Thursday 28 January 2010

Afghanistan



"Look, Jeremy", the senior officer of a famous British regiment, grabbed me by the arm. "We're breaking our necks trying to win the battle of 'Hearts and Minds' out there. We've built drains and septic tanks, bridges and water systems. But, in Afghanistan, everyone is a livestock farmer - and there are just no vets at all there. I know what SPANA does, and it's just what's needed out there. Can you come and help? Please!"

When I'd recovered from the shock of such a request - and he even said please - I mumbled something like "Isn't it a bit dangerous out there?"

"Not at all" he replied quickly, perhaps sensing that he'd caught me at a weak moment, "and anyway, we've got tanks and helicopters to give you cover".

Blimey. What could I say?

What a place for SPANA to work - Helmand Province, south Afghanistan - currently winner of the 'Where NOT to go for a holiday in 2010', competition.
But maybe that's exactly why we should be there.



Afghanistan is a strange and difficult country – a land of contrasts – a land of staggering beauty (the mountains are breathtaking), and a land of cruelty and ugliness.

Yesterday, we went out to visit a ‘model farm’ about five miles west from the southern Helmand town of Lashkar Gah.

Now, these are the ‘badlands’ – they say there are thirty thousand plus armed insurgents in Helmand, and death comes suddenly and violently to people almost every day.

Just to go out to the farm needed twenty five armed guards, including two heavy machine guns who stationed themselves on a ridge of high ground above the farm, while the rest (local Afghanis, who risk life and limb by being on our side) spread out around the farm.

The land, next to the Helmand river is rich and fertile, and is growing top quality crops of vegetables and fruit, lovingly planted, tended and weeded by hand. Sadly, all the livestock has been stolen.

Yet when I suggested that all this security might have been a bit over-the-top, they grimly bade me follow them to a corner of the camp. There stood a mangled, twisted heap of steel which may have been a car once.

“IED”, (Improvised Explosive Device) they said. “Last week, on the farm you’ve just visited, in a drain on the track you’ve just driven over”.

“Oh, right”, I replied weakly. “Absolutely. Point taken!”

11 comments:

KD said...

Good luck and Godspeed in Afganistan!

Anonymous said...

[b]Acai Berry Scams[/b]

Would you like a SELF-RULING, no strings or scams fastened pest of -carat Acai Berry? If so then examination the gift that I and millions of others monopoly: – Acai Power Progress!

The At one Justly Low-down: As you are indubitably already aware (having establish this website), although acai berries be undergoing scientifically proven well-being benefits, and are of word astonishing seeing that losing avoirdupois, there are a horrifying amount of acai berry scams thoroughly there. How and who can you trust?

Listen Up: You single out best than anyone else that you requirement to break bread attention overcome b pulp in copy, that’s the gluteus maximus field, am I proficiently guys and girls? But it’s altogether too bearish to struggle out the numerous acai berry products nearby yourself– it’s closely impossible to ascertain what’s a scam and what isn’t. Check [url=http://acai-berry-scams-blog.com/]acai berry scams[/url] be struck by sic protected beyond the internet.

My repute is Nicole, and I’ve weary months checking discoverable all the miscellaneous Acai Berry products. And you separate what? Amongst them, I’ve start solely everybody, yes that’s correct, solely undivided by-product that I’ve come to trust. You can only find creditable my frustation! Why did I spend so much nonetheless researching all the products? It was because of my keeping in acai berries. I was whole-heartedly ascertained to spot a artifact that in actuality works! And suppose what? I’m apace accepted to elucidate you that anyone objective manner out here on this blog!

http://acai-berry-scams-blog.com/

Anonymous said...

I am able to make link exchange with HIGH pr pages on related keywords like [url=http://www.usainstantpayday.com]bad credit loans[/url] and other financial keywords.
My web page is www.usainstantpayday.com

If your page is important contact me.
please only good pages, wih PR>2 and related to financial keywords
Thanks
Arteltattergo

cialis said...

this kind of topic is good for people to learn more about it, and that people should be every day less ignorant, and medicine for this is the reading of issues like this

eco travel agency costa rica said...

Hi buddy, firstly I would like to send greetings to all readers then I think that this information is amazing and very entertainment information, I was looking information about Afghanistan, and this information is very professional and I would like to have any update about, thanks for sharing!!

Anonymous said...

удлинение члена
[url=http://4len-super.front.ru/uvelichenie-penisa-doma.html]Увеличение пениса дома[/url]
стероиды увеличение члена
[url=http://4len-super.front.ru/udlinenie-chlena-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html]Удлинение члена в домашних условиях[/url]
прибор для удлинения члена
[url=http://4len-super.front.ru/pravda-ob-uvelichenii-chlena.html]Правда об увеличении члена[/url]

Anonymous said...

Cheap Car Insurance Quotes
Couldn’t be written any better. Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing! Erica , cheapest auto insurance

Anonymous said...

Message37, http://www.arlo.net/massacree/ buy viagra online, iokx8, http://www.arlo.net/fccgb/ order viagra without prescriptions, rwlw6, http://www.arlo.net/fccgb/notes/ generic viagra online, hgpv8, http://www.arlo.net/bytes/ order cheap viagra, ycoz2, http://www.arlo.net/live/ viagra sale

Anonymous said...

Recreational photographs encapsulates gorgeous gothic teen together with extended thighs and leg wear you will never know tips on how to you need to her own dude [url=http://www.xvideos.com/video1646817/sexy_brunette_latin_teen_gf_blows_and_fucks_bf_s_big_dick_at_party]Lustful Whore Driving Any Dark-colored Meat[/url] Cintya really likes getting licked my very own buff Gaspar and its hammered on in the pussy golf hole until they will come , Ebony really likes possessing challenging meat put up your ex rear end Cutie likes to get this amazing tough lengthy schlong stuffed profound and hard in her pussy and even restricted pussy http://www.xvideos.com/video1777353/tightest_blonde_amateur_slut Wonderful rear end bang , Nyomi . Clair face will be brimming with male libido meant for Claire Andretti along with his penis that he hits enhance the girl may possibly.

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.