Afghanistan Through My Eyes - More Women In Combat

Going over all the studies about women in combat I'm not sure if I should smile or yell! Especially after reading the Executive Summary for Diversity Leadership for the 21-Century Military.

This Diversity Commission was established in 2009, has 20 recommendations and a new definition of diversity, but...a big BUT recognizes that presidential and congressional guidance and support are necessary if success is to be realized.

Photo by Doug Lindner

The crux of my frustration comes because in 1948...1948...Harry S. Truman, then President issued the Executive Order 9981 that called for "equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services".

So here we are.

Here is where I agree with Justice Clarence Thomas (I never thought I'd be writing this). He believes there should be NO segregation when implementing laws or criteria. There should be no deliniation of race, color, creed or gender. This is how the Constitution was written and meant to be interpreted.

Photo by Pete Shinn

There is enough paperwork, (63 years worth at least) to support this. Can we move on!

Photo by Mark Burrell

Afghanistan Through My Eyes - Women In Combat

I don't really even like this title as I believe there should be no gender recognition in combat. You are a warrior and until the military treats all it's warriors with the same standards we are going to have problems.

In my book: Bullets In My Pocket, that my agent has yet to read the proposal on, I do not have a chapter dedicated to women. This is because a warrior is a warrior.

However I am honored to present a paper at the WREI Conference on Women In Combat focusing on Women at COP's (Combat Outposts); so women are on my mind.

Here are some of my favorite photos of women.

I hope everyone out there has a safe weekend...in war there is no weekend.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes - Military VS Civilian Friends

A FB friend posted this and I had to take put some of the highlights in my blog...I have never met so many wonderful people as I have with the US military. This just sums it up.

Civilian Friends: will listen to your relationship problems and hope it works out.
Military Friends: will listen to your relationship problems over a long hard march and will help you straighten it out better than Dr. Phil

Civilian Friends: know a few things about you.
Military Friends: could write a book with direct quotes from you.

Civilian Friends: might try and hit on your girl behind your back
Military Friends: have spooned with you in the field more than your girl has, and would never even think about doing that

Civilian Friends: will wish you had enough money to go out with them
Military Friends: will share their last dollar, drag you along and try to work free drinks all night

Civilian Friends: Want the money they loaned you back
Military Friends: can't begin to remember who owes who money after taking care of each other for so long

Civilian Friends: will tell you they'd take a bullet for you
Military Friends: will actually take a bullet for you.

This footage is pretty raw...it's hard to shoot a camera and a gun at the same time.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes

I've been writing about Afghanistan for over a year. A place that I used to just read about, now has a special place in my heart. A day doesn't go by that I don't think about the US military and other military factions from around the world fighting there.

The first time I went through Abbey Gate in Kabul, I was on foot, lugging my 85 pound duffle bag. I remember distinctly the cold biting my exposed face and hands as I tried to negotiate with the Dutch guards speaking English with their thick accents. I was better at understanding their body language and gesturing with their loaded guns...get back and wait out past the first check point.

It was as if it was yesterday, even though it was 0600 January 1, 2011 and I had been traveling since December 30th with nary a layover and not a wink of sleep.

This was another check point in my adventure as I stared up at the crescent moon and star pinned in the sapphire blue sky as a reminder of the Russian occupation 35 years ago.

What was it going to be like inside? Abbey Gate was a vortex, a gateway into a combat zone. It's boundaries definitive, unlike the blood spilled within.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes - 9/11 in Afghanistan

What was it like on September 11, 2001 in Afghanistan?

Most of Afghanistan was in the dark...there wasn't any electricity in most places so there were no televisions or radios to bestow the news.

The photos we saw of children rejoicing by firing guns into the air and shouting death to American's were most likely taken in Pakistan.

Word of mouth spread the news like wildfire, but was it believable to think that al-Qaeda had accomplished such a mission, flown planes into the Twin Tower skyscrapers in New York City killing thousands! Living in Los Angeles it was hard for me to believe and surreal to watch. I kept wondering if this was some kind of crazy Orson Wells like stunt Hollywood had done to promote a new film.

Afghanistan is a tribal country and most Afghani's didn't realize what was going on until the first fighter jets strafed the sapphire blue sky searching for something to destroy. Who was this new military faction invading and what did they want? Didn't they know there was nothing left to destroy...fighter jets were no threat against the roach like insurgents scurrying into hiding.

The real poison for al-Qaeda and the Taliban would be of their own making. The people of Afghanistan have been battling against invasion for over 3000 years...they only put up with so much before they make their stand. They are now equipped, thanks to ISAF to fight against RPG's (rocket propelled grenades) and IED's (Improvised Explosive Devices).

When ISAF leaves, the soldiers of Afghanistan will take off their boots, cry their battle cry and fight how they know how to fight. Taking no prisoners.

Remember the words of Rudyard Kipling:


When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
   An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.


Afghanistan is being brought into the 21st Century...but remains the same. A small chunk of real estate that has caused a lot of fury.