5 Sep 07: It’s September in Afghanistan, five months in country, 8 months since I left home. I thought I would give a description of an average mission for our Team. Our mission today was relatively simple, we were to conduct a groundbreaking ceremony for a new District Center in the Salang District of the Parwan Province and then conduct our weekly Provincial Development Meeting at the Deputy Governor’s residence. Our planning called for us to meet the Governor, Deputy Governor, and the contractor at the Governor’s office and then follow them into the valley. We expected an easy mission since this was a very permissive area, the area saw some heavy fighting against the Soviets and the Taliban. The Salang valley is mountainous with only one real road In and out. I had not been this far north in the Province but we all expected an easy day. We departed Bagram a little after 0800 and headed for the Governor’s residence, all was going well until we come upon a village and discovered that the construction crew we had paving the road was putting in drainage pipes and had a gaping ditch across the road. We dismounted and after our Convoy Commander (Army E-5) assessed it he said we could cross using some sheets of old Soviet metal, and so he carefully guided all of our UAHs (Up Armored Humvee) safely across. We mounted up and were off. We hit the city of Charikar in the middle of market day so the streets were crowded with everything from cars to donkeys. We carefully picked our way through the crown and made it to the Governor’s office, where we discovered that the contractor was delayed. So now, a 5 minute stop was turning into a long delay. The Governor invited us in for the obligatory chi (tea) as we waited. Eventually the contractor arrived and then the first bombshell was dropped. The Governor informed us all that he had changed his mind on where he wanted his District Center……….what? The Contractor was not happy, we were not happy and so the “negotiations” began. The contractor wanted more money…..the deputy governor suddenly chimed in and said the new site was better ad would be easier to build on. We agreed to follow them to the site and examine. So we mounted up…….the Governor and his party hopped in their armored SUVs (Paid for by the US) and took off like bats out of hell. They were gone in minutes…..we had no idea where we were going in the valley so we took off after them, our heavy trucks whining in the thinning air and steep climbs. As we rounded a corner, afghan cars and trucks whipping by in the opposite lane we pass an Afghan National Police checkpoint on the left and realized the Governor and his party had stopped there. There was nowhere to turn around our armored beasts so we pressed ahead to the District Center. As we continued to climb we opted to pull over at a spot large enough to accommodate our chariots. As we stopped to assess our options, the Governor passed us by, traveling at nearly the speed of sound without fear. We loaded up and chased after them. After arriving at the District Center we secured the perimeter and established an out cordon for security and walked to join the Governor. No sooner did we greet him than he dashed off. We had no idea where the Deputy Governor’s house was so we grabbed the District Chief and told him to wait for us, he began to argue, but we strategically placed our trucks so as to not allow him to leave. We again told him to lead us on but to drive slowly. Another 15 minutes of mountain climbing and we arrived at the Deputy Governor’s house. His house sat on the roadside with only a minimal shoulder on the opposite roadside. Those of us going inside dismounted and entered the house. We held our Provincial Development Meeting on a terrace looking over a river valley. Afterwards we had lunch and agreed to meet the Governor at the ANP station we had passed in order to review the site as a potential location for the District Center.
5 Sep 07: It’s September in Afghanistan, five months in country, 8 months since I left home. I thought I would give a description of an average mission for our Team. Our mission today was relatively simple, we were to conduct a groundbreaking ceremony for a new District Center in the Salang District of the Parwan Province and then conduct our weekly Provincial Development Meeting at the Deputy Governor’s residence. Our planning called for us to meet the Governor, Deputy Governor, and the contractor at the Governor’s office and then follow them into the valley. We expected an easy mission since this was a very permissive area, the area saw some heavy fighting against the Soviets and the Taliban. The Salang valley is mountainous with only one real road In and out. I had not been this far north in the Province but we all expected an easy day. We departed Bagram a little after 0800 and headed for the Governor’s residence, all was going well until we come upon a village and discovered that the construction crew we had paving the road was putting in drainage pipes and had a gaping ditch across the road. We dismounted and after our Convoy Commander (Army E-5) assessed it he said we could cross using some sheets of old Soviet metal, and so he carefully guided all of our UAHs (Up Armored Humvee) safely across. We mounted up and were off. We hit the city of Charikar in the middle of market day so the streets were crowded with everything from cars to donkeys. We carefully picked our way through the crown and made it to the Governor’s office, where we discovered that the contractor was delayed. So now, a 5 minute stop was turning into a long delay. The Governor invited us in for the obligatory chi (tea) as we waited. Eventually the contractor arrived and then the first bombshell was dropped. The Governor informed us all that he had changed his mind on where he wanted his District Center……….what? The Contractor was not happy, we were not happy and so the “negotiations” began. The contractor wanted more money…..the deputy governor suddenly chimed in and said the new site was better ad would be easier to build on. We agreed to follow them to the site and examine. So we mounted up…….the Governor and his party hopped in their armored SUVs (Paid for by the US) and took off like bats out of hell. They were gone in minutes…..we had no idea where we were going in the valley so we took off after them, our heavy trucks whining in the thinning air and steep climbs. As we rounded a corner, afghan cars and trucks whipping by in the opposite lane we pass an Afghan National Police checkpoint on the left and realized the Governor and his party had stopped there. There was nowhere to turn around our armored beasts so we pressed ahead to the District Center. As we continued to climb we opted to pull over at a spot large enough to accommodate our chariots. As we stopped to assess our options, the Governor passed us by, traveling at nearly the speed of sound without fear. We loaded up and chased after them. After arriving at the District Center we secured the perimeter and established an out cordon for security and walked to join the Governor. No sooner did we greet him than he dashed off. We had no idea where the Deputy Governor’s house was so we grabbed the District Chief and told him to wait for us, he began to argue, but we strategically placed our trucks so as to not allow him to leave. We again told him to lead us on but to drive slowly. Another 15 minutes of mountain climbing and we arrived at the Deputy Governor’s house. His house sat on the roadside with only a minimal shoulder on the opposite roadside. Those of us going inside dismounted and entered the house. We held our Provincial Development Meeting on a terrace looking over a river valley. Afterwards we had lunch and agreed to meet the Governor at the ANP station we had passed in order to review the site as a potential location for the District Center.
WOW, another day that can only be described as awesome! On Sunday we learned that one of our Provincial Governors was relieved by President Karzai (http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/world/8539227.html). After that news, all heck broke lose as Coalition and Afghan leaders reacted to the news. The Governor, who was educated in America and held a MA, was the strongest of our two Governors. Well anyways, we received a phone call from one of the Provincial leaders and wanted to meet with us on Monday morning in Kabul. We were to fly down to Kabul the next morning and hold quick discussions on the future of reconstruction efforts in his districts. Our Operations Officer reacted quickly and made the necessary arrangements for us to catch a flight the next day. On Monday I walked down to the rotary wing PAX terminal and held our seats. We were to fly on UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. The flight, only 20 minutes long was awesome. We flew with the doors open and it was exciting to see the countryside from the air. I took lots of pics and two videos to help share the experience. After we arrived at Kabul Intl Airport our Brigade Commander called off the meeting so we turned around and caught the next helo back to base. All in all, another day where I find myself doing things I never thought I would ever see myself doing.
30 Jun 07: Oh well, I suppose my feeble attempts at keeping this blog updated have failed. I guess I need to recap the last month and half. The Afghan government (IROA) has challenged its provincial governors to develop Provincial Development Plans that will tie into the national strategy. Our two Provinces (Parwan and Kapisa) were the first Provinces to attempt this. Our PRT was an integral part of the governments planning. The UN and USAID were also key to the efforts. After these very important meetings we were saddened by the loss of a local woman who owned a private radio station. She was a key leader in the Parwan province and a staunch supporter of the Coalition forces. She was assassinated in her home while sleeping with her young children. Her husband who was at the radio station is now left to raise six kids. Her loss hit us hard since we had just met with her a few weeks prior. Her leadership was significant enough to warrant a statement from First Lady Laura Bush. Our Brigade Command met with the Governor and issued a joint statement condemning her murder. We then departed on our most dangerous mission to date. We facilitated a meeting between the village elders and Shurahs and the Governor in an area where the Taliban was extremely active. Our Brigade Commander and the Governor spoke to the Afghan leaders assuring them that only when the Taliban were no longer supported could we begin to give them projects and other development they wanted. It was eerie to sit in a room with Afghans that were certainly Taliban. We were not engaged by the enemy, but with the firepower we brought they would have been annihilated. Our PRT performed another medical engagement, treating several hundred Afghans. We worked side by side with Afghan doctors and medical staff in an Afghan hospital. We also opened new roads in our area, connecting Districts and increasing the Afghan’s capacity to further develop their economy. Every project, every school, road, well, clinic, bridge is all aimed at one single objective….strengthening the self-sufficiency fo the IROA.
18 May 07: Today was another mission escorting leadership to a KLE (Key Leader Engagement). Our colonel (O-6) was meeting with a Provincial Minister for lunch. No big deal, except our route was blocked on the way to the location. The road had been turned into a cement factory by local villagers. They had dug a large hole and were mixing cement in it. After our interpreter talked to the villagers we inched our way around some houses (thoughts of last weeks missions running through our minds) and back on the road. We had to cross a canal and “bridge” marked on the map was actually a 25 year old soviet bridge, the kind placed by the mechanized tanks, in other words, temporary and portable. This “bridge” was rusted and didn’t look stable. The villagers were encouraging us to cross telling us ….”Good, strong”, we buckled up and off we went…..thankfully I was in the first truck…..we made it okay. At the Ministers house lunch was good, again the kabobs kicked butt. They brought out the fish and I was taken back by the fish…..just check out my pics under May.