I had several e-mails from Dan today. In one of them he complained that there were not enough pictures of him in the blog, so I told him I'd rectify that today! Of course, some of the e-mails were in my capacity as his personal assistant. Somehow he has managed to lose his safety glasses (not surprising). Luckily they can have a new pair made for him next week, and sent over with one of the other guys in his battery. I however, have to go pick them up and drop them off. He really does not pay me enough.
He is gradually settling into the routine, and his sleep patterns are finally adjusted (if only Katty's were). It is very interesting to hear his impressions of Afghanistan. He truly believes there have been positive changes since he was there in September, in large part due to the guys that they are taking over from.
"Winter is over here already, and spring is coming, with things starting to green up and rain every couple of days. Temperatures are still great (20 or so in the day, between 5 and 10 at night), everyone says the heat will hit in another two months. Can't wait. Many of the villages have been hit pretty hard from all the fighting, but despite that the locals are starting to return and begin working their fields. The poverty here is pretty brutal, in the countryside the locals have almost nothing. They scrape a living from farming grapes and drug crops, living in pretty primitive conditions (no power or running water, contaminated water sources, donkey cart and foot are the primary modes of transport). They local government and police are almost all corrupt, and make a living off the backs of or shaking down the locals. Things are getting better, but its slow. On top of it all you have the Taliban intimidating and coercing many of the locals to help them. I feel most sorry for the kids, who despite all the cultural differences are just like kids everywhere. One of our FOBs looks right down over a schoolyard, and watching the kids there play, fight and essentially get into trouble definitely reminded me of home."
It is hard to believe after reading that, that there are still people in Canada who believe we should not be in Afghanistan. I think too often the mission in Afghanistan is confused with the War in Iraq, which are 2 entirely different things. And there are those who are naive enough to believe that the people of Afghanistan would be better off if we were to abandon our mission there. I guess ignorance is bliss. Let's ignore the fact that millions of people live in abject poverty, have archaic health care, and children and women are denied basic human rights, such as the right to an education. No little girls in school, no music, no dance, no flying of kites. No joy or laughter. That's a much better solution. Change in Afghanistan will not happen over night, but one thing is clear, change won't happen at all without the security provided by the Canadian and NATO soldiers. Perhaps those who believe we should negotiate with the Taliban should have to live the life of a typical Afghan for a week, without the protection provided by our soldiers. I'm sure their thoughts on negotiation would quickly change. Let us not forget that this is a United Nations-sanctioned NATO commitment, and the Canada I grew up in would never shirk it's international commitment, and I hope this never happens in the Canada our children are growing up in. Because that is a Canada I would be ashamed of.
"Whether our task is fighting poverty, stemming the spread of disease or saving innocent lives from mass murder, we have seen that we cannot succeed without the leadership of the strong and the engagement of all." ~~Kofi Annan
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