Lessons Learned Volume 1

I’m well into the third quarter of my mission now and thought it might be appropriate to share a few of the lessons I’ve learned so far.  If you are considering coming to Kabul on any type of assignment these pointers may come in handy. Just remember that there is a context to all these observations and they are based mostly on my experience working on a secure facility in Kabul.  Make no mistake; serving in Kabul is a completely different experience than serving in other parts of Afghanistan.  In most ways Kabul is a more secure location and most of the Kabul Afghans are appreciative of the NATO presence.  Most children go to school, literacy rates are higher here than in most Afghan cities, the infrastructure is better, and people tend to be more in touch with what is happening in politics, business, and economics locally and internationally.  You’ll see lots of people on cell phones and many young people surf the web.  I’ve met many soldiers, diplomats, and police officers who work in other parts of Afghanistan and they’ll be quick to tell you that there are two very different wars going on in Afghanistan, the first being in Kabul and the second in the rest of the country.

So here, in no particular order, are some ‘nuggets of wisdom’ that have been passed down to me by veterans or that I have stumbled upon myself.  Much of what I will share relates to advising the Afghan police on criminal investigations.

• When dealing with Western advisors the Afghans tend to avoid confrontation. They will tend to agree with you, tell you that you are very wise and full of good ideas but in the end most times they will follow their own schedules and their own counsels.  This can be frustrating. Unless you are in a position to exercise some leverage such as funding or providing equipment you’d better quickly adjust your expectations of exactly how much you’ll be able to influence the Afghan military and police.  It is a slow process but our work here does advance their skill sets, capacities, and experience.

Driving through Kabul you are guaranteed to see a scene like this.  These small beasts haul huge loads of timber, pipes, and produce.  They can really motor along too.

• Similarly, one must always remember that we are guests in this country.  I can provide sound advice, good training, direction, and encouragement but in the end it is the Afghans who are in charge of their investigations.  This is exactly as it should be. But for results-oriented criminal investigators the pace and course of the investigation can be frustrating.

•  I must always remember that I really don’t know much about daily life in Kabul nor can I begin to appreciate the consequences of what 30 years of war has done to the Afghans emotionally, physically, or psychologically.  Try to practice empathy always.  When you look at an Afghan remember that it’s virtually guaranteed that they have lost at least one loved one in the last few years to insurgency-related violence.  They likely have a home full of people to support and few have the means to get by.  Every day is a struggle.  They are tired and without much hope that their situation will improve very much, if at all.

•  Don’t ever underestimate the dangers of being a member of the Afghan National Police.  In 2010 over 7,000 police officers were killed on duty.  Police die here in numbers almost every other day.  They and their families become targets of insurgents and the criminal mafias that infest every aspect of Afghan politics and business.

• Drink lots of bottled water everyday.

• Arrive in Afghanistan in good physical shape.  Stay fit and exercise while you are here. Exercise will keep you sane and provide a healthy avenue to burn off nervous energy, boredom, and anxiety.

An outdoor meat shop in Kabul.  We've driven past this shop a few times.  Once we saw the freshly butchered calf on the dirt in front of the shop and another one calf standing by the red stool apparently waiting for his turn. They skin the animal right there on the road and then hang it up.  I don't recommend eating street meat.

• Find a hobby or other distraction and use your downtime to be productive.  Most of the large camps have a wide variety of social activities and programs to fill your evenings.  Learn another language while you’re here, take some online courses if you can but do something.  It’s a long year otherwise.

• Don’t become too comfortable or complacent with security but also relax a bit.  We’ve seen some people so alert and jumpy that they simply can’t operate in this environment.  For them, every vehicle that passes in traffic is a car bomb, every traffic jam an ambush, every loud noise is an explosion.  You simply won’t last if you can’t manage the stress.  Be smart but don’t be paranoid.

• Figure out how to use Skype long before you get here.  Skype is a lifeline home.  I can’t imagine being without it.

One of the many graveyards in Kabul.  Those are headstones, most with no inscriptions.  Kids will play soccer in this particular cemetery which is actually quite a bit bigger than the picture suggests.  There is an even bigger one just down the road from this one you see here.

• Earthquakes happen, don’t freak out like I did when that first tremor rocks you.

• Bring as little as possible.  Everything you need can be found at the shops in the camps and bases.

• Seek out opportunities to get involved with some type of civil activity outside your particular job.  Make some connection to Afghanistan or Kabul outside your work.  You’ll be exposed to a whole different experience, one that is equally or even more satisfying.

• You will get sick, often.  Accept it.  It’s not always going to put you out of commission but when it hits hard you’ll know.  When you do become ill take it easy and rest for a couple of days.  The food in the mess halls is almost always fine but be very careful about eating any food from restaurants or markets.  I would not recommend it.  Always travel with some extra clean underwear and never, ever trust an Afghan fart!

• Finally, at least once find a cool place to meet your family for leave.  Try the island of Cephalonia, Greece....

or Bodrum, Turkey.

Thanks for checking in.

Ken.

Canada Day in Kabul

CANADA DAY 2011

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

Yesterday a few members of the Canadian Civilian Police (CivPol) Contingent in Kabul celebrated Canada Day in the best way we know how....by having a ball hockey game.  My American colleagues graciously agreed to field a team and host the game here in our camp's gymnasium.  At 1000 hrs July 01 Team Canada took to the ice (gym floor) against Team U.S.A. Team Canada was anxious to win the cup....any cup...but a formidable Team U.S.A. looked to thwart our efforts. 

After our respective national anthems were played, the Canadian CivPol Commander and the DEA Regional Director dropped the ball and it was GAME ON!  The Americans got off to a quick lead with two goals but Canada charged back.  The American goalie, a veteran DEA Agent and former Detroit city copper, stood on his head to keep the score close.  However, Team Canada was not to be denied and hammered home four unanswered goals to close the first half with a 4-2 lead.  A few of our Afghan colleagues were watching and it may very well have been the first time they had seen hockey played.

The teams re-grouped at the break and chose to play soccer for the second half of the match.  The ball hockey had been intensely competitive and the blades were snapping off the hockey sticks faster than they could be repaired.  The soccer game started off tentative with both teams feeling each other out and testing each other's skills.  As the tempo of the players ramped up so did the cheers of the mostly American crowd who urged their heroes on towards victory.  However, it was the Canadians who won the day with a 5-2 victory.

The game was a tremendous good-natured morale boost for all involved.  The DEA presented the Candian CivPol Commander with the game balls which today are displayed with pride in the Canadian Embassy.  The DEA put on a wonderful barbeque after the game and there were lots of handshakes and backslapping to go around.  The Canadians were invited to field a team for a soccer re-match of sorts on Independence Day July 04.  It was a wonderful morning that we were happy to share with our American cousins.

After lunch I was lucky enough to witness a time-honoured American military tradition.  One of my colleagues was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain right here at our camp.  It was the first time many of us had attended such a ceremony and it was indeed a privilege to watch.  Congratulations to U.S. Army Captain H. LEE promoted in Afghanistan on Canada Day 2011!

In the evening Canadian soldiers and police officers met at Canada House at ISAF headquarters.  As the burgers sizzled on the grill we listened to Blue Rodeo and got to re-new friendships with some of the soldiers we had trained with back in Kingston.  General Bears awarded medals to several Canadian soldiers and gave a very fine speech to the crowd.

It was an exciting experience to celebrate Canada Day in Kabul.  Even though we are far away from home being surrounded by our friends and fellow Canadians made home feel just a little bit closer.  As the sun dropped down my colleagues and I geared back up and drove back to our respective camps.

It was a good day with good friends.

Thanks for checking in.

Ken.

Hitting Stride

I am several months into my deployment now and I have settled into my routine.  I don't have opportunities to travel beyond the same 4 or 5 destinations in Kabul so I'm afraid I have no new exciting travel adventures to share.  My work is extremely satisfying and I'm starting to hit stride.  I have shifted from primarily coordinating training towards advising on particular financial investigations.  My Afghan colleagues are very good to work with and they seem to be grasping the concepts I'm coaching them on.  In many respects its like being a Field Training Officer or Squad Sergeant.  All our conversations occur through a translator and I try and explain the same point several different ways to make sure that not too much is lost in translation.

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.

Kabul's Kids II

 Yesterday we spent much of the day on the road driving through Kabul.  We were lucky enough to catch kids on their way to school and coming home after school. All these pictures were taken from a moving vehicle so pardon the quality.  Its difficult to get out for a stroll on Kabul streets and meet folks but hopefully these photos will give you a feel for the city and its people.

 

We started off our day with a smile and a solid "Thumbs Up" from this young fella on his way to school.

 In parts of town you may find garden plots like this one.  This plot is situated close to the Kabul River which runs through town and thanks to steady rains and snow melt actually has a considerable amount of water flowing through it.

 In contrast to the mostly brown landscapes and smog that I see from my camp, most of the young girls and women are dressed in very bright and beautiful clothes.  Note the ever present dust kicked up off the road.

 On each trip into town we see fruit and vegetable merchants by the side of the road.  This man is selling lettuce today.  We've seen a number of strawberry merchants as well using carts similar to these.  They arrange the strawberries with the pointed ends facing up and it looks very nice.  They splash water on them to keep their produce moist.  You can see some water flying onto the lettuce in this photo. They look fresh and healthy but we don't eat them.  The gastronomical consequences are too severe.

 Water is drawn from communal pumps like this one located on the side of roads.  Communal dumpsters also dot the streets but make for lousy pictures.  Those bins fill up quickly and overflow.  Goat herders bring their flocks to pick through the garbage piles and eat up any scraps of food.

 

 This little man was pushing this wheelbarrow down the street backwards at a very quick pace.  In fact he was running with it.  

Its not all pleasure trips through Kabul.  I actually do have to work.  Here I'm giving a seminar on money laundering to a group of Afghan police officers.  My PowerPoint needed to be translated into Dari and I instructed through a translator.

Thanks for checking in.

Ken.

Kabul's Kids

Before I deployed to Afghanistan I had the pleasure to visit the staff and students at Westglen Elementary School in Edmonton, Alberta.  With the help of two wonderful assistants I was able to make presentations to all of the Westglen classes. I really tried to give the students some idea of what it was like to be a kid growing up in Afghanistan.  We looked at pictures of schools, teachers, and students in Afghanistan.  We drew some comparisons between schooling and education in Afghanistan with their experiences in Westglen.  My goal was to demonstrate that despite horrible poverty and insecurity the kids in Afghanistan share many of the same interests as the kids at Westglen. Although they may live far away from each other kids in Kabul are not really that different from Westglen kids. It was an effective lesson in equality and empathy, for all of us. The Westglen students had many good questions and observations.  One young student told me that it made him mad that kids in Kabul didn’t get the same chances that kids in Edmonton had.  That my friends is the wisdom of youth.  

It hasn’t taken me long to find practical examples in Kabul of just how similar kids in these two cities really are.  I’ve seen many groups of kids playing soccer and cricket in vacant dirt lots, schoolyards, paved streets, and even in a cemetery.  I’ve also seen kids skateboarding, playing tag, and riding bikes.  I’ve been driving through Kabul when school lets out and I’ve seen the kids walking home. 

  

Skateboarding with friends in Kabul.  Note the security checkpoint and the barbed wire on the walls behind these boys.  Along this stretch of road boys and girls as young as 6 work selling trinkets and souvenirs to Westerners. That is what the 2 girls in the background were doing when I took this photo.

There are no green spaces in Kabul where kids can play.  But kids will usually find a way. In this photo a group of boys are playing soccer in an empty dirt lot.  

However, I’ve also seen how poverty affects the young children in Kabul.  This is where the similarities end and the reality of life in Afghanistan is clear for all to see.  There is a particularly bumpy stretch of dirt road not too far from my camp where traffic needs to slow down.  Almost everyday, standing in the middle of traffic is a woman with her young son.  I think he is maybe 5 years old.  She holds out her hand hoping that drivers will stop and give her some money.  Her young son sits at her feet in the dirt surrounded by dust and exhaust.  When it’s raining he sits in the mud on a rock at his mother’s feet.  They are there for hours at a time almost every day.  Tonight after dark, while driving home we stopped for a very young girl, maybe 6 years old, who was standing on the side of another very busy road selling eggs.  Traffic was very slow because the police had a checkpoint in the area.  Even though it’s against the rules I cracked open the door just wide enough to hand the girl two American dollars.  Believe it or not $2 dollars will buy 18 large loaves of naan bread in Kabul. That is enough bread to feed a family for a week.

These are sad things for us to see everyday but it helps all of us to recognize how fortunate we are.  So on those occasions when I see Afghan kids at play I stop and watch them for as long as I can.  It reminds me that kids are kids the world over and they ought to be playing, not working the streets.

This sentiment is shared by the staff and the students at Westglen.  As part of their “Go Global” theme they have decided to reach out to the kids in Kabul in a meaningful way.  In the coming months I will be fortunate enough to do my part to “bring” Westglen to Kabul and help facilitate Westglen's interaction with a group of Kabul’s kids.  Please stay tuned and check back in to see how Westglen truly lives up to the school’s motto: “We’ve Got Character”.  

 Here is the link for the finest elementary school in Edmonton: Westglen Elementary:  http://westglen.epsb.ca/

Thanks for checking in.

Ken.

SOLA: School of Leadership Afghanistan

Our collective future lies in the hands of our young people.  This statement is as true for Canada as it is for Afghanistan. One of the goals that I set for myself during my deployment to Afghanistan was to be a conduit that brought young people from Edmonton and Kabul together in a meaningful, and hopefully, enduring way. My hope was that by using technology to span the distance between them these young people would be able to gain a new level of understanding and appreciation for each other and hopefully make some lasting friendships along the way.

In December 2010 I turned to the staff and students at Ross Sheppard High School in Edmonton.  I met two wonderful teachers and made presentations to their classes on Afghanistan, the role of Canadian Police in Afghanistan, and invited them to ‘meet’ Afghan youth.  The staff and students were very keen and I was very encouraged by their enthusiasm.

During my pre-deployment training in Ottawa I was fortunate enough to meet a talented woman, herself a student completing a Master’s program at Royal Roads University in British Columbia, who used her contacts to introduce me to the School of Leadership Afghanistan (SOLA) in Kabul.  After exploring SOLA’s website I was sure that this was the right school to approach.  Once in Kabul I contacted SOLA’s Founder and Managing Director Mr. Ted Achilles.  Interested in the prospect of connecting with Ross Sheppard Ted was very gracious and invited me to SOLA for dinner to meet the students and staff.

I was fortunate enough to visit SOLA on Tuesday March 08, International Women’s Day.  I attended with two members of the European Union mission and Ted welcomed us like family.  We were introduced to a number of students.  All the students, save one, were young ladies.  It was a wonderful night and I was very honoured to meet these exceptional young people and their dedicated teachers.  The enthusiasm, energy, and ambition of these young people was very inspiring.  They represent everything that is great about the people of Afghanistan. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner, shared a little bit about ourselves, and enjoyed each other's company.  I don't mind saying that being surrounded by such vibrant young people and their infectious laughter made me a bit homesick.

I could have listened to Ted all evening.  Its clear that Ted is very proud of the personal and educational achievements of his students and the students certainly love Mr. Ted.  Ted explained to the other guests and I that SOLA is not only the name of the school but it also means "Peace" in Pastu and happens to be a girl's name.  SOLA's goal is to prepare the very best Afghan students for study in the U.S. and abroad so that they may return home to become future leaders of Afghanistan. SOLA places special emphasis on creating the conditions for ambitious young women to pursue their studies

Ted spoke with great pride about the current students and SOLA'S graduates.  One of SOLA'S recent graduates was invited by the Office of the President of the United States to spend that very evening with the First Lady at the White House to celebrate International Women's Day.  Another had recently finished her first semester at Yale University and scored a perfect GPA.  Another is a Madeline Albright fellow at a prestigious American University.  Perhaps most demonstrative of the "Leadership" in SOLA is the success of another recent graduate who is a finalist for a large grant which she plans on using to continue building a school in Afghanistan.  I say 'continue building' because this remarkable graduate has been building that particular school since she was 16 years old. 

SOLA and Ross Sheppard have since been introduced and over the next few weeks the students will get a chance to meet each other over the internet to Skype and e-mail.  SOLA’s students are the future leaders of Afghanistan and it was a privilege to meet them.  I am very grateful to the staff and students at Ross Sheppard for sharing a bit of themselves with SOLA’s students. 

Please visit the websites for SOLA and Ross Sheppard:

http://www.sola-afghanistan.org/Home

http://shep.epsb.ca/

Thanks for checking in.

Ken

Yet Another First

Well I made it through my first earthquake yesterday. At about 2 pm Monday afternoon the 5.8 magnitude tremor rumbled through the Hindu Kush Mountain Range 120 kilometers below the earth’s surface.  It was my first experience with earthquakes and I won’t soon forget it.  I was working at the desk in my room on the second floor of our quarters.  My building is a two-storey structure made of steel and concrete and is solid by any measure.  Suddenly, the whole building started to shake and rattle.  The broom that stands up against the wall in my room fell to the floor and the lamp on my desk began bouncing around.  At first I didn’t know what was happening.  It felt like I was in a fifth wheel trailer at Whistler’s Campground that was getting rocked back and forth by some drunken college kids.  Once I realized that it was an earthquake my steely reflexes, honed to a razor’s edge by years of specialized police training and experience, kicked into action.  I bolted from my chair and ran out into the hallway flailing my arms like a ragdoll screaming “EARTHQUAKE!!  EARTHQUAKE!!” 

Now like I said, I’ve never experienced and earthquake before.  Apparently a 5.8 magnitude tremor 120 kilometers underground is not much of an event.  The old salty veterans that live on my floor didn’t even blink when our building shook.  Truth is that I caused more damage to the building than the tremor.  While sprinting towards the exit in my rush to preserve my own safety I kicked over a garbage can and broke a light bulb.  I never I said I made it through the earthquake gracefully but I’ll try and do better on the next one.

Today I made another trip into downtown Kabul.  On the way I saw this resident auditioning for a part in the sequel to the movie “UP”.   I think he may be the most cheerful person in all of Kabul.

Thanks for checking in.

Ken.

CivPol's Changing Role

I thought this might be a good opportunity to explain how Canada's Civilian Police (CivPol) Mission to Afghanistan has recently changed.  Canadian police officers have been in Afghanistan since 2005.  These officers have served primarily in Kandahar Province providing basic training to front line Afghan National Police (ANP) officers. This training included some of the basics of police recruit training but also involved going out on patrols with ANP through villages and farmlands, spending considerable time at Police Sub-Stations, and attending village meetings.  Each of these is a very dangerous proposition. Their living conditions were less than glamorous and more difficult than they'd probably care to share.  

Coinciding with the upcoming 2011 shift in the Government of Canada's military mission, the CivPol mission has also changed.  Our rotation is the first group of CivPol to work within this new mission mandate.  The job postings have shifted almost universally from Kandahar to Kabul.  Now CivPol are focused on advising and mentoring the senior ANP officers at the strategic, organizational, and tactical levels of police operations.  Identifying opportunities for training remains a priority for all CivPol members regardless of their particular assignments even within our new mandate.

For the most part this means that CivPol will not be out in the field as much as we have been in the past.  Most of us will likely not travel outside of Kabul.  We all know how dangerous Kandahar has been and continues to be.  I have only spent a few days in Kandahar and even then I never left the monstrous base.  I can tell you that it is a very different place than Kabul.  When you're on the Kandahar Air Field you know without question that you are in a war zone.  Military armoured vehicles, attack aircraft, thousands of armed soldiers, and all the other machines and noises of war surround you.  All these are also present in Kabul but seemingly to a lesser extent.

For those Canadian CivPol who lived and worked out in the field Kandahar was a tough place to serve.  It still is and we CivPol in Kabul often talk and fuss about our colleagues who are still there.  Their professionalism and accomplishments have earned Canada a great deal of respect and credibility by our Afghan and NATO partners.  Our invitation to counsel the ANP senior ranks is largely a testament to those Canadian CivPol who slugged it out in Kandahar.  Their's was, and continues to be, a difficult job, and a job well done.

Thanks for checking in.

Ken.

A lesson in contrasts

A few days ago I had the chance to climb the mountain behind my camp.  We went up as a group first thing in the morning and were treated to some spectacular views.  Here are some photos.

The above photo is of a mountain range on the other side of Kabul.  In other words Kabul lies between this mountain you see and the hill I was standing on.
 

These two photos were taken looking down off the other side of the mountain I was standing on.  Kabul is on the south side of the ridge and these spots are to the north side.

In this shot we are above the smog and looking across the valley.  Kabul is between our position and that mountain across the valley

After coming down from the hill I quickly checked the Afghan headlines and was reminded of the contrasts between the stunning landscape and the shocking circumstances intertwined in Kabul.  Below is a an excerpt form an Afghan news story dated 2011 February 27.  If you read my blog about Gen Romeo Dallaire and his book on child soldiers you'll recognize that tactic being used by the insurgency here in Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan.

By Rahim Faiez And Amir Shah, Associated Press

The Afghan intelligence service announced the arrests of a Pakistani boy and two teenagers — one from Afghanistan and the other from Pakistan — who claimed they had been coerced into becoming would-be suicide bombers.

All three appeared at a news conference and recounted stories of how militants forced them into becoming suicide attackers for the insurgency. The intelligence service wanted to highlight claims that have surfaced in the past two weeks of insurgents trying to persuade young people to give up their lives for the insurgency.

Akhtar Nawaz, 14, from South Waziristan in Pakistan, said six men in a vehicle nabbed him off the street while he was walking home from school.

"They told me that I had to carry out a suicide attack," Nawaz told reporters. "I told them I didn't want to, but they forced me to go with them. They told me that there were foreigners in Afghanistan and if I carried out a suicide attack, I would go to heaven."

Nawaz said the men took him to various locations and taught him how to shoot a pistol, ride a motorbike and detonate a suicide vest. His mission, he said, was to shoot guards at an Afghan military compound in Khost province, then to ride inside and detonate his cache of explosives. He said he was told that if the detonation button on his vest didn't work, he should detonate the explosives by shooting himself with the pistol.

He said he was driven to Khost and shown the target but decided not to go through with the attack at the last minute, turning himself in to Afghan security forces instead. He remains in custody.

Ghamia, a 19-year-old shopkeeper from the southern city of Kandahar said he was approached several times by militants trying to persuade him to become a suicide attacker to ensure himself a place in heaven. For his service, he said the militants promised to give his parents 500,000 Pakistan rupees ($5,800).

"They told me `This is a good job. We are paying 500,000 rupees to your parents and you'll go to heaven. What more do you want?'" he said.

Over two months, he was taken to various locations, sometimes while blindfolded in the car. Intelligence service officials, acting on tips, arrested him in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province along the Pakistani border before he ever received instructions for carrying out a suicide attack.

Yasur, 19, of Peshawar, Pakistan, was arrested while eating lunch at a hotel in Laghman province, east of Kabul.

Yasur said four men in Pakistan encouraged him to join the insurgency as a suicide bomber. He said he was eventually taken to the east side of Kabul where he stayed with a cleric named Zunelabidin.

In a videotape provided by the intelligence service, the cleric told authorities that he had helped the Taliban two or three times in the past year to get equipment, including wire for making bombs. Zunelabidin, who was arrested at the hotel with Yasur, said he also had provided a place for suicide bombing recruits to stay.

At least five high-profile suicide bombings have struck security forces and civilians across Afghanistan since January.

One bomber struck an upscale supermarket frequented by foreigners in Kabul on Jan. 28, killing eight people. Seventeen days later, another suicide bomber in Kabul attacked a Western-style shopping mall, killing two security guards.

Taliban insurgents wearing explosive vests attacked a police headquarters in Kandahar on Feb. 12, unleashing an arsenal of car bombs, automatic rifle fire and rocket-propelled grenades and killing at least 18 people, many of them police.

In Khost, a suicide attacker in a bomb-laden car struck a police station on Feb. 18, killing 11 people.

In northern Afghanistan, a suicide bomber blew himself up Monday at the entrance to an Afghan government office in Kunduz province, killing at least 30 people, including many who were waiting in line to obtain government identification cards, police said.  

Associated Press Writer Deb Riechmann in Kabul contributed to this report.

check http://www.afghanistannewscenter.com/news/2011/february/feb262011.html#4 for the entire article.

If these abductions make you angry, well that's good.  I doubt stories like this make the news back home.  If you'd like to do something to raise the political and social profile of child soldiers then check out General Dallaire's Child Soldier Initiative called Zero Force.  I have a link at the bottom of the blog.  Also, talk about the issue with your friends and colleagues and feel free to share my blog with them.  Finally, write a letter to your MP and make your representative in Ottawa aware of how you feel.  The government can raise the priority of child soldiering as a security issue but only if we make MPs accountable.  If you write such a letter feel free to post a copy on this blog (just post your initials and not your full name).

Thanks for checking in.

Ken

Driving Through Kabul

Here are a few photos I took today.  It was clear afternoon and I could easily see the snow covered mountains of the Hindu Kush range.  These mountains ring Kabul and the area is frequently subject to minor earthquakes and on occasion stronger more devastating quakes.  As you can see in some of these photos not much steel goes into construction here and when walls shake roofs collapse.  My colleagues tell me that its not always easy to see Kabul because of all the smog.  The breeze was just right today and it blew all the smoke and dust away. This is the view from my camp.

I took these photos from a moving vehicle so some of them might have been a bit shaky.

 

This last photo was taken closer to the center of Kabul.  The roads are better and traffic gets very heavy at all times of day.  Driving in Kabul is not for amateurs and the rules of the road are interpreted liberally.  There are no traffic lights that I've seen, just round-abouts and uncontrolled intersections.  Yet everybody seems to understand the flow and people get where they're going.  I feel bad for one of my colleagues on my deployment....he was assigned to mentor the Traffic Section.  He's got his work cut out for him.

Thanks for checking in.

Ken.