A bit over six months in Afghanistan now. This is my third trip here. I haven't been on this site for months because it is blocked on government computers.
Today, a friend from the two previous tours and this one died after months in a burn unit. This is the fourth person I've known who has died on this tour. All told the count for these three years is around 12 Americans and Afghans. There are probably many more Afghan police who have also died I am unaware of.
The odd thing is that the more often I face this sort of thing the less I fear the end. I have reconciled myself to death enough times now that it seems normal. Perhaps this is a gift of sorts. Acceptance of death can make life much richer and sweeter. I realize the worth of a day or an hour more than I did before.
At the same time, I have come to despise the Taliban and most so the religous fanatics among them who destroy life for their heaven and god. The sight of a dead Talib does not move me at all.
I saw a video two days back of a suicide car bomb attack in Khowst on 28 December. Fourteen school kids died in that attack. You see them walking along as the car approaches a gate leading to a government compound. Every child in the image was killed. The Afghans hate the people doing these attacks. Only a fool who relies on TV news thinks this country wants the Taliban back.
Today, a friend from the two previous tours and this one died after months in a burn unit. This is the fourth person I've known who has died on this tour. All told the count for these three years is around 12 Americans and Afghans. There are probably many more Afghan police who have also died I am unaware of.
The odd thing is that the more often I face this sort of thing the less I fear the end. I have reconciled myself to death enough times now that it seems normal. Perhaps this is a gift of sorts. Acceptance of death can make life much richer and sweeter. I realize the worth of a day or an hour more than I did before.
At the same time, I have come to despise the Taliban and most so the religous fanatics among them who destroy life for their heaven and god. The sight of a dead Talib does not move me at all.
I saw a video two days back of a suicide car bomb attack in Khowst on 28 December. Fourteen school kids died in that attack. You see them walking along as the car approaches a gate leading to a government compound. Every child in the image was killed. The Afghans hate the people doing these attacks. Only a fool who relies on TV news thinks this country wants the Taliban back.