There has been some news about al-Qaeda re-energizing on the border. Some of that is true. The Pushtun people live on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, and both sides don’t recognize the border, but consider themselves a part of Pushtunistan. So there is a lot of traffic across the area, and the part of Pakistan near the border (Waziristan) is pretty much run by the local tribes and not President Musharraf. That adds up to a perfect safe haven for the enemy. It’s easy for them to get across the border into Pakistan, and it’s pretty much impossible for us or the Pakistanis to get them there. That being said, being able to rest easy in a cave for a week is not the same as being able to plan, organize and operate. I think that after the revolt of the Red Mosque, the Pakistanis may have changed their minds about the “live and let live” agreement they have there. Time will tell, the concern here is still the Taliban, and the related militias, but ISAF and the Afghans are ready.

I’m browsing through about four books on Afghanistan now. “CROSSLINES Essential Field Guide to Humanitarian and Conflict Zones –Afghanistan”; “Afghanistan – The Mirage of Peace”; A Dari dictionary and proverbs book; and “A Thousand Splendid Suns” (from the author of “The Kite Runner”) It helps get a broader sense of what’s happening here and how the history and culture shapes the place.

In one of the books, I can’t remember which one; they interviewed a European man who was doing agricultural aid in Afghanistan since the early 80s when the Soviets were here. He said “The best agricultural aid the Americans sent were Stinger missiles. The missiles got rid of the helicopters, and with the helicopters gone the people could go out in safety and work the land.”

I think that’s a good overview of what we are doing. There are plenty of really good people with agencies like OXFAM and Children’s Charities here doing really good things to help the Afghans, (like Shanna’s friend with “Women of Hope.”) With the exception of some projects requiring bulldozers and helicopters, the military really can’t do humanitarian aid better. Unfortunately there are some people here that require help of, shall we say, a more kinetic nature. That’s what we are for, helping the good people by killing the bad. (As far as I know, Catholic Charities doesn’t do that - maybe if it had more Jesuits in it.)

I went to the gym last night for an hour’s kickboxing class. Half was hitting pads and the other was us sparring with each other. (“Hit the other guy in the stomach for 30 seconds…go!”) I got kicked in the chest so hard it knocked my religious medal off. It was a great workout however. By the end I could barely lift my boxing gloves up high enough to protect myself. A fact my sparring partner reminded me of every time he hit me in the head (I think it was a lot). They have it again tomorrow; I’ll have to see if I’m healed up and stupid enough to go back. (Editors Note: No, I’m not that stupid, being seen as a quitter may hurt, but being kicked in the face hurts more.)

On the job front, the staff seems ready to give us a chance to work the tools we brought. I don’t know what the commander will say, but we cross that bridge when we come to it. We spent quite a lot of time recently preparing a briefing on the costs and benefits of both programs. Lots of long nights for us and early mornings for the team back in Norfolk. We’re continuing to do the best we can to help the staff here, but I still feel a bit like Schrödinger’s cat. I won’t know if we are alive or dead until General McNeil opens the box.

Funny bit of trivia, Colombo filmed a two part episode at the Citadel. In one scene Peter Falk is looking at the grass on the parade deck and a golden retriever comes bounding over to play, followed by an apologetic cadet and his girlfriend. That cadet is Capt Grayson. He said they were walking the dog when it got loose and ran into the shot. Peter Falk stayed in character, and they kept filming.