Afghanistan...now a days, the word itself sends rivulets of cascading thoughts of inhospitable landscape, insurgency and unhappiness.   Yes, there is a group of individuals that are still trying continue an insurgency here; but I think and believe that their influence here is waning.  I have met a lot of great children and seen a lot of happy faces and I believe that we are making a difference here.  Our presence is making an impact.  And when I see them, I see the future of this country.

Now, do I believe that we are going to turn this country around and get it set on the right track tomorrow?  Or the next day?  No, I can't say that to be the case.  But, everyday I go outside the wire, I meet with individuals whom I can see that do want to make a difference....to have a difference made in the lives of their families.

Afghanistan is as wild as the Wild West we all grew up learning about in our own Country's history.  The country itself is as changing as the wind and sometimes appears to struggle against itself.  If one were to refer to the link of my picture #6666, one can see the great wonder of the weather here.  Only minutes before, on that early morning, was it sunny and nice.  Within a matter of a few seconds, a storm was upon us depositing marble sized balls of hail.

As I have commented before, I believe in our mission here and am very proud to be part of an historic event such as this.  History has routinely referred to Afghanistan as the Graveyard of Empires, which is in most parts very true; however, I don't believe this to be the case of the United States helping out, I believe we are carving out our own pages of a different chapter in that same novel that can refer to Afghanistan as the Country That Needs A Helping Hand. 

Picture 6644 I think says it all.  If the sun will continue to rise in the morning,  Afghanistan will always have a chance to change...and it makes me proud to be a participant and to see our Country's Armed Forces and those of other nations to be there to extend that helping hand.

I hope you enjoy the pictures, though, they do pale in comparison to the rugid beauty that this land does hold.

Hoorah!!!

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