112412 Ashura and it should snow soon.

112412 Ashura and it should snow soon.

Islam has more damn holidays than you can shake a stick at!  Today is Ashura, observed by Shiite Muslims is today which means I couldn't pick up my laundry.  Also this is a Shiite holiday so Sunni Muslims do not (er, at least are not supposed to) get the day off.  But guess what, all the Muslims here on base are Shiite! (at least for today.)  Eh, we've have the 'festival of the turkey' but damn Muslims have quite a few holidays.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Ashura

Also attached is a pic of the nearby mountains.  It's supposed to snow here on Wednesday or Thursday and as it gets cold the air gets very dirty.  This is because Afghans burn ANYTHING that will burn when it's gets cold.  If you go back in this blog I go into detail what 'anything' means and it's not pretty.

R/Chris

 

112112 Suicide Bomber and last attack of the season?

112112 Suicide Bomber and last attack of the season?

Today the morning was interrupted by a boom.  From where I was located I did not consider it very close given the loudness it made.  Anyway, I headed to

breakfast while Italian, Macedonian and US security forces scampered about seeming to determine what was going on and how to coordinate efforts. 

Technically, the base was in immediate lockdown and technically I should 'seek cover and remain in place'….but I was hungry.
So I made it breakfast and by then Security had gotten their act together and guards we now posted everywhere and now I couldn't leave.  That lasted for about

30 minutes before the 'ALL CLEAR' was sounded and people could again move about freely. 
Evidently two suicide bombers had attacked the wall and one blew enough of the wall away to make an opening but the other was shot/killed while attempting

to get through.  (see link below)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-afghanistan-blast-idUSBRE8AK06M20121121

It's November and its getting cold here and the Taliban usually don't do much in cold weather.  But it's not that cold and it's still clear (but it may snow this

week) so maybe this is the last attack of the season?
R/Chris

111312 Rocket Attack at Kabul

111312 Rocket Attack at Kabul

Rocket attacks are rare here since it's very difficult to aim a mortar and hit anything with any degree of accuracy.  This is in contrast to the big bases outside Kabul where they probably get hit daily.   But today I was woken up at around 6 AM by the 'big voice' (a very loud PA system over the base here) telling me to 'remain under cover'.  Fortunately the attack was over almost as quickly as it had started and we were free to go about our business. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20308541

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/international/rocket-attack-on-kabul-kills-one/article4093130.ece

It's always something....
R/Chris

111112 Remembrance Day

111112 Remembrance Day

Yesterday was Remembrance Day here (also known as Remembrance Sunday)  This is Commonwealth version of Veteran's Day and is held "to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts".

The ceremony was divided up so part of it was in French and Dutch,  then translated.  It's fall here and as you can see there were trees all around.  Also its not hot at all but regardless about halfway through the ceremony an American soldier next, next to me hit the ground hard (i.e. he feinted).  He seemed to 'come to' rather quickly with a 'what happened!' look on his face.   He was attended to on the ground for about 10 minutes before somebody had the sense to say "get up and move to the back". 

Also in the pics you can see the flyer that was handed out.  We had to sing as a group and uh…that didn't go too well.  Other pics are of soldiers, the poppy pin being sold for a donation and the wreaths that were part of the ceremony and a pic of me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Sunday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_poppy

R/Chris

111012 Flanders Poppy, Marine Corps Birthday 

Today is the USMC birthday and so there'll be cake at lunch time.  Otherwise, it's another day.  Also the Brits have been 'selling' these poppy pins (see pic below.)  Actually you just make a donation of anything and you get a poppy pin.  Tomorrow is Remberance day and it's a big deal for the the Brits, French, Italians, New Zealanders, Australians, etc.  Uh, the Germans are not selling any poppies though. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_poppy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papaver_rhoeas

R/Chris

110912 Previous correction and life in the dorms

110912 Previous correction and life in the dorms

In a previous post (below) I mention the cat 'Danger' and the fact that I've been scratched many times by her.  I also state "..but it turns out that she has rabies, I'm dead." I should have said "...but IF it turns out that she has rabies, I'm dead."  I really should proof read my writing more.  The cat (and me) seem to be doing fine so it's I hoping 'no rabies'.  Rabies does kill about 1500 people a year in Afghanistan so it's certainly not something to take lightly.  I've not allowed myself to be scratched since.

http://www.indexmundi.com/afghanistan/major_infectious_diseases.html
 
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/afghanistan.htm

Also the I live in a dorm-like facility here.  It's a big 'mortar-proof' building with solid steel walls, a kevlar roof and blast doors.  As far as I know this base has never taken a mortar hit (unlike Iraq where it was a daily occurrance.)  The US bases outside of Kabul do get mortared all the time but being so near 'down town' Kabul makes it very difficult to aim a mortar at this base
Right now on the first floor of Freedom Hall (where I bunk) there are 3 working bathrooms (two on one end and one on the other end.)  The other bathroom has been 'Being Fixed' since I got here.  I wonder if it will be fixed before I leave?
R/Chris