This is a great article from the Toronto Star...
http://michaelyon-online.com/media/pdf/war...oronto_star.pdf
The part of the story that strikes me as most important is the dialog between the Canadians and the Afghan elders when they visit a town. Our whole mission, Afghanistan's problems, recent history and outlook towards the Taliban are clearly articulated by the Afghans themselves. (scroll down to the by-line: "A fruitful meeting", pg. 3)
The story is .pdf and it's rather large but it's a real gem for anyone who interested in, specifically, what we do there and the reaction of the locals.
excerpt:
There are thousands like this man, real Afghans, who are able and willing to take the risks if we are. Without NATO and this mission those like this man, who fight and work now, trusting in us as allies, for a better Afghanistan, will most likely die at the hands of, "Pakistani people who come here to fight".
"Neither fire nor wind, birth nor death can erase our good deeds. "
--Buddha
.
http://michaelyon-online.com/media/pdf/war...oronto_star.pdf
The part of the story that strikes me as most important is the dialog between the Canadians and the Afghan elders when they visit a town. Our whole mission, Afghanistan's problems, recent history and outlook towards the Taliban are clearly articulated by the Afghans themselves. (scroll down to the by-line: "A fruitful meeting", pg. 3)
The story is .pdf and it's rather large but it's a real gem for anyone who interested in, specifically, what we do there and the reaction of the locals.
excerpt:
"I cannot promise to solve all your problems," Schamuhn tells the leaders of the tiny village of Kundalan, who are
gathered in an impromptu shura — an Arabic word that means "consultation" — at the request of their announced
guests from Canada.
"What I can do is help your government solve your problems for you. You must understand that these are not
Canadian problems, these are Afghan problems. The Canadians are here to help the Afghan government find solutions.
"But I want to emphasize one point — we will not be here forever. We are only here temporarily to help get your
government back on its feet. My concern is for after we leave. You are the men who must take the initiative to become
actively involved in solving your problems, so you will have better lives after we're gone."
The one-eyed man raises his hand, announcing dramatically, "Now it is my turn to speak."
He is not the leader of Kundalan, that title belongs to one Salah Makmad, who had opened the meeting by describing
the plight of this wholly illiterate village of some 130 families. Water is the biggest issue; rather, the inability to store
water. When the spring runoff subsides in the coming weeks, Kundalan will run dry through yet another parched
summer.
Schamuhn's assistant, Lieut. Trevor Greene, 41, has already taken down the details. As Canada's civil-military
co-operation officer on the ground with 1st Platoon, Greene is a dove among the hawks of Canadian combat.
He has already learned that when the people of Kundalan get sick, one of two things happen. Maybe they go to
Kandahar, he is told. Or maybe they just die. And Greene has already learned that Kundalan's leaders, however much
they welcome a school, will not allow the education of girls. Not even if a separate school is constructed.
The one-eyed man draws breath and unleashes his torrent of doubts and reservations. Firstly, he says, the village has
already seen American soldiers come with notepads in hand, dutifully writing down all that ails Kundalan. The village
has nothing to show for all their promises.
It may be that Canada is trying to help a government that has no intention of helping this village, he continues. And
even if Canada's help makes it to Kundalan, he concludes, the village then runs the risk of inviting attacks from Taliban
fighters.
Schamuhn acknowledges the concerns but stands firm. He tells the villagers that they must make a choice. The
Canadians are ready to do their best for Kundalan, but Kundalan has a critical role to play.
"Already we have been bombed," Schamuhn says. "Lieut. Trevor was in the vehicle that was bombed. And the
Canadian base at Gombad came under rocket attack 10 days ago. "As much as I want to help you and focus on humanitarian aid, I cannot do that if we're always fighting people."
The one-eyed man softens at this news and, in the next breath, his combative tone vanishes. "If you give us a school,
a medical clinic, we can keep security in these places. We can help you. The Taliban is not made of Afghans. It is made
of Pakistani people who come here to fight," he says.
The sudden Afghan warmth is sanctified by the serving of tea and bread. With it comes the rest of the villagers, who
until now had stood at a distance. The Afghans remark favourably on the Canadians' willingness to share in the ritual,
noting that when U.S. soldiers came to visit, they refused the offer of the sweet tea.
"My American friends have weak stomachs," laughs Schamuhn, raising his glass to salute his hosts. "So when they
drink your chai they get sick."
Schamuhn cannot help but pay an additional compliment, commenting on how the village elders have spent an entire
hour squatting on bended knee.
"I am a young man from Canada, much younger than you," he tells them. "But I could not sit in such a position for
more than a few minutes without feeling pain. The Afghan people obviously have very good genes."
A round of handshakes follows and the Canadians withdraw, satisfied that an ice-cold village has begun to show the
first signs of thaw. On the march out of Kundalan, a special-forces adviser accompanying the party points to fist-sized
plants growing on one of the village's fields.
"Poppies," he says to no one in particular."
There are thousands like this man, real Afghans, who are able and willing to take the risks if we are. Without NATO and this mission those like this man, who fight and work now, trusting in us as allies, for a better Afghanistan, will most likely die at the hands of, "Pakistani people who come here to fight".
"Neither fire nor wind, birth nor death can erase our good deeds. "
--Buddha
.