Me and my new pal

On Saturday, the Vice-President elect came to ISAF HQ to get a security breifing from Gen. David McKiernan, COMISAF. After that briefing, he took a few minutes to talk with the troops. In this picture, my new pal Joe and I talked for a brief moment about our service here in Afghanistan.

Joe took a swing at the Karzi Administration when he told us, "thank you for your service. It's tough here. It's tough serving in a country where the government you're protecting isn't protecting you." He was obviously reacting to the recent death of five Americans soldiers here.

He may be a democrat, but I like him holding the Afghans president's feet to the fire!

A rough week for ISAF

It's been a rough week for the United States here in Afghanistan. Over the past couple of days, five US service members have been killed in action here. Their deaths should be remembered in the hearts and minds of every American safe on the home front.

In addition, this week we also lost a Canadian, an Australian and a couple of British soldiers. All here appreciate these countries, their contributions and the sacrifice their people have made.

NEWS RELEASE

International Security Assistance Force – Afghanistan

Five ISAF soldiers killed in southern Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (January 9) — Five ISAF soldiers were killed today in southern Afghanistan. “We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the soldiers who died while working to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan,” said Brigadier General Richard Blanchette, ISAF Spokesperson. “We have lost five valuable members of our team and these losses will be felt across ISAF.”

Hospital Update

Take a look at the stack of donations I've received so far. Thank you everyone. These boxes are packed with medical supplies and stuffed animals for the children at the Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital here in Kabul.

While I'm thrilled with what I've gotten so far, without sound ungrateful, my e-mail went out to more than 100 people. If everyone sends a box, together we can solve their supply problems for months, not days.

Send you donations to:

Dave Hecht / US NSE (PAO) / HQ ISAF / APO AE 09356

A day at KMTC

I spent the day at KMTC, the Kabul Military Training Center. I was there to escort a British television crew and monitor ISAF's number two man, Major General Jim Dutton being interviewed.

This base is home to hundreds and hundreds of Afghan National Army soldiers going through training. These guys are hard chargers. They run, don't walk. They seem full of hope and excitment. This is a busy place as the goal is to double the size of the Afghan Army within the next three years.

These soldiers will most likely find themselves in combat... but it's a better life than anything else a young man could find here in this very poor country. Clothes, food and money... they even teach them to read and write. So how much does an Afghan soldier make? A whopping $125... per MONTH!

It's a dangerous job

Just before I sent my guys out to their permanent locations in the west and south, I wrote how I feared for their safety. Some people may have thought I was being overly dramatic. Well, don’t tell that to my Marine who has been working in Helmand documenting the British on an operation. John just got back a couple days ago and told us the story of how the buddy he made on the trip was killed right next to him on Christmas Eve. It happened during a firefight when they were on a rooftop setting up equipment. John bent over to pick something up and when he turned around, the soldier was laying there motionless; shot through the neck. Before he went on this mission, John was a cocky young Marine ready to kill. Today he tells me he’d be happy if he never hears a gunshot again as long as he lives. I’m now redeploying him to the quieter RC North for the remainder of his tour.

Snow!

A couple of weeks ago I noted the arrival of the chilly weather and the rain. Now the first official snowfall has occurred. Yesterday, we got at least two inches of powder. Can you guess which one of us loves the snow, and which one of us hates it?