Ball Diamond Ball

I saw a remark online that Afghanistan was turning into a “Death Spiral”. That set me off.

Afghanistan is difficult, as any honest person will admit, and will remain difficult for quite some time. Expect to see advances and setbacks. Expect to see every little bit of negative news from there magnified either by our enemies or their enablers in the MSM. And expect us to remain there for a long, long time.

I am just coming back from my first tour there. I am currently in Kuwait, waiting on plane. I will probably go back at some point, either in the military, or with some other agency (looking at options to serve).

You will hear a lot of complaining about things, and a lot of that is … Continue reading →

My tour in Afghanistan is complete–I am currently in Kuwait, starting to come home at long last.  I wound up less comfortable with posting from over there than I thought I would be.  Let’s just say that it will be easier to communicate when I am no longer on active duty.

Call me old-fashioned, but I am amazed at what I see written and depicted on blogs from active-duty types these days.  More on that soon.  I grew up in the Cold War Navy, and I am that guy, the one constantly telling his friends and colleagues to watch what they say on the phone, to support personnel, and now–online. Many many stories to tell–coming soon.  Right now, however, I am sitting in a Starbucks in Kuwait, making … Continue reading →

Gee, I hope I spelled that right. Yesterday, I attended my first Hanukkah service, which was led by a very nice man, Jeff. There were two Mormons, a single Jew conducting the service, an agnostic (uh, that would be me), a Catholic, and an Air Force guy. We’re tight.
We met in the “library” where I work in Afghanistan, and Jeff told us the story of the last Jew in the country. No kidding. There were two, and they didn’t get along, so one left. Apparently a well-received play was written about it.
Then he told us the old story about “three jews, two synagogues”, and relayed the description his children provided about Jewish Holidays. They wearily explain that on Jewish Holidays, “we gather to recall one of … Continue reading →

December seventh, two thousand eight. The year draws to a close, and winter makes its approach. Somehow, I have reduced this stunning crisp morning to an overblue picture of some well-focused gravel. The mountains here remind me of my hometown. I am settling into my new surroundings.

I am writing this on my laptop, which is connected through my cell phone to AWCC (Afghan Wireless), the cell service provider of choice for people who need to get online here in Northern Afghanistan. I brought my HP 2133 (the tiny one) out here nearly two months ago, and this is the first chance I have had to really sit down and type out a nice … Continue reading →

The horrific attacks in India today remind us why we must win. Godspeed, India.