On the Front Lines in Afghanistan, Part Two
As the Iraq conflict winds down, the war in Afghanistan is, in many ways, just getting started. PJM presents the second in a series of exclusive reports from Michael Yon — our 21st-century "Ernie Pyle." (Read part one here.)
Read my first PJM report from Afghanistan here.
In Iraq, there were always a few journalists who would see signs like this translated into English for humanitarian projects like the clinic shown below and would wax cynical, claiming that it was just propaganda to mask the uglier side of the occupation. I’ve heard people say things like “This is just for the cameras and the journalists who will devour lies.” Of course, if these signs were not translated into English, an equally cynical person might say, “Look, they aren’t even smart enough to translate the signs into English. How do you expect people to know about the good things you’re doing?”
Not that it matters what language signs are printed in Afghanistan: most people in Zabul Province cannot read any language. The government estimates that the literacy rate is, more or less, 15%. Not that they have any real way of measuring. It could be lower. And that is why the schools that are being built by foreigners are the most important thing happening in the country. For Afghanistan to have any hope of basic material progress in coming decades, it’s important to make sure that girls can attend those schools without fear of having acid thrown on their faces by Taliban members. Boys, for that matter, need access to education unlike the fundamentalist brainwashing provided by the Taliban-run madrassas.
As for the clinics, they are just a small start to meeting the nation’s vast health care needs. The sad truth is that for the majority of Afghan peasants, the pathetically small amount of medical care that they received over the war years when they languished in the refugee camps of Pakistan — occasional inoculations, rehydration salts to prevent deaths to children and infants from diarrhea, antibiotics that we Westerners take for granted, a modicum of hygienic assistance with childbirth — were the first instances of modern medicine available to them. These clinics, which are pretty basic by our standards, represent a huge leap forward across most of this poor, war-torn nation.
This clinic in Zabul Province, like the nearby girl’s school still under construction, is being built with foreign money.
At a moment when much of the Islamic world is suspicious of the U.S., publicizing the positive changes that Western nations have provided is essential. The enemy advertises cutting off heads, or attacking innocent civilians in India, or blowing up a train in Spain. They smile when blowing up tourists in Bali, and dance as buildings fall. We smile when babies recover and the children of illiterate shepherds and subsistence farmers learn to read. You have to be willfully blind not to know the difference between the good guys and the bad guys in this place.
This Afghan commander was shot in the leg but has not left his post. Afghan physical bravery is the stuff of legend. But seeing it here, in this man, in this place, Captain Means wanted the commander to know how much he respected his courage.
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Michael Yon, author of Moment of Truth in Iraq: How a New 'Greatest Generation' of American Soldiers Is Turning Defeat and Disaster into Victory and Hope, spent more time embedded with U.S. and British combat troops in Iraq than any other correspondent. Michael Yon has changed his focus to Afghanistan.
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54 Comments
1. David Thomson:This is the number one question that cannot be ignored regarding Afghanistan: is Barack Obama a self-hating American? Is he existentially committed to the notion that the United States richly deserves violent blow-back from our enemies because the United States shafted them in the past? We knew where John McCain stood on this matter. Unfortunately, the jury is still out regarding the president-elect.
Dec 13, 2008 - 3:42 am 2. Bill in NY:This is out-damn-standing reporting and thank you for posting it here!
Dec 13, 2008 - 6:05 am 3. ALEXISTAN:Bravo, Yon, Bravo.
Very interesting about the Lithuanians. Even longer than their “association” with the Soviets was their connection to Poland (see the Sienkiewicz’ novels of Polish-Lithuanian knighthood), and we know what fighters they are, and how deeply they prize their liberty. I feel it’s the same with the Czechs. By dint of their geographical happenstance, they are forced into clear-eyed appreciation of these brief windows of freedom and independence (consider the “crazy” environmental attitude of Czech president Klaus). I wonder how the Catholicism factors in to all this?
Thank You again for your superb, tide-turning work.
Dec 13, 2008 - 7:31 am 4. RAH:Thanks for the update. I enjoyed reading about the Lithos. The photo of the motorbikes from that angle appeared to be robotic wasps with camera lens eye. I guess I have seen so many of the new robotics weapons systems that easily comes to the mind.
Dec 13, 2008 - 7:33 am 5. valle:Phenomenal reporting. Thank you!
Dec 13, 2008 - 1:23 pm 6. cedarford:All were hospitable. U.S. soldiers seem to like Afghans, despite that many see the situation as either hopeless or near hopeless. There is something about Afghans that resonates with Americans, and I find this true as well. Maybe it’s their fierce sense of independence, or their hospitality, but despite my personal misgivings about our probability for success in Afghanistan, I also tend to like these people..
Damn sad. A people despite their good qualities, locked in religious, armed, libertarianism. So much for God, guns, small government, “unfettered free markets” in goods from opium to bundled Afghan real estate derivatives, low taxes, and gay-hating automatically improving a country.
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Dec 13, 2008 - 3:54 pm 7. mshatto:Lithuanians are like Cossacks. In the spirit of Americans in how they operate, but natural haters of Russians and Jews meddling in their country’s sovereignity and not shy about shedding blood to avenge blood shed.
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I imagine Yon knows that if we don’t kiss and make up with the Russians, the billions we have poured into Pakistan for “logistics aid”, as well as the billions we lost hoping they would cough up foreign Islamoids sheltering there after KSM…is money squandered. The only logistics lifeline we have into the place hangs by a thread – as Taliban and AQ almost freely attack our supply line these days on the two routes out of Islamabad to the Khyber Pass.
cedarford – …and your point is??? Let me answer for you..Conservatives are bad, foolish people. Anyone, like the Lithuanians, who sides with the US is defective in some way, and thank Allah or the pagan god of Winter Solstice, Qetzacoatl or whatever deity it is you claim an affinity for that we have good friends in the world, like the Russians, Germans, French or Spaniards(of course, only Europeans have the worldliness to check our hubris) to save us from the simple,naive mistakes of George Bush, the GOP,and our military leaders. Of course once “O” ascends to the throne, all will be well in the world and AQ, the Taliban, and other affiliated groups will lay down their arms and our boys can come home triumphant despite the horrors they have inflicted upon the world since 2001. And, oh yeah, Michael Yon is a fool because he is not you, cedarford.
Dec 13, 2008 - 8:17 pm 8. Mongovicius:Obviously you didnt research this article well enough. I have lived with the Lithuanians for 9 months and found they are scared to fight and avoid conflict at all cost. They are not what you claim them to be. I would take any US unit over the Lithsof any day.
Dec 14, 2008 - 12:46 am 9. Fred2:The idea that Americans can spread peace and prosperity around the world runs up against a global population of around 6 billion people. And a US economy in recession.
Further, the idea that a prosperous country is a peaceful country may simply be a Utopian fantasy. The Mullahs of Iran and Saddam Hussein seem to contradict this assumption.
Also, we notice that Chad, Peru and Bangladesh don’t make much trouble in the world. Although, on the other hand, Somalia and Afghanistan do.
Dec 14, 2008 - 5:24 am 10. Nemyra:Mr. Mongovicius, I would like to hear more about these Lithuanian chickens.
Dec 14, 2008 - 11:51 am 11. Vargas:Yes, I too would like to hear more about these ‘conflict-avoiding, scared to fight’ Lithuanian SF. See, I was one of the lead planners on a U.S. and European SOF exercise (Emerald Warrior 06, in case your curious. 7th SFG, German KSK, Danish Jaegers and Lithuanian Special Forces were the ground teams invited) and noticed nothing untoward about the Liths. If anything, they stood out for their humor, professionalism and willingness to leave their egos at home and learn anything new, something that U.S. SOF units should try to emulate, in my opinion…
Dec 14, 2008 - 2:03 pm 12. Jane Alexander:Good reporting, Michael Yon, although you have tough Critics wagging their fingers at you.
Dec 14, 2008 - 7:55 pm 13. Pink Peony:You don’t mention the wounded in Afghanistan, from IEDs … and I do think that you should, they seem to remain the forgotten ones in this War. The wounded, and the mutilated (of whom many are little more than adolescents). In all these conflicts I am not quite sure where the madness lies, with the Invader or the Invaded, or with both ?
What I do know is that any War causes great Pain on all sides. Negociation remains, sadly, Utopic, in this continuing, “Gun-slinging etcetera Age.” Is all this worth it ?
Michael:
Good to see you on Pajamas Media. I’m supporting a few Army units in Zabul Province right now through Any Soldier. Thank you for your insightful reporting. Take care and please keep safe.
Dec 15, 2008 - 1:26 am 14. Ricardo:Respect lith, good luck!
Dec 15, 2008 - 4:48 am 15. Giedre from Lithuania:Bravo to our brave soldiers. It was so nice to read about their courage. As the national song says: “Praise to the brave who fight for freedom and praise to those who have fallen during the battle. Do not despair, angels will crown them with diamond crowns of honor. They will meet their ancestors proudly riding wild horses” I hope that this ancient line of a Lithuanian song will reveal the essence of our national spirit. Thank you, Michael Yon for mentioning them in such a polite and honest manner. I am very proud of my countrymen today.
Dec 15, 2008 - 6:09 am 16. Julius:lets start with the fact that its 2nd time Lithuanians are fighting in Afghanistan. there were thousands of men who were sent to afghanistan by the soviets, many died, even more had their lives completely destroyed. now we have many young guys in Lithuanian army who are sons of the veterans of soviet-afghanistan war. they seek revenge for what mujahedeens did to their fathers.
Dec 15, 2008 - 6:59 am 17. Lithuanian Woman:OMG.. Our Lithuanians feel themselves at home..
Our lives are just short episodes of our eternal existence, there is nothing tragic in dying. Tragic is living a dull and worthless life without dignity.
Dec 15, 2008 - 7:10 am 18. laura:Answer to ALEXISTAN – although through history we were associated with Poland on many occasions, catholicism, unlike in Poland, has nothing to do with Lithuanian mentality. I would say, you are talking about a mixture of geopolitically predetermined constant thirst for freedom, fight for survival at all costs and laid back attitude towards death, which is purely pagan. Statistically Lithuania might be catholic, but it was the last country in Europe to accept this religion. The mentallity is still strongly influenced by our pagan traditions and beliefs. That is why it is very easy to choose the honourable death while fighting for freedom rather than losing, suffocating and slowly dying without it.
That is why our boys are hanging around in underwear and slippers, looking nuts and scaring the hell out of everyone around them
Yes, yes yes – Educate the girls because through them, villages can change and through villages, the entire country. i think it’s taken for granted that the boys will be educated and they need good, solid education to learn how to be fair and good leaders – i would not deny that, but the girls must be educated to help change families…to also learn how to lead and to do so without fear.
i’ve recently read “Three Cups of Tea” and it’s changed my life…Where there is education, there is hope and where there is hope, there is life.
Dec 15, 2008 - 7:26 am 19. murdoch:Lithos hunt talibs on motorbikes they captured from them… They tore down a statue of Lenin, and replaced it with a statue of Frank Zappa. Lithuania seems like a decent place.
Dec 15, 2008 - 7:39 am 20. Lithanian:Lithuania is a small country,when we were accepted in NATO,whole country was celebrating.We do not have as much armored vehichles,tanks,or fighter jets as other NATO countries,number of our troops ir also small,but we must prove,that letting us join NATO was not a mistake
So that’s what we got – courage and fighting spirit.It’s nice to know,that all this was not in vain, and the guys from U.S. have noticed that. Good luck and be safe! 
Dec 15, 2008 - 7:43 am 21. Charles Bronson:This is nothing to do with any “revenge for what mujahedeens did” as Julius said. This is all about Freedom that Lithuanians is fighting for.
Dec 15, 2008 - 8:40 am 22. TLM:I will say just one thing:
Lithuanians are like Spartians
“300″
For LITHUANIA!
Dec 15, 2008 - 9:10 am 23. Marie Claude:mshatto
for that we have good friends in the world, like the Russians, Germans, French or Spaniards(of course, only Europeans have the worldliness to check our hubris
dear Ms, you confound politics with your private life
In politics, there aren’t any friends, only still independant alliees, I understood you’d preferred them as infeodeds, that’s not how it works, your country has its interests, some of them are shared by alliees, depends on the alliees interests too
Dec 15, 2008 - 10:03 am 24. jzl:My relative was one of those few (comparing to larger countries) who were fighting in Afghanistan. As I heard his story, I understood that our Lithuanians act crazy in a good way. For example, Instead of riding the roads (like americans do), lithuanians drive through the desert(if we can call it like that) to avoid mines… They look and are crazy, but they are smart too
Dec 15, 2008 - 10:55 am 25. vilma:To anyone who says that lithuanians are lazy or cowards- think what you like, but we know that it is not true. At least know something about the people you are talking about.
oh, and about the Soviet union’s influence on the lithuanians bravery. Yes, this occupation has influenced our understanding of freedom. But we were almost always in a battle – in the middleages and especially in the XIX and XX centuries.
Congratulation! Michel, you have become very famous in Lithuania. Check it out http://www.lrytas.lt/-12293504091227896595-p1-lietuvos-diena-amerikie%C4%8Di%C5%B3-%C5%BEurnalistas-lietuvi%C5%B3-kariai-afganistane-apsiginklavusio-borato-versija.htm — 209 comments and counting. You would enjoy reading the comments. I can help with translation, if you wish.
)
Dec 15, 2008 - 11:06 am 26. to Vilma:no he wouldn’t enjoy that. Those comments (most of them) are as usual – ugly, lousy, incompetent, leftist scum. But as much as MY was famous in Lithuania, it has, by accident become even more. Yet this whole fuss reminds a saying about cat’s tale. Ok, so he said few good things, that good, why to make a national feast over this. HTFU people and move on
Dec 15, 2008 - 11:53 am 27. JB:Our LITHUANIAN soldiers are really creative and are really pro. They may go as crazy people, but they dont run away, fight like demons. Who cares how they act at home base , the maine reason and most important that THEY ARE DAMN GOOD. Thats why they are becoming known. With such low resources that they have , they are making a extreme good job.
Good article
Dec 15, 2008 - 6:57 pm 28. BIG Z in arizona:Hello, good and ”live” article, thank you, MY. From comments everybody can get picture, how diverse Lithuanians are and it came with FREEDOM, what USA promotes and encourages nations. Thats why we was brave enough (first republic) to declare independence from soviet unioin and right now telling inconvienent TRUTH to some European Union countrys……… And yes, Lithuania is the last pagan country in Europe, got baptized about 630 years ago, when next year planing big celebrations about 1000 years from the date it was mentioned. Lithuania was a small country, but organized huge comonwelth of nationscenturies ago. And yes, many lithuanians still can be brave and help overs not only for good pay but from ideals to make the world the better place, to care about your nabor and love like brother – these are christian and universal ideas. For some americans i can say, that they can juge about lithuanian spirit not only from lithuanian born basketball players but two great american footbal players Jonaitis (unaitis) and Butkus. Lithuania will be a good friend for USA for long long years. Thank YOU, SOLDIERS.
Dec 15, 2008 - 9:01 pm 29. BBB:Good luck for our boys, God save them! Today when I read this issue I’m very proud for my countrymen. Keep going, fellas, wish you everything the best!
Dec 16, 2008 - 3:08 am 30. Aivaras:Bravo! It’s is nice too see,that still there is goods lithuanian soldiers, like in our history. One more time – bravo! Make good impression about Lithuania, to our allies, because, you know, that we need them (for example, Georgia, is not in NATO and you see, what had happen in august?). And be hard in the future, like you are now, to those Osama’s fellows (who is not only screeming for America to make Jihad, but for Europe, too).
I am sure, that many people in Lithuania will be suprised and happy.
P.S: iskreskit tiems babajams i subines, nes tie religiniai fanatikai ne tik dykumose, kur jus esat, rekia “kill kafirs” ir “alachu akbar”, bet jau nori rekti ir vakaru europoje. Per tuos lietuviskus multikulturizmo juokdarius, gali po 20 -30m rekti ir pas mus. Ir nekreipkit demesio i ta idiota zurnalita, nesuprantati angliskai, bei komentatorius, kuriu du trecdaliai (jeigu ne daugiau) moka geriau rusiskai, negu lietuviskai.
Sekmes jums ;-D. Good luck amd be HARD.
Dec 16, 2008 - 6:24 am 31. Darvin Dowdy:“The enemy advertises cutting off heads, or attacking innocent civilians in India, or blowing up a train in Spain. They smile when blowing up tourists in Bali, and dance as buildings fall. We smile when babies recover and the children of illiterate shepherds and subsistence farmers learn to read. You have to be willfully blind not to know the difference between the good guys and the bad guys in this place.”
Willfully blind or a member of the MSM/intelligencia. We need so much more of this sort of reporting. Why isn’t Fox News featuring this guy? DD
Dec 16, 2008 - 4:03 pm 32. Mick:“25. vilma:
Congratulation! Michel, you have become very famous in Lithuania. Check it out http://www.lrytas.lt/-12293504091227896595-p1-lietuvos-diena-amerikie%C4%8Di%C5%B3-%C5%BEurnalistas-lietuvi%C5%B3-kariai-afganistane-apsiginklavusio-borato-versija.htm — 209 comments and counting. You would enjoy reading the comments. I can help with translation, if you wish.
)”
Vilma, can you go over there and tell them that ‘crazy’ and ‘mountain men’ are compliments. As in warrior spirit. I see some comments on that site that don’t understand what the intent of those words are.
Though, I’m using google translator over there, so it’s hit and miss whether it is translated correctly.
Dec 17, 2008 - 7:00 am 33. to Mongovicius::What’s wrong with you? are you so upset because you are not Lithuanian?
))))))))))))))
Dec 17, 2008 - 11:55 am 34. to Mick:You say any US unit???
Mick, don’t bother about those comments on http://www.lrytas.lt…. Most of them are very positive, of course there are some negative – but positive much more
Actually, it is very nice to know that soldiers of your country have a good reputation among allies. You know, our goverment was talking similar good things about our Special Forces for long time. But as it was a goverment I was a little bit sceptical, cause a goverment might have its own motives for doing so: for example, to make people feel more positive towards mission in Afghanistan and so on. But now, after your article, I start to believe that it is a true.
Good luck!
Dec 17, 2008 - 4:53 pm 35. Nida:I serve in the US military and haven’t been deployed yet, but I am excited that when I do go over there, I will have my Lithuanian family over there supporting our efforts. Whether or not our intentions in that area of the world are just or unjust, before you criticize the military, why dont you go serve and see how it feels to protect your loved ones from afar, not be home during the holidays and miss your childrens milestones. I think that if you live in this country, everyone should serve in the military for at least one term. Yes its a free country, do what you wish, but dont forget that this country has fought for its freedom as well. God Bless and Support our Troops.
Dec 18, 2008 - 10:10 am 36. Vic:Lai Dzivo Lietuva ! Long Live Lithuania !
Dec 18, 2008 - 2:29 pm 37. Andre from Sacto:David Thomson, you are dumb as shit. If BHO is the anti-American devil that you claim then I hope you are the first to go.
Oh yea, Go Lithuania!
Dec 18, 2008 - 3:37 pm 38. SMS:Respect for “Aitvaras”
Dec 19, 2008 - 3:39 pm 39. Gytis:I would say Lithsof guys are just men of duty. Is it really something extraordinary to help your ally?
Alexistan, catholicism is not a factor at all.
50 years under suppression of Soviets – may be, but most likely not. Fight for freedom in Afganistan? I don’t believe this is a motivating factor for them. I think their motivation goes something like this: we (Lithuanians) need NATO, we are here to fight for it and help allies, it’s our duty, let’s do our job. And yes, Lithuanian soldier always fights, never run. Let’s go.
I also tend to believe Mongovicius, who said Liths want to avoid battle at any cost. If Lithuanians have been fighting any battle, they would perish long ago. Craftiness and deception of enemy are valued the same high as bravery. There are many other ways to get what you want. But if you can’t avoid battle you just go and fight.
Vic, are you Latvian? We use “tegyvuoja” where you say “Lai dzivo”.
Dec 19, 2008 - 4:56 pm 40. tomas:Nice photos of bikes. Really like from sciense fiction movie.
Dec 20, 2008 - 1:20 pm 41. Thomas Jackson:Mongo:
I wonder where you served in Afghanistan. I bet the closest you ever came to that country was Berkeley.
Dec 21, 2008 - 12:29 am 42. Vytautas:There’s a good movie about Lithuanian fight for freedom: “Vienui vieni”. It’s about partisan battles against Soviet army. It’s based on a life of one of the most famous partisans.
Dec 21, 2008 - 5:03 am 43. Lithuanian:“Lithuanian Special Operations Forces’ (LITHSOF) roots date back to 1944 when Lithuania started armed resistance against the Soviet regime. The tactics used by resistance fighters were the same ones used by SOF today–i.e. raids, unconventional warfare, clandestine ops, etc.
Lithuanian Resistance Fighters:
Dec 21, 2008 - 10:14 am 44. antherion:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpXYAKe6_qc&feature=related
QUOTE:
“There’s a good movie about Lithuanian fight for freedom: “Vienui vieni”.
Hmm, isn’t it the movie about those “freedom fighters” who fought for freedom by helping nazis or worse, IN THE NAZI UNIFORM, in 1942-1944?
Whatever the reason for siding with the devil, hell awaits you.
Ah, I forgot, nazis were “the liberators”.
Dec 22, 2008 - 1:27 am 45. to antherion:Your comment is very insulting!!!
Qoute from wikipedia:
“Utterly Alone (Lithuanian: Vienui Vieni) is a 2003 film directed by Jonas Vaitkus, based on real events, about Juozas Lukša (Daumantas), a Lithuanian partisan who fought against the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in the years immediately following World War II. The film is set in 1950-51 and shot in black and white.
The film portrays Lukša’s attempts, in trips to western Europe, to gain support for the armed anti-Soviet resistance (known as the Forest Brothers), whose fortunes in a guerilla war against Soviet authorities were waning, largely due to widespread infiltration and harsh crackdowns by the NKVD. The film depicts Lukša being killed in an ambush in Lithuania, although his body has never been found.”
Dec 22, 2008 - 2:24 am 46. Know how:Liked the article.
Dec 22, 2008 - 6:32 am 47. Vygantas:Though served in Lith army I was always a bit sceptic about our SOF. The viewpoint from man aside helps to improve attitude towards them.
And concerning coments in web site mentioned above… Don’t pay attention to much. The interpretation was very poor and peole that are writing that sort of comments… I’d call them simply imbecils.
For those who understood everything what Michael said about Lithuanians as an insult:
How about go and see your doctor?
Dec 24, 2008 - 5:11 am 48. Greta:This made me very proud. I and my brother loughed while imagining men in flip flops and underwear walking in the base or men with only wests and guns riding old motorcycles all over the mountains XDDD I simply can’t understand the people who find this article ofencive, in my opinion it’s a very nice article that helps see our own souldiers from another’s perspective.
Trully thank you for this nice article about our ‘crazy’ men XDDD
And to all the souldiers out there God Bless and don’t stop making us proud
))
Dec 31, 2008 - 11:34 am 49. to Mongovicius:Mongovicius:
[b]Obviously you didnt research this article well enough. I have lived with the Lithuanians for 9 months and found they are scared to fight and avoid conflict at all cost. They are not what you claim them to be. I would take any US unit over the Lithsof any day.[/b]
You kidding. right ? Look at your brave americans. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d3d_1231669459
Jan 11, 2009 - 1:07 pm 50. Dog:if u want to know more about Lithuania, da best video is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25gngVZbpts&feature=related
Jan 11, 2009 - 2:33 pm 51. from the outpost:WOW good story even if not all correct. the LithSOF has their own bikes those lookes like the ones the ANP ride on patrols. The LithSOF guys are one of the best allies we have out here but you cant forget the Romanians, the ANA, and the ANP that are out here working with those few American troops.
Jan 13, 2009 - 2:57 pm 52. TiuKa:all Lithuanian soldiers came to afghanistan for money… not by idea
Feb 17, 2009 - 5:06 am 53. to Tiuka:You should study how military works. For people of special forces it’s a job. It’s what they like to do.It’s how they make carrier. It’s how they become Generals! Everybody, before you open your mouth about Lithuanians in Afghanistan (i mean special forces…”aitvaras”) you should study what ” zaliukas ” means. Everyone who is sceptic about this article, why don’t you go to hot points and try it your self. And then your oppinion will be appretiated. Thank you.
Mar 24, 2009 - 9:22 am 54. sean:The Taliban seem to be mostly afraid of American soldiers. They do attack U.S. and inflict damage, but all around I hear from Afghans and U.S. soldiers that the Taliban are mostly trying to avoid contact with U.S., while focusing attacks mostly on Afghans. Some people see the Taliban as courageous, but I am seeing more and more that they use cowardly tactics, often hiding behind women and children.
I am tonight in Zabul Province and have been out with New York National Guard. Their morale is high and they think they are winning the fight, despite the long series of frustrations that come with the terrain of war. Especially in Afghanistan.
Our cell phones are not working tonight; the Taliban forces cell phone operators to turn off the towers at night. The Taliban are afraid of being tracked, and are afraid the Americans will interrupt their sleep. The cell towers are cut off from 5:30 PM to 7:00 AM. An American captain told me that one group of operators decided to turn off the system late one night, so the Taliban came, killed one man, and tortured two others.
On an interesting side, Americans and Afghans are giving very high marks to the Lithuanian Special Forces who operate here. They are less impressed with Romanians; Afghans and Americans say the Romanians are afraid of the Taliban, but that the Lithuanians are having a field day chasing and killing Taliban.
On the Iraq front, please read Down with Barriers, Up with Iraq.
The Iraq war is over, but the Afghan playoffs will begin in 2009. This fight is just getting started. Please send lots of Marines, and lots of training teams for the Afghan Army and police.
Sep 12, 2009 - 10:52 am