May 28 2030

Sunset at Bagram. My demob date is May 31 which will mark 16 months in theater.

May 27 0720

Soldier waiting for a ride.

May 21 1950

Unfinished mansion on a hill in Kabul. No sign of life here during a fly by and who knows what halted progress on this magnificent structure. Security possibly, a warlord whose stolen cash source had run dry, or, the owners assassination. All possible. A city where, in spite of NATO's best effort and all the money coalition forces can throw at it, it seems no more safe than it was two years ago. Today, NATO coalition members meet in Chicago to decide in part the fate of this conflict. Locally, that meeting was celebrated by an Islamic "Holy Warrior" martyring himself at a police checkpoint. Identified as Abdul Haq, he was successful in killing ten including two children, seven civilians, and 3 police officers. Innocent civilians deaths are an acceptable loss for militants in this conflict.
       In other Islamic militant attacks, 90 killed today in Yemen at a military parade. Al Qaeda claimed responsiblity for the suicide bombing. Fifty five dead in Damascus suicide bombings last week, a sign that al Qaeda may have infliltrated the conflict.
       In an unrelated event, the Lockerbie bomber passed away in Libya,  family members of the 270 victims do not mourn his passing.

May 19 0700

Perimeter wall. The sniper fencing is missing where it was burned in the Quran riots.

May 17 Norwegian independence day

Gratulerer med dagen. Photo courtesy of Roger Kopperstad.

May 17 0630

May 17 0615

One of many bomb shelters on camp. Located near housing and places of assembly, these provide protection from incoming. Hesco containers seen on top are collapsable wire mesh baskets with a fabric lining. Filled with sand, dirt, or rock, tens and hundreds of thousands line base perimeters, shelters and housing to provide a barriers for troop protection. Seen here placed on top of ISO containers.