM5tetq3d/s400/BadAirDay.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">This is what you call a "bad air" day. This is the kind of air you get when you don't have natural gas, Western style coal-fired power plants, or nuclear power plants to provide heat and electricity to a city of almost 5 million people. There is some hydroelectric, but it can't handle the load. Current wind and solar technology can't produce enough per $ spent, which for the Afghans is a critical decision point. There's also the issue of security. One can secure a couple hundred acres of a nuclear or coal-fired plant. One can't secure a sprawling solar or wind array.</span><br /></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gt-XaYSI3JKYRLAfApUp0WRsB3MYffPPtpKvjaMIRfWlsD0eXa84epYzirYht5qD-JnHxhulkbBSviHyi6uHuGDFHibMOXsCtv88gYdNsVi2cI7Jqo_6NTg5M0cCYUWGeGeHsZR19I_q/s1600-h/BadAir0950.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437324922657221698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gt-XaYSI3JKYRLAfApUp0WRsB3MYffPPtpKvjaMIRfWlsD0eXa84epYzirYht5qD-JnHxhulkbBSviHyi6uHuGDFHibMOXsCtv88gYdNsVi2cI7Jqo_6NTg5M0cCYUWGeGeHsZR19I_q/s400/BadAir0950.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Similiar shot on a different day, but the point I'm going to show here is how fast things can change. This picture is at 09:50 in the morning.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OEsoBhgB3t84n99yjzle65ERUp1SqnxtpbqqSCM3uHoaZ689_-qh6xvPvzd_wcYuUCwRjlLcI6NK1AQ3Kg3_k1meiVA2m5Xa5SPfbgugy2Jve0fsoJ1JzkDpRHDNDWawMBZ_m00Pm4AQ/s1600-h/CleanAir1326.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437324939343109730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OEsoBhgB3t84n99yjzle65ERUp1SqnxtpbqqSCM3uHoaZ689_-qh6xvPvzd_wcYuUCwRjlLcI6NK1AQ3Kg3_k1meiVA2m5Xa5SPfbgugy2Jve0fsoJ1JzkDpRHDNDWawMBZ_m00Pm4AQ/s400/CleanAir1326.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">This picture of the same mountains at about 1:30 in the afternoon...after a stiff breeze blew through.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-3vaR7QQ48_B3k-6cW9miSXjoywgFRe5jM3Zba4V54pK6DleumIT5N_yfFevf9mqr_-18ZJJSlLRDDV-cncCHizE-BeACW9yoohjbUhJTT04C8e_X1E4g5qPLGrAsghguOmCM-pX9VOz/s1600-h/Oranges.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437325335622613842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-3vaR7QQ48_B3k-6cW9miSXjoywgFRe5jM3Zba4V54pK6DleumIT5N_yfFevf9mqr_-18ZJJSlLRDDV-cncCHizE-BeACW9yoohjbUhJTT04C8e_X1E4g5qPLGrAsghguOmCM-pX9VOz/s400/Oranges.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Oranges are the current fruit dejour.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubzjvJ6sfKLp2pB92On013tvm9C7Gi9htSIvC5No7scjTdjyAIjbksrMq7-U_tS6NxXvC3Ra3E2vhUMYUOpXGwICpqfty1r7lYVzRhn7j358b9qILADDRRe8AYumGGjHsbH0mfqn2djHs/s1600-h/MommaDog.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437325325080179186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubzjvJ6sfKLp2pB92On013tvm9C7Gi9htSIvC5No7scjTdjyAIjbksrMq7-U_tS6NxXvC3Ra3E2vhUMYUOpXGwICpqfty1r7lYVzRhn7j358b9qILADDRRe8AYumGGjHsbH0mfqn2djHs/s400/MommaDog.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Old Mamma Dog.<br />She's ready to drop another litter in this picture.<br />Which she promptly did the same evening (this past Tuesday).</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4D6cLRyB2fM1oyVDJbBuCm0U0ifLndzbz8v0DhpzIS3UI79wwWhr08cqG9z6zAfRqktp4XX10Yu8mBZ_jUyuMaOBaxsdXjuetn_QFv-sfZJUqpDp1KSfT51eLp-S6k-72mKozJnaVbmFA/s1600-h/ManchesterUnited.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437325321817869026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4D6cLRyB2fM1oyVDJbBuCm0U0ifLndzbz8v0DhpzIS3UI79wwWhr08cqG9z6zAfRqktp4XX10Yu8mBZ_jUyuMaOBaxsdXjuetn_QFv-sfZJUqpDp1KSfT51eLp-S6k-72mKozJnaVbmFA/s400/ManchesterUnited.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Manchester United seems to be a popular team around here.<br />I've seen at least six different vehicles with ManU pillows and other decorations.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yY9M1rOJ2IPnquMprNTgy-wer6U2kSdj8rqZ4BJBzIJjCV-Ea6oSUixsPhlh59d2AkGbC2hU50aUyI66X0mXeqdphJXjkVor8vLV9b-t5vLY5ss2UhtRtpI7kCa40pKUTGgZVuXANolt/s1600-h/CaliforniaRepublic.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437324933662141378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yY9M1rOJ2IPnquMprNTgy-wer6U2kSdj8rqZ4BJBzIJjCV-Ea6oSUixsPhlh59d2AkGbC2hU50aUyI66X0mXeqdphJXjkVor8vLV9b-t5vLY5ss2UhtRtpI7kCa40pKUTGgZVuXANolt/s400/CaliforniaRepublic.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">As construction advances down this main street, these street vendors are getting forced off to side-streets. Note the orange back hoe behind the cigarette stand.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbqhm2LzO4Za5kZhfUa5jR9ekl41jL-UheVvMh-WWimv7dPNjUAO3VovcFdOZpQuNejrUlRxoadUkCRiOGJL2aljwGAuSNvvDPzlktAVL78hFNCRiQ7jtr4zbEiHcJ0_ZEaKuYNHVJIzq/s1600-h/LoveDoctor.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437325314923896610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbqhm2LzO4Za5kZhfUa5jR9ekl41jL-UheVvMh-WWimv7dPNjUAO3VovcFdOZpQuNejrUlRxoadUkCRiOGJL2aljwGAuSNvvDPzlktAVL78hFNCRiQ7jtr4zbEiHcJ0_ZEaKuYNHVJIzq/s400/LoveDoctor.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">We've been calling this billboard "The Love Doctor".<br> If you can't read Dari, you can come up with all sorts of interpretations.<br> It's really about the importance of getting a check-up. <br> Note that the Paula Abdul look-alike on the left doesn't seem too amused. </span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTR6ERHpFoD8XmhewL8jqxVzIxGdoONf61BjVr6SBDfOWHqlKAgkuGWnTrHtoaw0zZncl23ooZxY-iLs-BQQ3cE8zzAROJn5EC20wjdiKnTO0ENu1l904cf_dwBmxvxmF2cguYyfpxqRGf/s1600-h/Gutted.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437324945082403762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTR6ERHpFoD8XmhewL8jqxVzIxGdoONf61BjVr6SBDfOWHqlKAgkuGWnTrHtoaw0zZncl23ooZxY-iLs-BQQ3cE8zzAROJn5EC20wjdiKnTO0ENu1l904cf_dwBmxvxmF2cguYyfpxqRGf/s400/Gutted.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">On a slightly more serious note, this is the building gutted during the Taliban attack downtown last month. Nine bad guys killed, one captured, two perhaps weren't keen on collecting the virgins and may have escaped. Surprisingly few civilian casualties given the bad guys had suicide vests and detonated two suicide VBIEDs (vehicle borne IED) in the middle of the day when the streets were full of people. Most of the good-guy casualties were the Afghan security guys. We figured the bad guys were expending ammo before the weather got crappy, which it did about a week later.</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-43827329936487937712009-10-30T00:12:00.008-05:002009-10-30T01:22:45.482-05:00Some Progress in Town...Inspite of ProblemsWe've had an exciting week here in Kabul. Since Westerners were killed, you likely heard about the attack on the Guest House where some UN staff resided. More on that in a bit. <br /><br />A couple hours later we had a rocket attack. One rocket landed in the lobby of the luxury Serena Hotel in the center of town but didn't detonate. Lots of soiled underwear among the hoity-toity who stay there I'll bet.<br /><br />We were also blessed with earthquakes this month. We had one on <br>22 October that measured 6.2, followed by a 5.8 to the southwest on <br>24 October and last night's 6.0, followed by a 4.2 aftershock.<br /><br />We've also got a cholera outbreak due to heavy rains that are causing mudslides and soiling the water. Though that is mostly to the east of us, there are cases here in Kabul also.<br /><br />Add the excitement to the east in Pakistan and the bad guys here trying to disrupt the runoff election and you have "high anxiety," at least among the Western media.<br /><br />Now about the attack on the guest house. For me the picture below is a strong counterpoint to some asinine comments by a retired Sergeant Major over on "American Thinker" and some cheerleaders there who shared his stilted view. That view being that "all Muslims are evil" they "don't care about human life in Afghanistan" and "they aren't willing to fight." To those sentiments I say, pardon my French, "BULLSHIT!"<br /><br />In the first place, two Afghan guards died defending the guest house occupants. There was a 10 - 15 minute gunbattle before the police arrived (probably a faster response time than in many US cities). Around these parts the security guys tend to run <b><i>toward</b></i> the sound of gunfire. That's a good thing.<br /><br />One policeman died trying to rescue the UN staffers. As the Reuters picture below shows, an Afghan Muslim police officer is carrying a German on his back to safety. So much for "evil, don't care, won't fight Afghans!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu41i0AIndKtyp_sQVXVXvFxn1WV3g3KpT_6Y0A4QMs9XLHaccoI5cVU7dBSO-b_KWvgV2lSa-388YjfvYLQwGfj0SL1M3VcjZvPtvJSP11L8lYnYvv0aTag7IDuHXj2ltQ6cwxWwWKWOa/s1600-h/CarryingOuttheGerman.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 391px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398259520131025058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu41i0AIndKtyp_sQVXVXvFxn1WV3g3KpT_6Y0A4QMs9XLHaccoI5cVU7dBSO-b_KWvgV2lSa-388YjfvYLQwGfj0SL1M3VcjZvPtvJSP11L8lYnYvv0aTag7IDuHXj2ltQ6cwxWwWKWOa/s400/CarryingOuttheGerman.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The weather is also changing more rapidly than last year. I've already mentioned the rains. Well, there's also more snow...a lot more. It's going to be a cold winter!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislrle7LMCMczLcR4NapbqBCLcKL8M-3FFCEMxS5Mjkm4w__qyOMDiQAXBsBxL4Fux_GZ7vghGbkBfsjuRci2FTPnjG5eBp30jSYEpHJVKfAiZYBYcybOfCYiRSGsnXkuLH_OQ9fgv3bw1/s1600-h/SnowLower.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398257654796904530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislrle7LMCMczLcR4NapbqBCLcKL8M-3FFCEMxS5Mjkm4w__qyOMDiQAXBsBxL4Fux_GZ7vghGbkBfsjuRci2FTPnjG5eBp30jSYEpHJVKfAiZYBYcybOfCYiRSGsnXkuLH_OQ9fgv3bw1/s400/SnowLower.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The snow has reached down near the 9,500ft line.</span></p><br /><br />Now for the lighter side of progress...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iVYHtpiQ7nvZcWsIcjnTLovmQWNdfahXq1YNxB0ey7z9-vmKKpeb4dCPz0mx9BYGP6RwXEDtw8cfmEu5nzDyUbXKLLDd0G7LdX58McdRN95tdyOxvHFmMNSi9YSem7ykc61Xwri9-uhN/s1600-h/WasteNot.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398257658275749922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iVYHtpiQ7nvZcWsIcjnTLovmQWNdfahXq1YNxB0ey7z9-vmKKpeb4dCPz0mx9BYGP6RwXEDtw8cfmEu5nzDyUbXKLLDd0G7LdX58McdRN95tdyOxvHFmMNSi9YSem7ykc61Xwri9-uhN/s400/WasteNot.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Only the richest Afghans throw away anything that might be useful. <br>You never know when an old empty plastic jug might come in handy.<br> Yet these scenes are becoming more rare.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyGvK8mCLX5VUHCqU5_ZGdrbLJBEfmYsuV3t0qA9MXoHJRTMTVnBSoawgvAWW1R2FVsKeiOgRJRnEKQyz2bzMj7tK8FendJDSqPSnQqMHP0eeTK7WpuIjvs27oKGigYaBTt9xu2MdwKuI/s1600-h/WatchingfromRuins.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398257663105693234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyGvK8mCLX5VUHCqU5_ZGdrbLJBEfmYsuV3t0qA9MXoHJRTMTVnBSoawgvAWW1R2FVsKeiOgRJRnEKQyz2bzMj7tK8FendJDSqPSnQqMHP0eeTK7WpuIjvs27oKGigYaBTt9xu2MdwKuI/s400/WatchingfromRuins.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">There's still some ruins about, but they are rapidly being torn down and replaced...</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vN2RiWldpVNRig08ugI8CbsYXkomQs3cUhfnXBLqgUutweNV8BJqSIa__Z3hZWiQa6o5cohPGJ06VTC4OsOAGKbDwtKePYwVWXNRhr20tuiKli4vfwSJ5Elcj4gRaeIsZk29DgWhYF1P/s1600-h/NewMansions+(2).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398257652927246242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vN2RiWldpVNRig08ugI8CbsYXkomQs3cUhfnXBLqgUutweNV8BJqSIa__Z3hZWiQa6o5cohPGJ06VTC4OsOAGKbDwtKePYwVWXNRhr20tuiKli4vfwSJ5Elcj4gRaeIsZk29DgWhYF1P/s400/NewMansions+(2).JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">...by new mansions.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-ojptg-slI1Qz8HXxok6tZHGa3VSjnu7b8JZ_vIagR-UQUNPePi4qKt_AqQ39nJKut6PRfj7pK72rkQshhGTf5SaY7z3UvhV3yzrsjsO9FaB4TVxJt1vwm1oLrys7l46jlPHV-9c8Xgt/s1600-h/NewMansions+(1).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398257648028011986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-ojptg-slI1Qz8HXxok6tZHGa3VSjnu7b8JZ_vIagR-UQUNPePi4qKt_AqQ39nJKut6PRfj7pK72rkQshhGTf5SaY7z3UvhV3yzrsjsO9FaB4TVxJt1vwm1oLrys7l46jlPHV-9c8Xgt/s400/NewMansions+(1).JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">I wonder which Bollywood star is going to live here?</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0H96iyzsxmbQkdWwDjnoHgR9FogEGDS4tj9g5VMYejtm9OC72JjXsV0erFr3dyQH01heAIAoW2spJhLhUXy2bhtZaJ4WgYDHQiwYAEY8A6IkvStBnt62bwFziggQx8Qi-sr_IIzio-LY3/s1600-h/NewMansions.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398257321049545938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0H96iyzsxmbQkdWwDjnoHgR9FogEGDS4tj9g5VMYejtm9OC72JjXsV0erFr3dyQH01heAIAoW2spJhLhUXy2bhtZaJ4WgYDHQiwYAEY8A6IkvStBnt62bwFziggQx8Qi-sr_IIzio-LY3/s400/NewMansions.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Looks suspiciously like LA.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu9YusZP3iM1VzcUVB9vdVEThT6nf4w1nEqxQjYNVNxYgbjnjRBS7vk0cMK822WAVX-nFluNkPHXo5_pJ3FzDHX8Tfqrdi7t7a80RGUUX-_HAYOv8_q6_PmAV6SVCapWbuc6RY8y6cylZ/s1600-h/NewFloor.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398257313062683426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu9YusZP3iM1VzcUVB9vdVEThT6nf4w1nEqxQjYNVNxYgbjnjRBS7vk0cMK822WAVX-nFluNkPHXo5_pJ3FzDHX8Tfqrdi7t7a80RGUUX-_HAYOv8_q6_PmAV6SVCapWbuc6RY8y6cylZ/s400/NewFloor.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Even the less-affluent are getting into the building act. <br>This is one of many "cliffhouses" being expanded.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhf3hey3AYbCebUqVTl3JQlQrt1rZHU4lUvDOYKIVVk7TNHfxlkbnahbPxrwYzpVb-grou0ykzfrk2DN9MnQ1xWZb3hfcepcMjcv9jw10hjgDJPmPEgEb6rH2N8B4bL3UgYQwMGhRnmCM/s1600-h/ColorontheHills.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398257307806248786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhf3hey3AYbCebUqVTl3JQlQrt1rZHU4lUvDOYKIVVk7TNHfxlkbnahbPxrwYzpVb-grou0ykzfrk2DN9MnQ1xWZb3hfcepcMjcv9jw10hjgDJPmPEgEb6rH2N8B4bL3UgYQwMGhRnmCM/s400/ColorontheHills.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">And the hillsides are getting a bit more colorful too!</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_lvujrqU1IssVMGC5V0IRoTSjgV7I4A8608KnfVudoto1Ky97HmoO1MQFbZktPeWVtjlKXkcyrYVZ7UaVRDvRqjXhIBHDa50IL_BDxs115_onHfkZ6g5ZPuJfRD7zweJIV9f1rzf0Bq4/s1600-h/Balloons.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398257299731315618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_lvujrqU1IssVMGC5V0IRoTSjgV7I4A8608KnfVudoto1Ky97HmoO1MQFbZktPeWVtjlKXkcyrYVZ7UaVRDvRqjXhIBHDa50IL_BDxs115_onHfkZ6g5ZPuJfRD7zweJIV9f1rzf0Bq4/s400/Balloons.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">And even on a day that saw a shootout and rocket attack <br>in the middle of town, the balloon guys were out in force.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa93nYzLqXQiVcH8aMIPy7V87VV9LkSkAN5cZaOuaZdvYMl_cHLiBQTt4pIACbBDyqKJH4jn5XKDBebBQ6KEAh9Q9MYYeAionDIeLWue32Ld9cNVglTBpQlMCSvvBXdYAqUt0v_1xVkUF/s1600-h/Balloons+(1).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398257301828196706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa93nYzLqXQiVcH8aMIPy7V87VV9LkSkAN5cZaOuaZdvYMl_cHLiBQTt4pIACbBDyqKJH4jn5XKDBebBQ6KEAh9Q9MYYeAionDIeLWue32Ld9cNVglTBpQlMCSvvBXdYAqUt0v_1xVkUF/s400/Balloons+(1).JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">They even found a buyer. <br>In a country where the next meal is iffy, <br>when you can spend money on balloons, <br>it's a sign that things are improving.</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-33607459530747043732009-10-09T05:21:00.005-05:002009-10-09T06:23:50.518-05:00Good Muslims<p align="center">News Flash!<br />These guys are not practicing Muslims!</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9K-sn-Tu9L4r15TOtRfyUcea1sJlBXs8EhFR4zkSzZ4WtZNOPZFZIXFD3QxDZng7Janf9yMAlwSP_azudK0Br6b5iJLW6fX15oPmXtrWDbrZrQU-B0ybBl2OXVrWDfGx64V4d4dDcz_aZ/s1600-h/IMG_1401.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390551623101146706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9K-sn-Tu9L4r15TOtRfyUcea1sJlBXs8EhFR4zkSzZ4WtZNOPZFZIXFD3QxDZng7Janf9yMAlwSP_azudK0Br6b5iJLW6fX15oPmXtrWDbrZrQU-B0ybBl2OXVrWDfGx64V4d4dDcz_aZ/s400/IMG_1401.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Is it the Western clothing?</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPMg7JQuKJlFcociz5Ob0WcOfDBFdb3BOHmiWBmCXNw_SaPM1LBuybpKEotk9WXnvXf5b6en77JZSEbviorlw2F7QOukE25xmlXAE6TcQjCtWdCA8J4-7XuOhKTb1CYrZ56JZXdbipbck/s1600-h/IMG_0932.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390551615434636130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPMg7JQuKJlFcociz5Ob0WcOfDBFdb3BOHmiWBmCXNw_SaPM1LBuybpKEotk9WXnvXf5b6en77JZSEbviorlw2F7QOukE25xmlXAE6TcQjCtWdCA8J4-7XuOhKTb1CYrZ56JZXdbipbck/s400/IMG_0932.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Is it the scruffy look?</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJC8p4rmUQCrM2e9urmoFrLNNy4FqQfNh0BxtX0LVV2Ryvl5MQX6t5BkpoDyoebTKqOpHYj2ZpGmCyonQ6x2HWteVcgM92f3_2JeHFXwdCVldpHzOD0ehVykVLiQaTpoMXiQ2h1lVIi2Vb/s1600-h/HappyHazara.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390551605907873202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJC8p4rmUQCrM2e9urmoFrLNNy4FqQfNh0BxtX0LVV2Ryvl5MQX6t5BkpoDyoebTKqOpHYj2ZpGmCyonQ6x2HWteVcgM92f3_2JeHFXwdCVldpHzOD0ehVykVLiQaTpoMXiQ2h1lVIi2Vb/s400/HappyHazara.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Is it the smile for the camera?</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4M4vdh3XqU2tQjajEs1yut8tdUTTznUb9BTzCzTMnuzcBRjt9piPGLhPAsb36BCeR3T6nNu7Fd9V5v2JoM0ruIWDIp5j8lOj5GTC5hFW2a1WGQQT4bIR-OhO5bDUgvY7BBPGGxQJP9O2f/s1600-h/CoolDudes.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390551602820516882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4M4vdh3XqU2tQjajEs1yut8tdUTTznUb9BTzCzTMnuzcBRjt9piPGLhPAsb36BCeR3T6nNu7Fd9V5v2JoM0ruIWDIp5j8lOj5GTC5hFW2a1WGQQT4bIR-OhO5bDUgvY7BBPGGxQJP9O2f/s400/CoolDudes.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Is it the cool manly look?</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bKOUwbhhmH_fan9m3KM4GDGuiapSyJUxlSwPehnKatO92jvyd9y2qAO0Qfn7YrOZmNnQHNNVsdrcizo1vqRQAEdf1nOzXU6X-7EDaJptUVEa_PNERx_zYcTHxAmEhlQ2QAcpr8JxpW6V/s1600-h/AnotherTravelingDollSalesman.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390551593778394722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bKOUwbhhmH_fan9m3KM4GDGuiapSyJUxlSwPehnKatO92jvyd9y2qAO0Qfn7YrOZmNnQHNNVsdrcizo1vqRQAEdf1nOzXU6X-7EDaJptUVEa_PNERx_zYcTHxAmEhlQ2QAcpr8JxpW6V/s400/AnotherTravelingDollSalesman.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Perhaps it's the dolls?</span></p><br />Nope! You can tell they are not practicing Muslims because none of the above men have beards! The men below are good, practicing Muslims.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM0AM9jF8dMtq2GoYfU-AjP6ASNW0EAiNVeVoq8Cvlm-MvzXXr-u57HUZVcsUuou_Ya1HR2g03dHF3rLnbnUt5YA-mmu86SRGLaVqs10DA6iz6v7DysvyEPnrCyhyRN9yTusk68lq4Xdj/s1600-h/WatchingTraffic.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390552263606273682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM0AM9jF8dMtq2GoYfU-AjP6ASNW0EAiNVeVoq8Cvlm-MvzXXr-u57HUZVcsUuou_Ya1HR2g03dHF3rLnbnUt5YA-mmu86SRGLaVqs10DA6iz6v7DysvyEPnrCyhyRN9yTusk68lq4Xdj/s400/WatchingTraffic.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Ah, a pair of good practicing Muslims.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3K6ucdX8ycTes-I7iuWLAbvf_pl_zRY8YaV1jsTlWKZQFPVcQQUhILWNLyiwu1N4-K_XAWlOuSuB0hR2A2CL2oL_eU2WaAY55ql3QAbxAxz_R9oAz6Rz5ghqTNasecIR62vI6WkfjIe6/s1600-h/SixPashtunMen.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390552250000422322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3K6ucdX8ycTes-I7iuWLAbvf_pl_zRY8YaV1jsTlWKZQFPVcQQUhILWNLyiwu1N4-K_XAWlOuSuB0hR2A2CL2oL_eU2WaAY55ql3QAbxAxz_R9oAz6Rz5ghqTNasecIR62vI6WkfjIe6/s400/SixPashtunMen.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Jackpot!<br />Six good Muslims!</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCmXqC9NqoAGVaYnDVhhimjmH_L4hHwOLWdY_KbrO5Sxs1OD9B1WKxNsikR6l9LipP4TaRL0h2lNezLgUi8DG21_YEYJ4DtoVxq4GBCXURY9ICUJO6fcOyDtN3S1bzAb4R0oQ1SM6OBDW/s1600-h/TimeForaNap.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390552258646530546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCmXqC9NqoAGVaYnDVhhimjmH_L4hHwOLWdY_KbrO5Sxs1OD9B1WKxNsikR6l9LipP4TaRL0h2lNezLgUi8DG21_YEYJ4DtoVxq4GBCXURY9ICUJO6fcOyDtN3S1bzAb4R0oQ1SM6OBDW/s400/TimeForaNap.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHln_4xieljCK4XRS4WR1FZJenuC-LvNUzkOHvt-PPbFvT8eixLRRjQY5jTLu4Dyscu1sm2-pXZss_BCzH79ieBIS8AAWe8bGViokfCnb6WW_pEhjr0lRyYpwrG0evUYf7XyNlcRLXZ09/s1600-h/IndianKabuli.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390552241966376082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHln_4xieljCK4XRS4WR1FZJenuC-LvNUzkOHvt-PPbFvT8eixLRRjQY5jTLu4Dyscu1sm2-pXZss_BCzH79ieBIS8AAWe8bGViokfCnb6WW_pEhjr0lRyYpwrG0evUYf7XyNlcRLXZ09/s400/IndianKabuli.JPG" /></a><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">These must be good Muslims too, eh?<br />Well, they could be if they weren't already Sikhs.</span></p><br />We have an new <strike>idiot</strike> guy on our team. Apparently quite a scholar on Islamic Law, at least in his mind.<br /><br />You see, all these many years I've been living, working or visiting Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, and Afghanistan I've been laboring under a false perception.<br /><br />According to this <strike>moron</strike> dude, the vast majority of beardless men I've encountered in all these countries aren't really practicing Muslims.<br /><br />According to this <strike>dweeb</strike> guy, the Holy Qur'an directs Muslim men to grow beards.<br /><br />Guess how many times "beard" or "beards" appears in the Qur'an? Exactly one time.<br /><br />In 20:94 where Aaron, speaking to Moses after Moses confronts him about the golden calf says: "O Son of my mother, seize me not by my beard, nor by my head."<br /><br />That's it, the one and only reference in the Holy Qur'an to beards.<br /><br />In case you were wondering, I have no patience with idiots. I especially have no patience with Western idiots who make such asinine proclaimations and do the extemists propoganda work for them.<br /><br />Rant complete.<br /><br />For now.J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-59367543497257061622009-09-24T09:07:00.008-05:002009-09-24T09:45:59.618-05:00Side StreetsEid has come and gone. Things are getting back to a normal rhythm and the days are getting shorter. I indulged in kebobs, naan and palau today for lunch. One can only drive past the kebob stands so many times without saying, "enough is enough! I'm hungry!"<br /><br />One of the advantages we have in traveling around town is that we drive in unarmored vehicles that look like all the other Afghan vehicles. Which means we often travel where no armed convoys or patrols travel and that means getting to see "ordinary Afghans in their natural environment." We also get stuck in ordinary traffic, like we did last night for two hours getting home. It's often funny when the locals look in our vehicle and suddenly realize that we're not from around here.<br /><br />So here's some shots of side streets in Kabul that you don't often see unless you leave the more popular/busy routes through town.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZCJQpFUSU0MOksfZVNTvCETlV8BP0hfizBHlzty4JJRXXqdXfzd0yEsdLFGwPh9x_Z-789A1p7YWktp_Bjs6lOeNqWqFc36j_xE4GC2xnsERmZo9FX_0060JMfa4Yk6qiEXpTUdnbrUU/s1600-h/TalkbySewer.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385038364625407330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZCJQpFUSU0MOksfZVNTvCETlV8BP0hfizBHlzty4JJRXXqdXfzd0yEsdLFGwPh9x_Z-789A1p7YWktp_Bjs6lOeNqWqFc36j_xE4GC2xnsERmZo9FX_0060JMfa4Yk6qiEXpTUdnbrUU/s400/TalkbySewer.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">A talk by the sewer. Hard to escape the open sewers.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuepTnp1yrl7MgALQ8gISbqUUVkG9crq8b9Oj0oU0IzB9G9MdMwvcPDrPt8snog2H03flO6Bank3Q3R8yLPM1zP9fcaJaCIjQbiANuQv9TlM5PhlT6A8rYamKayW9XhBGAJRC38h3xP5Nu/s1600-h/SomeShade.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385038356532454850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuepTnp1yrl7MgALQ8gISbqUUVkG9crq8b9Oj0oU0IzB9G9MdMwvcPDrPt8snog2H03flO6Bank3Q3R8yLPM1zP9fcaJaCIjQbiANuQv9TlM5PhlT6A8rYamKayW9XhBGAJRC38h3xP5Nu/s400/SomeShade.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">See what I mean? Another open sewer.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8m049XErG3HnDIK6IBelbrlL1KeWYe0TKn9VYfGFeF8-hR7Ui52SbaLKNMvDNFTOboSRYog6WYfDq6-wthXe7NpPIHK81I08EkTaOuFxS8bDJo59NfcNgT_YS2MFmwJKl0HtDh1GbfFg/s1600-h/OncomingTraffic.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385038338353404034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8m049XErG3HnDIK6IBelbrlL1KeWYe0TKn9VYfGFeF8-hR7Ui52SbaLKNMvDNFTOboSRYog6WYfDq6-wthXe7NpPIHK81I08EkTaOuFxS8bDJo59NfcNgT_YS2MFmwJKl0HtDh1GbfFg/s400/OncomingTraffic.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Or else one dodges pedestrians in torn-up muddy side streets.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvo25YyrT3jVzOto4pVuJXvupo0YZHYILQrAF5dEHDi0ix_rTWpU1io2Q8TDy0u-RuuWd2p3-r9iAwNeHKFdKUi0DB5z1NKxrvR0qyMrG4Nrv9EVYC_C5gJXmEbO4PpMIi_1e4X2gvI73I/s1600-h/OldTownRoad.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385038140309156722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvo25YyrT3jVzOto4pVuJXvupo0YZHYILQrAF5dEHDi0ix_rTWpU1io2Q8TDy0u-RuuWd2p3-r9iAwNeHKFdKUi0DB5z1NKxrvR0qyMrG4Nrv9EVYC_C5gJXmEbO4PpMIi_1e4X2gvI73I/s400/OldTownRoad.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Or, the really old part of town, no sewer at all. Just a dirt road.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxHce6QcALQlhfSX6BFeJUUyo_b3-bJF4GSTvADiAfPiDpHTlzddqvuhVo3o7lgIpytB8EHSTh1WWYaEkarz986KzRYnUpmsJxDPGajEy371MjKz2c2A_I_38yQJaryrguYNZVojAYqii/s1600-h/OldRoad.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385038137657057154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxHce6QcALQlhfSX6BFeJUUyo_b3-bJF4GSTvADiAfPiDpHTlzddqvuhVo3o7lgIpytB8EHSTh1WWYaEkarz986KzRYnUpmsJxDPGajEy371MjKz2c2A_I_38yQJaryrguYNZVojAYqii/s400/OldRoad.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">In preparation for coming improvements, double sewer!</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4toaQd-LlpY3Oxy8Rnk3T8-lfvBCPOh1Ig8G69L4RlPKhTTTsctcjs1tTLWb1U4SDKyxCLXCvtOzsYZLzApmusdl2ONObLHUzjv42d0DwzhyphenhyphenI1uWzlu_ul67iYfpiQ4gYPuj614DZ9qil/s1600-h/OldDirtAlleyway.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385038132506955618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4toaQd-LlpY3Oxy8Rnk3T8-lfvBCPOh1Ig8G69L4RlPKhTTTsctcjs1tTLWb1U4SDKyxCLXCvtOzsYZLzApmusdl2ONObLHUzjv42d0DwzhyphenhyphenI1uWzlu_ul67iYfpiQ4gYPuj614DZ9qil/s400/OldDirtAlleyway.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Then again, there's the dirt ditch in the dirt alleyway.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfWynV8vvYH4-RybWkV-w3viIE7O4X2HEEnPtZRmtW83qJeC3oTePMUE-PXK1BkbThibbQ2KtBqZsa2hxHUYt4a2mAfbbnXUBiD08Etc5OM51yo62OD7wYeT-pCweXMprTSsX-pmb1bJX/s1600-h/OffMarketRoad.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385038123230501266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfWynV8vvYH4-RybWkV-w3viIE7O4X2HEEnPtZRmtW83qJeC3oTePMUE-PXK1BkbThibbQ2KtBqZsa2hxHUYt4a2mAfbbnXUBiD08Etc5OM51yo62OD7wYeT-pCweXMprTSsX-pmb1bJX/s400/OffMarketRoad.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Ok, the open sewer is out of sight right now, <br>but it's right by the woman's feet as she inspects pears. <br>Note the more modern building surrounded by mud brick structures.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwZqlLWrWe41Ozi5BKW55Ne1bsnhy4sUSm6ChOIU1p83PCoYq4l33bietRsq0fyUL4j64utx2B3X6JbzmpVqu8TN7dc1tO_ilLn-MGq4BhuYMz8je2xdAyqNrU096Buekd5HYKoID7PRk/s1600-h/NewRoad.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385038120587363794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwZqlLWrWe41Ozi5BKW55Ne1bsnhy4sUSm6ChOIU1p83PCoYq4l33bietRsq0fyUL4j64utx2B3X6JbzmpVqu8TN7dc1tO_ilLn-MGq4BhuYMz8je2xdAyqNrU096Buekd5HYKoID7PRk/s400/NewRoad.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The goats get a brand new cement runway up the hill to the cliff houses.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhEXfX7ekP3eq7YSASBSEFgf_s2ofTxZAWSorN_hKNTSHlafHNLxAVTAv1G0wEjeOnEnfeugTe_AWhi5q19X7N5bb2BRjErMLNENDawkvXZLx8obKJWHQsxbeMrHgLIYKzAlrmKop40a0/s1600-h/NarrowAlley.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385037793897217682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhEXfX7ekP3eq7YSASBSEFgf_s2ofTxZAWSorN_hKNTSHlafHNLxAVTAv1G0wEjeOnEnfeugTe_AWhi5q19X7N5bb2BRjErMLNENDawkvXZLx8obKJWHQsxbeMrHgLIYKzAlrmKop40a0/s400/NarrowAlley.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">College student emerging from alleyway on the way to school.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQGY2rdLHDE4RsipvCfOnW8sVHid4zCVzXnHvfRTAp9eFVKx-ax7UG6NnyQcmyhwHjBxN07ingM5veHS_hgicNU46crX4kseT0KPIH7JWM_d3mX-XEK7DHooQmSoHumS6YX1uxD9Ou6BX/s1600-h/MuddyRoad.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385037786129182146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQGY2rdLHDE4RsipvCfOnW8sVHid4zCVzXnHvfRTAp9eFVKx-ax7UG6NnyQcmyhwHjBxN07ingM5veHS_hgicNU46crX4kseT0KPIH7JWM_d3mX-XEK7DHooQmSoHumS6YX1uxD9Ou6BX/s400/MuddyRoad.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Another muddy road without proper drainage. <br>This one is one of the lower roads into the cliffhouses.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Y79zoIEpciPNiQKkKWH1ueiulRA2jnr7xlBVzoQYWCZU9h7jGQEJ5TD56SKqUc42s5hyphenhyphenAvq4dH2co6BQhrCmcAGy2eAEKrvKHb0lu4NQFRdeZYxh6QJ0mNqn_BDWkuIGsurRy8s5qLlO/s1600-h/EmptyAlley.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385037782169246562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Y79zoIEpciPNiQKkKWH1ueiulRA2jnr7xlBVzoQYWCZU9h7jGQEJ5TD56SKqUc42s5hyphenhyphenAvq4dH2co6BQhrCmcAGy2eAEKrvKHb0lu4NQFRdeZYxh6QJ0mNqn_BDWkuIGsurRy8s5qLlO/s400/EmptyAlley.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Another improved alleyway. These people must have connections.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYE22YYhSCUAF8dHyMVNuWpL0C3x7ZK9BE0EaQu9UuP4b_esC15pY8GMnsMRiwbnkUbI_8WZ8NdEUJF1M2PsQrOD9S_iuuNCrfunN0bnBkTAfIMBUaZhki9a2apa4Tdh49DG6tIERCJ-sJ/s1600-h/DustySideRoad.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385037773122767922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYE22YYhSCUAF8dHyMVNuWpL0C3x7ZK9BE0EaQu9UuP4b_esC15pY8GMnsMRiwbnkUbI_8WZ8NdEUJF1M2PsQrOD9S_iuuNCrfunN0bnBkTAfIMBUaZhki9a2apa4Tdh49DG6tIERCJ-sJ/s400/DustySideRoad.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Yes, there is electricity these days, even in the poorer parts of town.<br>Of course driving such roads is an adventure.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXkLvWP1Jl6jPF-9QR_6mqnWuHHzUTx9r4dnrwKiRT9wWWy_4bQ0Kf6n8uLxrBQEaJvWPghCZp1KCVcTTJ-6nkcMGoLApwXACg6CcAEMcxWcDvYtbrspdZmTasDAbnJ6HyCokNf6Bo9fK/s1600-h/DriveHard.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385037766809432930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXkLvWP1Jl6jPF-9QR_6mqnWuHHzUTx9r4dnrwKiRT9wWWy_4bQ0Kf6n8uLxrBQEaJvWPghCZp1KCVcTTJ-6nkcMGoLApwXACg6CcAEMcxWcDvYtbrspdZmTasDAbnJ6HyCokNf6Bo9fK/s400/DriveHard.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Which pretty much sums up the Afghan style of driving.<br>Yes, taken on the streets of Kabul just yesterday afternoon!</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-84702331171963310082009-09-17T10:02:00.009-05:002009-09-17T10:49:59.691-05:00First Snow!Ye Gads! Where does the time go? I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post!<br /><br />Anyway, to catch up on things...it's been Ramazan (Ramadan) since my last post. During Ramazan Muslims fast, pray, and abstain from tobacco and...well, "bedroom activities" from sunrise to sunset. In a couple days it will be Eid el Fitr, the breaking of the fast, so the town has been busy in the markets as people prepare for feasting and gift-giving.<br /><br />On a weather note, we had our first snow last night (16 September). I do believe it is still "officially" summer. The mountains west of town saw the last of the snow melt on 27 August. So that means we went a mere 20 days without snow. It's shaping up to be one hell of a winter here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdV78VeksOV9Vk824FQvjm_4ZTON3xvWIN0fY7SxNm17viXuxYBw0s0_qxCV21LDl186NDgLRqnz72YRy0NXB1sUgRXRJNy5OcrjDDdOHwJ2kcHT1dMMdBI5_LlNzenX96atf0ASnahz6k/s1600-h/First+Snow.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382453709530146322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdV78VeksOV9Vk824FQvjm_4ZTON3xvWIN0fY7SxNm17viXuxYBw0s0_qxCV21LDl186NDgLRqnz72YRy0NXB1sUgRXRJNy5OcrjDDdOHwJ2kcHT1dMMdBI5_LlNzenX96atf0ASnahz6k/s400/First+Snow.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvP9D2o-xcTjB4w76JeFUu9y4cyxzkfB8w1faAzMKkW6NrLgF-kbQd_5_WHXMIeZjgHqe8X7JXY-7bgF0Uu-_HcY4AD_8J5VZjDK_fCRFa24CbXL-o-iGNshVAplt3ekHQd0p6rADMYsp/s1600-h/First+Snow+3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382454000047156194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvP9D2o-xcTjB4w76JeFUu9y4cyxzkfB8w1faAzMKkW6NrLgF-kbQd_5_WHXMIeZjgHqe8X7JXY-7bgF0Uu-_HcY4AD_8J5VZjDK_fCRFa24CbXL-o-iGNshVAplt3ekHQd0p6rADMYsp/s400/First+Snow+3.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLtxoLb8dPpPU_M7td9Q8sMXYLGuJX6PmZlT3HMlr7oCqhp7LBeUlh7fyWVSPhx-E5IQJDeBz8kIyVbm5aKC_8QNbSJVGVGl3MUTIMGZl2T4t-YgcmoXG-ozUWBXKDx58NUu7sFBJCm0H/s1600-h/First+Snow+2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 217px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382453712542347746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLtxoLb8dPpPU_M7td9Q8sMXYLGuJX6PmZlT3HMlr7oCqhp7LBeUlh7fyWVSPhx-E5IQJDeBz8kIyVbm5aKC_8QNbSJVGVGl3MUTIMGZl2T4t-YgcmoXG-ozUWBXKDx58NUu7sFBJCm0H/s400/First+Snow+2.JPG" /></a><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Peaks to the west of town.<br />From 31 October 2008 until 27 August 2009, <br>there was snow on them hills.<br />After a 20-day break, it's back!</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcOt9HblykAUfLzmx5G0G7fwf5gZPeiWKMxAdRpC6sGZ1rIQV66YXERumZToDOnLkQUOLJjY1cgCoWRUioEiQRhPm6bKBuJ4rX2Vd6c6F4CKG_qMBwjeOKwUm9bhqWrYWEJBFxXDBGtJl/s1600-h/Kuchis+on+the+Move.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 323px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382454010353813250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcOt9HblykAUfLzmx5G0G7fwf5gZPeiWKMxAdRpC6sGZ1rIQV66YXERumZToDOnLkQUOLJjY1cgCoWRUioEiQRhPm6bKBuJ4rX2Vd6c6F4CKG_qMBwjeOKwUm9bhqWrYWEJBFxXDBGtJl/s400/Kuchis+on+the+Move.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Kuchis on the move.<br>Kuchi means literally, "those who travel". <br>They are nomadic herders, primarily Pashtun, who are <br>regarded in some quarters with the same disdain as gypsies.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBHJT5gxfRV9EqKWScpeZaBYp449obwx8v2h3sOzLUrRoKhiUKilsxHj0fp5NONp_CSWQKztD7UjM_LKQ6KtkNrE6cvhMYU8DlJr8pgyEJocbYTIT_ij9ozn_CmimJXg5g4eLf34eY4Be/s1600-h/Kuchis+on+the+Move+2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382454019837808514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBHJT5gxfRV9EqKWScpeZaBYp449obwx8v2h3sOzLUrRoKhiUKilsxHj0fp5NONp_CSWQKztD7UjM_LKQ6KtkNrE6cvhMYU8DlJr8pgyEJocbYTIT_ij9ozn_CmimJXg5g4eLf34eY4Be/s400/Kuchis+on+the+Move+2.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Note the dog in the lower left of the picture.<br>Kuchis rely on dogs for both herding and security.<br>You rarely see Kuchis without dogs.<br> This sets them apart from most Afghans.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_aZyiV7TZ0JyJviuljBGATxnpHACmBrWxZj31vGnDr_aFbSi-FMoj99qVElsl06m3MVnxLuBGb5lmClrJOcUwFCUVrs4oTHy2TqUjfOKQxw94SvPiNj6bYf-pGl2LlnGeRcwiqPOAFU_/s1600-h/Kuchis+on+the+Move+3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382454030056970370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_aZyiV7TZ0JyJviuljBGATxnpHACmBrWxZj31vGnDr_aFbSi-FMoj99qVElsl06m3MVnxLuBGb5lmClrJOcUwFCUVrs4oTHy2TqUjfOKQxw94SvPiNj6bYf-pGl2LlnGeRcwiqPOAFU_/s400/Kuchis+on+the+Move+3.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">This group of Kuchis started moving south two days before the snow.<br>Perhaps they were more attuned to the pending weather change than "city folk."</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRO2Rgdnecw3fh8K8gPlgIXg8KE6_byW2o0VcWfq_hisLA6mpEocGCX0kPWq7T4_KlW4J5aMKyZ6Qk72A9EzlihAqnG8nNmjSLxBZnE2OvsCAltqCaC44ED1lwBsnhKvBvBQzhWRpMyq1/s1600-h/Crossing+the+Street.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382453704220291186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRO2Rgdnecw3fh8K8gPlgIXg8KE6_byW2o0VcWfq_hisLA6mpEocGCX0kPWq7T4_KlW4J5aMKyZ6Qk72A9EzlihAqnG8nNmjSLxBZnE2OvsCAltqCaC44ED1lwBsnhKvBvBQzhWRpMyq1/s400/Crossing+the+Street.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lending a hand crossing the street.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWvPf2RkacaHAWD54yYqR7ZZqmB2uFXsJyJLyfZ8xOwM79ZzOSaeE_h_Up7mrSZKAcww77_OPEskaUpuzsNS25RLG-_9N-TxFi_YLuToDGyCduMzbrft956avSaMRzRBkBeHvsA0aqt8f/s1600-h/CliffHouse+Sidewalk.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382453694164105138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWvPf2RkacaHAWD54yYqR7ZZqmB2uFXsJyJLyfZ8xOwM79ZzOSaeE_h_Up7mrSZKAcww77_OPEskaUpuzsNS25RLG-_9N-TxFi_YLuToDGyCduMzbrft956avSaMRzRBkBeHvsA0aqt8f/s400/CliffHouse+Sidewalk.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Cliff house sidewalk.<br>I'm often asked how people get around in the cliff house neighborhoods.<br>This is how.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4nU7jIL13Xndqk_rQAzyVdO0itm6YpFWip55WATkz-RTPP0JApdnVO_KiUP1eo_7q__pN5eNt7CS1l6b_2ZmFT-s5D5qBBmIzhCrzZns_tSN_8Lktvhwwdt1fUxH3n7_HoiC-G11Ajv4/s1600-h/Pooped.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382454034508455058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4nU7jIL13Xndqk_rQAzyVdO0itm6YpFWip55WATkz-RTPP0JApdnVO_KiUP1eo_7q__pN5eNt7CS1l6b_2ZmFT-s5D5qBBmIzhCrzZns_tSN_8Lktvhwwdt1fUxH3n7_HoiC-G11Ajv4/s400/Pooped.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Wee one pooped out from pre Eid shopping.<br>Note the reddish hair.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9mJ8kxt3P2DnJNxCB2nIB4QPNdFyLfFTeo-4Z3qHhFInC-c_EZ6Mgat660MeDSlar_VQ0va3EyfYxxRrbnqV93Czzcj-RJ-6rxgc8_w_VB36FMgBe5ze5x1c7LtM4D7JXpqlEP4ap4nH/s1600-h/Begging.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382453687956910402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9mJ8kxt3P2DnJNxCB2nIB4QPNdFyLfFTeo-4Z3qHhFInC-c_EZ6Mgat660MeDSlar_VQ0va3EyfYxxRrbnqV93Czzcj-RJ-6rxgc8_w_VB36FMgBe5ze5x1c7LtM4D7JXpqlEP4ap4nH/s400/Begging.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Beggar trying a mark.<br>Since their vehicle looked more important than ours, <br>we got by without a second look.</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-29276536467261351972009-08-21T01:28:00.005-05:002009-08-21T01:37:24.715-05:00The Day AfterThe Election has passed and votes are being counted.<br /><br />Somewhere between 40 - 50 percent of the eligible voters cast ballots and that's under threat of dismemberment (the Taliban threatened to cut fingers off) and death (the Taliban threatened to kill people) and under fire (rocket attacks, gunmen and suicide bombers).<br /><br />Despite all the doom and gloom forecasts, things weren't really all that scary yesterday. The Taliban propaganda machine (the Western media) failed to scare away voters.<br /><br />So now we wait while votes are counted. We should give a nod to the millions of courageous Afghans who braved death and dismemberment to exercise their right to vote. <br /><br />The Afghan people are the winners, even if the election was imperfect.<br><br>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-76394796410496743862009-08-19T01:00:00.001-05:002009-08-19T08:13:32.091-05:00Afghanistan Presidential Election TomorrowTomorrow (20 August) is election day in Afghanistan and these are interesting times. In the last week we’ve have several rocket attacks and two suicide VBIEDs (vehicle borne improvised explosive devices). In both VBIED attacks the majority of the casualties were innocent Afghans, including children.<br /><br />None of this was unexpected, but the suicide VBIED attack in front of ISAF (International Security and Assistance Force) Headquarters was probably preventable and the result of lax security, or non-existent security, along one road leading into the "Green Zone."<br /><br />At least one news outlet talked about how the Presidential compound was “targeted” in a rocket attack early yesterday morning. Let’s set the record straight. The safest place to be during a rocket attack is to be the target. Anything within about a 2 kilometer circle is a little iffier. Getting hit by a rocket is rather like the old Monty Python joke about the chances of having a 16-ton weight hit you in the head. You can’t worry about it.<br /><br />Last night passed peacefully, but we are all expecting a little more excitement today and tomorrow. Despite the threats, the UN monitors are expecting a pretty solid turnout. A good turnout would be psychological victory over the Taliban. Time will tell.<br /><br /><span style="color:#800000;"><b>UPDATE Afternoon 19 August:</b><br />The media are really spinning this one up. Today three guys tried to rob a bank downtown. The MSNBC post online described the area as "still in ruins" from the Civil War. Clearly the writer has never been there, I drive past the area on most days and it isn't in ruins. In fact there are three hotels and several government ministries near that bank. <br /><br />They then connect the Taliban claim that there are twenty guys with suicide vests in town to the three because a Taliban spokesman said five of the twenty battled police. Well, the Taliban have a habit of claiming any violence as their handiwork, even when it's just ordinary criminal activity. By doing so it makes them look like they have more "soldiers" than they really have. <br /><br />So if these guys at the bank were wearing suicide vests, why didn't any of them detonate when the police stormed the building? That would have been the perfect time to cause a lot of casualties.<br /><br />It's far more likely that these were just ordinary thugs trying to capitalize on the fact that most people were home today since it's Independence Day. Had they been aiming for a big bloody splash, they would have hit yesterday when there were more people around.<br /><br />Important note: The Afghan police don't let these scenarios drag out for very long and they aren't squeamish about a fight. Any such attack <i><b>is</b></i> a suicide attack because the police aren't interested in taking prisoners.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkmcPqZbmUsm3jFf07GVxsskimASZGn-rRBZ7ZwoVjrStBtyfVuvARnt0i5sCUMvfy8iVRyYbcTeh7CvXL49osgpcFYT7F7M-jhGTNT2ClnUB-lJ_SL8AZjn-Zk2Qp6W-qY74xVTsSXg9/s1600-h/SafetoVote.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371536025718188962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkmcPqZbmUsm3jFf07GVxsskimASZGn-rRBZ7ZwoVjrStBtyfVuvARnt0i5sCUMvfy8iVRyYbcTeh7CvXL49osgpcFYT7F7M-jhGTNT2ClnUB-lJ_SL8AZjn-Zk2Qp6W-qY74xVTsSXg9/s400/SafetoVote.JPG" /></a><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Election Billboard<br> Assuring the populace that the Army and the Police will protect voters.</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-55252705468177988432009-08-14T03:24:00.009-05:002009-08-14T04:12:13.755-05:00The Faces of KabulFirst, let me thank all of you who've stopped by while I've been "silent" and inquired about my well-being. Doing fine, but I needed a break. I went home on leave where I thought I'd have more time to blog...NOT! My last day at home I hauled 6.5 tons of mulch, but I left it to my dear wife to spread.<br /><br />While there I did all my medical checkups. When next I return in December, I've got knee surgery scheduled...on Pearl Harbor Day.<br /><br />As you may notice, I'm in Afghanistan past the one year mark. Right now it looks like I'll be here until the end of April 2010 or beginning of May 2010.<br /><br />Weather here has been much milder than in many years. There is still snow on the peaks west of town. We hit 99°F yesterday, but for the most part the temps have stayed around the mid-90's for the hottest part of the year. We still have not broken 100°F for the year in Kabul.<br /><br />We're expecting next week to get a little more dicey with the election. So far the town is quiet, but we doubt the bad guys are going to let the elections go unchallenged. They've certainly made their hostile intentions well-known.<br /><br />Today I'm just posting a bunch of pictures I'm simply calling "The Faces of Kabul." Some you have seen before, but since they are among my favorites there here again.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBcuN1NN8DwDQGnlXUiWivpYX_vu7rNAbNV2YivSmYXzH7kqAPgYh1Z2fipFyYMwfbUCUmFFMJTw6-rqm6cAx8MXKFtdaAqCoIQobAj87ENWTWGcISd9wAddoz8qKbnEPB70DxBmbtXaC/s1600-h/OpenBurqha.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369737045662244834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBcuN1NN8DwDQGnlXUiWivpYX_vu7rNAbNV2YivSmYXzH7kqAPgYh1Z2fipFyYMwfbUCUmFFMJTw6-rqm6cAx8MXKFtdaAqCoIQobAj87ENWTWGcISd9wAddoz8qKbnEPB70DxBmbtXaC/s400/OpenBurqha.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">You frequently see men and women with their scarf or burqha clenched in their teeth.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-b8pTww7BansakyX_GErN-ZJmYwhMWh1SI3_oZMRAIvY6Esv-EpC7DZ9zn_sXSdVE5jp_thh_86UmZwHFs-UDJoJAQzoYzusmIVYtuU8XPUOYYkoq68Fumn_KtSOoW9amEGO5HIhGUzD/s1600-h/OldManBegging.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369737035254099474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-b8pTww7BansakyX_GErN-ZJmYwhMWh1SI3_oZMRAIvY6Esv-EpC7DZ9zn_sXSdVE5jp_thh_86UmZwHFs-UDJoJAQzoYzusmIVYtuU8XPUOYYkoq68Fumn_KtSOoW9amEGO5HIhGUzD/s400/OldManBegging.jpg" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Old man begging in the middle of the road.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHDMtewgBuDEb6kThGuuCLZFsT3LqtEG2pU0SrGzVv-IFEWssBUCkQdscmQIxoK16bLYi28_9vJepZqYmzYOsUvJc2VYsrcyb7-5hU3bH3HfVCOX85WOGlsDboFOoKHu-njn0CJjzslve/s1600-h/IMG_9626.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369737028007021218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHDMtewgBuDEb6kThGuuCLZFsT3LqtEG2pU0SrGzVv-IFEWssBUCkQdscmQIxoK16bLYi28_9vJepZqYmzYOsUvJc2VYsrcyb7-5hU3bH3HfVCOX85WOGlsDboFOoKHu-njn0CJjzslve/s400/IMG_9626.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Ladies out shopping.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZzkYew1S_4D2KRgiHIJDRCon4PRKbLdinpN4DxK3k8ZpNi-An5DiCMLnnGxQJAL8d0x_umowCVjf39_yULqlhBd-K3lF_rRga-Vj-w8ejJQ7nRIznnaDe834qeS2_ZnHGIiMlMPHeZL3/s1600-h/IMG_9371.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369737019446975858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZzkYew1S_4D2KRgiHIJDRCon4PRKbLdinpN4DxK3k8ZpNi-An5DiCMLnnGxQJAL8d0x_umowCVjf39_yULqlhBd-K3lF_rRga-Vj-w8ejJQ7nRIznnaDe834qeS2_ZnHGIiMlMPHeZL3/s400/IMG_9371.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Telling a story.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IkxWZrnGqg2MVVvIWoLNrQ5UDVQ-ZlFdvUaE1s4WjEGSzM9FX6pUsgMS2bIsyZFNFt7i4UuhMOZHo_OsfA1y0Cpr1L9PaUU_xDz2o4nwhKA8XTEfXh8omvVfEvwjNKE51KF-C5f5mP2D/s1600-h/IMG_7982.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369737015128196594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IkxWZrnGqg2MVVvIWoLNrQ5UDVQ-ZlFdvUaE1s4WjEGSzM9FX6pUsgMS2bIsyZFNFt7i4UuhMOZHo_OsfA1y0Cpr1L9PaUU_xDz2o4nwhKA8XTEfXh8omvVfEvwjNKE51KF-C5f5mP2D/s400/IMG_7982.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Baker done for the day.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HGICxYnp5HKTZXdG12vGLphWdtBE4ZnKGlhWYntoJBqXw4A-Y3lwn7J_M6cdTcE6nfkl47DNezn31h66vl-vtZU6IGMXkT7_TEdZVrz-2yJYwCbj0X6wsqnwyTAKAD-f008zwM41a3kI/s1600-h/IMG_7788.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369736690371214594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HGICxYnp5HKTZXdG12vGLphWdtBE4ZnKGlhWYntoJBqXw4A-Y3lwn7J_M6cdTcE6nfkl47DNezn31h66vl-vtZU6IGMXkT7_TEdZVrz-2yJYwCbj0X6wsqnwyTAKAD-f008zwM41a3kI/s400/IMG_7788.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Another very talented woman.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sNzzUjDlZoGf7AjxAbd2KetRrM4Vc4jIb9zYMze0nI4htmlqQsbpoHx4Up3noJYytQqWE2nDIdAOEQHU9NpH_c3_E10QimD9olV3REymhBzX5KQCVWl3RZc79z6LJZaw8t_sdb9CJfKC/s1600-h/IMG_7756.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369736682709833714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sNzzUjDlZoGf7AjxAbd2KetRrM4Vc4jIb9zYMze0nI4htmlqQsbpoHx4Up3noJYytQqWE2nDIdAOEQHU9NpH_c3_E10QimD9olV3REymhBzX5KQCVWl3RZc79z6LJZaw8t_sdb9CJfKC/s400/IMG_7756.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Are you talking to me?</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdidw59vjPK7bpnR3wd644kB5xcu8ueEKtLc7Ua75Nvcx5W97kq3tVENlZmy425u-6wm2d0MTHmkjgmRs2osBtkwZz-yllV34Zw7SudzeRToHiUD9KgjzavOkigrn7Z1RD0NLWznfLWS5Y/s1600-h/IMG_7725.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369736681753300482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdidw59vjPK7bpnR3wd644kB5xcu8ueEKtLc7Ua75Nvcx5W97kq3tVENlZmy425u-6wm2d0MTHmkjgmRs2osBtkwZz-yllV34Zw7SudzeRToHiUD9KgjzavOkigrn7Z1RD0NLWznfLWS5Y/s400/IMG_7725.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Yep, something stinky nearby.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCO7mwp6jZpPE2-z_qZDqYPJtj3u0QoHgvojjZaHpIv_GNb6BXCs6rLMPdZCvcZt7tcErbue3bzVy2bDg0RW9OXrkD6SjkzMEWPVksSFS8e73YNHUvQe88jmilo_u0dAP8ZbpKrMSCB0G7/s1600-h/IMG_7690.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369736672927178306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCO7mwp6jZpPE2-z_qZDqYPJtj3u0QoHgvojjZaHpIv_GNb6BXCs6rLMPdZCvcZt7tcErbue3bzVy2bDg0RW9OXrkD6SjkzMEWPVksSFS8e73YNHUvQe88jmilo_u0dAP8ZbpKrMSCB0G7/s400/IMG_7690.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Six Pashtun men.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqnQnKqFQuSHGNnB_kK8wu07ht0554dbnyqo34WXw0hWGMRXOODDQqnEwdTeDs62qroYn9ut33zlmkKAFzKqWw8FZ14ZmCowrTWmgoq5AaMuKnnt_DtNkISt7_d5yLWKJWhiu22aBv_9I/s1600-h/IMG_7625.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369736666409531634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqnQnKqFQuSHGNnB_kK8wu07ht0554dbnyqo34WXw0hWGMRXOODDQqnEwdTeDs62qroYn9ut33zlmkKAFzKqWw8FZ14ZmCowrTWmgoq5AaMuKnnt_DtNkISt7_d5yLWKJWhiu22aBv_9I/s400/IMG_7625.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Day laborers waiting for jobs.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodLVtPRpPMcO4onfmZkg3ywIAyw-DnYF1jpdlRo9vQwkGayMhImI06t6Bhm7bIUFi-VN6z4LU9ZEtXcybnQNhUfKZ5wNSDgwL_pDYQyW_lAf9IM_GFxCa3YXPj7_Ase6MoFxg5_4-7uAd/s1600-h/IMG_7592.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 311px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369736332007740050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodLVtPRpPMcO4onfmZkg3ywIAyw-DnYF1jpdlRo9vQwkGayMhImI06t6Bhm7bIUFi-VN6z4LU9ZEtXcybnQNhUfKZ5wNSDgwL_pDYQyW_lAf9IM_GFxCa3YXPj7_Ase6MoFxg5_4-7uAd/s400/IMG_7592.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Pashtun goat herder.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBXHoz__KKooS6RgFnzWlqhhRdyoCaB4eXtd1QVCJRH0sWNGAfni565QRGSaqETQoDyhHIHAaxBPwHLP0LzgGkI-Al-XZCGYM6S-tVcMtvwYcvOsilUdmhPmbLQveTN3Z3DoY10y21T1M/s1600-h/IMG_7351.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369736323023160786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBXHoz__KKooS6RgFnzWlqhhRdyoCaB4eXtd1QVCJRH0sWNGAfni565QRGSaqETQoDyhHIHAaxBPwHLP0LzgGkI-Al-XZCGYM6S-tVcMtvwYcvOsilUdmhPmbLQveTN3Z3DoY10y21T1M/s400/IMG_7351.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">What's this? Boys, talking to girls! In public!</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g-a3_S6W5E0mPbW0EWe5GRh6ybp0aB5JOd7Peulvb8gvmvkLwgxUs_WxIUDuHHziK-Xab0VHcu9Knx_OytbFYhv22NwNlxl5W_Hj8dxEEoQAA8Ml9C4HmaFGRfqMhN9IiuKGiLla_60/s1600-h/IMG_7212.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369736314080960482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g-a3_S6W5E0mPbW0EWe5GRh6ybp0aB5JOd7Peulvb8gvmvkLwgxUs_WxIUDuHHziK-Xab0VHcu9Knx_OytbFYhv22NwNlxl5W_Hj8dxEEoQAA8Ml9C4HmaFGRfqMhN9IiuKGiLla_60/s400/IMG_7212.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Walking home from the bus stop.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC54yXVTBehRezuEvsUk_0Ij3eltnoK2l2UJqWS4wkTsIQH8O3cAhEoTQ2zCXrGx0zEelhQGf_wT9l8WcrCw160_GThAWLU-ra5GqtnMfXuCLNMFxSKmJFRS_6JDCDBJfDotXiaTZH3-P7/s1600-h/IMG_7000.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369736308587356450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC54yXVTBehRezuEvsUk_0Ij3eltnoK2l2UJqWS4wkTsIQH8O3cAhEoTQ2zCXrGx0zEelhQGf_wT9l8WcrCw160_GThAWLU-ra5GqtnMfXuCLNMFxSKmJFRS_6JDCDBJfDotXiaTZH3-P7/s400/IMG_7000.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Begger boy.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0bBPUclxCXSqjMH5EF3ZhoyxJsfH4tw-EpmZ_ckLg1LVW4vz9OnfaYVCcEvCq4qAXMDDybXCOwiZHNvCMhNR3sdEPoXnRCzcbQX8TjtIDXuu5RZInF_EhXen_P25sua6RC2XYPgBwEY4/s1600-h/IMG_6367.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369736302198940530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0bBPUclxCXSqjMH5EF3ZhoyxJsfH4tw-EpmZ_ckLg1LVW4vz9OnfaYVCcEvCq4qAXMDDybXCOwiZHNvCMhNR3sdEPoXnRCzcbQX8TjtIDXuu5RZInF_EhXen_P25sua6RC2XYPgBwEY4/s400/IMG_6367.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Ok, there's a little bit of a story to this one.<br>The hottie on the left is my "girl friend" (it's a joke with my driver).<br>She frequently flashes me -- drops her veil and smiles when we see each other.<br>I almost caught her here.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifI13hUlUnpYw82pjd4ZRDn_cxU-cKOos5NAH4NNv-fzsw5bsuqFFjgE7WWXRkIwloJQnzVzkHhYQwR2C1PHTqsuLPaFZyq2MfxySdv0B80KYVi0s4CvStYPLfi19JKcDnR_jKWlwCaZif/s1600-h/IMG_6123.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369735789607205346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifI13hUlUnpYw82pjd4ZRDn_cxU-cKOos5NAH4NNv-fzsw5bsuqFFjgE7WWXRkIwloJQnzVzkHhYQwR2C1PHTqsuLPaFZyq2MfxySdv0B80KYVi0s4CvStYPLfi19JKcDnR_jKWlwCaZif/s400/IMG_6123.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">For the guys, note the sexy eyes on the one in the pink shawl.<br>It's incredible how sexy a woman can look without revealing much.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYBv7OwVfOrWDxRkmYdUvUrkp7LA-VMwps1WE9ywtc8U0y7AugdQHlyXbdIreHFE6YL5zXr44_UHjZMhXx3-ZFHbd-ht31TOjgEa8KSa7B6gTO0LZNQ8cbmg0gq961IK5_gVTESslnKXT/s1600-h/IMG_6039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369735788978775026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYBv7OwVfOrWDxRkmYdUvUrkp7LA-VMwps1WE9ywtc8U0y7AugdQHlyXbdIreHFE6YL5zXr44_UHjZMhXx3-ZFHbd-ht31TOjgEa8KSa7B6gTO0LZNQ8cbmg0gq961IK5_gVTESslnKXT/s400/IMG_6039.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Homeless old man.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8DU7TihyphenhyphenJk_NUYhwhpLvPZbTdvb5jKoQz4cmQeP63eun-kQMAkQhCI1jPuApFlw438jEWHMG4T3fmWzEQatUocG7QlPLHhjj-R6IKoqYGYRdKLkwX_X7MMevBVngrQ-WVOuI50K1iPUZ/s1600-h/IMG_5858.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369735781818227250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8DU7TihyphenhyphenJk_NUYhwhpLvPZbTdvb5jKoQz4cmQeP63eun-kQMAkQhCI1jPuApFlw438jEWHMG4T3fmWzEQatUocG7QlPLHhjj-R6IKoqYGYRdKLkwX_X7MMevBVngrQ-WVOuI50K1iPUZ/s400/IMG_5858.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Same little guy from the earlier picture, different day.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMv_f521YQdQ4BUdkWvXzMlpkzMW2XBXmfgPLbmyrOl3nBczQHKuGcXYtkhGRO2v1AAq5-yElix04v4BmqHx1SaDDsf9Wc-gU-zj7-ggMUyVJWxm3rLVKPQ7Ah4GWzrIZxQgviPS0IB0Va/s1600-h/IMG_5844.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369735773773724962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMv_f521YQdQ4BUdkWvXzMlpkzMW2XBXmfgPLbmyrOl3nBczQHKuGcXYtkhGRO2v1AAq5-yElix04v4BmqHx1SaDDsf9Wc-gU-zj7-ggMUyVJWxm3rLVKPQ7Ah4GWzrIZxQgviPS0IB0Va/s400/IMG_5844.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Woman begging in the middle of the street.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgy13bD0WBpkqvAxeziMqAPv0uHa12esvHMvCtNBiYBoNpILWviAWE7mgpQPP_fM3c9vRT9S1m-8cVL9kX2FMizCZl_X3xj68KGqGSClvvV6V-rFkOyvPcS2GXle1-OGw2nz6UfrEld4O/s1600-h/IMG_5257.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369735769427009490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgy13bD0WBpkqvAxeziMqAPv0uHa12esvHMvCtNBiYBoNpILWviAWE7mgpQPP_fM3c9vRT9S1m-8cVL9kX2FMizCZl_X3xj68KGqGSClvvV6V-rFkOyvPcS2GXle1-OGw2nz6UfrEld4O/s400/IMG_5257.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Crossing Guard.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVa4v-c8TKyZT8GStQ-FfAVLqRTtWe98mTUgZ7lVEwRL2n3FvbidxYyybJZfYLnshN6lg0gRNi-vUSQ-zPvhOILvpQudbskVFkgJ4nLI-FU7Yz1TD7M78QXxh3lGwGlBvEL0GlfO7ENhFu/s1600-h/IMG_4946.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369735403662219042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVa4v-c8TKyZT8GStQ-FfAVLqRTtWe98mTUgZ7lVEwRL2n3FvbidxYyybJZfYLnshN6lg0gRNi-vUSQ-zPvhOILvpQudbskVFkgJ4nLI-FU7Yz1TD7M78QXxh3lGwGlBvEL0GlfO7ENhFu/s400/IMG_4946.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">School Girls.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bT5Q8XaUjKeIamtyitaG7AKBIJQpA57m3xZuLVN7i0GF1UXi-fP50cbox-g-Snt95-cIQtOQ-PDB6AMM9k22_OTwVMygrcfose_adVEtlIcU-6oeGVAGO5bbeGRivUVlpEbawHyvHpbh/s1600-h/PigeonMosqueHippie2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369735397902238178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bT5Q8XaUjKeIamtyitaG7AKBIJQpA57m3xZuLVN7i0GF1UXi-fP50cbox-g-Snt95-cIQtOQ-PDB6AMM9k22_OTwVMygrcfose_adVEtlIcU-6oeGVAGO5bbeGRivUVlpEbawHyvHpbh/s400/PigeonMosqueHippie2.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Cool hippie dude. Note the shades.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQTonCgjsMCy7EJRy_LtbAZ8nYPMoPASZfMEZaGohEJihcd-AJusnkNpX99YrCb_aE-Mnk0t2KScvkucU4DhKIC5Ygshmldncp_x7GXoWD9cwc9SZ1AArQ74mBhoOAy9SmTc360RaP-21/s1600-h/IMG_4686.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 382px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369735393566108322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQTonCgjsMCy7EJRy_LtbAZ8nYPMoPASZfMEZaGohEJihcd-AJusnkNpX99YrCb_aE-Mnk0t2KScvkucU4DhKIC5Ygshmldncp_x7GXoWD9cwc9SZ1AArQ74mBhoOAy9SmTc360RaP-21/s400/IMG_4686.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Old woman begging.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwss9WHi6_FxblN8lVx4Y0qzikZmycf3NLkzPVgic3pkqjJNCMpxMIQb4URgq7QkBZaYIsSWJ9rJwZBRNk3zLn7FmuXDUr8sh0aahli8ylfkXBF5gUvNH_pJXPvd7QCGFtLynqr6sYenT/s1600-h/IMG_1700.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369735382991815458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwss9WHi6_FxblN8lVx4Y0qzikZmycf3NLkzPVgic3pkqjJNCMpxMIQb4URgq7QkBZaYIsSWJ9rJwZBRNk3zLn7FmuXDUr8sh0aahli8ylfkXBF5gUvNH_pJXPvd7QCGFtLynqr6sYenT/s400/IMG_1700.JPG" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Fashionably pink.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSnpRsOL6O1qTNxRYVRP3zuxKd1vo5P4JwTeQrJ2-0BBMe5KDg3oRgHpMJJ5ErA2kw-_d9l3KbNVQ4QVP5HIYv08M1thyr_jz16q0K3gsce5JbGcA3JO9q-YSsOk4dDvddOqITpJVM2Fa/s1600-h/BlindManEatingatPigeonMosque.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369735380097445826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSnpRsOL6O1qTNxRYVRP3zuxKd1vo5P4JwTeQrJ2-0BBMe5KDg3oRgHpMJJ5ErA2kw-_d9l3KbNVQ4QVP5HIYv08M1thyr_jz16q0K3gsce5JbGcA3JO9q-YSsOk4dDvddOqITpJVM2Fa/s400/BlindManEatingatPigeonMosque.JPG" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Blind man eating outside a mosque.</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-83551553389085171272009-07-03T03:13:00.002-05:002009-07-03T03:14:11.026-05:0056 Men...Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?<br /><br />Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died.<br /><br />Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. <br /><br />Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.<br /><br />Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.<br /><br />They signed and pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.<br /><br />What kind of men were they?<br /><br />Twenty-four signers of the Declaration of Independence were lawyers and jurists, eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. <br /><br />Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.<br /><br />Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.<br /><br />Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.<br /><br />At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.<br /><br />Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.<br /><br />John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. <br /><br />So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.<br /><br /><b>Remember: Freedom is <i>never</i> Free!</b><br /><br />It's time we get the word out. <b><i>Patriotism is NOT a sin!</i></b> We needn't be ashamed of our country. <br /><br />The Fourth of July is about more than beer, picnics, and baseball games. It's about those 56 patriots, their sacrifices and the sacrifices of thousands of others who made our great nation possible.<br /><br />I'm proud of my service as a soldier to the United States of America and to its <b><i>legitimate</i></b> citizens. <br /><br />I'm proud to continue serving with great patriots of all religions, races, men and women, who value more than personal wealth and glory - who value service to the United States of America. I'm proud of their current efforts serving the United States and helping the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.<br /><br /><i>Borrowed from an email I received from a fellow patriot and soldier: Tim Reutter</i>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-88628655791144656352009-06-25T09:33:00.015-05:002009-06-25T11:56:35.921-05:00Signs of the Times...Literally<br>This post is literally about signs. Just about any business in town that wants to look modern uses English on their signs. I once asked one of my interpreters (a proud young father of an 18-month old boy) what was the most important thing an Afghan child needed to learn. He said, "English." <br /><br />Well, sometimes the sign painters do a good job and get it right...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRawAf4g4wYP3vvn3GY3I7ninvFF5Rr2_At11nFymaZRbCocVRmf1GAba4hQ9GytjP8qob1rqw29mshXQCFznDMa4PQUr_vdiHD8PfPhvmvDnP0hLzGfUuwuWf6wfU9iaqodPaLSN7r23V/s1600-h/SuperKabulGym.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351275450466243042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRawAf4g4wYP3vvn3GY3I7ninvFF5Rr2_At11nFymaZRbCocVRmf1GAba4hQ9GytjP8qob1rqw29mshXQCFznDMa4PQUr_vdiHD8PfPhvmvDnP0hLzGfUuwuWf6wfU9iaqodPaLSN7r23V/s400/SuperKabulGym.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Super Kabul Gym<br />Nary a Dari word in sight. <br>Bodybuilding is part Russian legacy and the modern ideas of body image.</span></p>Other times...almost...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpkq1Cd3q1IczEyArfilDKaZPCj9uH-xVHixmJwNNTG1edlZW39ljigIa9zfMLXxtHfKT63A8ralseoYtw40FZtdoFBvKzaGOXBc4HzwvNdnwG0V2CkT1SgtJVdGhp5Ed19HFjtNE0SfR/s1600-h/BeautyPurler.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351273975687533282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpkq1Cd3q1IczEyArfilDKaZPCj9uH-xVHixmJwNNTG1edlZW39ljigIa9zfMLXxtHfKT63A8ralseoYtw40FZtdoFBvKzaGOXBc4HzwvNdnwG0V2CkT1SgtJVdGhp5Ed19HFjtNE0SfR/s400/BeautyPurler.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Wesal Beauty Purler</span></p>But more to the point it is election season in Afghanistan! Thankfully, their campaigns don't last two years like ours do. This year over 17 million Afghans are registered to vote(an increase of about 4.2 million over the last election).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAqMa_VLXThidoiusDUET0MRgI87MN95xxVji721MNme-T0GrfM3vzQWGDD4iygAtyVN2iJmHBIjCIqsBI2KG3wbNSxN-TKhaX9I516heqsvb-hCXQeFmzotL1jdDj5wFdSreMLXqwbAa/s1600-h/Lightposts.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351275138920447010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAqMa_VLXThidoiusDUET0MRgI87MN95xxVji721MNme-T0GrfM3vzQWGDD4iygAtyVN2iJmHBIjCIqsBI2KG3wbNSxN-TKhaX9I516heqsvb-hCXQeFmzotL1jdDj5wFdSreMLXqwbAa/s400/Lightposts.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Campaign posters on lightposts<br> At least they're using them for something other than hanging bodies. <br>They haven't been lit since the Afghan Civil War following the Soviet withdrawal.</span></p>The leading candidate is still Hamid Karzai. He has the power of incumbency and he's using to maximum advantage...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBewx4986fPNLbOPnP0lwLGBDN3JoX66sx0N7RG-el5piZ3pj-Xp28QOAD36bmW1ktiPeT2KcaDo_Ur4PL0SVZB-LLYGd_B7kq85vr9P477bqSvDgtnq6ck4441CMvpR1ul7-4q3qPZtAJ/s1600-h/KarzaiOutreach.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351274571605263058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBewx4986fPNLbOPnP0lwLGBDN3JoX66sx0N7RG-el5piZ3pj-Xp28QOAD36bmW1ktiPeT2KcaDo_Ur4PL0SVZB-LLYGd_B7kq85vr9P477bqSvDgtnq6ck4441CMvpR1ul7-4q3qPZtAJ/s400/KarzaiOutreach.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Showing you the way forward...</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3X8IWSeInMq69oL7gnI85aB5zuEhpvgNwdJxsXg3ifDtNGdDYfiXCxewM_MF5iO9NLhVPgz5du83_0nJon5njzRy8Z1yy2QIgF6By9r1Mu_ou-Iv7lQJh7-zEdu8ToKqI_n0-3QZqiIYn/s1600-h/KarzaiLecture.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351274560783808866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3X8IWSeInMq69oL7gnI85aB5zuEhpvgNwdJxsXg3ifDtNGdDYfiXCxewM_MF5iO9NLhVPgz5du83_0nJon5njzRy8Z1yy2QIgF6By9r1Mu_ou-Iv7lQJh7-zEdu8ToKqI_n0-3QZqiIYn/s400/KarzaiLecture.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Making Sure you get the point...</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOb9wH-RYjiA041DML-MlnC01zUPXre_izpLTT4jvV1egYRzxdNLLTQ6ZluICo_Y8YxBS5JLchQ3ZVgNY7lLLN0b4EmDrp8IJl5ibQdr7KZTC8NsuOEuB7KZfCnX3u0YS15JSZtighFTb/s1600-h/KarzaiCliffHouses.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351274560227675346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOb9wH-RYjiA041DML-MlnC01zUPXre_izpLTT4jvV1egYRzxdNLLTQ6ZluICo_Y8YxBS5JLchQ3ZVgNY7lLLN0b4EmDrp8IJl5ibQdr7KZTC8NsuOEuB7KZfCnX3u0YS15JSZtighFTb/s400/KarzaiCliffHouses.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Calling on YOU!</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_DKjrRuabdq_qd3fX5Ig-pq5m-Z2l1nNXmztGT6BQlaZp5zfyV9AlwAMu_XhbeP71v4CmovXu7VPLlm0WjnNcEQH5C_OsEoFj2fbkxNOwlLLUyXU7KElucjTZmRlMzEYa4rkcN_nh_hQ/s1600-h/KarzaiChildLightpost.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351274558919765730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_DKjrRuabdq_qd3fX5Ig-pq5m-Z2l1nNXmztGT6BQlaZp5zfyV9AlwAMu_XhbeP71v4CmovXu7VPLlm0WjnNcEQH5C_OsEoFj2fbkxNOwlLLUyXU7KElucjTZmRlMzEYa4rkcN_nh_hQ/s400/KarzaiChildLightpost.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">And he's child-friendly too!</span></p><br />But he does have some competition...about 40 of them. Here's a few.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsw6MRLGAYlny1Yg6hhyphenhyphenIm1RZ-5J5bGiTf9e8Md-3RAjRHNY3Cl0hYhD4ZbCQLjgbL0621DLrIz7KjkVbRu_Dlj8OzbPEzGD80d6S7g2zu_guOezKeB4kgE-A-4467hfdISHgKwXEaWy6/s1600-h/KarzaiShahlaWall.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351274564282477282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsw6MRLGAYlny1Yg6hhyphenhyphenIm1RZ-5J5bGiTf9e8Md-3RAjRHNY3Cl0hYhD4ZbCQLjgbL0621DLrIz7KjkVbRu_Dlj8OzbPEzGD80d6S7g2zu_guOezKeB4kgE-A-4467hfdISHgKwXEaWy6/s400/KarzaiShahlaWall.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Campaign posters on a wall<br>Karzai dominates, note the more traditional appearance here.<br>Hedayat Amin Arsala at the top is a minor player.<br>The woman, Shahla Ata is not so minor. More about her a little later.</span></p><br />Dr. Abdullah Abdullah is probably the closest competitor. He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and is fluent in English, Dari and Pashto and also speaks some Arabic and French.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjkpVdA8vzebsd_eYDrs0bxj7gIzjkVUJdZ8lAuBLLEfGK5KxNPFY1IA8dARA2SFs-X80ccl6a_6Ez08H2GYn1NQbf8IqlZduT-3u7LhQSaC7PjC-RQ6Enjres7AOVSuH9gHoScz2WXI0/s1600-h/Abdullah2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351273966105047682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjkpVdA8vzebsd_eYDrs0bxj7gIzjkVUJdZ8lAuBLLEfGK5KxNPFY1IA8dARA2SFs-X80ccl6a_6Ez08H2GYn1NQbf8IqlZduT-3u7LhQSaC7PjC-RQ6Enjres7AOVSuH9gHoScz2WXI0/s400/Abdullah2.jpg" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dr. Abdullah Abdullah<br>Note the little white box with three tea kettles.<br>In a country with such a high rate of illiteracy, you need a system.<br>Each candidate has an election symbol that you will see on their posters/billboards.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4gM61nh01EcEPH9cQKX5G0b_sNi8R5xiOszSlKd6JRUjsz00HYHih1xvdGWcoNYOeGN0J1aVm-5rGPHuwcgmDZdS1pcOHNG_gURagnr3WPkIxFN2vEVMunDVo5LCvVvh7XGB4yGb_Ea0/s1600-h/Abdullah3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351273969083634690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4gM61nh01EcEPH9cQKX5G0b_sNi8R5xiOszSlKd6JRUjsz00HYHih1xvdGWcoNYOeGN0J1aVm-5rGPHuwcgmDZdS1pcOHNG_gURagnr3WPkIxFN2vEVMunDVo5LCvVvh7XGB4yGb_Ea0/s400/Abdullah3.jpg" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dr Abdullah and his "running mates."<br>Afghanistan has two vice presidents, but not all candidates specifically declare running mates.</span></p> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNQC-1RZaSyOth0k4YF75V0mOi3gfzRvwa9_AwPC9Kfrum8eLqtugYzSBANuI6Co8oWvj38PPsxTumGrVdQRgu4VfC6UYXp5PfZiPlAC94ktL9MHTc_UK1f3s8VBqzvuRccCRkVxDMFnm/s1600-h/Abdullah1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351273958424818946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNQC-1RZaSyOth0k4YF75V0mOi3gfzRvwa9_AwPC9Kfrum8eLqtugYzSBANuI6Co8oWvj38PPsxTumGrVdQRgu4VfC6UYXp5PfZiPlAC94ktL9MHTc_UK1f3s8VBqzvuRccCRkVxDMFnm/s400/Abdullah1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbQuvVgT6ti7BzufUsGuzFShQWEheBCjGy-z4GYekanQnfFAMb6UbPCqCR_EVLJ6Yd3u3tYLDgKtr8lvruvN97xyBkXq0kK5Ddo8NaMKJsoeDWFhKEhpsaAB_eIjk6M1HEasEsCgqUkMd/s1600-h/AshrafGhani.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351273972367167170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbQuvVgT6ti7BzufUsGuzFShQWEheBCjGy-z4GYekanQnfFAMb6UbPCqCR_EVLJ6Yd3u3tYLDgKtr8lvruvN97xyBkXq0kK5Ddo8NaMKJsoeDWFhKEhpsaAB_eIjk6M1HEasEsCgqUkMd/s400/AshrafGhani.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">At the moment the number three contender is thought to be <br>Dr. Ashraf Ghani, the former Minister of Finance.<br>He quit Karzai's government a couple years ago to protest the rampant corruption.<br>He's also an American citizen.</span></p><br />Now we come to the "Dark Horse" who might surprise a lot of people. Shahla Ata is currently thought to be a distant fourth. She is a well-respected Member of Parliament and is running on a progressive platform that includes compulsory education and equal rights for women. She's popular among the more educated people in the cities, but has quite a few enemies in the countryside...namely those who think of women as property.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoe3ntVOmn4lB_h7MHzga6OJHFdt8Kd9LkCevvnOcpgijsDOM7MXKo1a6bKFS-7QojA6X_FVxg9oKSK10UYMPo-WA_7AVud84DIj7i53ETdQvrkPWZtbxT7JLIFUkRS2SY-QjdILliNBD/s1600-h/ShahlaAta.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351275444817234226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoe3ntVOmn4lB_h7MHzga6OJHFdt8Kd9LkCevvnOcpgijsDOM7MXKo1a6bKFS-7QojA6X_FVxg9oKSK10UYMPo-WA_7AVud84DIj7i53ETdQvrkPWZtbxT7JLIFUkRS2SY-QjdILliNBD/s400/ShahlaAta.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Shahla Ata and Mohammed Daoud Khan<br>Nope, he's not her running mate. They don't allow corpses to run.</span></p><br />He's the first President of Afghanistan, who overthrew his cousin the King in 1973 and who was assassinated by the communists during a coup along with most of his family back in 1978. What Shahla is doing is aligning her policies with Daoud's. Also, notice that her election symbol is a bald eagle clutching the Afghan flag...hmmm. Daoud was trying to align his country with the West, which is why the Soviets backed the coup against him. Daoud pushed for women's rights and education. He also ruthlessly supressed Islamic extremists.<br /><br />Some also rans...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MuTdPeGRBROLF1xqq37aNVMfdL_Ahndvj3FlOiBZmVTuUD07YGQlNR1gd8buvUM5XmlUYibnWcKPgrFERNsSP4K4616KvVjQK4kwXTMmNPrLJlVZ1JTaDFyCCY7CreJbOU43ih7ioXQe/s1600-h/SayedJalal.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351275155100165010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MuTdPeGRBROLF1xqq37aNVMfdL_Ahndvj3FlOiBZmVTuUD07YGQlNR1gd8buvUM5XmlUYibnWcKPgrFERNsSP4K4616KvVjQK4kwXTMmNPrLJlVZ1JTaDFyCCY7CreJbOU43ih7ioXQe/s400/SayedJalal.jpg" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sayed Jalal</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dX9lWFY-qpZFLsyu4zvUPapIMSDfFp8nO7p-xIrQrN9Yw6LT7UHrHoWt4rq2J8_ABa1fdUPabwCnWZomF5CT7MB-HvYAdTkCfujbn9rusWK-Rwok3xe5taAeDsuy_IMijp1F7x9xvMVT/s1600-h/MualanaAbdulQadarAmamiGhowri.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351275151229558850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dX9lWFY-qpZFLsyu4zvUPapIMSDfFp8nO7p-xIrQrN9Yw6LT7UHrHoWt4rq2J8_ABa1fdUPabwCnWZomF5CT7MB-HvYAdTkCfujbn9rusWK-Rwok3xe5taAeDsuy_IMijp1F7x9xvMVT/s400/MulanaAbdulQadarAmamiGhowri.jpg" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Mualana Abdul Qadr Amami Ghowri<br>"Mualana" tells you that he is a religious scholar.<br>His picture is also misleading.<br>He's quite a bit grayer these days.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDSGvcANC6jcok0n4dVS078yrBMwckkwLDMHlWrlqQETOiLkeb713hAzyrc03ZObX9opmcJg0XSFPbcb8FZRyeZZT-hjT53jUoj3y2vMCl0cBwGaBAm5uisHz15huiYVmx4KXEcVMG8Ap/s1600-h/MirwaisYasini.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351275144893338642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDSGvcANC6jcok0n4dVS078yrBMwckkwLDMHlWrlqQETOiLkeb713hAzyrc03ZObX9opmcJg0XSFPbcb8FZRyeZZT-hjT53jUoj3y2vMCl0cBwGaBAm5uisHz15huiYVmx4KXEcVMG8Ap/s400/MirwaisYasini.jpg" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Mirwais Yasini</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufe7D1rO_zYmow9Q8NKPhk42lyFzw5oTYl8xzBElE6lNVrIJYrrRsRsww8LchkgrqEvu7JUccdKxDTmiiqGugbsixJVRNmZt_CaGAYtOrJ7NT6n-QFQQONZJ1yEUA1_d4aUvk9CTuKD5J/s1600-h/MeytsimBashaManhebi.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351275141438095202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufe7D1rO_zYmow9Q8NKPhk42lyFzw5oTYl8xzBElE6lNVrIJYrrRsRsww8LchkgrqEvu7JUccdKxDTmiiqGugbsixJVRNmZt_CaGAYtOrJ7NT6n-QFQQONZJ1yEUA1_d4aUvk9CTuKD5J/s400/MeytsimBashaManhebi.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Meytsim Basha Manhebi<br>You used to be able to tell which bus stopped here.<br>Manhebi's enthusiastic campaign workers obscured that information with his picture.</span></p><br />Of course the bad guys are picking up the pace to disrupt the election and we are picking up the pace to make sure that they <i><b>cannot</b></i> disrupt the elections. So it may be a "hot" summer even if the temperatures stay below normal as they have for May and June.<br /><br />Last election people literally voted "under fire." It's likely that they will again and their percentage will likely still be higher than <i>our</i> last election. <br /><br />Americans stay away from the polls if it rains. <br /><br />Sorta puts things in perspective and it doesn't reflect well on us.<br><br>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-18528371603102378202009-05-29T01:48:00.005-05:002009-05-29T02:26:28.108-05:00Some Street Shots<br><br><br />Not much to say today. I'll mostly let the pictures talk. Weather has been cooler than "normal" and it looks like we will escape the month of May without breaking 90°F. Forecast heading into the first week of June is continued cooler than "normal" with temperatures in the low to mid-80's.<br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:140%;">Some Signs of Normalcy and Good in Town</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflnHw3CsH8tU0abUOeGSMIeg_ywu6MuArQL7xB0RYkQuSusqkqot0UbfUM4_lzTGTylvrSMMVhWVLXt2WEwl8hmXoHPlBY5bBA9ZfOcvEXt1uomlTzsEIlsa3ifN4FPXsb-NbrgjP9ddc/s1600-h/TraditionalDress.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341138495856272402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflnHw3CsH8tU0abUOeGSMIeg_ywu6MuArQL7xB0RYkQuSusqkqot0UbfUM4_lzTGTylvrSMMVhWVLXt2WEwl8hmXoHPlBY5bBA9ZfOcvEXt1uomlTzsEIlsa3ifN4FPXsb-NbrgjP9ddc/s400/TraditionalDress.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">A girl in a traditional Afghan dress.<br>She was almost too quick for me!</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglir5z2gg-ZH1YuyjeKCD5HpXDU5yr12Eef81XiRBv7uOetiC7k67f4IqnbDqq_DbiJEe3WBZQ2gZEgqKSiPbTdithY5XiHxjG0gNWe7noi3k6VJ66onBnkNR8APgAz4LH5hI79Z7w2KsW/s1600-h/SoccerTeamRun.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341137159475313138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglir5z2gg-ZH1YuyjeKCD5HpXDU5yr12Eef81XiRBv7uOetiC7k67f4IqnbDqq_DbiJEe3WBZQ2gZEgqKSiPbTdithY5XiHxjG0gNWe7noi3k6VJ66onBnkNR8APgAz4LH5hI79Z7w2KsW/s400/SoccerTeamRun.jpg" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">Soccer team out for 6AM run.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-D9r82FXLOH9wS9D0U_khyaxhd4IsJ8-WLuu7HW1F0BxGKyspm_vsu0tVYmwlrrg8MJnUNA10nKa7LZyX1TvENKgBjZp99pNL7-ggkuulEO8DOg9xnc-IAUXWGSzbiK7_qrQVOpncPW1/s1600-h/OpenforBusiness.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341137154178593042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-D9r82FXLOH9wS9D0U_khyaxhd4IsJ8-WLuu7HW1F0BxGKyspm_vsu0tVYmwlrrg8MJnUNA10nKa7LZyX1TvENKgBjZp99pNL7-ggkuulEO8DOg9xnc-IAUXWGSzbiK7_qrQVOpncPW1/s400/OpenforBusiness.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;"> The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well.<br>Get your tire's repaired or replaced anywhere along this pot-holed road.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWEUv8IgGKJu9x5HxYVWuB1VqaSHuhs_FmBmw-p9jP5HwlplUxPGsWyfURjBIiQh7T0m11wZFiuFpxz_xEKnEPoqGNb98-aAYGGqQBSpKMqIsgE8RD2Yq-83a-vjm55uE1C0OZXa2cHpb/s1600-h/BusyMarket.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341137155201200882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWEUv8IgGKJu9x5HxYVWuB1VqaSHuhs_FmBmw-p9jP5HwlplUxPGsWyfURjBIiQh7T0m11wZFiuFpxz_xEKnEPoqGNb98-aAYGGqQBSpKMqIsgE8RD2Yq-83a-vjm55uE1C0OZXa2cHpb/s400/BusyMarket.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">The bazaar is bustling.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmL752MHAjYt8SsGn76LgvqmG_n8xDDH9MljF3eMtPusnB6VkVuxle_IQLyQBr-feKkHodh6986OzaqCaI2GB3UyXw8fMuViu5-11FD7tZSEw2c_57C01Wj6ot8n6VvfA-1a517mPqHIB7/s1600-h/BrowsingBooks.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341137149250785554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmL752MHAjYt8SsGn76LgvqmG_n8xDDH9MljF3eMtPusnB6VkVuxle_IQLyQBr-feKkHodh6986OzaqCaI2GB3UyXw8fMuViu5-11FD7tZSEw2c_57C01Wj6ot8n6VvfA-1a517mPqHIB7/s400/BrowsingBooks.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">Browsing for books.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVMN4SgJuEjph1uEVkRy_axsDEhJsJLGvoUvfBAYtA9K8CjNdo5c6BUbvzRY9fbKhEp495Bwcp_gzKEF7R8uDGhyFUf_5AlcaC0Xo_qy3tfBCQ81oajaPDPCYKQzQFejguDU3_Ekbns8X/s1600-h/Bookseller.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341137147796175666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVMN4SgJuEjph1uEVkRy_axsDEhJsJLGvoUvfBAYtA9K8CjNdo5c6BUbvzRY9fbKhEp495Bwcp_gzKEF7R8uDGhyFUf_5AlcaC0Xo_qy3tfBCQ81oajaPDPCYKQzQFejguDU3_Ekbns8X/s400/Bookseller.jpg" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">A Bookseller.<br>This country has an incredible thirst for knowledge.</span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:140%;">Some Signs That There's Much Yet To Do</span></p><br />All the people in the following pictures line up along the same sidewalk almost every day just as the sun comes up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_EUYjXtTHbMkdmqGzW1h-rQ4ZFQhCkxXmMp7v0JG7lhuG0VGmskKI3-N3bIarRp9yUkGpgDAvaB6ZgkzhFIJq_E-U7wTNkl4SXwTowA2rFas_r9mrctQGKXRaw4ObWma-KNnzR27y0V2/s1600-h/WomanBegging.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341138087330571618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_EUYjXtTHbMkdmqGzW1h-rQ4ZFQhCkxXmMp7v0JG7lhuG0VGmskKI3-N3bIarRp9yUkGpgDAvaB6ZgkzhFIJq_E-U7wTNkl4SXwTowA2rFas_r9mrctQGKXRaw4ObWma-KNnzR27y0V2/s400/WomanBegging.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUGn5gbhIHRZ0y4qMvjEM-6dPoZcjDRDviEWn00RBXPaUixfrGVeU8XlAJyUoOb51HeRiwyDDQ7lvMS9peOa9M9RRT7319chD5P5YYAVgjOaqfmvhpeL8Vf4SZ0EBFRa5opHFOQbhf9xl/s1600-h/OldManBegging.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341138083355046530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUGn5gbhIHRZ0y4qMvjEM-6dPoZcjDRDviEWn00RBXPaUixfrGVeU8XlAJyUoOb51HeRiwyDDQ7lvMS9peOa9M9RRT7319chD5P5YYAVgjOaqfmvhpeL8Vf4SZ0EBFRa5opHFOQbhf9xl/s400/OldManBegging.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LsHkrdGfrr_wBhWlPNWZkaa1hKAAnSqAsg-Zk0oytGF5oklonyr7LRG8uBcdks18-IkWSz8x2tWJw3Cx06V9eN3La4vMGIT6J4QW7UM1zLxmHwxvBW9UcdtCKqAUbcUNx6yk8j1CSamv/s1600-h/ManBegging.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341138077212691730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LsHkrdGfrr_wBhWlPNWZkaa1hKAAnSqAsg-Zk0oytGF5oklonyr7LRG8uBcdks18-IkWSz8x2tWJw3Cx06V9eN3La4vMGIT6J4QW7UM1zLxmHwxvBW9UcdtCKqAUbcUNx6yk8j1CSamv/s400/ManBegging.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUD-5Knh56-wk9oRpPNVyvW6k21izXqQ_Z4kEB4GnFcUgIgNmgI2WgkHYPzIcb_EU8u70St3aC6g2grpEXadK1JLHrLfc8WvszxscE_As8qDBy5szJvbC6C2Td2I76pinz6gDvgp2Z59ba/s1600-h/LittleBoyBegging.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341138076335082338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUD-5Knh56-wk9oRpPNVyvW6k21izXqQ_Z4kEB4GnFcUgIgNmgI2WgkHYPzIcb_EU8u70St3aC6g2grpEXadK1JLHrLfc8WvszxscE_As8qDBy5szJvbC6C2Td2I76pinz6gDvgp2Z59ba/s400/LittleBoyBegging.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UciqfjzxHzmoECOye0g-f72fBf9Vw0PPvZyYsi59IUmvICH0SsbS-LaPBZBs1yW1ydqWjiFmkUJdBlLScK6vNUbSfoNAAyLpyu1TD9ZhNeel1eRjz0TqYgsLF-O4aIxsFpPbbuXrJkbz/s1600-h/InvalidBegging.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341138073852842674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UciqfjzxHzmoECOye0g-f72fBf9Vw0PPvZyYsi59IUmvICH0SsbS-LaPBZBs1yW1ydqWjiFmkUJdBlLScK6vNUbSfoNAAyLpyu1TD9ZhNeel1eRjz0TqYgsLF-O4aIxsFpPbbuXrJkbz/s400/InvalidBegging.jpg" /></a>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-26618369954292389582009-05-22T04:24:00.006-05:002009-05-29T01:33:11.184-05:00Memorial Day Weekend<br><br><br><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupOYi23eJpSdEHT3BkNsv_ZIfKkQbGXtktRufxxlC4oBYRMwq_djaTM2Wlhep_IgRVm4WNkD56X668A7iDa8cujANTlv5RnWNlvl7eP_FHI1aXDBiq4uaVNaiT7rzy4J7mCOySWxN1wnk/s1600-h/halfmast.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupOYi23eJpSdEHT3BkNsv_ZIfKkQbGXtktRufxxlC4oBYRMwq_djaTM2Wlhep_IgRVm4WNkD56X668A7iDa8cujANTlv5RnWNlvl7eP_FHI1aXDBiq4uaVNaiT7rzy4J7mCOySWxN1wnk/s400/halfmast.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338577576593539602" /></a><br /><br />On this Memorial Day weekend, I’m deviating slightly from my usual Afghanistan theme. <br /><br />This past week, my organization suffered its first combat casualties in Afghanistan after being here for over four years. Both were due to IEDs. In the first one, our guy suffered only minor injuries, but it was a reminder that we <i><b>are</b></i> in a war zone.<br /><br />On Wednesday that reminder was driven home more forcibly when we suffered our first fatality on the road between Kabul and Bagram. A US <strike>Army</strike> Air Force lieutenant also died in the blast and two Afghan Army officers in the vehicle were wounded. <br /><br />I’ve done a more extensive Memorial Day post on my other blog <a href="http://complextopics.blogspot.com/">Complex Topics</a>. <br /><br />The main point to remember is that Memorial Day is not about hotdogs and hamburgers and the opening day for pools, it is about remembering those who have given their lives for the United States of America. For my American readers, take a moment out of your busy weekend to remember those who have died and who are yet to die, so that you can enjoy your hamburger in peace.<br /><br><br><br>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-88880292608538569592009-05-07T09:38:00.011-05:002009-05-07T10:50:02.382-05:00Coming Up GreenI’m trying to get around to all my blogging buddies, but as usual the Internet connection is often tenuous. Of course we are also a little busy right now. We’ve recently completed changing out the entire Coalition crew where I work so we are all getting used to each other. We may have a German officer join our staff in the future, but that’s not settled. Right now our staff is composed of UK Army, French Army, US Army, US Air Force and retired Army Officer old fart contractors like me.<br /><br />We continue to have rain, though not as intense and prolonged as during March and April. We did have a couple “gully washers” last week, but now most of the rain lasts only a few minutes or hours, just enough to wet things down. As I type this, it is pouring outside.<br /><br />On the plus side, it’s very green right now and the temperatures have been below normal, hovering around 65°F during the daytime and dipping down into the upper 40’s at night (that's about 20°F below normal for this time of year). Normally the rains would have stopped in late March, not to resume again until October. Hey, we and the locals are not complaining at all! <br /><br />Mountains below 10,000 feet have lost their snow, but the higher elevations are still white-capped and getting more snow on days we get rain.<br /><br />Here’s some recent shots.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBlTtEvSW3csKNA7c1z4TiRd5_hsWe9d9jxhRjVWKyR_oO0GLtbYXfGVS2U56yNEqm14bJHGRKWtHuD_Q8soGrBKqJjCklqA64pCKf0_OsIcxVp38rBKa8q_UN0pfQXOZrmzhdGWua85o/s1600-h/ArborDay.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333100908479224098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBlTtEvSW3csKNA7c1z4TiRd5_hsWe9d9jxhRjVWKyR_oO0GLtbYXfGVS2U56yNEqm14bJHGRKWtHuD_Q8soGrBKqJjCklqA64pCKf0_OsIcxVp38rBKa8q_UN0pfQXOZrmzhdGWua85o/s400/ArborDay.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Operation Arbor Day<br />During a break in the rains in March, <br>our Afghan General, second from left, had his Headuarters Staff outside <br>planting trees and flowers.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRWYbcvqE4diIyyhGUen6SnEk6eud6OgQYrCDWy8JsFqRPsW5uqyE4HtG1qJqXszNJAnWrAWl5bkzrmTFKe3ufhZfw4Ql2R5p3y6brPU7CHMKHxbtfNXOfFu5G6L87miUZNmi_1g0q2V2/s1600-h/MonthLater.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333101342664298242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRWYbcvqE4diIyyhGUen6SnEk6eud6OgQYrCDWy8JsFqRPsW5uqyE4HtG1qJqXszNJAnWrAWl5bkzrmTFKe3ufhZfw4Ql2R5p3y6brPU7CHMKHxbtfNXOfFu5G6L87miUZNmi_1g0q2V2/s400/MonthLater.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">A month later at the end of April.<br>Starting to show some progress.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDz-wCShYiiDlO6BIzSaupLRWD_S4D1IR-IjXRfcOvKE4GqSFNVCfdGI7SCAUtfuR6MnBOHf6P1ahpFswPvAZdrpFgZ-tqUo-d7yOoyn5LXjTcxzTSyKk9NyuQZHvwMloj7SKFMXiJUUO/s1600-h/Trees.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333101644746771618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDz-wCShYiiDlO6BIzSaupLRWD_S4D1IR-IjXRfcOvKE4GqSFNVCfdGI7SCAUtfuR6MnBOHf6P1ahpFswPvAZdrpFgZ-tqUo-d7yOoyn5LXjTcxzTSyKk9NyuQZHvwMloj7SKFMXiJUUO/s400/Trees.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Kabul's tree-lined streets greening up.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlXHyhyphenhyphencQtgBk6o45PqwZM4B0lgwBuwby8RqXE9kkxy8QzAoRA3S_uxDKm3VuH_9XmvaIT4ngoiCC7VWTMw2mnHJNJIqE35rkemS2S4iPvKf9JFyL5Qt8JKsMDOpSQe55UdvyRGGfpK5N/s1600-h/RainSnow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333101638367997010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlXHyhyphenhyphencQtgBk6o45PqwZM4B0lgwBuwby8RqXE9kkxy8QzAoRA3S_uxDKm3VuH_9XmvaIT4ngoiCC7VWTMw2mnHJNJIqE35rkemS2S4iPvKf9JFyL5Qt8JKsMDOpSQe55UdvyRGGfpK5N/s400/RainSnow.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">We get the rain, the mountains get the snow.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPNC6SigbK8HmtisyRd9SQp5r97BqK-OmGdzI_emWJbrsQSsKW1UYnzqmaLv1Wi6DVTTIqTrymGHcWVI1gb6Ejb5JFYtEzeMVpj_eR9pcHILE_z0idyOcEdtT-nITWULWyF0lA1HTHYrL/s1600-h/QueensPalace.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333101358031360082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPNC6SigbK8HmtisyRd9SQp5r97BqK-OmGdzI_emWJbrsQSsKW1UYnzqmaLv1Wi6DVTTIqTrymGHcWVI1gb6Ejb5JFYtEzeMVpj_eR9pcHILE_z0idyOcEdtT-nITWULWyF0lA1HTHYrL/s400/QueensPalace.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Queen's Palace all greened up.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FNq5BBdV5GtDc3SwuSt_JJ4Eb2QNQPBZZjK7WvqGtjGStsGHZzPH9xWw403Q-dKhZ9M9k06BulFdaSYmFmO49gJyNgdEl9J0dbjmEuOlv6jQoL6Rcthee_DJ2HtGLBRDwW1-71gokcna/s1600-h/PurpleField.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333101352761239010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FNq5BBdV5GtDc3SwuSt_JJ4Eb2QNQPBZZjK7WvqGtjGStsGHZzPH9xWw403Q-dKhZ9M9k06BulFdaSYmFmO49gJyNgdEl9J0dbjmEuOlv6jQoL6Rcthee_DJ2HtGLBRDwW1-71gokcna/s400/PurpleField.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Streaks of purple-blue through green fields.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hggGowEEj6ZaITfbI1leYvyjL-kL56N9KWs_AZpWETBz86qD0uNq-HK8JnVzyoWhSsNrBXuFhtR8G_j28Arkl3GWJSj0mJAmip6sednw79Oa9HU7M6nrDey7c2kNwcJycWitWt9ECBrh/s1600-h/PurpleFlower.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333101357039655938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hggGowEEj6ZaITfbI1leYvyjL-kL56N9KWs_AZpWETBz86qD0uNq-HK8JnVzyoWhSsNrBXuFhtR8G_j28Arkl3GWJSj0mJAmip6sednw79Oa9HU7M6nrDey7c2kNwcJycWitWt9ECBrh/s400/PurpleFlower.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The flower up close.<br>Try to ignore the litter.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVif7djZ3ZOyXXUmBQD9vHtLCtvZGi9XiKbX-f05t8qOh9F9ov3jeIPJDJD8JFcVWicjrUUaU1xCWfdc4aa1AD2RaCCN3sopjQPDOsryTQ7EkzhaffypMmzL3m7t93pVObSUNTygIP7gXb/s1600-h/Poppies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333101347806211250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVif7djZ3ZOyXXUmBQD9vHtLCtvZGi9XiKbX-f05t8qOh9F9ov3jeIPJDJD8JFcVWicjrUUaU1xCWfdc4aa1AD2RaCCN3sopjQPDOsryTQ7EkzhaffypMmzL3m7t93pVObSUNTygIP7gXb/s400/Poppies.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Quick! Call the counter-narcotics guys!<br>Yes, those are poppies in the middle of that bouquet!</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeihyphenhyphen6ijKmJBn_H26ol2eNmohlXoC-eNwfJGM9PfaOb4uzvJ_pBFWep3h8n9VwY70Rgwor4NjvdamXGn4GpT83Lskg3GOQvE1FXYb0KOweXg8DwA51820VMpxo0zdxGJOLgo2xdDP0cX3R/s1600-h/KingsPalacePlums.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333100927472215266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeihyphenhyphen6ijKmJBn_H26ol2eNmohlXoC-eNwfJGM9PfaOb4uzvJ_pBFWep3h8n9VwY70Rgwor4NjvdamXGn4GpT83Lskg3GOQvE1FXYb0KOweXg8DwA51820VMpxo0zdxGJOLgo2xdDP0cX3R/s400/KingsPalacePlums.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Imagine if you will, Darulaman Palace in its glory years.<br>Russian plums in full bloom all around the base of the palace<br>and flowers lining the steps down into garden and surrounding the fountain below.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqovV7VJT5odh1_qPD4vSIV-ZNbTlOKVECWFWbEHTAG2WciAQNdwsZH33D28cPeP6QY1NWvPc56prA__z8IN5qMZwphsDd1CnmKusRCc1rwsNMEvaCEA6H6CbPBLt2_k3__kFKipwZoLdr/s1600-h/HereToo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333100925078695554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqovV7VJT5odh1_qPD4vSIV-ZNbTlOKVECWFWbEHTAG2WciAQNdwsZH33D28cPeP6QY1NWvPc56prA__z8IN5qMZwphsDd1CnmKusRCc1rwsNMEvaCEA6H6CbPBLt2_k3__kFKipwZoLdr/s400/HereToo.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Um...yes, here too.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDOqPBLmdiwOlpUBaB0F9q1v4ecTngneErVFyYJJWwKZnKWajI4IS8J6DCOeTeSrPX18CQYbD2qZb6tU31cjsDU4fvagxfDn-ohK33E5P3Q63RH2RtIFFm8nsa9fSAMp-GqvMikFMsVkt/s1600-h/GreenWeather.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333100922315770018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDOqPBLmdiwOlpUBaB0F9q1v4ecTngneErVFyYJJWwKZnKWajI4IS8J6DCOeTeSrPX18CQYbD2qZb6tU31cjsDU4fvagxfDn-ohK33E5P3Q63RH2RtIFFm8nsa9fSAMp-GqvMikFMsVkt/s400/GreenWeather.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">More green with more rain on the way.<br>Note the snow-capped mountains in the distance.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-w7QX7dSxlMl83TBF4woWYKVfLWyMaIOfNG79DMmQeIJ7aniJGwnI97I_l3Mzt9O3gaGL0aCgScMrki_ASxvauwzIAab3GxVTaMTG6-PDCrRy1E2HQEKTZQGkCjTTVCXQkrXLPOaxkt5/s1600-h/Bounty.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333100916353208866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-w7QX7dSxlMl83TBF4woWYKVfLWyMaIOfNG79DMmQeIJ7aniJGwnI97I_l3Mzt9O3gaGL0aCgScMrki_ASxvauwzIAab3GxVTaMTG6-PDCrRy1E2HQEKTZQGkCjTTVCXQkrXLPOaxkt5/s400/Bounty.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The produce vendors open early now.</span></p><br /><br /><br /></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-67704463679488532282009-04-17T01:38:00.007-05:002009-04-17T02:37:53.948-05:00Wet Month(s)The last couple of months have been pretty wet by Afghan standards. Keeping in mind that they've endured a ten-year drought here, some of the younger folks are truly amazed with the rain. We had some "global warming" fall in the city on 8 April, even the "old people" my age don't remember snow in April in Kabul. While we've had many inches of rain, the mountains around Kabul have had several feet of "global warming" to remind them that Nature will do as she pleases.<br /><br />One of the guys I work with has family in Bamiyan Province to the west of Kabul. They get lots of snow in the winter, but rarely after the middle of March. It snowed again two days ago on top of snow that has been falling almost every day since mid-March. Now the big concerns are avalanches and the floods that are sure to follow when the snow melts. And we are "downhill" from that melt.<br /><br />In Kabul, the big concern is that with all the flat, mudbrick roofs, the slow steady rain presents collapse danger. Many of the homes are wet inside due to the leaking roofs. In spite of the gloom brought on by day after day of rain, most people are pretty happy about it and between showers there is a flurry of gardening and planting. Trees and shrubs are hot-selling items right now as the residents take advantage of the moist soil to get things into the ground.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGwuD1kBU-MDK9VPcHnKhUAhfp2TptVpMv0_E8JGvFnXCEYRem-MvFzwLIo7JrZ6idGvs6iAj0Qwq9GUQXq7iWmVewf_9I42nI16AZKIBGR474SDIp_dBqFFrB15v4A8LjtkoJ8uK_1x1/s1600-h/WetStreets.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325547403995204418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGwuD1kBU-MDK9VPcHnKhUAhfp2TptVpMv0_E8JGvFnXCEYRem-MvFzwLIo7JrZ6idGvs6iAj0Qwq9GUQXq7iWmVewf_9I42nI16AZKIBGR474SDIp_dBqFFrB15v4A8LjtkoJ8uK_1x1/s400/WetStreets.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Flooded Streets<br>Pedestrians have it rough in this weather.<br>With few sidewalks, there's nowhere to walk.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvxzj3PsPt_NfUyTPQeohS_dJr83s1_QYTkethRAVm97POzHXbH9mnYR6im35hXV53VXd7jVBFYdX2Tjza1vyYmsV95nZWw2CsHEc-INxePB7-ka2CRlEIVYq2wQ0IZ-8wYSFJKQchbOh/s1600-h/Wellies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325547224932277586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvxzj3PsPt_NfUyTPQeohS_dJr83s1_QYTkethRAVm97POzHXbH9mnYR6im35hXV53VXd7jVBFYdX2Tjza1vyYmsV95nZWw2CsHEc-INxePB7-ka2CRlEIVYq2wQ0IZ-8wYSFJKQchbOh/s400/Wellies.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Bring Out Yer Wellies!<br>The two girls in the back seem quite pleased with their footgear.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJhFeB_HYJx2nU18oZccNM4p7raHKwJaTSWz8lABah99wnM1JJAWAaEUvdqhoK205zrZtQG85_EIB47rqOCIwhuIh6koGyGnsx0J4abmOycwJqJLOl0r6rYGMLh66wEppsAPlMydqZhA7/s1600-h/UmbrellaGirls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325547222638904098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJhFeB_HYJx2nU18oZccNM4p7raHKwJaTSWz8lABah99wnM1JJAWAaEUvdqhoK205zrZtQG85_EIB47rqOCIwhuIh6koGyGnsx0J4abmOycwJqJLOl0r6rYGMLh66wEppsAPlMydqZhA7/s400/UmbrellaGirls.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Umbrellas have been a hot-selling item of late.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYP7hPVPPILGkKI_QbLblAHEF8Ev0qYji7pZJFZLOwN_4XhYe5gpYSB0vFwhRQ4dx_fcysAW2NDUDQ68ReJxc6kfKLWWO2xRMW38pxyKWv-2A8tccP-YUYem_RpRJ_4rL_-t4XhDzDlVT/s1600-h/ThreeSchoolGirls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325547222420261698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYP7hPVPPILGkKI_QbLblAHEF8Ev0qYji7pZJFZLOwN_4XhYe5gpYSB0vFwhRQ4dx_fcysAW2NDUDQ68ReJxc6kfKLWWO2xRMW38pxyKWv-2A8tccP-YUYem_RpRJ_4rL_-t4XhDzDlVT/s400/ThreeSchoolGirls.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">A note about covered faces.<br>When girls cover their faces like this, it's more often to filter out the yucky air.<br>The schoolage girl population in Kabul explodes during school season.<br>Families in less secure areas send their daughters to Kabul to live with relatives so that they can go to school where it is safer. Additionally, many of the remote areas have no facility for education beyond 8th grade.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd1W2itKqnIZ3lM9b-rmf2q4bCC2HaQOQkz38RvYJEDR9Nyy6Nj2epx7OzBSz6FctS_gUrT_2ZgQdiN02OiE-vhGO6vBqLfQMG_cHPddh8G838hts0Zpv1OzELuCC76w9CbtUBWu70uXP/s1600-h/SnowyMtn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325547218868893330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd1W2itKqnIZ3lM9b-rmf2q4bCC2HaQOQkz38RvYJEDR9Nyy6Nj2epx7OzBSz6FctS_gUrT_2ZgQdiN02OiE-vhGO6vBqLfQMG_cHPddh8G838hts0Zpv1OzELuCC76w9CbtUBWu70uXP/s400/SnowyMtn.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Snowy Mountains.<br>This view is looking west from downtown.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ASjh8aqsIUTvYWc9ClvhawRcO6bmNX5-bv8dyqxZXwCf4MtCJEYdHF29T6qHCAFtU2t6q8jETBH1pXcC0jO0D_wk0EcrzbLymdnPHxL3xUDvltyoms-kIhcWUBsRzXuvAjYkkLl2ai9B/s1600-h/OldManBeggar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325547218591935058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ASjh8aqsIUTvYWc9ClvhawRcO6bmNX5-bv8dyqxZXwCf4MtCJEYdHF29T6qHCAFtU2t6q8jETBH1pXcC0jO0D_wk0EcrzbLymdnPHxL3xUDvltyoms-kIhcWUBsRzXuvAjYkkLl2ai9B/s400/OldManBeggar.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Old Man Begging<br>Between the showers, the beggars pick up the pace.<br>The Dari word for beggar is "faqir."</space></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-H5Kn3OHtAa6Selj2yYlKone_LD2RAYGdmSUuz9_cTsnEN_YAytK8ltnEP2UXyFlXxRiCPiOIGGpiVWTJ3kGQ57vCHWJOHY8H9V26SdmC5SPwBDX4GUeiuK2A6Cj9tyDCW4zvcdVJvetO/s1600-h/MomandSon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325546835358534322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-H5Kn3OHtAa6Selj2yYlKone_LD2RAYGdmSUuz9_cTsnEN_YAytK8ltnEP2UXyFlXxRiCPiOIGGpiVWTJ3kGQ57vCHWJOHY8H9V26SdmC5SPwBDX4GUeiuK2A6Cj9tyDCW4zvcdVJvetO/s400/MomandSon.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Pashtun Mom and Son<br>She has her burkha open as they look for sunglasses during a lull in the rains.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelCPomNWoG5_Ofga1-qF6yqpF-FMSGR0P57ORedyA6oxhAoWdlM70Mggs16jaxdPVFKcNyaURI8Xjw9aiFrWSLEuFilQ-cMfJzAZz06XxGuOPhup3k-K9gYhSEkYx116YiPmn0tQdgcY6/s1600-h/MistyMtn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325546835007661154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelCPomNWoG5_Ofga1-qF6yqpF-FMSGR0P57ORedyA6oxhAoWdlM70Mggs16jaxdPVFKcNyaURI8Xjw9aiFrWSLEuFilQ-cMfJzAZz06XxGuOPhup3k-K9gYhSEkYx116YiPmn0tQdgcY6/s400/MistyMtn.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Misty Mountains<br>As storm clouds break, the mountains are shrouded in mist.<br>One of the reasons I love the mountains are all these cloud effects.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpLQAq4G6BKtVjHSzr7TmmJH026Z5Yo6AyCB6Hh3Y5HTgszDE64b-p_73gc2d2AoNogsJz2ANWpbWJupkmTHR4Ppj4wR-_9RCdDxslZ9ipCKosxl_g_jfQKGvo4Ru6fMS3H4YPUyFUS0X/s1600-h/DadandGirl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325546832935781234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpLQAq4G6BKtVjHSzr7TmmJH026Z5Yo6AyCB6Hh3Y5HTgszDE64b-p_73gc2d2AoNogsJz2ANWpbWJupkmTHR4Ppj4wR-_9RCdDxslZ9ipCKosxl_g_jfQKGvo4Ru6fMS3H4YPUyFUS0X/s400/DadandGirl.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">More Rain<br>Dad walking daughter to school.<br>Afghans understand the importance of education for their daughters.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVVvNcEjJrq7HQInYZkyJd7mHqtZU5KJvrsFZ1LMP9VlOo_7K_GSA7ZePZCrWFfqux3_NL99vvAhUhibPP_DRR1cG4kiRAdtBKYrSG1BdnyBFGIzHzNKUD6785Lplhcgzz1FhWrq4hkvm/s1600-h/CalRep.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325546829636862178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 397px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVVvNcEjJrq7HQInYZkyJd7mHqtZU5KJvrsFZ1LMP9VlOo_7K_GSA7ZePZCrWFfqux3_NL99vvAhUhibPP_DRR1cG4kiRAdtBKYrSG1BdnyBFGIzHzNKUD6785Lplhcgzz1FhWrq4hkvm/s400/CalRep.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">That damn American influence again!<br>The local Marlboro stand.<br>Seriously though, our culture is the best weapon we have against "the forces of darkness."</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77zI6U5TUF7fgfjVEO-IFuSDpSkUwPqspDx1KynGhnjZyEViZJVHZ1Xt5o8PENpyyKkq5R9iSdMlMObV2LH_Sgppdx-y2Pk1kMOMGlM3t64FE7Biweg_kR8pznsAJaPIrZkZm2dPoQtE9/s1600-h/ApproachingStorm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325546824737121762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77zI6U5TUF7fgfjVEO-IFuSDpSkUwPqspDx1KynGhnjZyEViZJVHZ1Xt5o8PENpyyKkq5R9iSdMlMObV2LH_Sgppdx-y2Pk1kMOMGlM3t64FE7Biweg_kR8pznsAJaPIrZkZm2dPoQtE9/s400/ApproachingStorm.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Another Storm Approaches<br>Downtown by the river, this storm looks like waves crashing over the mountains north of town.</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-84326042612812745422009-04-03T01:37:00.005-05:002009-04-03T02:51:54.166-05:00Afghan Sense of Humor -- They Have it BAD!This past week saw April Fools Day. And believe it or not, a couple of my translators really got into it. While I was out of the office at a meeting, the two younger guys told the other two interpreters that I had received complaints about all the translators' performance. They were drinking too much chai (tea) and talking too much. In addition to that, their translations took to long. Since they were being so unproductive, we were letting a couple of them go and before lunch, the letters would be delivered.<br /><br />After I returned to the office from my meeting, the room was deathly quiet. This is really serious stuff afterall. Our interpreters make more money than an Afghan Major General, so losing this job would be a huge blow to their families. The two younger guys kept looking over their computer monitors grinning at me, knowing the other two were really sweating. They had already prepped the envelopes and placed them in my drawer. Yeah, they got me in on it.<br /><br />When I next left the office to go down the hall to talk to the Afghan Colonel I work with, I grimly handed the two older guys the envelope and walked out. The scene was reported to me when I came back. With downcast faces and trembling hands they opened the envelopes and read the letters.<br /><br /><p align="center">APRIL<br />FOOOOOOOLS!</p><br />When I got back to the office they were all still laughing. All in all the rest of day was not very productive because jokes were played at each other's expense until we went home.<br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:120%;">This week's Kabul Scenes</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtQiLHWKPzGkp7wGPZUeFX6QcloWEulKEjtQ3OSEFJJx5EkODL_xoXqGj6Ot5BdL677RnrASBH4nh8tYuPYMxxcbxMYPEKz-ud4QJuCb0VU1HokO9gEciU8XE1riv8TYCMvw2ELLRR7SX/s1600-h/EarlyMorningSoccer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320351000494733042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtQiLHWKPzGkp7wGPZUeFX6QcloWEulKEjtQ3OSEFJJx5EkODL_xoXqGj6Ot5BdL677RnrASBH4nh8tYuPYMxxcbxMYPEKz-ud4QJuCb0VU1HokO9gEciU8XE1riv8TYCMvw2ELLRR7SX/s400/EarlyMorningSoccer.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">Early Morning Soccer<br />As we drive past this field at 6AM each day, the game is in full swing.<br />Exception is rainy mornings.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTWlgfOCLQrlun4ZTrTjqtUp-7PUXCU8sMPtwUUPr8mMj6M5Cw6Z9i_zPwQ7DeREvhwZ3W-mErXOgm6SVpfxM7AQwWhybw3g9AOwerpN00ngxbajygr0RTpbEPwAnF629PG3vGg2B2JQZ/s1600-h/WalkingToSchool.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320352390606993538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTWlgfOCLQrlun4ZTrTjqtUp-7PUXCU8sMPtwUUPr8mMj6M5Cw6Z9i_zPwQ7DeREvhwZ3W-mErXOgm6SVpfxM7AQwWhybw3g9AOwerpN00ngxbajygr0RTpbEPwAnF629PG3vGg2B2JQZ/s400/WalkingToSchool.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">Sisters Walking to School<br />With the start of the New Year and more daylight, school is in full swing.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmK46HtBJJgoJjsVZUrpgx1vO_1-5IZPV9AXnNyFNqt_o8_REyFNNRQ-maar5atDwUS5yWNscjYGmuatyxVvouwI056HVKuJdmcECngcuOAAKoD58bbxmAxh_PScXvnM2V5zD37fdlGrO/s1600-h/GatheringTheFlock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320351004219302338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmK46HtBJJgoJjsVZUrpgx1vO_1-5IZPV9AXnNyFNqt_o8_REyFNNRQ-maar5atDwUS5yWNscjYGmuatyxVvouwI056HVKuJdmcECngcuOAAKoD58bbxmAxh_PScXvnM2V5zD37fdlGrO/s400/GatheringTheFlock.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">Gathering the Flock of Wee Penguins<br />If we abandon these people again, scenes like this will be history.<br />The Taliban don't think girls should be educated.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl_ZxkkEp20jzBCMX0u95dTGJ9Oho8GVJMv2OFX-zCPGQrCCJKIn-zEdFgfyMvVnagk1Pyx7xmSe6djhV72FtwFyWDPeq26EuutvCOkP1pscS_w64t1YI-NgPWOXhudwRoiD7Tjm3GsP3/s1600-h/TalentedLad.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320352183378770434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl_ZxkkEp20jzBCMX0u95dTGJ9Oho8GVJMv2OFX-zCPGQrCCJKIn-zEdFgfyMvVnagk1Pyx7xmSe6djhV72FtwFyWDPeq26EuutvCOkP1pscS_w64t1YI-NgPWOXhudwRoiD7Tjm3GsP3/s400/TalentedLad.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">Talented Lad<br>Sign painter on the way to a job.</span></p><br />Blogging buddy Momcat didn't think people were smiling enough on the first day of spring. Well, I'm here to prove that Afghans <i>do</i> smile...alot!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9NdDb83MDtao5XoyGmjGpvvQXblZPYUb7Vf-BJh2KGKsm9kGfFaYFcUjlpoNh5IbJzamqlt_lka3LDkDvlQ-jn9nCeUgpk1B0mWsUN9Rrcwi2zv0T1CBZeCLk33pK5wFWii4LBZLEM6J/s1600-h/PashtunFrown.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320352174762569282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9NdDb83MDtao5XoyGmjGpvvQXblZPYUb7Vf-BJh2KGKsm9kGfFaYFcUjlpoNh5IbJzamqlt_lka3LDkDvlQ-jn9nCeUgpk1B0mWsUN9Rrcwi2zv0T1CBZeCLk33pK5wFWii4LBZLEM6J/s400/PashtunFrown.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">Unemployed Taliban?<br>Well, ok so this guy isn't smiling,<br>but it's probably because of all the other people smiling.<br>Maybe he's an unemployed Taliban reminiscing about the good old days <br>when he could beat women in public.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBAAZeEITTa3-CYTtjbUmRlz6C53cfLh-YvRViL7X8fvd5bdmmEMDY4T33ikRIYgLk1Bbw_b73-FC7XZqJQJbeMKwLPmAofjOhew2GQumYhCius17koLI59mhHBDGzQkH1E-3URKVeJFa/s1600-h/ABitofGrimace.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320350990862814370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBAAZeEITTa3-CYTtjbUmRlz6C53cfLh-YvRViL7X8fvd5bdmmEMDY4T33ikRIYgLk1Bbw_b73-FC7XZqJQJbeMKwLPmAofjOhew2GQumYhCius17koLI59mhHBDGzQkH1E-3URKVeJFa/s400/ABitofGrimace.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">Are you looking at me?<br>Well, maybe a bit of a grimace.<br>No really, he's smiling. <br>When he saw the camera he pointed to himself to get his picture taken.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsik9t7GTfVUUYFdINInFVmygDoGOmERVzEsvSLRK3gpnzmmetSh6cdRT0Tj2lFF7QLW3wBAwiXLapNZCKakgBb6AhMXgy7Tcw27J4u-5FxSU0hUQwyJdIFc0YGK_FncP-GPELyYLnZOIG/s1600-h/SikhContemplative.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320352179373413458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsik9t7GTfVUUYFdINInFVmygDoGOmERVzEsvSLRK3gpnzmmetSh6cdRT0Tj2lFF7QLW3wBAwiXLapNZCKakgBb6AhMXgy7Tcw27J4u-5FxSU0hUQwyJdIFc0YGK_FncP-GPELyYLnZOIG/s400/SikhContemplative.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">There is a sizable Hindu/Sikh population in Kabul.<br>I'd say he's contemplative. He might be smiling, but <br>with that dead animal on his face it's hard to tell.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQp_vzneea9kVDP5aJy5dJmN59vL_eIZt0hQQa5jyT_eDhSS8eT-Ddgn5m_rdNNHSQuEtxsH-yeso-HJklcF2iqFfDJd2-7gjcHn8kiw1EYUF1jePceH2ka9LqELQIOiWhZd5SjHO07-sN/s1600-h/NewMom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320352176133736514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQp_vzneea9kVDP5aJy5dJmN59vL_eIZt0hQQa5jyT_eDhSS8eT-Ddgn5m_rdNNHSQuEtxsH-yeso-HJklcF2iqFfDJd2-7gjcHn8kiw1EYUF1jePceH2ka9LqELQIOiWhZd5SjHO07-sN/s400/NewMom.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">SMILES! <br>Pretty mommy with new wee one.<br>Note the cell phone in her hand.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi53A176e7Ghhj31uFftR47_E5KY8lWhjo0wLgQlqQD4wOBNxuQBHa6J5DXB1jZLzTP2gBhR_CcNN_4_A3XnQ2NMlbgo9cKfF7Qdrn3SYejIolvwqOUa3RVR8fcQUMths_9jH3EJftnI33/s1600-h/HazaraSmile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320351008042182210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi53A176e7Ghhj31uFftR47_E5KY8lWhjo0wLgQlqQD4wOBNxuQBHa6J5DXB1jZLzTP2gBhR_CcNN_4_A3XnQ2NMlbgo9cKfF7Qdrn3SYejIolvwqOUa3RVR8fcQUMths_9jH3EJftnI33/s400/HazaraSmile.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">Happy Hazara!<br>He's pulling a cart with about a ton of rugs,<br>but he smiled for the camera.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv01_atzVCK4HZBSuO0MhzbuXsZgCt309nukWyDzd_u6nUUsNKJPyuG7caJuLYcR6KoUrYYhSYTK-oesuZ5YzoBkKj-OvvXUav6z8gcn2nvmkAoQqnblp6EV459tQ7VkPj8GEVw9kvrB-k/s1600-h/CoconutSmile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320351000044562818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv01_atzVCK4HZBSuO0MhzbuXsZgCt309nukWyDzd_u6nUUsNKJPyuG7caJuLYcR6KoUrYYhSYTK-oesuZ5YzoBkKj-OvvXUav6z8gcn2nvmkAoQqnblp6EV459tQ7VkPj8GEVw9kvrB-k/s400/CoconutSmile.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">Something really funny in those coconuts!<br>I almost had to break out the shades for this smile!</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rYWgnL_TOPbjY3bB9wjXZkPzgxM50H05lo2vibtS8RdHmhF0gXTDaNoiA3pkwDL_cIQftKpJwwqAMcQfFML5vHhyphenhyphenjeMqFu1c-hKGAUdqybwKIOTloLS1vDNRtTrFTAREDlhYUTMrYvgQ/s1600-h/TwoSmiles.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320352390512117874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rYWgnL_TOPbjY3bB9wjXZkPzgxM50H05lo2vibtS8RdHmhF0gXTDaNoiA3pkwDL_cIQftKpJwwqAMcQfFML5vHhyphenhyphenjeMqFu1c-hKGAUdqybwKIOTloLS1vDNRtTrFTAREDlhYUTMrYvgQ/s400/TwoSmiles.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">Two smiles!<br>The woman on the right was a good six foot two!<br>Note the ever-present cell phone.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSPjUsUqMilqzXd1OPmWkIfCK8PwYcHcPTwrfV_amTQSRhOIQN1MQcCHv5bUmfMskqd2h7nsdJjawMT3QMqbNDhVPW8K1905NeD99uUY4wj6OZ8r1PLWeKCAlaNHH1Kv6U6rKNQz_PDUA/s1600-h/SmilingBurkha.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320352178296199506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSPjUsUqMilqzXd1OPmWkIfCK8PwYcHcPTwrfV_amTQSRhOIQN1MQcCHv5bUmfMskqd2h7nsdJjawMT3QMqbNDhVPW8K1905NeD99uUY4wj6OZ8r1PLWeKCAlaNHH1Kv6U6rKNQz_PDUA/s400/SmilingBurkha.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:80%;">Aw come on!<br>You mean you can't see her smile?</span></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-62905307976090175332009-03-27T07:52:00.005-05:002009-03-27T08:31:30.920-05:00DiversionsJust because there is a war on and the bad guys are about to take Kabul, is no reason to not have a good time. Although General Order Number One does not allow us to drink booze or get nekked with the opposite sex, we can on occassion enjoy the simple things in life...like breakfast on a mountain top.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYjqH8Isnru2wowNgRRFSCd1IKQ5MBFWZpoAyh10vbULnKNu0eNzdHl5wPymbukhejUQRxbGlH6_s-SoV9Vf3PJghOP1nhfe3CjrmJCcdTSpnqXbbX8D1V-91dyt9ulULCvaX_I7GudSu/s1600-h/Uphill.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850906857063426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYjqH8Isnru2wowNgRRFSCd1IKQ5MBFWZpoAyh10vbULnKNu0eNzdHl5wPymbukhejUQRxbGlH6_s-SoV9Vf3PJghOP1nhfe3CjrmJCcdTSpnqXbbX8D1V-91dyt9ulULCvaX_I7GudSu/s400/Uphill.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">It's a tough climb, but the scenery isn't too bad. <br>Umm, you'll see what I mean by that a little later.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_SnGxDwaWimah7KkbP6F4MXkFFoIVuOo-rhrb_mK1TYWEqXBoiUgePlzRDTPYCyJyIjKj5BRhm45S3nUoKqfm4ZQ5F7wESiDgsQlWMpBHSdvRL6SBYSTHNFDCzLC9-4VzuO0nHU72CKt/s1600-h/ViewfromTop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850919130109186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_SnGxDwaWimah7KkbP6F4MXkFFoIVuOo-rhrb_mK1TYWEqXBoiUgePlzRDTPYCyJyIjKj5BRhm45S3nUoKqfm4ZQ5F7wESiDgsQlWMpBHSdvRL6SBYSTHNFDCzLC9-4VzuO0nHU72CKt/s400/ViewfromTop.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The view is worth the climb. <br>The "fog" you see in the low areas is actually smoke from the fires used to heat homes.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdGg4DknWRJ5qdM6tNRXOrOuoPscdzajf9LKx6waWhy8fIeM7GuZdKvu8RMuy9V5eP0B5tZIorgRBUjnucIDumaiifMSbsneS75pZKBZWcetRbwKYNpKyUMSqTsW2LYgcBn-72qTsia7P/s1600-h/SunView.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850543158003106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdGg4DknWRJ5qdM6tNRXOrOuoPscdzajf9LKx6waWhy8fIeM7GuZdKvu8RMuy9V5eP0B5tZIorgRBUjnucIDumaiifMSbsneS75pZKBZWcetRbwKYNpKyUMSqTsW2LYgcBn-72qTsia7P/s400/SunView.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Though this was early December, the sun warmed everyone quickly.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6TmmSeNe_NO3CrXE02ChC6If1vMVmpWAqDN9N2HldeHTRp5Ag8S02R35Jbu52JWLt_qfXra9VzDR7fbQsiolcx2qfXbiAEyRKR-UiSUTnC7c8smAG5Rb99GXQSZ3gbwrEihyphenhyphenBprlGa5K/s1600-h/IrishBreakfast.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850537710439746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6TmmSeNe_NO3CrXE02ChC6If1vMVmpWAqDN9N2HldeHTRp5Ag8S02R35Jbu52JWLt_qfXra9VzDR7fbQsiolcx2qfXbiAEyRKR-UiSUTnC7c8smAG5Rb99GXQSZ3gbwrEihyphenhyphenBprlGa5K/s400/IrishBreakfast.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Breakfast served by an Irishman.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvImRxjbtO342wz41b2KBkiV_C6qT5W9DsLLGUf-YtsElxEo9yI-AdQ8mx8CGKT9VN5sZR5fGnDgFzjXIOpH4OTMnSsHXggSyaOOPSqWHRVzWTCkd_1zPdf13VdkbGWuaSWLFVyr9zUX7/s1600-h/Colonel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850104032585266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvImRxjbtO342wz41b2KBkiV_C6qT5W9DsLLGUf-YtsElxEo9yI-AdQ8mx8CGKT9VN5sZR5fGnDgFzjXIOpH4OTMnSsHXggSyaOOPSqWHRVzWTCkd_1zPdf13VdkbGWuaSWLFVyr9zUX7/s400/Colonel.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">A wee spot of hot tea and and some cakes. Our Colonel on the left.<br> He's recently ended his tour and has returned to England.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWfYBg6u3ep44-XrCAGtLjk_wkFRmTL0a3BUv1EfR5nDkuSz2aHvAVwMxB5Qwig27nfvNoDC-7ToquRoKNknZsiG2N4gz-8Nmi3RGqdXybFcH_u0lzBZwAisXXyowP2O69LzcnyXfgzq8/s1600-h/BritBrethren.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850097907522082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWfYBg6u3ep44-XrCAGtLjk_wkFRmTL0a3BUv1EfR5nDkuSz2aHvAVwMxB5Qwig27nfvNoDC-7ToquRoKNknZsiG2N4gz-8Nmi3RGqdXybFcH_u0lzBZwAisXXyowP2O69LzcnyXfgzq8/s400/BritBrethren.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Irishman, the Colonel and the Major on the left have all returned home.<br> The Regimental Sergeant Major in the Army sweatshirt is from Glasgow. <br>When he speaks one of our Air Force guys frequently asks for a translation.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNKot6NfkeE6d7noF_IvrTq-zHEf663_YB2G_ygIOHcrIdXaYLAy7nUlaPXUXOYt0hCTVdlJYsLDbxAn8aoXx6NvRNeoPf-zjeqOOp4qP62PIEM7-W4R3JJzj03sbwrf-_SgMw_-ZpRoU/s1600-h/BreakfastonEdge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850092250863218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNKot6NfkeE6d7noF_IvrTq-zHEf663_YB2G_ygIOHcrIdXaYLAy7nUlaPXUXOYt0hCTVdlJYsLDbxAn8aoXx6NvRNeoPf-zjeqOOp4qP62PIEM7-W4R3JJzj03sbwrf-_SgMw_-ZpRoU/s400/BreakfastonEdge.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Breakfast on the edge.<br>One wrong move for those at the edge and it's a thousand foot drop.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWr9TKOB9cVx79oJ2aBC-DABrlNWivjdzhWBvEjvAvKEJdHywDAWBvUVQNqR26wFnwi7fzjk1rs8B2CVVk5l8gBwtOTzl7cN6bHKSttYsvVfizfYOGRE_47q1QtuS9pbPTi4_Je4dxNEH/s1600-h/EmbassyBabe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850530495360482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWr9TKOB9cVx79oJ2aBC-DABrlNWivjdzhWBvEjvAvKEJdHywDAWBvUVQNqR26wFnwi7fzjk1rs8B2CVVk5l8gBwtOTzl7cN6bHKSttYsvVfizfYOGRE_47q1QtuS9pbPTi4_Je4dxNEH/s400/EmbassyBabe.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">UK Embassy Babe.<br>Remember when I talked about the good view going up?<br> It was the south end of this lady...a real motivator to keep climbing!</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrhgcZL2jW1CBlngBj-K5lFJ_P0bkUyvqsBOr8FdolYW_OSYG49vJjATZOxblEgfRbUQCP8zTN91QS0S_hFNyEZEN0uw1k87sKTFrI7tREsvxV1Y7yR-WJ4vuekEdvcE__tHc4DUS0gK5/s1600-h/TalibanHeartattack.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850541522632866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrhgcZL2jW1CBlngBj-K5lFJ_P0bkUyvqsBOr8FdolYW_OSYG49vJjATZOxblEgfRbUQCP8zTN91QS0S_hFNyEZEN0uw1k87sKTFrI7tREsvxV1Y7yR-WJ4vuekEdvcE__tHc4DUS0gK5/s400/TalibanHeartattack.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">After the climb, several dead Taliban were discovered.<br>We presume they died of heart attacks.<br> Some of the guys in our party almost perished too.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfbVRnyXfMrGMQ64OG8QQhhmrnWlXoK6c1u34RgBZcW0-yiSvwS4Ot3YqSzjRc7YYX_VmEMO5IzlWufjIkYZfx-33eHt6rTwYaLupg_re_nQuNJMLWUT16I3-kSirVSWEgxP6v0Yffj32/s1600-h/ComingBackDown.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850108471507618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfbVRnyXfMrGMQ64OG8QQhhmrnWlXoK6c1u34RgBZcW0-yiSvwS4Ot3YqSzjRc7YYX_VmEMO5IzlWufjIkYZfx-33eHt6rTwYaLupg_re_nQuNJMLWUT16I3-kSirVSWEgxP6v0Yffj32/s400/ComingBackDown.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">I always find the way back down to be harder than going up.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRJM8zlb9KTTv9cUiz4pnRf96NbdanYRXRzpp9hzdhDTAll5tH4a7Tky4aDkwQrbSxVQAcYtNGNce9f7wqbot_1SeCFD02nJGSE_kHIymoj9idLD-nLVpmLyPffCNvdlTteDWluRW_PvL/s1600-h/DestroyedTank.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850112473413922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRJM8zlb9KTTv9cUiz4pnRf96NbdanYRXRzpp9hzdhDTAll5tH4a7Tky4aDkwQrbSxVQAcYtNGNce9f7wqbot_1SeCFD02nJGSE_kHIymoj9idLD-nLVpmLyPffCNvdlTteDWluRW_PvL/s400/DestroyedTank.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Destroyed tank from the Afghan Civil War.<br> That was the period betweent the Soviet departure <br>and the arrival of the Taliban.<br>From inside the turret if you look through the barrel, you will see that it is sighted on the King's Palace.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUxg4N_yZ5DLfdYyWemayDrFMU8OT11H5RQr1I4Cmd3zsJp85P-gkUvK1_-vYHu2nYRo_BpJPU_iclgjLokEGpd8Izgfzewg_H4A9tOJnZ-rhZ4SrFzV5ne9bQMS6kRDqAtSY2A4SpYp7/s1600-h/LadyTank.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317850538226471570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUxg4N_yZ5DLfdYyWemayDrFMU8OT11H5RQr1I4Cmd3zsJp85P-gkUvK1_-vYHu2nYRo_BpJPU_iclgjLokEGpd8Izgfzewg_H4A9tOJnZ-rhZ4SrFzV5ne9bQMS6kRDqAtSY2A4SpYp7/s400/LadyTank.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The ladies took possession.</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-56854873869199684322009-03-20T01:43:00.006-05:002009-03-20T06:33:47.455-05:00Happy New Year!Let me explain. Tomorrow is the start of Solar Year 1388, the New Year for Afghans and Iranians. The Persian calendar uses a Solar year that starts on the Equinox. Many other Muslim countries use the Hijri calendar calculated on lunar cycles beginning with the Hijra, Mohammed's emmigration to Medina (16 July 622 CE on the Gregorian calendar).<br /><br />Since a lunar-based year is 11 to 12 days shorter than a solar-based year, the Islamic New Year moves in relation to the Gregorian calendar. The Islamic New Year began on 29 December 2008. So we are in 1430 AH if following the Islamic calendar.<br /><br />This all causes some difficulties in this part of the world. However, more and more many of these countries are using the Gregorian calendar for business and government, while reserving the Islamic calendar for religious observance. In Afghanistan, they use the Solar Year for offical purposes. It can get confusing at times.<br /><br />Hey, but it's cool to say you've lived in the 14th, 15th, 20th, and 21st centuries.<br /><br />Sorta nice having the New Year coincide with spring though. Today is a beautiful sunny day, temperatures in the 60's. So for today, here's a bunch of Kabul in springtime people on the street pictures.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinyNJhBKMTPcCd_EUXmzhKaeZK4NZAu26pP__zlYykeQ9lz8RjfciLjpsKH828NLQR0AK1kdKnL3BJgi53Y1Yhy8QdVreP2iQpmAXH_YlCThHtYIlDH-CkzxSz2zu76nFWyS4OuIxUCeN/s1600-h/YoungOld.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315158293275987666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinyNJhBKMTPcCd_EUXmzhKaeZK4NZAu26pP__zlYykeQ9lz8RjfciLjpsKH828NLQR0AK1kdKnL3BJgi53Y1Yhy8QdVreP2iQpmAXH_YlCThHtYIlDH-CkzxSz2zu76nFWyS4OuIxUCeN/s400/YoungOld.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Old woman and younger woman out shopping.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVuYujoKoHOL9UnDihwSLQBl3MEDR-ilmcQQUjScgcVMQwqE2LdacYgg1XAXj4GTeJkXiGtV2J1uxF0ryj1gw8lGt8CSFLS2LoKIBcUuJaomhpOyxM5LUzQD1EhmNSQeVYF91nVMY9hXF/s1600-h/WomanHeadBag.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315158150116582786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVuYujoKoHOL9UnDihwSLQBl3MEDR-ilmcQQUjScgcVMQwqE2LdacYgg1XAXj4GTeJkXiGtV2J1uxF0ryj1gw8lGt8CSFLS2LoKIBcUuJaomhpOyxM5LUzQD1EhmNSQeVYF91nVMY9hXF/s400/WomanHeadBag.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Don't try this at home! This woman is a professional.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVZ6Hg9L6iNKYQWwoeHMhkYdoxAA0mKFimX_zt9s8mC4LjtdVpkU5khe-3mzbgBySdr4TMjkR62-CUOXlOLp5LJkD84qMqonugU2PaI-yP-JE2X0jf139N4KXxUxo4FBNuyTUcmKx-sQP/s1600-h/TravellingOnionSalesman.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315158145109076642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVZ6Hg9L6iNKYQWwoeHMhkYdoxAA0mKFimX_zt9s8mC4LjtdVpkU5khe-3mzbgBySdr4TMjkR62-CUOXlOLp5LJkD84qMqonugU2PaI-yP-JE2X0jf139N4KXxUxo4FBNuyTUcmKx-sQP/s400/TravellingOnionSalesman.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Travelling onion salesman. No, not the horse. <br>The guy at the back of the cart.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOWSY-fM-f1UgeH-w4fwqCEMSXVT8nuuI7qGwA9K1p_KxjxA7fbd84eRPG7R_8YVv_HwW-nPRbvEHhpOyd2gJpBL2P_QPuQIKLoQNr1ObVdAnby-8gaEit4groeOBStrgVhrPDaTiaCcM/s1600-h/ShoppingforNuts.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315158137030790866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOWSY-fM-f1UgeH-w4fwqCEMSXVT8nuuI7qGwA9K1p_KxjxA7fbd84eRPG7R_8YVv_HwW-nPRbvEHhpOyd2gJpBL2P_QPuQIKLoQNr1ObVdAnby-8gaEit4groeOBStrgVhrPDaTiaCcM/s400/ShoppingforNuts.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Nut shopping. The streets are full of them. I mean the kind you eat!</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLkXeR_R-sKlx1YzHWbhr1PIKsV6UzMXGryk64y6GPdWpbSuw5ApVdLf14_V7Tdb2sqAtwPG9SNPjWVKkYhr9Yh8EMU4fwIRgcAjWvA2MnyEAKliats3skH2Kke1pFt8P3sQ1aCRGIlJh/s1600-h/SeriousShoppers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315157820610996738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLkXeR_R-sKlx1YzHWbhr1PIKsV6UzMXGryk64y6GPdWpbSuw5ApVdLf14_V7Tdb2sqAtwPG9SNPjWVKkYhr9Yh8EMU4fwIRgcAjWvA2MnyEAKliats3skH2Kke1pFt8P3sQ1aCRGIlJh/s400/SeriousShoppers.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Grimly forward we go to do battle with the merchants.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXdmSGFgYoAODpGmpsOpfqTPY_UdKV7XLqL4R6lRAT3ZfcDbRBx5p11_WV-QZ1i0BLXEAWXtbRUwr8k4QVe8C-1sb1J6luHHaxFfMfaxlDCrI3gcNPyUCLWjvEJDAmgQgG62pyXaB6cdC/s1600-h/OntheCurb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315157815525732098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXdmSGFgYoAODpGmpsOpfqTPY_UdKV7XLqL4R6lRAT3ZfcDbRBx5p11_WV-QZ1i0BLXEAWXtbRUwr8k4QVe8C-1sb1J6luHHaxFfMfaxlDCrI3gcNPyUCLWjvEJDAmgQgG62pyXaB6cdC/s400/OntheCurb.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Hanging out on the curb.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8LKtaES6CADSigURAKuXwI9dTg_Nk01SJhPSvX_WW5qr0mpSLGdq-8fC1opiQZe7mL0kmuzQtcB2ecXqgbYKL9o3WPFn0HjnDupudPedDtc6cVAIhJ_2L5Pg_Drsb31S7UhF4-WdTUOs/s1600-h/MomandGirl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315157816690504050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8LKtaES6CADSigURAKuXwI9dTg_Nk01SJhPSvX_WW5qr0mpSLGdq-8fC1opiQZe7mL0kmuzQtcB2ecXqgbYKL9o3WPFn0HjnDupudPedDtc6cVAIhJ_2L5Pg_Drsb31S7UhF4-WdTUOs/s400/MomandGirl.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Mom and girl.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LnaK_PcyBleZZlSxRnNX_wQutLndvtlLcLaaIA-HAUcf7ZQOD_KhkDgyis81_Qm70JYADGO9brRlQgU5NK2IMpOZWUoTtqq3duE73FJV5NmwN9eTYH9rGqseciq_1MbVKfzw-CnsWawS/s1600-h/JustaGuy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315157810276388306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LnaK_PcyBleZZlSxRnNX_wQutLndvtlLcLaaIA-HAUcf7ZQOD_KhkDgyis81_Qm70JYADGO9brRlQgU5NK2IMpOZWUoTtqq3duE73FJV5NmwN9eTYH9rGqseciq_1MbVKfzw-CnsWawS/s400/JustaGuy.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Just a guy.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wp-KfkeFCF-lEb41IOw66UUd9PJe9Bc_fGrWyxgIQROTSoevO0HikDUmxqwfylH44yVwKKGEk5NGDYbBtX4Tx4IoCq06vMkDVhxepNehHb6HFZk_dgquVGJn4HXPkr1kjCcz6t3PO28K/s1600-h/GretelandWitch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315157808033026306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wp-KfkeFCF-lEb41IOw66UUd9PJe9Bc_fGrWyxgIQROTSoevO0HikDUmxqwfylH44yVwKKGEk5NGDYbBtX4Tx4IoCq06vMkDVhxepNehHb6HFZk_dgquVGJn4HXPkr1kjCcz6t3PO28K/s400/GretelandWitch.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Gretel and the witch. <br>"Would you like to come to my cottage little girl?</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK5sCu_jkyoRYwI_8NXDcIRnMqmo77xSPCFaw2jhrmgN_6xsKZ3sYYIwR-L6xvO89lu5BI0EBgEcgf_equ56K7xSxgww6UoNwi37BCvVkLiQisM3NTNA2qNmsyzN8HGdj4r46RAiR1Bu9/s1600-h/GrannyinWhite.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315157579147725074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK5sCu_jkyoRYwI_8NXDcIRnMqmo77xSPCFaw2jhrmgN_6xsKZ3sYYIwR-L6xvO89lu5BI0EBgEcgf_equ56K7xSxgww6UoNwi37BCvVkLiQisM3NTNA2qNmsyzN8HGdj4r46RAiR1Bu9/s400/GrannyinWhite.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Granny in white.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwldyFshJV8amH1wrw6jhmGy_KRPmi5TntBavQYwHUGvpknXXAvGxBQecZLFZlf6Cj5SciHuN7CdSGJlGudAD9kX699wLC_z31xJmQ-Fdy8jUxaqn7i50kHll4qN5hSrizZ-wt4uwWnt3p/s1600-h/EarItch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315157574950727986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwldyFshJV8amH1wrw6jhmGy_KRPmi5TntBavQYwHUGvpknXXAvGxBQecZLFZlf6Cj5SciHuN7CdSGJlGudAD9kX699wLC_z31xJmQ-Fdy8jUxaqn7i50kHll4qN5hSrizZ-wt4uwWnt3p/s400/EarItch.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Now what did I come to market for?</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1q4ph0x9VUs6eqWeD9tDZGCQWAUMbcU_h8wj5MRcjbiuKcmteNPo6xlj2Y-s9JCMeG1M39Blsrsq2WRHv2aWGFShX8Mw_n2juPwAljgah_pZsZUNBtpShyphenhyphendne1bo2llTFRg_hNsUKOr3/s1600-h/CollegeGirls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315157573955949778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1q4ph0x9VUs6eqWeD9tDZGCQWAUMbcU_h8wj5MRcjbiuKcmteNPo6xlj2Y-s9JCMeG1M39Blsrsq2WRHv2aWGFShX8Mw_n2juPwAljgah_pZsZUNBtpShyphenhyphendne1bo2llTFRg_hNsUKOr3/s400/CollegeGirls.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">College girls walking home.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBY106p4SbUhMxmriKCHyCVrMnbDCpk3InBZVnL1NUDOVxnbGRHG_88MwnYRznJhHseMwUNUnI6KDCIdtGwJcTHXfjGUWHBGstszplcwWkutxcmeIxRiJDMP_Jax6Ae229bv-SP_dL7qBR/s1600-h/BalancingAct.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315157571472741202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBY106p4SbUhMxmriKCHyCVrMnbDCpk3InBZVnL1NUDOVxnbGRHG_88MwnYRznJhHseMwUNUnI6KDCIdtGwJcTHXfjGUWHBGstszplcwWkutxcmeIxRiJDMP_Jax6Ae229bv-SP_dL7qBR/s400/BalancingAct.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Balancing Act.<br>Dad's positioning the kids on a bike. <br>It's hard to tell from this smaller image, but both kids have green eyes.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObEAzIkuFgJuw7TB8r8xN1xUPn-adobU7bdBp5qtTI7T75hV5jP_tBDJPrVBUdA4Gv5EuQ5rXEfG3_GI_JBWRWIJFF6LhhNnw24mf2gr_mifawMmmkXSCeRum9nDtYWN3QUtcci-5yVG5/s1600-h/AtthePark.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315157568043832082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObEAzIkuFgJuw7TB8r8xN1xUPn-adobU7bdBp5qtTI7T75hV5jP_tBDJPrVBUdA4Gv5EuQ5rXEfG3_GI_JBWRWIJFF6LhhNnw24mf2gr_mifawMmmkXSCeRum9nDtYWN3QUtcci-5yVG5/s400/AtthePark.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dad/grandpa walking the kids home from the park.</span></p><br /><p align="center">These next two pictures fall under the category of "giving lie to." <br> Or, stupid things bigotted Gringos say.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQvnSizrXaMae6zrKFke8-oeoqwrBk2HQ4b8CDImvFdmwFFgub3bEdgNP5MV-XrRoaODsUCTPuIknuxFyZm__qcq4guksjnAmqIiX_SR2f0eTNXASKY6IOa0AvRFLTLjOZflLD5lYL_nt/s1600-h/TravellingDollSalesman.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315158142175496498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQvnSizrXaMae6zrKFke8-oeoqwrBk2HQ4b8CDImvFdmwFFgub3bEdgNP5MV-XrRoaODsUCTPuIknuxFyZm__qcq4guksjnAmqIiX_SR2f0eTNXASKY6IOa0AvRFLTLjOZflLD5lYL_nt/s400/TravellingDollSalesman.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">One guy I know said that Afghans are emotionally stunted because they don't get to play with dolls. As a result they have no imagination. <br>Hmm, seems like this travelling doll salesman chose the wrong job then.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aGEju0maF1jxvOKIcux08p67ypm4Za4a5T_Q292_pVNYYYAU68gUYhjFmAMfopDZu1zA0rfnUitW9MNu92eiVL6WdRL9_1FBLHu3qJ3al_EnrjgmaQPuJgrirR4gvKjmxL7BWf5oOGyU/s1600-h/WomenandGirl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315158157778305378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 346px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aGEju0maF1jxvOKIcux08p67ypm4Za4a5T_Q292_pVNYYYAU68gUYhjFmAMfopDZu1zA0rfnUitW9MNu92eiVL6WdRL9_1FBLHu3qJ3al_EnrjgmaQPuJgrirR4gvKjmxL7BWf5oOGyU/s400/WomenandGirl.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">I rode through town the other day with a Gringo who was most assuredly whupped up side the head with an ugly stick as a baby. I heard him remark, "There's nothing but ugly women here. This town has no pretty girls." Of course he's only been driving through town for a few days...he's new. Pissed me off because our driver, who pretends he doesn't speak English, was sitting next to him. I took this picture within seconds of his stupid comment. Pardon me, but anyone who thinks the young woman on the right is ugly, needs his head examined.</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-5145150166666615522009-03-13T02:21:00.005-05:002009-03-13T03:24:41.931-05:00Security Alert!As the weather warms, we are reminded that the bad guys will be coming out of their caves to cause trouble. The threats are very specific...or so we are told.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TZ3NlsgOWD08HC92Sfd83j-eKrssscuUDvb8lnpedjUNl4lHwOJf1XbHaaKNm_Di_4cWX3wy_zID8Q9726cf7Q3ZzPVlKaQxxIAj_Oxa8pmckxVRtPwhh8OVkOJ04RoJ-33XtpmbzwYJ/s1600-h/Infilrator.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312569568117068642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TZ3NlsgOWD08HC92Sfd83j-eKrssscuUDvb8lnpedjUNl4lHwOJf1XbHaaKNm_Di_4cWX3wy_zID8Q9726cf7Q3ZzPVlKaQxxIAj_Oxa8pmckxVRtPwhh8OVkOJ04RoJ-33XtpmbzwYJ/s400/Infilrator.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">After a recent late winter snow storm, this infiltrator was apprehended by alert Afghan security forces.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pw5u5ydESjb3RxrXW6KUAo7Mu1Q6wEbmpF900OcVh4jL8ghzYWuu-NqzSOCx6_34cmSXnKyTFrjoroIbGzOoidE3WBaMvS03e7fLomDdl2J_DBHhTsRczUHPFGkReofwJLn6EQW8fC7U/s1600-h/ToyotaCorolla.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312572079841825970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pw5u5ydESjb3RxrXW6KUAo7Mu1Q6wEbmpF900OcVh4jL8ghzYWuu-NqzSOCx6_34cmSXnKyTFrjoroIbGzOoidE3WBaMvS03e7fLomDdl2J_DBHhTsRczUHPFGkReofwJLn6EQW8fC7U/s400/ToyotaCorolla.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">Intelligence indicates that there are several suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (SVBIEDs)in town. Intelligence further reports that the most likely vehicle is a Toyota Corolla...like this one.<br>Um...that narrows it down to about 50,000 vehicles in Kabul.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW2u_e7mzRmwXWO-VsT8gacVaTOWKMCJ2ksm3h_uPfzkZyatihdd1C3NoxbOB5QChDj0wWzXNdwfFfdVYXyds3_JurdVH7Agajd-WcmGm28ZyuEyU0lf01MmV74Vp36ioIfK2XO4lKzde/s1600-h/WhiteCorolla2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312572300930550066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW2u_e7mzRmwXWO-VsT8gacVaTOWKMCJ2ksm3h_uPfzkZyatihdd1C3NoxbOB5QChDj0wWzXNdwfFfdVYXyds3_JurdVH7Agajd-WcmGm28ZyuEyU0lf01MmV74Vp36ioIfK2XO4lKzde/s400/WhiteCorolla2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqG54mgE__lxZtTuEJWgP-if8KMAQDMnYuaC-x3XR7z802wjUleNEKNbQGk7MERZXcJXzHq1KGwuaSVw2gqsouSc7hnCdaYdxJWNFHC4QHbI_HWfGakMJzKdX_isNXW_FBLTGr9i7HX50/s1600-h/WhiteCorolla.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312572302576379634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqG54mgE__lxZtTuEJWgP-if8KMAQDMnYuaC-x3XR7z802wjUleNEKNbQGk7MERZXcJXzHq1KGwuaSVw2gqsouSc7hnCdaYdxJWNFHC4QHbI_HWfGakMJzKdX_isNXW_FBLTGr9i7HX50/s400/WhiteCorolla.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">Sucurity Update 2!<br>Sources have confirmed SVBIEDs will likely be white Toyota Corollas with Kabul plates.<br>Better...only about 12,000 of those in Kabul.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMS2efG8W4LF_Ym-gr3_e7cWUFD7tt0p7H5hEeEma5YryKVwFo81K6CfkAeWlWmuhDfJlrJK3Wgixgjj9JkDlb3EuGAgRPSKNIsMR9IBZ1mtkb-seZsRAG5-pWkpXvE_tSDd2P4Qhi8WeG/s1600-h/TaxiKabulPlates.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312572079357758946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMS2efG8W4LF_Ym-gr3_e7cWUFD7tt0p7H5hEeEma5YryKVwFo81K6CfkAeWlWmuhDfJlrJK3Wgixgjj9JkDlb3EuGAgRPSKNIsMR9IBZ1mtkb-seZsRAG5-pWkpXvE_tSDd2P4Qhi8WeG/s400/TaxiKabulPlates.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">Security Update 3!<br>New intelligence indicates the attackers are planning on using a yellow taxi with Kabul plates. Wonderful...only about 20,000 of those in town.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkZshFTjKlZT_7tj8JdJvN6jvTqmrxMtVq7DAx34WQx8zwlqQu29Cyi1MS2KA2NmxMDrCw-PW29I1GEk3pdY6sE_ZgUO6keFxw2QBIpaN3C2MXDJhZP6y_mD0ZdJLTxfIo1WnH39EPepM/s1600-h/TaxiFront.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312572073747359378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkZshFTjKlZT_7tj8JdJvN6jvTqmrxMtVq7DAx34WQx8zwlqQu29Cyi1MS2KA2NmxMDrCw-PW29I1GEk3pdY6sE_ZgUO6keFxw2QBIpaN3C2MXDJhZP6y_mD0ZdJLTxfIo1WnH39EPepM/s400/TaxiFront.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">Note: earlier reports are also still in effect. That means the white Toyota Corolla on the left and the one parked on the right, visible between the van and taxi are still "in play."<br>The red Toyota Corolla visible on the left is another possibility.<br>And if you look through the window of the SUV in front of the center taxi you see...ANOTHER TAXI!<br>But you should be ok if you avoid crowded narrow streets...</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfH3vrmnsgQzmg3PLtBXwPdyeyVFXfSemSfL-hGKgU4kC3iwLjWeBCT4-Ab8mhYyZJTgrrI3X-q08H5gXHXo0ZNqsYH3gZhFD09207wZnDhmxB1oZ1CmT9ptDX76B6obiitzvhg1wnFmh8/s1600-h/TaxiJamb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312572077254726226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfH3vrmnsgQzmg3PLtBXwPdyeyVFXfSemSfL-hGKgU4kC3iwLjWeBCT4-Ab8mhYyZJTgrrI3X-q08H5gXHXo0ZNqsYH3gZhFD09207wZnDhmxB1oZ1CmT9ptDX76B6obiitzvhg1wnFmh8/s400/TaxiJamb.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">...and traffic circles...</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0m2n_LsSdROVbaJEV-P4z_FoMr0e3Dq7J-C2T1JniHlrnBLZ3SYYjgaEgF6XCWqm037GfptjxpD18VQy3GUTRdHk0S_NDr3QgAG15U0X8mzNl-jVVV_u4aqCTRGaaLZMyGWGus9FSwJpM/s1600-h/MoreTaxis.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312569580509931058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0m2n_LsSdROVbaJEV-P4z_FoMr0e3Dq7J-C2T1JniHlrnBLZ3SYYjgaEgF6XCWqm037GfptjxpD18VQy3GUTRdHk0S_NDr3QgAG15U0X8mzNl-jVVV_u4aqCTRGaaLZMyGWGus9FSwJpM/s400/MoreTaxis.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">...road intersections...</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlB1yE61QGRvd8Ko1bKoPKHdpa9X_k5J7ShYB-qA4NgfRNPxS1sB3wjNik-tTefRGIlguN17ZbBPTIgvRZyrqPSMg2d8h6bRC1OfXhfzMoiCMbEFFUPhOAQ0cTl2A_YUF99KjLkJMBucJ/s1600-h/TaxiBombs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312572075208711730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlB1yE61QGRvd8Ko1bKoPKHdpa9X_k5J7ShYB-qA4NgfRNPxS1sB3wjNik-tTefRGIlguN17ZbBPTIgvRZyrqPSMg2d8h6bRC1OfXhfzMoiCMbEFFUPhOAQ0cTl2A_YUF99KjLkJMBucJ/s400/TaxiBombs.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">...and places taxis (and white Toyota Corollas) congregate...like alongside the road.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_4KYQqdhyVjqiP_SY9alU46ukC5UA3T7rtYiv8kNOzP8peLNwXj6chVAqF4w1eR4eeI-8N_r59kFjN5WOFCSSq5Tqn2ijCAeG8uIOyU81iYJjZ50PcvVNAYbXePYhl2FAMPuYh3rFUSi/s1600-h/FrenchMilitary.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312569571068752114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_4KYQqdhyVjqiP_SY9alU46ukC5UA3T7rtYiv8kNOzP8peLNwXj6chVAqF4w1eR4eeI-8N_r59kFjN5WOFCSSq5Tqn2ijCAeG8uIOyU81iYJjZ50PcvVNAYbXePYhl2FAMPuYh3rFUSi/s400/FrenchMilitary.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">Since the main targets are thought to be security forces, it is best to avoid Coalition military vehicles...especially on narrow roads...</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9QtQ8Q7JX5flTMrTJ8i85p6AQZ7lcM_RCHV_2SPAyhtgRU4jbuCZkO8ogwfJFi-cy-ubfqrH-5vp8YNxPDvZu067osQn-TbOk05oY0pfpp7jg8DWLJUUg1P-L6I7wcD77tcQYVfAUoIb/s1600-h/ANP.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312569571626912530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9QtQ8Q7JX5flTMrTJ8i85p6AQZ7lcM_RCHV_2SPAyhtgRU4jbuCZkO8ogwfJFi-cy-ubfqrH-5vp8YNxPDvZu067osQn-TbOk05oY0pfpp7jg8DWLJUUg1P-L6I7wcD77tcQYVfAUoIb/s400/ANP.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">...and Afghan Security Forces vehicles.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqM1HENMRMH_FSnEZpB7uEQzRQ7Ey5oQtl1sx3t91tzUfXcYug1KbHddlHgto63BCYoNOMiUENbEeEegKBTmjxz1pkJ2uWeLRkLQ54mSec5oC-jkV7S6dfm-ep0ujx2uXpPMk4EcYpj5D/s1600-h/JauntyCart.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312569580258193522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqM1HENMRMH_FSnEZpB7uEQzRQ7Ey5oQtl1sx3t91tzUfXcYug1KbHddlHgto63BCYoNOMiUENbEeEegKBTmjxz1pkJ2uWeLRkLQ54mSec5oC-jkV7S6dfm-ep0ujx2uXpPMk4EcYpj5D/s400/JauntyCart.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">Security Update 4!<br>Flower-covered jaunty carts do not appear to be a threat at this time.<br>I'm so relieved...there's maybe a dozen in town.</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-24683753847289023252009-03-06T07:18:00.008-05:002009-03-06T09:40:11.519-05:00Dinner in the PalaceThis past week I had dinner in the Queen's palace...the Afghan Queen's Palace. Of course there is no longer a Queen and her palace has seen better days, but even looking at the ruins one can visualize those better days. The Palace is also the scene of some dark times. Before the Soviet invasion it was the residence of President Hafizullah Amin. He and his family of about thirty were murdered here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97zkCh-NIMilpMyOwDdMHL21g3lJCNHI7jOfbE6HWXixGfjhulpBewrGFaB2V5jhKG3ZqPEGJeByPEUrbLC2Nl58eHij_si7JglA0VKesBdfyDSehpUWl1vKy4eGEGujQiciY3eaWd44V/s1600-h/Queen'sPalace1987.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060989062384962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97zkCh-NIMilpMyOwDdMHL21g3lJCNHI7jOfbE6HWXixGfjhulpBewrGFaB2V5jhKG3ZqPEGJeByPEUrbLC2Nl58eHij_si7JglA0VKesBdfyDSehpUWl1vKy4eGEGujQiciY3eaWd44V/s400/Queen'sPalace1987.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Queen's Palace in 1987 when it was the Headquarters of the Soviet 40th Army.</span></p><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060991876727602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sloSOoaoA4uwz-7foxC1J_kxUqesTqvEhgSec9YLNOrzebfK5DDVkDG2YHHULB3H4QoeySWlAfaiRoCfw_N2O3XIkHF913sG_z4VBj2foO2Nwx-zZZIIC6KysFmt2pkeeju9WvYs05rB/s400/QueensPalaceToday.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Queen's Palace today.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNujwvwpFnVRueBITapK3yE4MR9-D5w20YyLn0Z4ICdNR5_LNrSOULEaqtLwHnkM-Tu_YcJUQN9iL1OO9Bk8fgihUWjFShyKt05eEHIT-8cabd_tP-1VWFB1Gvko8AqiPbx_nai30PU7__/s1600-h/GardensGone.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060553447481554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNujwvwpFnVRueBITapK3yE4MR9-D5w20YyLn0Z4ICdNR5_LNrSOULEaqtLwHnkM-Tu_YcJUQN9iL1OO9Bk8fgihUWjFShyKt05eEHIT-8cabd_tP-1VWFB1Gvko8AqiPbx_nai30PU7__/s400/GardensGone.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The gardens and all but two of the trees are gone now.</span></p><br />The Queen's Palace is more structurally sound than the King's Palace. Both palaces were heavily damaged during the Civil War that broke out after the Soviets left. There's sort of a roof. A little bit of plywood to seal up the big windows against a cold early March night, some candles...ok, a lot of candles...a charcoal fire and it was downright cozy.<br /><br />We were there to bid our British Colonel farewell as he ends his tour and moves on to other duties. We had great Indian fare, three different curry dishes, rice, naan, and all the trimmings...except no Kingfisher or Taj Mahal beer...or any other booze. Bummer.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHyp7HZrj79m6zoZTqXZ5-UTnHPHaE6F-6KhkOXwmnyMUuKyBv7BBjd60NQQD_oA12HOUl8dvDjc298vyH7bqCvM2ikHpBh_B_J_9TokPoCqYj9gZbKPN_WAJ_O_vQAwY1QPJuXeTIFTd/s1600-h/GrandStair2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060560342850626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHyp7HZrj79m6zoZTqXZ5-UTnHPHaE6F-6KhkOXwmnyMUuKyBv7BBjd60NQQD_oA12HOUl8dvDjc298vyH7bqCvM2ikHpBh_B_J_9TokPoCqYj9gZbKPN_WAJ_O_vQAwY1QPJuXeTIFTd/s400/GrandStair2.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Grand Stair.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hwMTDj5jbKikY9m6KvCiy8dreKjkPDN7PR8cxKd6G_fGa-WqqyTgbXrt3ijIcnvR_qOnEU3J8P46xYxu8Fd_JpwxdwTGIe3mRa2qd9tHSjHuu8YAQQxHWX9j6fUgCbVj4RooQb2i1ocu/s1600-h/GrandStair.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060562726556626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hwMTDj5jbKikY9m6KvCiy8dreKjkPDN7PR8cxKd6G_fGa-WqqyTgbXrt3ijIcnvR_qOnEU3J8P46xYxu8Fd_JpwxdwTGIe3mRa2qd9tHSjHuu8YAQQxHWX9j6fUgCbVj4RooQb2i1ocu/s400/GrandStair.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Another view of the Grand Stair.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRk7LM1sQaaVsr2xw7ZcIDV8_OPlM2EC1rFGxtjlVSyQ3M2Jovglk8qbMRdfDBjyGGClspQhoJqnMuPPifWSzNlMWS7ePCactoGTi-4mApO7ihK7JZdsYLsEzSrh2UY7s9FGfaMUZNmue/s1600-h/GhostlyHallway.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060557869992530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRk7LM1sQaaVsr2xw7ZcIDV8_OPlM2EC1rFGxtjlVSyQ3M2Jovglk8qbMRdfDBjyGGClspQhoJqnMuPPifWSzNlMWS7ePCactoGTi-4mApO7ihK7JZdsYLsEzSrh2UY7s9FGfaMUZNmue/s400/GhostlyHallway.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">For those who did not come with flashlights, the way in was lit with chemlights.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cET9rOT4X986DlWRgs0iZjVJfssD11iiwd_r4ff4WilIvsAu1SGtUA44lt702s94_ammq0w4jgtpsizDHpGPj07KvaPvuyviXd5MJi5Nzh7A6e6lMSTQNUc61yPG2S9oOanQ4vKJs521/s1600-h/FlowersBeercan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060020828794338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cET9rOT4X986DlWRgs0iZjVJfssD11iiwd_r4ff4WilIvsAu1SGtUA44lt702s94_ammq0w4jgtpsizDHpGPj07KvaPvuyviXd5MJi5Nzh7A6e6lMSTQNUc61yPG2S9oOanQ4vKJs521/s400/FlowersBeercan.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Brits know how create a nice atmosphere even in a war zone. Flowers, fizzy grape juice and...yeah, I know I said there wasn't any booze. That is a beer can...sort of. It's Beck's non-alcoholic beer. What's the point?</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgw2KU_Y1IARu-48rGOAYPrsengatAgdI_B0pX9SuutI9mT5i3h8MbZYJOc1AD_I3AXUblyZy7tfnkV3df67D8tGesV9uEEMBd_WyDgjkm2Gt0KaGkUYtQ3yKj9MRCWq4Ibx2vQYWTLP8/s1600-h/Flags.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060013741281090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgw2KU_Y1IARu-48rGOAYPrsengatAgdI_B0pX9SuutI9mT5i3h8MbZYJOc1AD_I3AXUblyZy7tfnkV3df67D8tGesV9uEEMBd_WyDgjkm2Gt0KaGkUYtQ3yKj9MRCWq4Ibx2vQYWTLP8/s400/Flags.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Our staff is composed of British, US and French.<br>For those who remember the "Freedom Fries" and all that nonsense that went along with our disagreement with the French at the start of the war, I can tell you that even though our governments are often at loggerheads, our soldiers get along quite well. There's something about shared danger.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquDTV2MgjXasO7AZpWgelZGgfnBG6RNQY8KJGdsWcABE6gxZqH3jAMWdmWbAozGFpMTMGr2tderiKC4MhOpYAI_rUZvsSO43-nFyfsdRzcWRS4JeNvFyfPLsIbm0uGE32Qo36TLQ1ORLV/s1600-h/TheFrenchman.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060995208888530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquDTV2MgjXasO7AZpWgelZGgfnBG6RNQY8KJGdsWcABE6gxZqH3jAMWdmWbAozGFpMTMGr2tderiKC4MhOpYAI_rUZvsSO43-nFyfsdRzcWRS4JeNvFyfPLsIbm0uGE32Qo36TLQ1ORLV/s400/TheFrenchman.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">A real live Frenchman!<br>Our other French officer (the one with an English first name and a Spanish surname) missed the event. Something about making sure the wine at the French Embassy was properly secured. Maybe this one was wishing he was at the French Embassy too.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpz4r-ExURshI5Ag2p1GP9_wrnUZ3-Z02fJyH4p2ZSYsqiXpvAPEnBNYerQ8QK1qaFsD1IlZ2kveF3i-SxO3RnaosLlbChvp9O-CoNG9Ke6xYnFnAGZcr_BkNWksJsdF5RbSkYZbbLKYSj/s1600-h/HotDrinks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060983928381042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpz4r-ExURshI5Ag2p1GP9_wrnUZ3-Z02fJyH4p2ZSYsqiXpvAPEnBNYerQ8QK1qaFsD1IlZ2kveF3i-SxO3RnaosLlbChvp9O-CoNG9Ke6xYnFnAGZcr_BkNWksJsdF5RbSkYZbbLKYSj/s400/HotDrinks.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">I did say it was cozy, right? Well, about 40°F cozy.<br>So there was hot tea and coffee to take off the chill.</span></p> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhvzadtZisRqeSKetCf5Q0YHtiAi_l8Gg4034_nA6hl8fOaWozCGxjwwjGqL72cA_p-iB5tu4d_Yao0Lz67mnvU2vDz36UbMHBpnhO1egfjyQ1mC6mydANVXatVZyYu-HPzv3I_U4CsEL/s1600-h/Buddies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060009620868418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhvzadtZisRqeSKetCf5Q0YHtiAi_l8Gg4034_nA6hl8fOaWozCGxjwwjGqL72cA_p-iB5tu4d_Yao0Lz67mnvU2vDz36UbMHBpnhO1egfjyQ1mC6mydANVXatVZyYu-HPzv3I_U4CsEL/s400/Buddies.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">It was just a nice little gathering of the guys.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1-bRnlvzY47OTlGACXhW7OW2P2s9Tq6JzHTL-AV26mOmi_QIPL8jpce3Jmklp1vheWURqi3K4c-o6TkJbvdGelVTgTbc0Zojc6jX0YNI5KHZpjhKoh2WpZYyXblThQl6kAVND0yx8sBD/s1600-h/Babes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060004097604642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1-bRnlvzY47OTlGACXhW7OW2P2s9Tq6JzHTL-AV26mOmi_QIPL8jpce3Jmklp1vheWURqi3K4c-o6TkJbvdGelVTgTbc0Zojc6jX0YNI5KHZpjhKoh2WpZYyXblThQl6kAVND0yx8sBD/s400/Babes.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Ok, well...there were <i>some</i> <strike>babes</strike> ladies present. Hey they were in uniform! The embassay ladies were too in uniform! Note that the Brit Brigadier came equiped with a pair of <strike>shoulder warmers</strike> embassy staff. They did keep their coats on. After all, it was a bit chilly.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugUGyP3INOX3xFA-VrGe8hDLt_IMcpP1Bdtwp6I8j6QL_PEWeTgXN6zWBBaCZsGl9XwUQEED_RTNq16bQAXz0js5uzhrVX3huPJ3iGGF74DELhdkP8D3wm6CBtIRl4YZM_kdMNuuBnw9M/s1600-h/Feathers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060010242519026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugUGyP3INOX3xFA-VrGe8hDLt_IMcpP1Bdtwp6I8j6QL_PEWeTgXN6zWBBaCZsGl9XwUQEED_RTNq16bQAXz0js5uzhrVX3huPJ3iGGF74DELhdkP8D3wm6CBtIRl4YZM_kdMNuuBnw9M/s400/Feathers.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">What is it about the Brits and feathers in their hats?<br>I frequently wear a pakhul, a flat wool hat many Afghans wear. The Brit Colonel, the guy on the right, commented that no matter how you wear a pakhul, you can still look foolish. To which one of our Air Force guys replied, "but if you stick a feather in it, you look British.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKytppqYtOmnfwjgyyGnI2ZO-8rm48btLEv1MZbbpZFa1lgBPjwqBnaP-gxwS-Lv3BiBxou0zChmO_gGNVKl_3-Jo-SP4eyaK_lttEJ98NUlO1hSTP1IMe3gZH1EYyHjD_48glmGAFLs2/s1600-h/GroupShot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310060568002321794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKytppqYtOmnfwjgyyGnI2ZO-8rm48btLEv1MZbbpZFa1lgBPjwqBnaP-gxwS-Lv3BiBxou0zChmO_gGNVKl_3-Jo-SP4eyaK_lttEJ98NUlO1hSTP1IMe3gZH1EYyHjD_48glmGAFLs2/s400/GroupShot.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The group picture. <br>Ok, so the ladies <i>did</i> take off their coats, but only for a wee bit. I mean after all, they went to a lot of effort to select just the right <strike>revealing</strike>, correct tasteful attire to help <strike>torture</strike> cheer up the guys. As we finished up the picture session, there was a loud explosion. To which one guy said, "Oops, time to go!" Another said, "Oh great! Fireworks!" The bad guys had attacked an Afghan National Police checkpoint down the road. No casualties, but a solid reminder that we <i>are</i> in a war zone.<br /><p></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-17348233742768627732009-02-22T05:17:00.006-05:002009-02-23T10:56:37.910-05:00Afghan OrphanageI've been trying to get this posted for days, but the Internet connection has been pretty flaky the past four days...like non-existant. These pictures are actually from October, but they are a good reminder of why we really need to be here.<br /><br />The kids in these picture are orphans, but they are in many ways lucky. They wound up in an orphanage financed by South Korea. Orphanages financed by secular, Western-leaning powers provide the best care. I'll limit the commentary with the pictures this time. For the most part the pictures say enough.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxPN2v3g8rAdCPuTxRfru0OgdWg15A_9PU-9RST9j3bl3usTBSMtWq1V_OFKaxaiLZHIk5QM0Os_yAKjzAMxijFBOpVPZbtWhTApa8_W2970f1OpYCZpD2ZSpFAxQXVzXD6phE6DIX2VX/s1600-h/Serious.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305565109205732162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxPN2v3g8rAdCPuTxRfru0OgdWg15A_9PU-9RST9j3bl3usTBSMtWq1V_OFKaxaiLZHIk5QM0Os_yAKjzAMxijFBOpVPZbtWhTApa8_W2970f1OpYCZpD2ZSpFAxQXVzXD6phE6DIX2VX/s400/Serious.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Not too sure about these guys with guns.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79VhLpKJb7qdXRJbFxMUT8nmeGd3uVg5cfNmizVTHlrQMhoRvVUAL_8IhLUNU1agRUeCd1A5FMxXVUJhxVxfaWkGWUWKBFgXD2IISUYurBqHhkypixDuDnYxEX3f3LDNG2rc2xWossiJA/s1600-h/Serious2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305564851573910194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79VhLpKJb7qdXRJbFxMUT8nmeGd3uVg5cfNmizVTHlrQMhoRvVUAL_8IhLUNU1agRUeCd1A5FMxXVUJhxVxfaWkGWUWKBFgXD2IISUYurBqHhkypixDuDnYxEX3f3LDNG2rc2xWossiJA/s400/Serious2.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Maybe if we ignore them, they'll go away.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgrp8-UHXi0fSHV8W9hdyLEO3q73c6x2PCU0NLa29OAHKc-sUSorS2iIfS6oCOhSnYcGovtzpFyQKGNdm2UeCpKxsrmScnokktwiICf8g4O_OEZPWK0jlYVOHvV_a622bGGTnfaV0iUUC/s1600-h/AllSmilesNow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305564508836379282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgrp8-UHXi0fSHV8W9hdyLEO3q73c6x2PCU0NLa29OAHKc-sUSorS2iIfS6oCOhSnYcGovtzpFyQKGNdm2UeCpKxsrmScnokktwiICf8g4O_OEZPWK0jlYVOHvV_a622bGGTnfaV0iUUC/s400/AllSmilesNow.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The ice finally broken.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdCSWRN-ApL9xD1ESjWcxOaB1dswIKRtzEr7tmo2GbMUJBRcnobeh7OP8EEcU01A9OEmPmKQsHkBKmizrUEzI4i64zwaInIPJTc2GQacIxD05yV4NfIAYMlK8bn72oM0fid2uWXEJ8dhk/s1600-h/HappyWave.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305564842793623762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdCSWRN-ApL9xD1ESjWcxOaB1dswIKRtzEr7tmo2GbMUJBRcnobeh7OP8EEcU01A9OEmPmKQsHkBKmizrUEzI4i64zwaInIPJTc2GQacIxD05yV4NfIAYMlK8bn72oM0fid2uWXEJ8dhk/s400/HappyWave.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Now that he's kneeling down, he's not quite as scary.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5h49vU2HnvjyirSjfemn_Yuj8rH3YEJYP_ZJS4QqMQIdKLCBHnFpry692zEULoVs8ucmqQvKPWcVaCzdczrhlgSpF9RDX_JfS6Zi6Zt2VIyRwz_FHXjoPtp4Q24baJ67Io9slqwMzfD2p/s1600-h/FromtheUSA.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305564841936513570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5h49vU2HnvjyirSjfemn_Yuj8rH3YEJYP_ZJS4QqMQIdKLCBHnFpry692zEULoVs8ucmqQvKPWcVaCzdczrhlgSpF9RDX_JfS6Zi6Zt2VIyRwz_FHXjoPtp4Q24baJ67Io9slqwMzfD2p/s400/FromtheUSA.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Supplies from the USA and UK.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD5FWpbTbW5ElSktWGR_c3JrO89ciJyb2lujB9y1NRWLsRPBRhWIv3U335xCeICJAFqbFFtG1p48fJHQrR09ijyEHc9vIpsKJjfq_IM9SMDspiS0mCqEagrtWXYDJ7NYhBMfsLtRbbe7i/s1600-h/SewingRoom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305565107932592514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD5FWpbTbW5ElSktWGR_c3JrO89ciJyb2lujB9y1NRWLsRPBRhWIv3U335xCeICJAFqbFFtG1p48fJHQrR09ijyEHc9vIpsKJjfq_IM9SMDspiS0mCqEagrtWXYDJ7NYhBMfsLtRbbe7i/s400/SewingRoom.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The sewing room to learn a marketable trade.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOoYPlm9Mc4O1mcsfnY13etDbbYSnjdeAH6Ip39RQAN-rD-7DK-Cb7QmHQl7WrEub0l2s3tPdv6LVLHnMMAPdh2-GddPtT6eA4ujqbR7m7FqzwiADOsYyZXrrh7-VLMANb0y8l5yVxAXR/s1600-h/MickeyMouseWelcome.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305564848212745410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOoYPlm9Mc4O1mcsfnY13etDbbYSnjdeAH6Ip39RQAN-rD-7DK-Cb7QmHQl7WrEub0l2s3tPdv6LVLHnMMAPdh2-GddPtT6eA4ujqbR7m7FqzwiADOsYyZXrrh7-VLMANb0y8l5yVxAXR/s400/MickeyMouseWelcome.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">This rodent seems to be everywhere.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZxXr7nsWOp4Xny90DL7Zm-I1vHozW-2Vt_8OlC_mjduSZL2PAbCaioYIsyu80HNGmDWDLma_mVNJnIDB5duLmA2_fgPh1kik3QYIJDptTpSUhJAqsau4oupa6I2GPF9PmJHY39FJarGM/s1600-h/MickeyMouseMotif.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305564849179051826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZxXr7nsWOp4Xny90DL7Zm-I1vHozW-2Vt_8OlC_mjduSZL2PAbCaioYIsyu80HNGmDWDLma_mVNJnIDB5duLmA2_fgPh1kik3QYIJDptTpSUhJAqsau4oupa6I2GPF9PmJHY39FJarGM/s400/MickeyMouseMotif.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The rodent motif taking shape on the classroom walls.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo1mc50sW69vYIwks0HHTIyYifBZQwEAvCjdQCABUhPX6FR8HbStl30TW6O6OU2VrZrm4exx18NizHL7OOqmDMEo9FJFig-w10Vqx7j3_91hf39pZ_krFMYkg28xPYwZbLXLL4uW6RCMA/s1600-h/ClassroomWave.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305564517623764418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo1mc50sW69vYIwks0HHTIyYifBZQwEAvCjdQCABUhPX6FR8HbStl30TW6O6OU2VrZrm4exx18NizHL7OOqmDMEo9FJFig-w10Vqx7j3_91hf39pZ_krFMYkg28xPYwZbLXLL4uW6RCMA/s400/ClassroomWave.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDwrnCyAK1CtAFa1nmbFXxgRoivgsm2IIF5NH4WHxuF2yzJy18iB_u6Wc6wXqmZIQ_JVcSexwkptHThBynxRKs5P1bvw4fnWPp8TqtLLLHfWXNfaDG8Hfxx4k1SQo_9758szsOw1dMbqw/s1600-h/Classroom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305564517052836786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDwrnCyAK1CtAFa1nmbFXxgRoivgsm2IIF5NH4WHxuF2yzJy18iB_u6Wc6wXqmZIQ_JVcSexwkptHThBynxRKs5P1bvw4fnWPp8TqtLLLHfWXNfaDG8Hfxx4k1SQo_9758szsOw1dMbqw/s400/Classroom.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeLyiMC0SXJctv3oYCiGTPT6-hzxUa88ozOAXLUe5XSyXImB4MwRTUQGNBRCwjvhVpgUIhb_2QFTLVZ-IB29mN4sQZENnwivVXxh3xYEpjLOE83K3wG5GtdBkXf3lpzbTkfaCvx7J7v-u/s1600-h/BrightClassroom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305564512096034610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeLyiMC0SXJctv3oYCiGTPT6-hzxUa88ozOAXLUe5XSyXImB4MwRTUQGNBRCwjvhVpgUIhb_2QFTLVZ-IB29mN4sQZENnwivVXxh3xYEpjLOE83K3wG5GtdBkXf3lpzbTkfaCvx7J7v-u/s400/BrightClassroom.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">For those who may remember the classrooms in the post I did about a visit to Afghan schools, these are a stark contrast. These are well-lit, clean, not crowded and every child has a desk. Also note that boys and girls are mixed rather than segregated. Daycare is still a problem, so the young teacher has her clingy three-year old with her in the classroom.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88ltJAFZ-Vu4dX7o_dhutASiNyDLC8e3iSb1JSJ4qbrq3jkhyphenhyphenk5p1gcqOQWZflDV0cpt7uYtxPJ0c3GkeEPsL0d08uU_FDZLMAiwVU4BxCr-u0CFPUwtTEpp9N3GzaZLnA_uZKtZBHyBm/s1600-h/Bedroom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305564510820445026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88ltJAFZ-Vu4dX7o_dhutASiNyDLC8e3iSb1JSJ4qbrq3jkhyphenhyphenk5p1gcqOQWZflDV0cpt7uYtxPJ0c3GkeEPsL0d08uU_FDZLMAiwVU4BxCr-u0CFPUwtTEpp9N3GzaZLnA_uZKtZBHyBm/s400/Bedroom.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">These children get warm beds, off the ground. Most rooms are 8 - 12 boys or girls per room. This orphanage also has a dispensary which can handle most minor problems. These children get three meals a day whereas typical Afghan child is doing well getting one meal a day.</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-57116329501722126732009-02-11T08:22:00.011-05:002009-02-26T08:50:18.731-05:00Some Last Bits of Scotland...Today was an exciting day in Kabul. If you haven't seen the news, the Ministry of Justice was attacked along with several other government buildings. I'll do a post later on my more serious site. In the meantime, before I revert to Afghanistan again here I'll post one last set of Scotland pictures.<br /><br />Scotland has a population of about 5.5 million, mostly concentrated in and around Glasgow and Edinburgh and a narrow strip between the two cities. Its land area is about the size of South Carolina, but within that small geographic area is an incredible amount of history.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz92Iy3VF45O77LxDEbHJYV0QG_B9D24B6beSsmGCZBYKK1Z4Mmutnm-bdYGVzihEQVevoTsMhcLTHwga9Rd1c0Q3fYQd30q9L83_i0GwQMW9pbDIblufn_li9lg48SDK1tLPEUgA_waDv/s1600-h/TraquairHouse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301531802821040994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz92Iy3VF45O77LxDEbHJYV0QG_B9D24B6beSsmGCZBYKK1Z4Mmutnm-bdYGVzihEQVevoTsMhcLTHwga9Rd1c0Q3fYQd30q9L83_i0GwQMW9pbDIblufn_li9lg48SDK1tLPEUgA_waDv/s400/TraquairHouse.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">Traquair House<br>Begun during the reign of Edgar, King of Scots (1097-1107), <br>completed in 1107 as a Royal Hunting lodge for <br>Alexander I, King of Scots (1107-1124).<br>It is the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SzTv92uf4oieClO96nL3mNfZyinEr5uY14MwhwZxLNmlhr0tFOZusihC6vgbpeNOMBnqi6yHN6sQN-vw0fzWmL8FusIl0jPD4CO2Czc9fD6K6raAWca5EmxTe_IJL5Jfb4NQZImPKhSr/s1600-h/StirlingCastle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301531798869743394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SzTv92uf4oieClO96nL3mNfZyinEr5uY14MwhwZxLNmlhr0tFOZusihC6vgbpeNOMBnqi6yHN6sQN-vw0fzWmL8FusIl0jPD4CO2Czc9fD6K6raAWca5EmxTe_IJL5Jfb4NQZImPKhSr/s400/StirlingCastle.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">Stirling Castle<br>The earliest firm evidence of a castle at Stirling is 1107 occupied by Alexander I. <br>Strategically located and dominating the Forth Valley below, the oldest existing fortifications in the current castle date to 1381. The area around Stirling has seen many battles throughout the ages. <br><br>After Robert the Bruce defeated Edward II at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314, he destroyed the original castle, a practice known as "sleighting," lest the English return. Bruce’s strategy was to never let the Scots army become fixed in fortresses and to make it difficult for the English to dominate the Scottish countryside by rendering castles that the English could use as bases useless.</span></p> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxo4QhukAdYUNxLn5IIzWFSIbGgFe0V7ZQO2QppaZ81T6HchSm8A_qvRz4_ArrdwDG71b9V9Fksyp-kV1-PhRSWUpYE2hQ4SmGh_tlAqFdAzPoxTCXwzPMwR-Z7Ham4lPm-ilSX47zc1_R/s1600-h/ExteriorGreatHall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301530345861141298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxo4QhukAdYUNxLn5IIzWFSIbGgFe0V7ZQO2QppaZ81T6HchSm8A_qvRz4_ArrdwDG71b9V9Fksyp-kV1-PhRSWUpYE2hQ4SmGh_tlAqFdAzPoxTCXwzPMwR-Z7Ham4lPm-ilSX47zc1_R/s400/ExteriorGreatHall.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Exterior of the Great Hall at Stirling Castle.<br>Completed in 1503, it is the largest Medieval Great Hall in Scotland. After about 35 years of restoration to bring the Hall back to its 1500’s appearance, the Hall was reopened in November 1999. The restoration was done according to original plans. <br>The Queen holds court here when she is in Scotland.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQd03eRR3p-nAcevo36BswJiR7ZdfxwzkVOKec6ClEuuCYDXqXy6qIrspnzjchUidzFwM9d8iK1MMeNhCuuuaYtg56khpZS_lVrp1TOpI7dH95UpfdJXDfGWYeII75cyh8eV4P2Z8mh349/s1600-h/StirlingGreatHall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301531806804756130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQd03eRR3p-nAcevo36BswJiR7ZdfxwzkVOKec6ClEuuCYDXqXy6qIrspnzjchUidzFwM9d8iK1MMeNhCuuuaYtg56khpZS_lVrp1TOpI7dH95UpfdJXDfGWYeII75cyh8eV4P2Z8mh349/s400/StirlingGreatHall.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Inside the Great Hall showing the magnificent hammer beam roof.<br> Over 300 Scottish Oak trees were used to build the beams.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1fuARA2aSikc3269doph9sw9U7UmaoQEnUHnrKVy1Gerc2SaZpA-6CT5WFKAsWmdZPhiDozTxXh-dQqeY6kqapdF4I1QZ2hSduQyqYp_tujgBXhk70kcGJFvaazzYcCcmd6LTXz6lWos/s1600-h/HammerBeamDetail.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301530342914107602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1fuARA2aSikc3269doph9sw9U7UmaoQEnUHnrKVy1Gerc2SaZpA-6CT5WFKAsWmdZPhiDozTxXh-dQqeY6kqapdF4I1QZ2hSduQyqYp_tujgBXhk70kcGJFvaazzYcCcmd6LTXz6lWos/s400/HammerBeamDetail.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Close-up of the beam joints. Note the wooden pegs. <br>Not a single metal nail or screw was used in the construction.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zeMRK9FoTXO6W_Zbzw8DP86mxS2yE9f8YlOdOcxxEjMiFYNm0zhxjKavAmdSsuab2SAeVdF77vfykrXzQ1HeOgQc9x4M0US1riAM7KkNdEv3zgdJrge339_fhNbgOBQMAZH6EU7QxET5/s1600-h/JamesVPalace.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301530823175626962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zeMRK9FoTXO6W_Zbzw8DP86mxS2yE9f8YlOdOcxxEjMiFYNm0zhxjKavAmdSsuab2SAeVdF77vfykrXzQ1HeOgQc9x4M0US1riAM7KkNdEv3zgdJrge339_fhNbgOBQMAZH6EU7QxET5/s400/JamesVPalace.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Palace of James V at Stirling Castle. <br>The building is currently under renovation. <br>Originally built in 1538 as part of a promise to his wife, Mary de Guise (the mother of Mary Queen of Scots), that he would provide her with a palace the rival of any in Europe.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDLravPKaPJlmjbBXTn9tPRUl-C9QOvk5AjR755n1RgJPq2AiF6wiKehkx-Q-VBot5-2798JWYSWVJQQSBdPaYuhTr8N30Thv9dYFV6ksaKBDYqJ9niHNAxaYSh7948LLsGgKk9QhYYVW/s1600-h/StirlingBattlefield.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301531801711515218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDLravPKaPJlmjbBXTn9tPRUl-C9QOvk5AjR755n1RgJPq2AiF6wiKehkx-Q-VBot5-2798JWYSWVJQQSBdPaYuhTr8N30Thv9dYFV6ksaKBDYqJ9niHNAxaYSh7948LLsGgKk9QhYYVW/s400/StirlingBattlefield.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Historical site of the Battle of Stirling depicted in Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart.” <br>The lower hill in the center of the picture with the tower on it is called the Abbey Craig. That hill was Wallace's "headquarters." The tower is the National Wallace Monument, completed in 1869.<br><br>The real battle was fought on 11 September 1297 over a wooden bridge and causeway that went across the River Forth. William Wallace was one of two Scots commanders. The second, not depicted in the movie, was Sir Andrew de Moray. Moray was mortally wounded during the battle and died in November. The two English commanders were John de Warrenne, 7<sup>th</sup> Earl of Surrey and Hugh de Cressingham. Cressingham was killed and his corpulent body flayed, the skin passed out as victory tokens. The real William Wallace was about 6 foot 7 inches tall and was not a “commoner” as depicted in the movie, but a minor noble. As he was not a Highlander, it is unlikely that he wore a kilt. Nor did the Scots paint their faces blue for the battle.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRAgRi7igSSgTNYvmtTtK_qLpyjFpx0oYIRFaPfDvO_Bv7pQXmQTmjtbmL08OJlz80ld6JH3z7T-hvvx9Rl97tx9h7tjramt0Guxz7D4d9YyCa8ObYW1cG-xJpc94aqUhtVdmWHpGr6wK/s1600-h/RoberttheBruce.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301531274463562946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRAgRi7igSSgTNYvmtTtK_qLpyjFpx0oYIRFaPfDvO_Bv7pQXmQTmjtbmL08OJlz80ld6JH3z7T-hvvx9Rl97tx9h7tjramt0Guxz7D4d9YyCa8ObYW1cG-xJpc94aqUhtVdmWHpGr6wK/s400/RoberttheBruce.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Statue of Robert the Bruce, Robert I King of Scots at Stirling Castle. <br>He was not the mamby-pamby depicted in Mel Gibson's film, <br>nor did he betray Wallace at Falkirk. <br><br>Scottish kings and queens are never called King or Queen of Scotland. <br>It is an old Celtic tradition that no man can rule the land. <br>A King can only rule the people who live on the land. <br>Robert the Bruce is the real “Braveheart,” a story I’ll relate near the end of this post.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjev3DHURIXqZ1ol6AZIC8h91fzX4wqdrmplRtg4jdB1I34OJBVIvCfRkpdHWIW37KQt1FUpTLjSA2bjlGgymDDWA9Ez-1nytDf-XLTnB5ADJbOx6nVqxtQJ4FFxCMnkS97DwCR3hNxDoEJ/s1600-h/StAndrewsKirkTower.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301531801354600210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjev3DHURIXqZ1ol6AZIC8h91fzX4wqdrmplRtg4jdB1I34OJBVIvCfRkpdHWIW37KQt1FUpTLjSA2bjlGgymDDWA9Ez-1nytDf-XLTnB5ADJbOx6nVqxtQJ4FFxCMnkS97DwCR3hNxDoEJ/s400/StAndrewsKirkTower.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Saint Andrews Kirk Tower in Peebles.<br>Founded in 1195 by Bishop Jocelin of Glasgow. The tower and a small section of wall is all that remains of the original structure which is another example of Norman architecture. The church burned in 1549 and was abandoned in 1560. During the siege of nearby Neidpath Castle, Cromwell’s general Lambert stabled his horses in the church ruins.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib88FAmLrp0DNQufCbcpAXl8hvitFpT8lWCVlEa_AuGXOr7-hK_xk_cpF_sVBHs3mXYK_LatgZXN2842v8Vec0orxQhZOrs3aMgkno7WvWXzuVX2IcTAxb02eDW2chBf3SvO3CkKBLcUe-/s1600-h/NeidpathCastleFront.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301531267115026882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib88FAmLrp0DNQufCbcpAXl8hvitFpT8lWCVlEa_AuGXOr7-hK_xk_cpF_sVBHs3mXYK_LatgZXN2842v8Vec0orxQhZOrs3aMgkno7WvWXzuVX2IcTAxb02eDW2chBf3SvO3CkKBLcUe-/s400/NeidpathCastleFront.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Neidpath Castle.<br>Built around 1390, though there was an earlier castle here around 1263. <br>During Cromwell’s invasion of Scotland in 1650, Neidpath held out longer than any other castle south of the River Forth. The castle succumbed after Cromwell’s artillery succeeded in destroying the tower on the River Tweed side.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJlB5PiE_E1D-v4H1jbDUuXUiFmNpbiq8ds1ESC1Ox_IdGMhliyMpDkCD5MNcwZgfkILxrT8sSlWX_gvjRVfXGCMb5pSgSaJ6xoaQth6LvxR5KFQpogAWjwdiCNY7K-ubawymjYrXbCkp/s1600-h/NeidpathCastleRiverSide.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301531269045493186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJlB5PiE_E1D-v4H1jbDUuXUiFmNpbiq8ds1ESC1Ox_IdGMhliyMpDkCD5MNcwZgfkILxrT8sSlWX_gvjRVfXGCMb5pSgSaJ6xoaQth6LvxR5KFQpogAWjwdiCNY7K-ubawymjYrXbCkp/s400/NeidpathCastleRiverSide.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Neidpath Castle from the River Tweed.<br> This shows the destroyed section that prompted the defenders to surrender.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBTLLoWX9tj4cLnyGyvRDHf8H9uRZxeh6b3sYpn4qAtqLwjOqNvn1xvaJwGeNToxlQ27H9mdYZdPgpBFtfbhyphenhyphenkAXaTWlxy86YqxHDj4W6SpuprWek9xK2A2OzqTJwUOFcSNISwVInTA9l/s1600-h/NeidpathStork.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301531274280909010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBTLLoWX9tj4cLnyGyvRDHf8H9uRZxeh6b3sYpn4qAtqLwjOqNvn1xvaJwGeNToxlQ27H9mdYZdPgpBFtfbhyphenhyphenkAXaTWlxy86YqxHDj4W6SpuprWek9xK2A2OzqTJwUOFcSNISwVInTA9l/s400/NeidpathStork.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Stork near Neidpath Castle.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIDrgQbqacp-rNj0zgTFvFWTB-PVXA1S03pZ53-O9H_-XPJ7gdzcY2duffbe_Yf7kpan1cBM9Lk3ggCOQsQCWrGATuqmrG1sQHyQHilwcG0oj_HaDsQebfwav8kSlIuuv3DQqdGngoE8z/s1600-h/GlentressRuinsValley.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301530344090496994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIDrgQbqacp-rNj0zgTFvFWTB-PVXA1S03pZ53-O9H_-XPJ7gdzcY2duffbe_Yf7kpan1cBM9Lk3ggCOQsQCWrGATuqmrG1sQHyQHilwcG0oj_HaDsQebfwav8kSlIuuv3DQqdGngoE8z/s400/GlentressRuinsValley.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">If you love the outdoors, Scotland is the place to be.<br>One of the best things about Scotland is the right of travel. If you recall, I said earlier that by Celtic tradition no man may rule the land. Well, by extension, no man may own the land either. This is a concept that drives most foreign buyers of Scottish properties nuts. What you really buy in Scotland are rights to use the land, but in so doing you can't block others from traversing that land. <br><br>On this particular climb my wife and I had already climbed up the hill on the left of the picture, down through the glen below and up to this old castle ruin overlooking the glen. We were still only a third of the way to the summit of the mountain. Though this mountain is only about 1,600 feet, it is a fairly arduous climb. <br><br>This is in the region called "The Borders" near the English border. <br>The Borders Scots (and their English counterparts) were much hardened by centuries of warfare with each other. When the Borders English and Scots weren't fighting each other, they fought their fellow Scots or English...just to stay in practice.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVlVrlO-jtCAu6W-4mDURNe6RxYyAPQlTvwMmIEnvzdJn3URWibskdABv4fM9P2n4OUJUPkXUsV7pyKslwD83KyMsKDKJySgXWvjqO1REBLOMR4TiFe3ti7g_cFaqFdOSfFSXefbRhu8D/s1600-h/NearTheTopGlentress.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301530833403231906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVlVrlO-jtCAu6W-4mDURNe6RxYyAPQlTvwMmIEnvzdJn3URWibskdABv4fM9P2n4OUJUPkXUsV7pyKslwD83KyMsKDKJySgXWvjqO1REBLOMR4TiFe3ti7g_cFaqFdOSfFSXefbRhu8D/s400/NearTheTopGlentress.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Near the top around 1,500 feet.<br> The snow line began around 1,200 feet. It is rough-going through snow-covered heather.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijnaE-tTLRcgRhXUcCfEPbsSUNqf7ZThmLgbopelV6mblWH9u_KT14E6SoTzADny6TgUSpoOLGb8my-ZLpB8igW7LT09lpviyJa1y-QiQ4iE9gfkOVe-thHziZVsef6hdi13Bm7IPn7QQ/s1600-h/GettingBelowtheSnowLine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301530343668158866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijnaE-tTLRcgRhXUcCfEPbsSUNqf7ZThmLgbopelV6mblWH9u_KT14E6SoTzADny6TgUSpoOLGb8my-ZLpB8igW7LT09lpviyJa1y-QiQ4iE9gfkOVe-thHziZVsef6hdi13Bm7IPn7QQ/s400/GettingBelowtheSnowLine.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Coming back down near the 1,200 foot line. Note that you can see for miles.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-5fQAP8WI08VEFcQS1RDJwON6-zJ0QwVJC4tI0YkC7c87FvPyQm-MTb9VCLhxg5QlvBk_LUkr03EvszNd3sj6rUNjm9LTP805pHDyAyLeeJ15GYTavlRiV4K_oeDcRmuGxFQMww-m3vz/s1600-h/KelsoAbbey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301530831751987938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-5fQAP8WI08VEFcQS1RDJwON6-zJ0QwVJC4tI0YkC7c87FvPyQm-MTb9VCLhxg5QlvBk_LUkr03EvszNd3sj6rUNjm9LTP805pHDyAyLeeJ15GYTavlRiV4K_oeDcRmuGxFQMww-m3vz/s400/KelsoAbbey.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Kelso Abbey.<br>Built in 1128 and the years following, Kelso Abbey was one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture. Finally finished, it was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and St John in 1243. It was soon one of the largest and richest in Scotland, having a superb library in medieval times. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Abbot of Kelso was granted the right to wear a mitre, which gave him a precedence higher than any other Scottish abbot. The abbey's wealth came from its vast lands, its churches, schools, farms and its granges in the Cheviot Hills.<br /><br />The Abbey was sacked in 1550 during the "Rough Wooing" by the Earl of Herford. The "Rough Wooing" is a catch-all phrase describing the English attempt by war (hence the ‘rough’) to coerce the Scottish government into the betrothal of the child Queen Mary to the Prince of Wales, who in 1547 became King Edward VI (Thus the ‘Wooing’)". So in effect the Rough Wooing describes the Anglo-Scottish wars between 1543 and 1551. </span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBw-YT-y0gVkWv1J-H6do5dItLytqTZjwKGyC81N-ePed05ESKo04iGS8RgTZDnKyFuywJnXuF8hgYW9zS9_7DO9hwaiKISYoBjrsTvSg8LdwSe3r9lGHBZoL47kcIeuMV3Wa51rY6tubH/s1600-h/JedburghAbbey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301530830910732978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBw-YT-y0gVkWv1J-H6do5dItLytqTZjwKGyC81N-ePed05ESKo04iGS8RgTZDnKyFuywJnXuF8hgYW9zS9_7DO9hwaiKISYoBjrsTvSg8LdwSe3r9lGHBZoL47kcIeuMV3Wa51rY6tubH/s400/JedburghAbbey.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Jedburgh Abbey.<br>Jedburgh Abbey is one of the four great abbeys built in Scotland’s border country during the Middle Ages. It was established as a priory of Augustinian canons around 1138. The brethren possibly came here from St Quentin Abbey, near Beauvais, France. The priory was raised to abbey status around 1154.<br /><br />Augustinians were priests who lived a secluded and contemplative life, but who went forth from their cloister to minister to the people. Jedburgh eventually possessed about 20 parish churches.<br /><br />Monastic life was mostly routine, but the abbey’s location close to the border with England inevitably brought it into the conflict between the two countries that bedevilled the later Middle Ages. During the Wars of Independence in the 14th century, the canons had to evacuate the premises. Further attacks in the 1400s were compounded by major raids in the 16th century. These and the Protestant Reformation of 1560 led to Jedburgh’s demise as a monastic institution.<br /></span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeQ2Tzm78ola2QV8caU7y8fahmpkelzOp4N1XPeftiII3zy1gae0NVgqxYy6AMhn6I3JPUTdGQ3LYO9fmLpVM3ESmq38wk1om7X56zR6xZ2kFzSE583DUqAWaQj6I3z0odoGRh_Co6qQ_/s1600-h/DryburghAbbey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301530339064247442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeQ2Tzm78ola2QV8caU7y8fahmpkelzOp4N1XPeftiII3zy1gae0NVgqxYy6AMhn6I3JPUTdGQ3LYO9fmLpVM3ESmq38wk1om7X56zR6xZ2kFzSE583DUqAWaQj6I3z0odoGRh_Co6qQ_/s400/DryburghAbbey.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dryburgh Abbey.<br>Sir Walter Scott is buried in the nave shown here.<br>Dryburgh Abbey was founded in 1152 by Premonstratensian monks (Augustinians, also known as White Canons) on a site perhaps made sacred by Saint Modan around 600. It was founded by monks from Alnwick on land owned by Hugh de Moreville, the father of one of the assassins of Saint Thomas Becket.<br /><br />Dryburgh Abbey was burned by English troops in 1322, after which it was restored and patronised by Robert I of Scotland. It was again burned in 1385, but it flourished in the fifteenth century. It was finally destroyed in 1544, briefly to survive until the Reformation, when it was given to the Earl of Mar by James VI of Scotland.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-9UgE6fvZ_tNUBwv10yDSds-nacXDf7GSxPLdRuLg9kMpZ0oGDo6uMeuqF4P9uRFWsDGuefsJGHet_hOlJuzHvOEJWt-mgVzP5b1l3U7j28-R8_5IolNrTA3oDnitRacxiWpqpn8XFBR/s1600-h/MelroseAbbey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301530835788149858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-9UgE6fvZ_tNUBwv10yDSds-nacXDf7GSxPLdRuLg9kMpZ0oGDo6uMeuqF4P9uRFWsDGuefsJGHet_hOlJuzHvOEJWt-mgVzP5b1l3U7j28-R8_5IolNrTA3oDnitRacxiWpqpn8XFBR/s400/MelroseAbbey.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Melrose Abbey.<br>Tradition has it that an abbey was founded at Melrose around the end of the 6th century, and that the famous St. Cuthbert was one of the abbots in 643 before he left for Lindisfarne. <br /><br />Ethelwold succeeded St. Cuthbert, and sometime later the monastery was ruined by the Danes. The place where this abbey is supposed to have stood is called Old Melrose, and is a mile and a half from the present abbey.<br /><br />The present Melrose Abbey was founded by David I King of Scots in 1136, and is supposed to have been built in ten years. The church of the convent was dedicated to St. Mary on the 28th of July, 1146. It was the mother church of the Cistertian order in Scotland. The white-robed monks were brought from Rievaulx Abbey, in Yorkshire, and they soon superseded the order of the Benedictines.<br /><br />The exterior of Melrose Abbey has 50 windows, 4 doors, 54 niches, and more than 50 buttresses. The abbey was damaged by the English in 1322 and 1384. Richard II made it a grant in 1389, as some compensation for the injuries it had sustained in the retreat of his army. <br /><br />Twenty years before the Reformation, there were 120 monks at Melrose Abbey. The privileges and possessions of the abbey were extensive. Melrose Abbey was endowed by its founder, David of Scotland, with the lands of Melrose, Eildon, and others, right of fishery on the Tweed, and succeeding monarchs increased its property.<br /><br />In 1544, King Henry VIII had Melrose Abbey torched, and it never recovered. Sixty of the monks, it is said, renounced Catholicism at the Reformation. The last abbot was James Stuart, natural son of James V, who died in 1559. By 1560, the abbey had ceased to function. The abbey's holdings were given up in 1561. Its carvings were destroyed by a Protestant mob following the deposition of Mary, Queen of Scots. Finally, as has happened with many priceless works of antiquity, much of the abbey was carted off by locals needing building material.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiNEOh2IjgDEwi77gKBGDXf2meVECc5v3q2Fx0PFa34uou7vED7oK95JsNf2dfeBiHVocpd9-mgXP8KJh650II-sszS0kw9vOVjje8La-mRJb_m4713lUGFvXSJFx0-iyzfwFV4kXdFCe/s1600-h/RealBraveheart.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301531271534288674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiNEOh2IjgDEwi77gKBGDXf2meVECc5v3q2Fx0PFa34uou7vED7oK95JsNf2dfeBiHVocpd9-mgXP8KJh650II-sszS0kw9vOVjje8La-mRJb_m4713lUGFvXSJFx0-iyzfwFV4kXdFCe/s400/RealBraveheart.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Burial Place of Robert the Bruce’s Heart. <br>His body lies in Dunfermline Abbey in Fife, but his heart lies here at Melrose Abbey. <br>The Scots words read: “A noble hart have nane ease, gif freedom failye.” <br>An English translation: "A noble heart can't rest, or else freedom will be lost."<br /><br />This is the real “Braveheart.” <br>Robert the Bruce had always wanted to go on a Crusade to the Holy Land. As he was dying in 1329, he asked that upon his death his heart be removed and taken to the Holy Land. His good friend, Sir James Douglas swore to do this, but they never made it. <br /><br />On 25 August 1330, Sir James and his entourage became embroiled in battle with Moors in Spain. Riding to the aid of a Spanish noble and his knights, the Scots charged into the thick of the Moorish formation. As they closed with the Moors, Sir James took the chain that carried the metal casket with the heart from his neck and, hurling it in the direction of the Moors shouted, “Lead on brave heart, and I will follow.” <br>Hence the term “Braveheart.” <br /><br />Sir James and most of the Scots fell in the battle, but their action saved the Spaniards. The Moors were so impressed with the Scots courage that they returned the heart and the bodies of the fallen Scots for honorable burial.J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-91469831658633166352009-02-06T01:50:00.015-05:002009-02-06T09:58:30.300-05:00Edinburgh, Scotland (Pronounced: Edinburrah)<br>After a week of power failures and Internet problems, I'm finally posting some Scotland pictures. It was really hard to choose just a few. I took over 1,300 pictures this time. This set is all in Edinburgh. Edinburgh is a great city to visit. Almost everything you'd want to see, you can see without ever getting in a car. When we are in Edinburgh, we walk everywhere. About the only exception would be if we take a trip to see the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith Harbor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kagheM2SIoeB_byue_w_ge-aC9mTqoOSsjIW029Cg0u0Q62Ko9_QeCkN5t6rU1_Eu6fEW_Mb7Cyv7WxHXCdVqMgeiAxjD8JKjptHya1IYc0Zd79kM-vyU9prMPigOjhsl8lqUtiJLbu-/s1600-h/EdinburghCastle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299573733346509714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kagheM2SIoeB_byue_w_ge-aC9mTqoOSsjIW029Cg0u0Q62Ko9_QeCkN5t6rU1_Eu6fEW_Mb7Cyv7WxHXCdVqMgeiAxjD8JKjptHya1IYc0Zd79kM-vyU9prMPigOjhsl8lqUtiJLbu-/s400/EdinburghCastle.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Edinburgh Castle sits on an extinct volcano.<br>The earliest historical accounts of a fortress here date to the 600's C.E., <br>but the site was likely occupied at least since 1500 B.C.E.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9Tkzc8__lBrbOBuQJbAuxgq360XCHxFI_SXLYTbHEHXt-DMX894Kp9l8SrIVPZK3BL0r5gVye08V-YTDByMao1FuRAdI4MZHPQJui_Mol_hnYG3vve9wTGt5xCodfe9QS0F76inQlO7y/s1600-h/EsplanadeHouses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299573738614083634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9Tkzc8__lBrbOBuQJbAuxgq360XCHxFI_SXLYTbHEHXt-DMX894Kp9l8SrIVPZK3BL0r5gVye08V-YTDByMao1FuRAdI4MZHPQJui_Mol_hnYG3vve9wTGt5xCodfe9QS0F76inQlO7y/s400/EsplanadeHouses.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Houses like these that sit at the edge of the Esplanade <br>outside Edinburgh Castle and dating to the 1500's, <br>once lined both sides of the "Royal Mile" in the old town.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK2Ko2BIdvTioc7xu_za5x8SE3qtkT1Kaam7ecXgYAsZvlHByvTRznDCV2PJacHHDtABdcP1kb3ZM-SLw81hNBSkSwoBtUshXaxS4BxSpMoPAGwXgrI3Hz7yC9LRw2DVVAzLtKBLuFJp7/s1600-h/OneOClockGun.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299574067837258786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK2Ko2BIdvTioc7xu_za5x8SE3qtkT1Kaam7ecXgYAsZvlHByvTRznDCV2PJacHHDtABdcP1kb3ZM-SLw81hNBSkSwoBtUshXaxS4BxSpMoPAGwXgrI3Hz7yC9LRw2DVVAzLtKBLuFJp7/s400/OneOClockGun.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The One O'Clock Gun.<br>Needing a way for the ships in the harbor in Leith to set their clocks,<br>the merchants in Edinburgh decided upon using a gun fired<br> from the Castle at 1PM each day.<br>Standing on the docks in Leith when you hear the gun,<br>it is six seconds past 1PM.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI080diHtnPBsZO4d8FoMKAXwBVUQDYpAgapcR4Sf0w4bZWj3BXn8UfgDDgft1vGShVchyq3meEOEzmA-x6bMjJ-QLesUWAB77rF9k8ySpoCGXonlg5Z-K01RXO9uyD5xkjalltFdY_jVz/s1600-h/St+Margaret%27s+Chapel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299574553305643426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI080diHtnPBsZO4d8FoMKAXwBVUQDYpAgapcR4Sf0w4bZWj3BXn8UfgDDgft1vGShVchyq3meEOEzmA-x6bMjJ-QLesUWAB77rF9k8ySpoCGXonlg5Z-K01RXO9uyD5xkjalltFdY_jVz/s400/St+Margaret%27s+Chapel.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">St. Margaret's Chapel.<br>Built in 1124 by David I in honor of his mother St. Margaret, <br>the chapel is the oldest existing structure in Edinburgh Castle.<br> One of the best preserved early Norman buildings anywhere in Britain.<br>The gun in the left foreground is known as Mons Meg.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcGjJIlEfEN9CMlychJfuwY9jtkjVXMzu_LD0dyCNaj8U4a-2-4QfAKd96_aw8lPcZq4-2Zr4N03aPHYo3KukRtc-lzqRTJ0DMa_2_Clozhcd8Iaha8q9RIqfs6oQ2SbbpgGkYYn9psE9/s1600-h/MonsMeg.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcGjJIlEfEN9CMlychJfuwY9jtkjVXMzu_LD0dyCNaj8U4a-2-4QfAKd96_aw8lPcZq4-2Zr4N03aPHYo3KukRtc-lzqRTJ0DMa_2_Clozhcd8Iaha8q9RIqfs6oQ2SbbpgGkYYn9psE9/s400/MonsMeg.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299586227923692834" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Mons Meg.<br>One of the largest bore cannon ever built (bore is twenty inches),<br>it was a gift from Philip III, Duke of Burgundy to James II in 1457.<br> Mons Meg could hurl a 150kg projectile 2.5 miles.<br>It was last fired in a celebration in 1680, when the barrel exploded.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2s8txgslkEzcddQNVY15Ryr7bWDSUp0VK1k0fplt9HePBwXeFUWC-5Te_kTsYY589df6KzwnG6OUWUyX6xkLSa8-JMuTBj0_7Ot3__bu0RaorRaabKpif_uXB7fkWwDC-wvscCvrHHas/s1600-h/ScottishWarMemorial.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299574540388277250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2s8txgslkEzcddQNVY15Ryr7bWDSUp0VK1k0fplt9HePBwXeFUWC-5Te_kTsYY589df6KzwnG6OUWUyX6xkLSa8-JMuTBj0_7Ot3__bu0RaorRaabKpif_uXB7fkWwDC-wvscCvrHHas/s400/ScottishWarMemorial.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Scottish War Memorial.<br>Also within the Castle, this memorial is dedicated to the 150,000 Scots,<br> out of 4.8 million, who were killed in WWI.<br> At just over 3% of the total national population,<br>Scotland had the highest casualty rate of any nation during WWI.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cfnnzjWqkaeJ-VzywFiDUxuMw-Su47VQAKjeGR-Pna2y2XR7WLWpoOswM7rnfBHOmy3WZMqFFuN3Djkr39GOJSDjIB9_r2azXmql8YMK7LlJ9YwYgB5ee1-xf1BgsabiemT7-QNtjPQF/s1600-h/EdinburghCastleNight.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299573740068656002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cfnnzjWqkaeJ-VzywFiDUxuMw-Su47VQAKjeGR-Pna2y2XR7WLWpoOswM7rnfBHOmy3WZMqFFuN3Djkr39GOJSDjIB9_r2azXmql8YMK7LlJ9YwYgB5ee1-xf1BgsabiemT7-QNtjPQF/s400/EdinburghCastleNight.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Edinburgh Castle at night as seen from Prince's Street.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQLY-T39PgYJHnA_nq9wZxkh_cPstAC8RbLg1Xop_7mEvVnyo2KjtmzZ5_XjiA4W-DUv87eagJvz5UGDZRGbiYxbtg-jc9eXW052L0WJnmdKyJVh1rUa5i3HGuVqhRO1YWMniKqPkRjKn/s1600-h/EdinburghCastlefromArthur.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299573735618559986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQLY-T39PgYJHnA_nq9wZxkh_cPstAC8RbLg1Xop_7mEvVnyo2KjtmzZ5_XjiA4W-DUv87eagJvz5UGDZRGbiYxbtg-jc9eXW052L0WJnmdKyJVh1rUa5i3HGuVqhRO1YWMniKqPkRjKn/s400/EdinburghCastlefromArthur.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Edinburgh Castle as seen from Arthur's Seat,<br>another extinct volcano on the other end of town.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUqZULoQE_r404JIlhm9gaDaFfzPq7NCnPQFCv2JohIwNCkgW6hlEtEIl6Eq-LaVwuVXNw65qxzLePFtPgiC84j3CnWAzI6ouZvlyEtG_-FirGHbFS2_wRGQydk6E6LL6mJYtOZiYWQwD/s1600-h/Arthur'sSeat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299573729565443634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUqZULoQE_r404JIlhm9gaDaFfzPq7NCnPQFCv2JohIwNCkgW6hlEtEIl6Eq-LaVwuVXNw65qxzLePFtPgiC84j3CnWAzI6ouZvlyEtG_-FirGHbFS2_wRGQydk6E6LL6mJYtOZiYWQwD/s400/Arthur'sSeat.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Arthur's Seat. Extinct volcano on south end of town.<br>We climbed this on what became a very windy, cold and rainy day.<br>The sun came back out <i>after</i> we reached the bottom.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpDoCC0gouGj7EYcHudugilafMmrkBDBQWPtNYJZ9CmnB5J8Y1d_cPLsRubRtE3FFFDkvDhzRdJYVc78QqnHohWdhB9bSbOPIw-jpFQc_AvRSRvZo-v62S7y8mD_Az_tztfPjJq_SNIXk/s1600-h/ScottishParliament.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299574069890911410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpDoCC0gouGj7EYcHudugilafMmrkBDBQWPtNYJZ9CmnB5J8Y1d_cPLsRubRtE3FFFDkvDhzRdJYVc78QqnHohWdhB9bSbOPIw-jpFQc_AvRSRvZo-v62S7y8mD_Az_tztfPjJq_SNIXk/s400/ScottishParliament.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Scottish Parliament.<br>I rarely hear a kind word about the choice of design.<br>Most consider it a monstrosity thrust in the midst of historic buildings.<br>Calton Hill and Nelson's Monument is in the background.<br>Calton Hill is another extinct volcano.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsNbl6jHqMGVOKX5EwbIn1lnuCTKB6XB7m4At15AbqaKu1WtoUNE21PQXRpYM1ALDIlZ3TxKUYDDF2JydDU24pO8kLt62n3EO8TRrDt6Or5xd62ZToBzpGhEvCcl5Zxw0Y2yksCoO7258/s1600-h/ParliamentfromArthur.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299574067924862978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsNbl6jHqMGVOKX5EwbIn1lnuCTKB6XB7m4At15AbqaKu1WtoUNE21PQXRpYM1ALDIlZ3TxKUYDDF2JydDU24pO8kLt62n3EO8TRrDt6Or5xd62ZToBzpGhEvCcl5Zxw0Y2yksCoO7258/s400/ParliamentfromArthur.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Another view as we ascended Arthur's Seat.<br>The white building the foreground is Dynamic Earth.<br>Dynamic Earth is a learning center teaching Earth's <br>geological evolution through the use of dynamic interactive displays.<br> To the right of the picture is Holyrood Palace.<br>This is the Queen's residence when she's in Edinburgh.<br>The water in the background is the estuary known as the Firth of Forth.<br>The harbor of Leith is located there.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunVwxXk20EBJKyqMH7uyRMxIUanceOZr234Lak1q_SfKAEY8SO45AJQZJAVo74FYTkOtQ3lO9Rnqccddu2yncOMIBEyZoqtNWAtvh7ts8AxpPKT_R6qYI15lG29JvSQ8qZhjWwhUpcIyD/s1600-h/JohnKnoxHouse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299574068017234178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunVwxXk20EBJKyqMH7uyRMxIUanceOZr234Lak1q_SfKAEY8SO45AJQZJAVo74FYTkOtQ3lO9Rnqccddu2yncOMIBEyZoqtNWAtvh7ts8AxpPKT_R6qYI15lG29JvSQ8qZhjWwhUpcIyD/s400/JohnKnoxHouse.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The two oldest houses in Edinburgh.<br>The white house was home to John Knox, Protestant reformer. <br>The house immediately to the left is the oldest house in Edinburgh, <br>built around 1470.<br>John Knox' house was built around 1490.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGiCOusQ5MKTnMlGEdmOuqOFMkyP_oHSM-rxJ1gg7xsgxDnMYy4NG_JAY60JX5GU8GlN-zjwwbPMJZe4z12F8SXeLC4WZMcjhwSjwgPR_milPyM-mtyrigEzZzZuaLWRIEVV65S-1Wueu/s1600-h/HeartofMidlothian.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299574063872776834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGiCOusQ5MKTnMlGEdmOuqOFMkyP_oHSM-rxJ1gg7xsgxDnMYy4NG_JAY60JX5GU8GlN-zjwwbPMJZe4z12F8SXeLC4WZMcjhwSjwgPR_milPyM-mtyrigEzZzZuaLWRIEVV65S-1Wueu/s400/HeartofMidlothian.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Heart of Midlothian.<br>It gets its name from the book by Sir Walter Scott.<br>Only visitor's who don't know the history step in it.<br>Residents spit in it as they pass. It's bad luck to step in it.<br>This was the location of the cell wherein prisoners awaited execution.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSauIRchY87iPB-0PfFIS50wq1bZ66Av2Dsmust1PagnXPtFxMNsFvhs_OILmRupDr1d9aeFGWD2SsnoGLPDdhXmAZ-sw4a6eaSd1YdpGGIcW3r4T_1unkd2MOKbiyEZEaMmRau0vCxArx/s1600-h/StGilesCathedral.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299574553800631394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSauIRchY87iPB-0PfFIS50wq1bZ66Av2Dsmust1PagnXPtFxMNsFvhs_OILmRupDr1d9aeFGWD2SsnoGLPDdhXmAZ-sw4a6eaSd1YdpGGIcW3r4T_1unkd2MOKbiyEZEaMmRau0vCxArx/s400/StGilesCathedral.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">St. Giles Cathedral at night.<br>This was John Knox' parish church.<br> The church graveyard was paved over and <br>headstones removed in the 1800's.<br>John Knox is buried under parking slot 24<br> on the other side of the building.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQkVoMxJaJcQEgm1e48WN4DeSbry6u7DSCL94qhjZbsUgQNt5kvk1WmGNHkVci5u-nogUgTPsP5NQRzmGpMvXWqhnEhKbWpB46VtN3HNX24eeRZgSRW6xmw7ZWKYHnsxUtBWpqfYEXM5t/s1600-h/SpookyNight.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299574554270875298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQkVoMxJaJcQEgm1e48WN4DeSbry6u7DSCL94qhjZbsUgQNt5kvk1WmGNHkVci5u-nogUgTPsP5NQRzmGpMvXWqhnEhKbWpB46VtN3HNX24eeRZgSRW6xmw7ZWKYHnsxUtBWpqfYEXM5t/s400/SpookyNight.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Day or night, Edinburgh provides some great spooky shots.</span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXZ-180Az1S7wFktGTgQufg-e1ecmPR2DW_0VP6j8A-cMLMDrWAkcLAdT13dy11xjk_w06OvunNieYWGT7LtOAJ753rDhEP7SB03LUzKVSZolTA5dIlF0mIcFGzMTalVTdA0W1KORXeOn/s1600-h/SpookyDeanBrigde.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299574547052477458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXZ-180Az1S7wFktGTgQufg-e1ecmPR2DW_0VP6j8A-cMLMDrWAkcLAdT13dy11xjk_w06OvunNieYWGT7LtOAJ753rDhEP7SB03LUzKVSZolTA5dIlF0mIcFGzMTalVTdA0W1KORXeOn/s400/SpookyDeanBrigde.jpg" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">House at the end of the Dean Bridge.<br>Dean Bridge was built in 1832 by Thomas Telford, linking<br>Queensferry Road and Queensferry Street over the Water of Leith.<br>The house is located to the northwest corner of the city center.</span></p>J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-61512466741639516312009-01-30T04:50:00.002-05:002009-01-30T04:59:16.351-05:00Back "Home" in Afghanistan!First I’d like to thank all who wished me a safe trip back to Afghanistan. I made it back to Kabul in one piece, but not without a little “adventure.” Things were going smoothly. My Emirates flight into Dubai was about 25 minutes early. So far so good.<br> <br />As we made our approach, however, I noticed that the belly camera and the nose camera views were blank. (Emirates has video cameras that let you see the pilot’s view and the view beneath the plane throughout the flight. This is a neat feature since every passenger has their own screen.) Dubai is a big modern city with LOTS of lights, so even at 1AM there should have been something on the cameras. Suddenly the engines revved the nose went up and the plane began a turn.<br><br />I switched to the flight path view and noticed that we were now in a loop around the airport. We made two more approaches before the pilot came over the intercom to announce that the fog was so thick that he couldn’t find the runway (that explained why the cameras were blank) and we were diverting to Al Ain, a service airport about 100 miles south of Dubai, because we now didn’t have enough fuel to make another attempted landing. We couldn’t land “blind” because the airport instrumentation that would have allowed it was malfunctioning.<br><br />Upon landing at Al Ain we were joined by nine other airliners. This presented a problem. Al Ain, being a service field, though large enough for big airliner landings and takeoffs, isn’t equipped to service fully loaded aircraft. Nor was there enough fuel on hand to refuel one, let alone ten jumbo’s. So they had to organize a fuel convoy from Dubai and this took time plus the two-hour trip, plus the time required to actually fuel a Boeing 777. At ten, this field was out of room for any more aircraft, so others were diverted to Doha, Muscat, Kuwait City, Dammam and other smaller fields depending on the aircraft. <br><br />In the midst of this, the crew had reached their time limit, so even if all the fog miraculously disappeared and we were given clearance, we could not take off until the crew was replaced. Emirates was on top of the situation and the new crew was alerted, organized and dispatched by bus as soon as we landed at Al Ain. Actually, they did this for all seven of their 777’s at Al Ain, so it was a pretty impressive operation.<br><br />Emirates could not put us on busses and take us overland to Dubai to make connections because there are no Customs or passport facilities at Al Ain. By 6AM all existing food and drink supplies were exhausted, but luckily Emirates had again thought ahead and cases of water arrived by 6:30 along with a resupply of toilet paper. These at least were on hand at Al Ain, but there was no possibility of food for the 3,000 plus passengers on the ten 777’s and 747’s parked on the field.<br><br />About the time the water arrived the new pilot made the observation that now the fog had lifted in Dubai. However, the fog didn’t so much lift as shift…to Al Ain. Al Ain’s minimums are more restrictive than Dubai, so we could not take off. Even if we could have technically taken off, by this time there were as many as thirty aircraft already in holding patterns over the Gulf waiting to land at Dubai. The airborne aircraft had priority to land, so we had to wait for twenty aircraft to land before we were given clearance for takeoff at about 10AM for the twenty-five minute flight to Dubai.<br><br />Needless-to-say by this time everyone with a connecting flight had missed it, including yours truly. For those who were able to book their entire trip through Emirates, the airline took care of all the re-ticketing, hotel rooms where necessary and other compensation. But Emirates doesn’t have any agreements with the airlines that service Kabul, so I was on my own to solve my problem.<br><br />By the time I cleared Customs and Immigration, collected my bags and made my way by taxi to Terminal 2, it was 11:15. The next flight to Kabul was at 1PM, so clearing Customs and Immigration and Security (which you must do <i>before</i> getting to a ticket counter) was going to be tight. I made it and got to the desk by 11:30. Being polite, smiling and speaking a little Arabic goes a long way for a Gringo trying to hurry through these hurdles in a Gulf State country. In fact, all I had to say at the first checkpoint was that I was trying to get on the Kabul flight and I got an escort past all the other people ahead of me bound for other destinations.<br><br />Once at the counter I found, to my relief, that the afternoon flight had plenty of seats. (I filed this away for future reference. Thursday is the start of the Muslim weekend and most people try for the early flights into Kabul, hence half-empty Thursday afternoon KamAir flights. About half of the passengers on this flight were those who had missed the morning flight.) Of course the morning problems had a ripple effect and the scheduled 1PM departure wound up being delayed until 2PM, but we still missed our scheduled arrival time by only about 20 minutes. <br> <br />Arriving in Kabul went smoothly. The airport was relatively quiet, this being Thursday afternoon, but Customs and Immigration also go a little faster when you smile and speak Dari. So apart from spending about 20 hours in an airplane plus six hours in airports, the trip back was pretty good. <br><br />By popular demand - Ello and Barbara Martin asked - I’ll post some pictures from Scotland in my next post before returning to Afghan topics.J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767345199151369888.post-26329125142976415592009-01-27T12:09:00.002-05:002009-01-27T12:14:16.310-05:00On The Way Back to AfghanistanHey all! Just a quick note.<br /><br />Believe it or not, once I left Edinburgh a week ago I found it almost impossible to get an Internet connection. The place I was staying could not get their Wi-Fi working. Back at Glasgow Airport for the flight out tomorrow. I'll be back in Afghanistan on 29 January. I'll post again then.J. L. Kruegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03335606939334631954noreply@blogger.com8