Afghanistan

Update from SUA contributor directly from Afghanistan
Courtesy of General Vallely

Hey all,
Just doing my weekly check in. I have been out for very short periods of time then coming back in regularly. I am headed back out again to meet a "very special" guy today. I will tell you about him if this goes through. I am actually excited because he may be the biggest player I get to tap into as a previous Mujahideen War Lord. I believe after today, we may tone down our local stuff though because thier is too many reports floating about some things we dont want to be out around. I dont know though we will see, my attitude is that I dont get paid to sit on my butt, at the same time, I have to use my head. Anyway, attached is a guy about 26 years old, his name is Mohmund. I am out and about doing some work on him. Dont worry, I am always armed even when you cant see it. He is the first guy to ever accept me right away. I told you before abuot the story of me getting my first 3 cups of tea. Well he is the guy. Mohmund comes from Laghman province. He and his family are overly powerful in that province. He has been in the minning industry all his life and his history of doing it goes back 5 generations. His father is the tribal elder and while I have never met the guy, I have been granted protection from him and his tribe when I ever go up to that region because I have done so much for him and his family already. Mohmund has a 6 month old child who is absolutely georgous! She is his pride and joy. I asked him what would happen if he was ever in a perdiciment where he had to give her up because of something so many farmers have to do due to the opium crops they grow and failure to pay their share to taliban and he said "Never!" "I would never give her up Kerry. Maybe a while ago I understood why men would have to give up their small female children because of threats and payments but you have been teaching me so much." I asked him why someone like me would have to go here and teach men that giving up a child is wrong no matter the circumstances and if you were ever to fight over anything you should be fighting to ensure the safety of your children first like the Prophet Mohammed did? (Always throw a Islamic concept out their even when you know its BS, it keeps building thier faith in you as someone who knows and respects their religion, its kind of funny that I do it so well because I believe all of you know how I truly feel about Islam)Basically he told me that the Taliban have found a way to exploit Pashtunwalli and Sharia so whatever the two laws fit them best that day, they find a way to twist it to make people cower down and do what they are told. (Obviously he didnt say it in those words but that was the point). So why do I tell you all this? Not because I want a pat on the back saying I am doing a good job, rather because people are here are changing and with that they are learning to change with good influences. I have seen a couple people lately doing the right thing and just the short time here I have seen some people flip 180 degrees. Like the U.S., Afghanistan will not change because of thier government nor will it become a patriotic country right away. It takes each individual to do their part to make that happen.

While times here are getting a little more violent, it is people like Mohmund that assist individuals like myself who often wonder why we are here when I see the U.S. gov messing up so much. The answer is because just like in the U.S. too many people think the gov is who makes the differences, and in all reality it is the individual.

I plan on writing a story about Mohmund and his life. He has a lot to be written about. He lives with his family in a small mud (almost like an adobe) hut for a house. His family living in this house is nothing like America. Imagine we have our Grandparents, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, our own children, and some aunts and uncles living all under one roof? Imagine sleeping in a bed with 4 or five other people? This is what its like and they wouldnt want it any other way because they love their family that much. He has been in prison 3 different times during the Taliban regime and got out all three times because he comes from a very powerful tribe. He is scared and actualy is proud of showing off his scars from his short periods of prison life. He believes he defeated the taliban in his own way. I think we have all defeated our own Taliban at one time or another. I always said, I would never want to write a book by myelsf again because of the deamons my first one brought to me, well, Mohmund has faced his deamons that were a lot worse then mine. I think maybe if anything someone like him deserves to be written about. We will see.

Anyway, I just wanted you to all to know I was thinking about you and miss you all. God bless!!!