I have a great deal of respect for my Afghan colleagues. The targets that they pursue are wealthy and very connected. A couple days ago we were discussing some basic surveillance opportunities. I implored my Afghan partner to be honest with me and tell me if he considered any of my suggestions too risky. He smiled a bit and reminded me that we're investigating powerful suspects and it's easy for them to have somebody killed in Afghanistan, including a police officer. He said for $1,500 USD people can be hired to do just that. It was a sobering reminder of what these officers face while investigating serious crimes, especially financial crimes. So far they haven't let me down in any way.
I asked one of the investigators about what it was like growing up in Afghanistan. He told me a story about when he was 10 years old and crossing with his family back into Afghanistan from Pakistan. He said they had to cross a checkpoint that had been established by tribal fighters. The fighters, all armed to the teeth, were extremely aggressive towards the officer's family and very quickly his father was pulled from their vehicle, pushed to the ground and had a rifle pressed up against his head. The officer, 10-years old at the time recall, placed himself between the rifle's barrel and his father crying out loud while shielding his father. The tribesmen, either amused or impressed, conceded and let the father live and allowed the family to pass. This is a pretty typical story of the conditions in which people live, love, and die in Afghanistan.
Command of the Canadian Police Contingent in Afghanistan recently changed. Many of the Canadian Police Officers, myself included, attended the ceremony at the Canadian Embassy. It was good to see the officers that I trained with in Ottawa and Kingston once again. I rarely get to see them and it's nice to catch up on their adventures, their vacations, and compare notes.
A couple weeks ago the members of my camp accepted a soccer challenge from our Afghan colleagues for a friendly match. They showed up in uniforms and as it turns out had considerable skills. They beat us down badly and ran circles around us. After a while enthusiasm gave way to talent and we accepted our loss. It was a good team-building exercise and there were lots of smiles and handshakes afterwards. The guard in the watchtower was our only spectator.
I've been back up the hill a few more times. We have to share the hill these days with a shepherd and his flock of sheep and goats.
Apparently nasty old beasts like this don't like it when you look at them straight in the eye and really don't like sharing the trail. No problem.......Nice goat.
Thanks for checking in.
Ken.
