While working as a contractor in Afghanistan, no demand was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement; therefore allow me to write a few experiences that might shed some light on what life was like there with a little political slant. Most civilian contractors working there—ranging from drivers; port-a-potty cleaners; cooks; guards; weapons repairmen; basically an entire society, but without paid entertainers—are paid non-taxed $7,000-$25,000 monthly (top managers over six figures monthly), eat with troops, and sleep in separate quarters without cost. We leave theater every three months for rest and recreation (R&R) with paid air tickets (up to a certain value) and as long we stand on American soil for less than 34 days in a year, we do not pay income tax, but pay into FICA (and yes, I expect that back at 65). The war theater structure limits troop activity to going outside ‘the wire’ on patrols with all other duties paid including guard duty to African contractors and lower paid third country nationals (TCN) filling in many jobs and often replacing American citizens because of reduced pay sometimes creating problems because TCN often lack professional licenses. Afghans get the short end of the stick, of course, living in squalor and fed minimal, often donated goods from aid agencies. The U.N. program I saw was attempting to teach a province and provide equipment to make chicken farming, but with a grand budget of $150.00—for the entire year.

Forward operating bases (FOB) are small isolated camps located throughout the country and operate differently where we fly in to service the camp with electrical, plumping, and other utility skills. At one FOB—known for rarely getting ‘hit’—we just finished work and were about to settle down for the evening when two explosions sent fireballs high into the air outside the wire causing our curiosity to look out. Within seconds a pretty, red firework sputtered over our heads and landed over the wire exploding suddenly making us realize we were under attack. The troops had only recently replaced the previous company and did not understand what was happening, but the attached Afghan National Army (ANA) immediately returned fire. Our troops gathered their wits and returned fire with so much ammunition that they easily expended over a million dollars of ordinance. This story is not to criticize the cost of frightened soldiers shooting ‘more the better’ ammunition (who would blame them), but this gives you an idea just how expensive trying to stay alive entails when you place these kids at an isolated camp in a hostile country. Admittedly the scene was very impressive because our return fire literally made the hills glow beautiful red in the dark; who ever was out there was in a world of hurt! The real story came the next morning when the platoon sergeant and I observed women from the village walk single filed with shovels and trek up to the rocks where we were being shot from. These women went to bury their men. These attackers were not Taliban, but local villagers although we classify them as insurgents. This reminded me of Vietnam; these people will never accept our presence no matter how much we beat the hell out of them; 100,000, 70,000, or even a single troop makes little impact on their feelings against us. Hopefully someday they will forgive us and shake hands like the Vietnamese, but it will take decades—and only after we leave in peace. Do not count on being a tourist there for a while.

When Obama’s deputy campaign manager ignored a question by Dylan and attempted to campaign utilizing detracting vocabulary, Dylan cut him off resulting in exchanging terse words. Watching Obama’s man, I got the impression he spoke from a frightening, powerful position reminiscent from the Bush era. Hopefully Dylan will not get water-boarded.

Most Americans do not realize we are fighting wars foreign and domestic; foreign battles with profitable ordinance, but domestic battles with soul sucking propaganda and toxic lies that will cost our quality of life. The Republicans want to take budget talks to Obama because they know what a wimp he is. Julius Caesar once said, “A conquered people should know when they are conquered.” From watching MSNBC there appears a slight hope we are not conquered, or is Caesar correct; we just do not realize we are conquered?

"Minority Leader Eric Cantor..."

A quote from Lawrence. So stupid he can't even get names and positions in government straight. We should think he is credible?? Give me a break!!

Bill

hey bill,

eric cantor thinks he is minority leader. every time we see boehner, eric cantor is looking right over his shoulder. there isn't a camera that eric cantor doesn't love.

mis-speaking doesn't make someone stupid. i'll tell you what IS stupid, making up words and rewriting history (remember palin?).

hey suzette,

You criticize Palin for "misspeak" yet when the words come out of a liberals mouth they are "just a mistake".

double standard???

I get real tired of the hypocrisy and your reply just adds support to it. Talk to the event and judge all the same.