Kabul-e

2011-10-07T04:27:00.004-04:00

Friend Tim in LaPêche wonders about a BBC report of rock and roll in Kabul

- first I've heard of it ..

The locale Babur Gardens is spectacular - an Agha Khan rehabilitation of the park surrounding the burial ground of Babur the great grandson of Tamerlane the biggest butcher in ancient history.

Nonetheless I will see lots of music this fall at the French Cultural Centre - upcoming world percussion show by the Afghanistan National Institute of Music and a "Rock Show" featuring a melange of Afghan and foreign artists.

The "Cultch" is a great venue and once again accessible - the new employer has a more liberal "client centred" security policy ....

I am cognizant of my World Vision training to "always wear one's runners and be prepared to flee the scene."

nostalgies

2011-09-29T04:24:00.000-04:00

Well another delightful haze hanging low this AM after another night of goodbye whiskeys at the Golden Key in Wazir. Folks remarked that its a good thing I don't leave regularly - the subtext of course was jealousy and other self esteem issues ...

A little nostalgiz packing up to leave RAMPUP ... will miss the great penthouse view and drinkie perch ... but i am pretty good at striking camp and moving on ... not too many attachments ... hmmm .... certain friends can be called upon to speak up about continuing to reinforce the attachments to home ... mmmmhmmmm ...

Had a dream last night in which my dear friend Kerstin's husband Fritz looked real healthy despite his imminent brain tumour surgery - a bit a of humourous caricature making a face at me thru a car window - she looked pleased ...

Coffee is ready ... chance to draw a few favoured colleagues away from their desks for a last short chat ...

inching forward with open arms

2011-09-23T04:23:00.000-04:00

The revolution is inching forward here - big funeral on nearby swimming pool hill today for the assassinated ex President Rabani - it will put a damper on peace talks with the Taliban ... meanwhile their recruiting tactics are moving into the 20th century much faster than the Karzai government ...one of my employees came back from a trip to the family home in Jalalabad (big prosperous town by the Pakistan border) with a new phone which had Taliban promotional material on it.

But to the American’s credit it must be noted that with the repeal of “don’t ask don’t tell” army recruiters are going into gay and lesbian centres – maybe not with open minds but with contracts to sign.

Imagine …

Brain food

2011-09-22T04:19:00.000-04:00

Great kimchi recently at the Korean restaurant - low profile family living room type place and good bulgogi and the like and on my way out a large Styrofoam container was slipped into my hand. I generally snack/graze from noon on and this was a delightful addition to the selection in my little bar fridge which is basically full of yogurt, juice and fruit.

Last of the "Chinese miso" today ... my daughter usually blesses me with a large tub of the real thing from Japan but we were too busy on my day of departure from Toronto in late August ... stuff must be good for the brain as mine has been busy with only ten days left on this job and then seven weeks at UNHabitat and then a big break which needs to be anticipated with some good ticking

Have been structuring an "offer" to counter the anticipated one from UNHabitat for fulltime one year starting in feb 2012 - I want to work at most 1/2 time here next year - ... the big guy at USAID likes the project and is looking for something innovative and a concept paper for "the next project" starting 2013 ...

plus the project management needs some regularly adjustments from Dr Gillies ...

thinking seriously about spending winter 2012/13 in LaPêche - fortunately i still have a year to come to my senses.

Code Black

2011-09-17T04:17:00.000-04:00

The bad guys certainly traumatized a whack of people earlier this week in Kabul . My first warning came at 1325 on Tuesday in the form of a "Security SMS" which usually means a sentence of unintelligible ACRONYMS - but this one was easily interpreted as "International security forces and insurgents shooting in vicinity of US Embassy." Well Nobody has shot in the vicinity of the US Embassy for a quite while - although I and many others have done some shooters there. Anyway I was just about to start final interviews for a new staff member - it’s energizing to talk to talented outsiders about the company business and how they might help us do it better. It was a pretty absorbing coupla hours with the two shortlisted candidates - until we were interrupted at the end of the second interview and told we were being moved back to the guest house due to a highly elevated security threat.

The definition for "Security Code BLACK" includes "anticipated possibility of evacuation from the country" in the DAI Security Guide. That won't be necessary as long as 100,000 foreign troops are stationed here to keep the peace. But a coupla code blacks probably help spike the risk graph and with it the insurance premiums and therefore the Cost of Doing Business stays ridiculously high ...... as do the profits. Al Quaida has broken the American economy as they intended too - and it only took ten years.

"almost to the top" - a perfect kabul nite poem

2011-09-04T11:35:00.001-04:00

Today was better than an ordinary Kabul day - the national staff was pretty chilled after five days EiD off.

But it is REAL nice tonight - and the air is perfect.

The airport tower lights are très cool about 5k north of us

Telecom hill - behind us to the south - sports lots of light action

And Russian swimming pool hill to the south east ... i lived on the other side in 2006 and we would walk up the hill to ... see things ..

It’s probably still safe because there are now houses almost to the top.

"heightened alert" ... but not "up to code."

2011-07-08T10:55:00.004-04:00

There is a "heightened alert" - not sure what colour that would be - this weekend in our local neighbourhoods of Wazir and Taimani. Lots of intel about plans for a compound attack. I am the warden at RAMPUP East Guest House #2 for tomorrow AM's “compound attack” drill. Got my pots and pans ready to run through the house rousing people from their rooms and shepherding them onto the roof. Once counted they will be ferried across to Guest House #1 on the newly constructed inter guesthouse bridge.

The bridge is a tasteful thing - artistic bamboo designed to "not draw attention to the compound." It has a colourful history too. RAMPUP’s engineering and security departments battled for months to have their respective designs selected. In the end the low-cost rapid-deploy option from security was the winner. Lots of bad blood over that one - fortunately we have no engineers in Guest House #2 who might try to upset the drill protocol by refusing to cross the bridge.

It is after all not "up to code."

The tide is turning

2011-06-30T15:52:00.004-04:00

In the spring of 2007 USAID’s Social Services Division held a farewell party for its much respected director Dr Jim Sarn. His loyal and creative staff assembled a cover band to play his favourite tunes at the event. With Tom Petty's "Won't back down" we paid tribute to Jim's principled approach to work, but it was U2's "The tide is turning" - accompanied by the International School of Kabul Choir - that really celebrated Dr. Sarn's belief that change was possible.

The tide is about to take a dramatic turn in Afghanistan. This weekend major funding cuts will likely be announced concerning $250M of municipal governance programs - all five could be shut down very soon. The impact of the March2011 Congress mandated reduction of $1.4B in USAID's Afghanistan budget is finally being felt on the ground - even Hillary is rumoured to have received a bit of a bruising in the House last week.

US retreat from the war in Afghanistan is being driven by domestic economics and the rapidly growing political currency of withdrawal. Meanwhile the moral outrage will continue to ebb and flow fueled by royal heists of public funds and civilian collateral damage in the unwinnable guerrilla war. How can we lever the good investments made - in such areas as education and health - without feeling obliged to stick around and "protect" them?

I believe there is still a place in the world for aid - collaborative assistance. But the industry needs to take a resounding swing away from the mega project whose most important yard stick is the “burn rate” of Congressionally allocated funds.

Non verbal SIgns

2011-06-11T12:38:00.018-04:00

I finally tracked down my music teacher from 2007 ... cruised music street in old Kabul and met his brother minding the new studio ... demolition is creeping in and history being squeezed out ... I wonder what happened to the guy who made my rabob?

Ustad Mucktar and I have a much stronger common musical language – Hindustani solfege - than we did four years ago ... we are managing with minimal verbal translation. In fact i am forced to listen to the notes much more carefully ... to hear the tune less intellectually ... to find the culturally unique beat

I probably need to adopt that attitude a little more liberally in these troubled times. My expectations of people at work are much too high – tied perhaps unfairly to the excessive price tag of the project I am working on.

And at the end of the day ... well I am responsible to men I will never meet.

Compliance and Creativity

2011-06-06T13:55:00.006-04:00

I spent much of the day evaluating bids on a translation “Request for Quotes’. There were fewer bids that expected and each was missing something essential so I had to get creative to be compliant. I thought fondly back to the days of the Ex-Taliban Employee Waivers that I used to prepare for visa applications.

The game here is not that hard to play.

Gotta be careful though not to flash too much colour on the grey landscape.

Tourist Spot Talk

2011-06-04T11:32:00.011-04:00

It is helpful to get new perspective - or ancient - from time to time. Had a nice visit with friends at our Embassy recently and there was some invigorating ex-Afghanistan talk. Like good tourism spots ... I promised not to say more than that.

Someday soon they will be talking about Bamyian in the same breath.

Oh yes tourism will spoil the place a little ... It might get crowded again with pilgrims in great humility before the easy to conjure up Buddha. It may be difficult to get a great cliffside view of the valley from the Roof of Bamyian Hotel ... but every room has its charm. And I’m sure Tourism Bamyian has some other great suggstions.

Visitors will be helping to fund and shape the tourism leg of the economic development strategy of Afghanistan’s most compelling province. Bamyian is one of the great crossroads of ancient history only a fraction of which has been uncovered.

Ensure that you make plenty of time to just sit … and stare … and honour …

Less cruising around

2011-06-01T13:04:00.004-04:00

I don’t know this nan man. Or any nan men for that matter – no more cruising around the neighbourhood like in the good old days.

Not even in Kabul. I moved here in 2006 for security reasons ... and prowled safely back then.

Nonetheless this nan man had a friendly message. From the beleaguered regional capital of Gardez 80 K south east of Kabul. It was safe to drive on that road back in March – like most recent winters.

What might peace look like Afghanistan?

Expendable "Pet Rocks"

2011-05-28T12:25:00.012-04:00

Sometimes we get to see the real Afghanistan. To meet face to face with the "community beneficiaries." Sitting with a group of women in a literacy classroom last fall in Balkh was a helpful reminder of why I am here.

But the pressures to ignore the uncomfortable reality of Afghan women are increasing. USAID's policy is shifting to wider priorities and as a result "Gender issues are going to have to take a back seat ... those pet rocks in our rucksack are wearing us down." The Karzai government is rolling back pro-feminist reforms - including emasculating the safe house system for abused women. And the Taliban ... sly devils that they are ... are circulating rumours that they do not really have a problem with education as long as it is segregated. Of course nothing is official until the horse trading - the rumoured peace talks - actually take place. What we do know is that the violence against schools is unabated - there were more 500 attacks last year killing 170 and injuring three times that many.

Excuse me for a moment.

Share the Road

2011-05-26T12:35:00.003-04:00

The narrow and increasingly busy thoroughfares of downtown Kabul are nonetheless exemplary for the courtesy with which folks share the road.

Sometimes we need to take the time to look back in order to notice such things.

Getting to the Park

2011-05-23T11:08:00.006-04:00

I have no plans in the works for a trip north to Mazar i Sharif on this mission. Nor has there been a UNAMA style bombing and mob slaughter in the recent news to disturb my moral sensibilities. No - I am just glancing through some photos of my recent history in this country. And stopping at the Blue Mosque ... the Shrine of Hazrat Ali and perhaps the tomb of some relative of the prophet.

It’s magic and spirituality are unambiguous.

I have been lucky in seeking out such places. Pilgrimage sites and retreats. Cold stone floors and warm butter tea in Himalayan monasteries. All night chanting in Tamil Nadu temples. The Christian sanctuary on the river at home in LaPêche.

I like a nice park too - with pigeons dancers and their elegant aeronautics. I think about kicking up my heels – but I have yet to fly.

Going Up

2011-05-18T11:18:00.003-04:00

Everything is going up here in Kabul.

The price of precious alcohol. The fecal count in the air. The high rises in Shara i Naw.

And the cost of war.

Like tracking down Bin Laden. He was a very evil man – motivated but not distracted by vanity. Nor fanaticism. We paid a lot to get him. A high price in human lives and tainted relations and exploited fears.

Was it worth?

Ask Obama.

War brings change – or at least revolution is often violent. The loss of life in the current civil disobedience in North Africa and Syria is horrific – but it has set a standard for sacrifice. And transparency.

The cost of war is much less visible in Afghanistan. One has to look well beyond the preppy school boys.

Keeping the Promise ... to the hen ladies

2011-05-15T11:18:00.006-04:00

Sometimes in development we do get to stay connected to the change process that we ostensibly work for. Today I visited a 2010 client and saw the dry run of their "keeping the promise" presentation to the funder USAID. The presentation will highlight the significant systemic and programmatic changes they have made in response to my rather critical evaluation of their integrated literacy and microfinance project.

They will demonstrate how they have managed to turn some liabilities into assets. The Community Bank for example was introduced too early and in a too complex lending role. It is being transformed into a deposit mechanism for external capital investment -a seven million dollar Japanese contribution is waiting at the gates.

This may be change we may be able to believe in.

Maybe.

Because it is change rooted in greater reality. And in openness to discussion of new risks - like loan delinquency.

They are ready to make the pitch.

Such discussions about change are helpful to have with ourselves from time to time. Do we believe in the personal change we are trying to make? What is holding us up? A little semi-rigorous analysis goes along way.

Once you have determined that there are no trees within 50 kilometres you can confidently rule out charcoal making as a viable home business. And the widely endorsed Kabul-e platitude that there are “not enough fresh chickens” is enough information to justify unreserved micro lending to hen ladies.

At least in the short term.

Expect Delays

2009-08-24T19:53:00.013-04:00

Well the elections in Afghanistan are over but we can expect delays .....

We know and we don't.

Trouble ahead ..

trouble behind.

It is the third day of Ramadan - perhaps each of you is undertaking your unique spiritual fast.

Life is currently about consultation and creativity for me - an important reflection time after the passing of so many loved ones this spring.

You might see how this playsout in

the Last Lost Sister (of Alice Munro),and

IamtheWallahRUs

Peace and love to sisters and brothers all

A proliferation of Porc

2009-06-30T09:44:00.007-04:00

Last day of the second annual Piggyback Fringe Festival in our lovely Wakefield. Great crowds, enormous talent, a poliferation of pork, and frenzied blogging by Theatre Wakefield Scriptwriter in Residence Scott Hebert Daly. Photo thanks to Piggyback Fringe

Full Presence - Full Appreciation

2009-06-23T21:15:00.005-04:00

Started reading Parker Palmer’s A Hidden Wholiness. One of his central premises is the need to integrate our requirement for solitude with that of community. He eloquently rationalizes their connection by redefining both positions.

Solitude means never living apart from one’s self. Not necessarily away from others all the time – not the absence of other people – but rather full presence with ourselves.

Community means connection with others. Not face-to-face or constant dialogue – but rather the full appreciation of the relationship with others.

Palmer describes the "circle of trust" as a framework for this integration. Where participants are encouraged to “sit there in the woods”. To be there as each requires. I identified with his analogy to sitting with the dying – a humble yet so rich symbiosis.

She Flies On

2009-03-13T20:57:00.004-04:00

The long vigil is over - Mom took her last breath this afternoon.

Thanks to all the friends that joined us during those 11 days at the Civic. Precious to share the memories and the tears.

And you nurses are wonderful.

Prayers Flying

2009-02-15T21:21:00.006-05:00

Does prayer have an impact? One school of thought argues strongly that prayer can directly impact the prayed for. But petitions for divine intervention in Afghanistan for example can quite rightly be viewed with some skepticism. I feel strongly that prayer definitely benefits the one who prays. As a Christian I believe in dialogue with God. And the process is as important as the destination. Hence the power of the prayer flag - beckoning nature to spread our plea. Fly one today for Cindy Fritsch who died earlier this week in a diving accident in Cozumel.

Celebrate the defeat

2009-01-23T11:03:00.001-05:00

Le Gouvernement du Québec is debating its participation in - even its acknowledgement of - this summer's 250th anniversary celebration of the battle of the Plains of Abraham. The Péquistes are of course horrified and territorial - heh it was the French Army that was defeated so what has that to do with us. Jean Charest's Liberals are attempting to avoid the issue by asserting that the Government of Canada is responsible for the fête - the Plains are after all a National Park.

I like the straightforward assertion by ADQ MP Éric Caire that the Battle is part of our undeniable history - and that only those that have been truly colonized would refuse to celebrate the event. Those of you who are fans of the comic strip character Astérix will love Mr. Caire's allusion to the much celebrated Battle of Alésia in 52 BC when the Romans defeated the Gauls - the international renown Astérix is based on the defeated (and later executed) Gaul leader Vercingétorix.

http://www.ledevoir.com/2009/01/23/228870.html?fe=5951&fp=246595&fr=128699

Whose story?

2009-01-20T14:42:00.004-05:00

Loss of autonomy, theft of identity - security is increasingly a virtual issue. How auditable is our daily life on the Internet? Le Monde reports the recent publication by the Parisian periodical Le Tigre of its first Google biography - "grâce a toutes les traces - les milles details" left by a young employee of a French architectural firm.

http://www.lemonde.fr/technologies/article/2009/01/17/un-internaute-piege-par-ses-traces-sur-la-toile_1143123_651865.html#xtor=EPR-32280155&ens_id=824668

Observers have remarked on it as a further confusion of public and private spaces - such as video surveillance privatizing public space, and the Facebooks publicizing private space. Others label it a group exhibitionism, and mutual narcism.

Whose story is our life anyway?

Do no Harm or feel the Pain

2009-01-14T16:13:00.006-05:00

Continuing to ponder the ethics of my work - what should I expect to achieve and at what cost? Mary Anderson's famous treatise on the interaction between aid and conflict - "Do No Harm" - recounts how people chose even criminal actions in the pursuit of justice. Humble, small incremental changes in a few lives within a framework of honesty and caring is probably the most realistic expectation I should have.

Nonetheless I still idealize that we could measure our impact in the feelings and experiences of those with whom we work. Perhaps "feel the pain" is the "do no harm" analogy - a bottom line without which we do not have permission to operate. A young woman at Mirwais Girls School in Kandahar Afghanistan - one of 15 victims of a recent acid attack - is succinct in her analysis of the perpetrators. "The people who did this do not feel the pain of others."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/world/asia/14kandahar.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Luxury of SIN

2009-01-13T20:37:00.007-05:00

My mom was assessed last week by le Centre Local de Santé Communautaire - the gate keepers for admission to Québec's assisted living facilities. It was a very friendly process - too many questions perhaps but providing a pretty honest picture to all concerned. Well I did have to go home and find my mother's Social Insurance Number to complete the paperwork.

The Canadian health system - its personnel and institutions - have served my family well in the recent years that we have felt the impact of Alzheimer's. Will I have the same luxury to look forward to in my aging?

Foregiveness - and tough choices

2009-01-12T08:39:00.004-05:00

Healing a hurt world involves forgiving those who have hurt us. It is an intentional and thoughtful act. We should aim to forgive those with whom we have a relationship, or in whom we have an investment. That is to heal the hurt we should acknowledge the damage done to both parties, and the value of taking some responsibility for the damage, and the reparation.

Forgiveness is therefore an emotional and selective endeavour. Hence we should aim to merely forget those about whom we cannot honestly say "I care."

Tough choices? How about today's report from BBC Mundo on the environmental impact of a Google search. "Two Google questions use as much energy as a cup of instant coffee"….

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/science/newsid_7823000/7823918.stm

There is no free inquisition.

Right Livelihood

2009-01-10T14:31:00.003-05:00

The New Year's resolution testing is in full swing and I am in my Xmas wonderings about work ... eager to return to the field ... a respectable employer checklist in hand. The Buddha's admonition for right livelihood will weigh increasingly heavy in these upcoming times of financial hardship for the North American class moyen. Can people be compassionate, and collaborate on mitigating the enormous suffering which is immient?

The snowshoe hills around our house in rural LaPêche are a good place for such ponderings. Much as we Canadians lament snow the undisturbed white hillsides create a powerful mantra - crunch crunch puff puff fly fly.

Full moon at 2227 .... the sunset hunt for exploding skies is about to start.

Bigger, More and Jammer

2007-06-02T05:23:00.000-04:00

The Pentagon's Joint IED Defeat Organization feels frustrated that American military deaths are increasingly caused by makeshift explosives. It just doesn't seem fair.

“We are instinctively prone to look for technological solutions,” said one senior Pentagon official. “That’s the way (Americans)are wired.

Surely they should be able to outcompute the enemy?

“We (need) better intelligence ..and that will require changing the attitudes of the local population ...the Iraqis will have to help us root out the people involved.”

So whose tougher?

"Those placed by Shiite forces are increasingly sophisticated, using technology ... from Iran. The Sunni-based insurgents plant bombs of a more homemade variety, but still deadly"

But surely there must be some fanatics somewhere?

Always. "Those associated with Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia strive for the spectacular ... in order to generate hostility and headlines."

Thanks to the 02Jun07 New York Times

Good Husbands

2007-05-25T00:05:00.000-04:00

Performed by the students of the International School of Kabul 23May07 - directed by yours truly - photos by Waheed Sarmed

The wives prime for a pregnancy annoucement at the gym.

"Have you not loved me all these years - now you want me to have a bady!" Wellllll on three conditions

Babies interrupt negotiations for "just a few more billion dollars" between senior management of the Afghan Construction Company and American Reconstruction Company President Ms Vicky Jones

"Hi John - Yes everything is OK - heh I am soooo happy - we are gonna have a baby"

The good husbands will get the contract thanks to succcessful Santa Maria Naroz Party adoption negotiations

Any Where Any Time

2007-05-21T14:14:00.000-04:00

Well I may be approaching a tipping point in my insecurity tolerance. Colleagues from the International School were attacked today on the morning hill walk - sunrise looked so peaceful up there last week.

The daily security report pulls no punches ...

Attack: 21 May, Kabul City (District 5, Af-Shar Area) – initial reports suggest that early this morning four members of the international community were walking on a hill adjacent to the Intercontinental Hotel when they are attacked by an individual with grenades and a hand-gun; one grenade was apparently lobbed at the walkers but detonated too far away to inflict injuries; attacker then produced a hand-gun with which he did not appear to have much experience; gun jammed a number of times; walkers managed to make good their escape with no apparent physical injuries.

Comment: Circumstances still to be clarified but incidents such as this serve to illustrate why it is unsafe to assume that any part of Kabul is free from potential danger at any time of the day or night.

Viewer Discretion

2007-05-20T13:44:00.002-04:00

An upper class woman announces her pregnancy to a friend at the gym, two prominent business men are almost caught cuddling their infant children, and the president of the American Reconstruction company just might award a substantial sub-contract in exchange for an adoption.

All these babies must mean that some sort of sexual practice has been going on. Viewer discretion is advised for the World Premiere of "Good Husbands" 23May07 by the Drama Club at the International School of Kabul.

School Supplies

2007-05-20T13:34:00.001-04:00

The girls' classroom is by the side of the road

Backpacks just fill up your arms

The boys look better together

Photos by HEP Community Outreach Team - you guys rock

We can't chose

2007-05-17T14:22:00.000-04:00

17May07 is the international day against homphobia.

On doit lire le message de Madame Louise Arbour le Haut Commissaire des Nations Unies aux Droits des Personnes.

"The quality of the debate is as important as the result"

http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/424e6fc8b8e55fa6802566b0004083d9/b91ae52651d33f0dc12571be002f172c?OpenDocument

Photo - Le Devoir

The best Odds

2007-05-14T11:06:00.000-04:00

Days ago I was wondering about the personal and collective responsbility for a specific human rights abuse in my home country, and wether that had an analogy in Afghanistan.

Here is a remarkable example of abuse - 1000 Kurd men gathering to stone a young woman to death in Iraq. With the support of her parents.

http://www.aina.org/news/20070425181603.htm

Honour killing such as this - apparently condoned by Islam - ensures the best possible odds.

Time to own it

2007-05-04T01:16:00.000-04:00

Are there any offenses too big to forgive?

To what extent is responsibility for one’s offenses a condition of forgiveness?

I have been wondering aloud and praying about a tragedy being uncovered this week back home – evidence of wide spread sexual abuse in an upper crust Toronto boys school some 30 years ago. An acknowledgement of guilt on four counts and a plea bargain to drop other rumoured charges and serve house arrest. One victim committed suicide.

I am no more responsible for this than for the widespread human rights abuses in Afghanistan – by Taliban fundamentalists, coalition occupation forces, warlord powerbrokers, drug cartels and corrupt government officials. But this outrage at home has raised my ire at the powerful here – their greed and lack of respect. Sexual abuse of minors is analogously angrymaking – the exploitation of the powerless by the powerful.

And hence the question “is there hope”? For the oppressed and for the oppressive world. Is there a possible truth and reconciliation process – a way to acknowledge responsibility and ask for genuine forgiveness? As a Christian I believe my accountability is to both God and man. But it is the latter with whom we face the greater challenge.

Mankind may indeed be burdened with original sin, but it is our own acts that we need to examine - our own impact on the world that we need to critique. And we seem to live in a time of gross inability to admit error, to acknowledge mistakes, and to take responsibility for oppressive outcomes.

I’d like to start by asking the offenders to reflect on their victims. For both the sexual abusers and the powerful in the Afghanistan political arena to take some time to examine the consequences of their greed. To put aside for a moment their grievances – or ideologies. To make settling the score or being right a lower priority than being humane and kind and respectful of their fellow humans.

We have blood on our hands.

It is time to own it.

Honest Propaganda

2007-04-23T14:19:00.000-04:00

The PsyOp in the GAP of ISAF has determined that "honest proganda is very effective because the Afghan people are not well educated and have few sources of information and therefore are easily manupulated."

http://www.ledevoir.com/2007/04/23/140594.html?fe=840&fp=191446&fr=16173

This Psychological Operations Unit of the Policy Action Group of the International Security Force for Afghansitan is also on record as "no longer lying to people as was done in the past". Though they still seem committed to "western values - democrcy, liberty, justice, human rights and women's rights."

Where the Birds are

2007-04-22T10:06:00.000-04:00

How the neighbourhood avian population might view the Department of Health's recent visit.

To Captain Steve Brown

2007-04-20T23:36:00.000-04:00

To Captain Steve Brown Canadian Army Kandahar:

Steve ... I read your letter in the Mansfield Echo and was very moved. Thanks – you made me proud to be a Canadian.

I work in the relative comfort and safety of Kabul as operations manager for a US government funded university development project. In 2005 I had the good fortune of managing primary school development projects in the West - still relatively safe but losing ground. Frankly Kabul is now the only place I would live here from a security point of view.

We couldn't do development without the space created by the coalition forces. Without your commitment and courage. Your six fallen comrades must be missed – we hear about their families and I imagine how painful it must be for a parent.

We also couldn’t do development without the remarkably brave and principled NGO staff. And Afghan colleagues who have taken up the education torch. And the generosity of developed country taxpayers who fund this work.

There is a lot invested here.

Unfortunately one key piece is missing which seriously jeopardizes the investment - America's willingness to pressure Pakistan to curb the Taliban. This of course gives serious credence to the theory that the American government does not want to end the war in Afghanistan.

Their motivation isn't the issue. For me it is my country's participation in a war where the possibility of victory is being undermined, and where principles and lives are being sacrificed for political gain. History, geography and prosperity bind us intimately to the United States of America - let's be clear that the death of Canadian soldiers in southern Afghanistan is one of the costs of the close relationship.

My prayers go out to you and your mates on the front line.

Thanks Steve - for making it possible for me to put some of my principles on the line here.

Best regards

Different Approaches to Education

2007-04-18T09:19:00.000-04:00

Kids hitchin a ride to school as we descend the morning mountain.

The Virginia Tech massacre provides the Taliban with another good reason to forbid schools

Cartoon Michel Garneau Le Devoir de Montreal

Good Odds

2007-04-13T23:16:00.000-04:00

One in five ...

Don't Ask

Pink or Red

Ex-Taliban Employee Waiver

2007-04-13T23:06:00.000-04:00

Crafting a "waiver request for ex-Taliban employee" - one of a number of documents on the trail to a US visa. ?How do ya think these sound ...

"did not actively participate in Taliban activities, engage in military activities, nor support the Taliban government.

"was fired by the Taliban government in 1997, remained unemployed …

"employed … but as a 19 year-old translator trying to help his family make ends meet

"will allow USG officials to probe the thinking of their Afghan counterpart on development of the sector

"his presence … has critical symbolic as well as substantive meaning

"with memories of extreme economic hardship, (Name of Applicant)is deeply committed to the democratic course his country has now embarked on.

Wish me luck.

Up Early

2007-04-06T02:52:00.000-04:00

0743 - A suicide bomber attacks a senior police officer's car on Darluman Road 200 metres from the house.

0841 - ISAF Helicopters tour curious indignataries through the neighbourhood

1049 - Friday life goes on - the Iranian mosque is almost complete

Worth Running

2007-04-02T06:11:00.000-04:00

One needs to be prepared to run at any time

The altered note of beauty

2007-03-24T06:58:00.000-04:00

Afghan Music makes extensive use of the Lydian (Sharp 4) Mode - the Kaylan That in Hindustani parlance . So the fourth is a much altered note in both that mode and the ever popular Ionian (Major Scale).

"It adds beauty" says Usted Muktar. The whole band was at class today to concur. "But don't forget to return to the original raga - the root emotion."

!Naroz Mubarak!

2007-03-20T04:58:00.000-04:00

Sunset on the year 1386 ...

Peace?

Respect?

Dignity?

What are your wishes?

B_Gers

2007-03-08T03:38:00.000-05:00

Goat deliverer stocking Butcher Street shelves

Dice tosser anticipating another good roll.

The sheep herders arriving a bit early for a shave

Snow personator admiring a carrot nose

It may be hard to read the license plate but ...

2007-02-25T03:06:00.000-05:00

Today's suspected Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Device list ...

Toyota Corolla, Yellow, Registration Kabul 65674

Toyota Corolla, White, Registration Kabul 93696

Toyota Surf, Yellow, Registration Kabul 21278

Toyota Corolla, White Registration 6851

Toyota Town Ace, Yellow 21287

Toyota Corolla, Silver, Registration 3696

Toyota Corolla, Yellow, Registration 711491

A coupla frosty Quebecs

2007-02-19T15:03:00.000-05:00

Mid day sun

gravitates tin roof snow

to earth

2007-02-19T14:40:00.000-05:00

Hanging from the

wood pile

2007-02-19T14:35:00.000-05:00

No longer

standing tall

Socks for Refugees

2007-02-15T12:49:00.000-05:00

The needy

are not hard

to find

2007-02-15T00:55:00.000-05:00

You can

hug socks

2007-02-15T00:50:00.000-05:00

You cannot

eat socks

2007-02-15T00:31:00.000-05:00

You can

never have

enough socks

Photos by HEP Community Outreach Team - Wasee, Basir, Nasrat - thanks guys

Go Big or look good

2006-12-21T13:24:00.000-05:00

Some folks
aspire
to World
domination

others just wanna look
good
and we do ...
check out
les cinq capitales
culturelles du Canada

http://www.ledevoir.com/2006/12/21/125543.html

Memories of Western Afghanistan 2005

2006-12-20T01:15:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the young women of BalaMurgab, Jawand and Chagcharan City for their infectious embrace of learning. You inspire us all.

Kabul Monet

2006-12-19T14:01:00.000-05:00

Thick fog
Ash like erie
Under a fiery sunset

2006-12-19T13:04:00.000-05:00

Fire off the
mountains
lights shadow
wind

A coupla heros

2006-11-20T13:50:00.000-05:00

A coupla hero stories from yesterday's security briefing ...

Suspected Suicide Bomber Arrested:
Khost Province, Mando Zayi District ...
Police arrested a potential suicide bomber in possession of explosives and an “explosive vest”. Apparently the would-be bomber’s farther called the police when he realised what his son was preparing to do.

Peaceful Demonstration:
Bamyan Province, Bamyan Center ...
A peaceful demonstration in support of the lady governor of the province took place in the provincial centre; demonstrators dispersed after lodging their petition at a UN office.

Sadly, the big picture looks less rosy - experts now draw the Taliban line of control right thru the middle of the country ...

http://www.senliscouncil.net/modules/publications/014_publication/chapter_01

Some Other Kabul Fashions

2006-11-20T13:18:00.000-05:00

Avoiding the traffic

isn't easy

2006-11-20T13:14:00.000-05:00

Non conformity

seeks company

2006-11-20T13:10:00.000-05:00

Attention to detail

pays off

2006-11-20T13:05:00.000-05:00

It doen't hurt
to stack 'em

2006-11-20T12:59:00.000-05:00

The real estate business

is booming.

" He ......."

2006-11-20T12:57:00.000-05:00

Christians call God "He".

Moslems have other views about women.

Everybody needs help

B_G_

2006-11-07T12:28:00.000-05:00

----

travel in

twos

2006-11-07T12:26:00.000-05:00

----

sometimes

bargain

2006-11-07T12:24:00.000-05:00

---

occasionally come

in another colour

2006-11-07T12:22:00.000-05:00

----

pale behind

sweets

2006-11-07T12:20:00.000-05:00

----

reflect

the sun

2006-11-07T12:15:00.000-05:00

----

go nicely

in corners

2006-08-20T03:00:00.000-04:00

On the streets

One pane of glass away

2006-08-20T02:57:00.000-04:00

Memorial atop

Kohi Khwaja Razaq
Behind Kabul Education University

2006-08-20T02:46:00.000-04:00

Kabul ...

Giant's eye view

Remembering

2006-08-20T02:01:00.000-04:00

Well we made it thru both Afghanistan Independence Day (18Aug) and the 29th anniversary of the death of Elvis (16Aug). Next year may not be so quiet – with the much anticipated launch of Adam Muskiewicz’s The Truth about Elvis …

http://www.elviswanted.com/preview.html

And the 28th anniversary of the death of Ahmad Zahir – the Elvis of Afghanistan – is just around the corner. Zahir – renegade son of former prime Minster Mohamed Zahir – was the darling of central Asia fusion until his death September 1978. The fatal car crash was rumoured to have been orchestrated by Hafizullah Amin, a powerful figure in Afghanistan's ruling communist party, to end his daughter's flirtation with the singer.

A million people attended the funeral.

Tuned!!

2006-08-18T04:17:00.000-04:00

A great week of musical discovery. Acquired a rebab - 3 plucked and 15 resonating strings.

To be confused with the Indonesian "rebab" - 2 bowed strings. An internet search reveals no information on the former.

For a great read check out Allan Pollack's ...

http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/awp-notes_on.shtml

a comprehensive and vibrant dissection of the music of the Beatles. Will satisfy your thirst for culture, history and pantonics. Not to mention solve a few problems for amateur musicians who love to cover.

2006-08-18T04:03:00.000-04:00

suspended notes

2006-08-18T03:59:00.001-04:00

the rabob maker

fixing the bridge

The wall

2006-08-12T09:44:00.000-04:00

We did “the wall”. At five AM we boarded the International School bus – picnic in the air despite the early hour. At six thirty we were on top of Sher Darwaza - enjoying the sunrise 400 metres above Kabul.

Centuries ago two powerful brothers decided to parcel up the city - agreed to disagree over some family matter – and constructed this immense barrier of stone dividing some very inhospitable mountainside. More than 200 labourers are rumoured to be buried in “the wall” - condemned for spilling the mud or stone they were transporting up the steep slopes.

I fear landmines – having been well indoctrinated about “keeping to the well trod path”. There are still two live mines for each of the Afghanistan's 30 million citizens. I also confront vertigo – always an issue for me on steep ground. Eyes on the track Peter – but occasionally I stop, ensure solid footing, and gaze out over the city. Three point five million and growing rapidly – testimony to both the entrepreneurial confidence of the wealthy, and the failure to develop livelihood opportunities outside of Kabul.

Wish me luck. Today I’m shopping for a rebob – the ubiquitous central Asian string instrument renowned for its sharp rapid melodies and energetic complement to the tabla. Everywhere I’ve lived music has proven a reliable door into local culture and society. And, like dressing “comme mujihadeen”, pickin with some of the locals may help make me less conspicuous – we are secure inversely proportional to our visibility.

2006-08-11T09:29:00.000-04:00

16 years of age ...

in total

2006-08-11T09:27:00.000-04:00

Stone faced

2006-08-11T09:26:00.000-04:00

Runny breakfast

Do we need help?

2006-08-11T09:17:00.000-04:00

We humans need to get into the habit of asking for help. Not begging – but pleading ignorance. “What is going on?” or “I cannot figure this out” is often where we are at, always very instructive, and infrequently voiced.

It expedites our learning – from a young age we can benefit immensely from identifying what we want to know but don’t - and then asking for it.

As maturity approaches it becomes a critical community development tool – personalizing stories to better understand motivations.

It prepares us for old age – when our needs really do increase and the quality of life we can have depends very much on adapting to those new needs – not fighting them.

Do we need help with this?

2006-08-10T04:36:00.000-04:00

laundry day

choose your mate

2006-08-10T04:05:00.000-04:00

Kabul Bucket and Dress

2006-08-10T04:02:00.000-04:00

currency exchange services available everywhere

bus graveyard

2006-08-10T01:53:00.000-04:00

(They can't get no) satisfaction

2006-08-10T01:11:00.000-04:00

Some people are insatiable, as the following excerpt from todays security report highlites ...

"Incident - Murder: 07 Aug, Helmand Province, Musa Qala District - The Taliban accused an elderly woman and a thirteen year old boy of spying for the government and NATO forces. After parading them through the village to be an example to other villagers, they were taken to a public place and hanged.

Comment: Amid waging a war on NATO and Government forces, the Taliban does not seem to have lost their appetite for the public execution of women and children."

2006-07-29T11:56:00.000-04:00

Ali and Arnie

take on

Richard and his cross bow

at the Shar-e-Nau Sports store -

2nd floor

2006-07-29T11:53:00.000-04:00

the royal view

of royalty

2006-07-29T11:49:00.000-04:00

art

that is hard

to penetrate

2006-07-29T02:33:00.000-04:00

a happy planet is ...

satisfaction times expectancy slash footprint

http://www.happyplanetindex.org/list.htm

canada and pakistan are neck and neck

afghanistan does not appear
but her neighbours tajikistan and iran
enjoy elevated HPI

2006-07-29T02:30:00.000-04:00

watching

the

watcher

2006-07-29T02:28:00.000-04:00

Neither

sees

the other

2006-07-29T02:17:00.000-04:00

comme mujihadeen

a pensive week

2006-07-28T02:17:00.000-04:00

two former World Vision colleagues are murdered at their health clinic outside Chagcharan City in Ghor. the west is increasingly vulnerable ...

the head of the security company we are about to contract is rumoured to have died in a helicopter crash in Khost - "bad weather" may be the politically correct diagnosis ...

less than a month until home leave ... the much needed reconnection to friends and family - the feared last days in my mom's wonderful ottawa river sunset condo

2006-07-21T09:14:00.000-04:00

Pensive hands

2006-07-21T09:11:00.000-04:00

Eyes

on the mirror

History respected

and feared

2006-07-21T09:08:00.000-04:00

Eyes

on the road

The Sean Penn stare