3/18/2010 12:07:00 PM GAZETTE EXCLUSIVE: Questions and answers from Afghanistan
A group of Afghani citizens watch U.S. troops at a bridge over a canal in Parwan province. This is where Janahan, through an interpreter, spoke with Art Ricker. Art Ricker photo
What is your opinion of the United States military?
'They do their best but have narrow political views. We have weekly meetings to share and solve problems.'
Khalilullah Rahmani, a local Afghani official
'Soldiers are good and we are glad they came. They have brought peace and chased out the bad guys.'
Prior to my departure, I asked Galena Gazette patrons to participate in my embed by giving me questions they would like answered about the situation in Afghanistan. If you have read earlier articles in this series, you no doubt recognize that I was not with a combat unit; thus, I did not have the opportunity to ask questions regarding those types of operations.
In an effort to get the broadest understanding of the Afghans, I was able to interview two people in very different circumstances.
Khalilullah Rahmani is an advisor to the mayor of a municipality. We met and spoke with him in Panjshir. He was well educated, spoke perfect English, employed and obviously fairly well off. While on a mission from Bagram Air Field I took the opportunity to ask similar questions of a fellow watching our convoy. My interpreter and I met Janahan on a bridge over a canal in the province of Parwan, which is directly north of Kabul. He spoke only Dari, was unemployed and did not appear to be wealthy.
Are you familiar with the western lifestyle?
Rahmani: Society and problems need deep assessment. The west is quick to respond but does not go to the root of a problem. They do not look at cause and affect. The West sees the stem not the root.
Janahan: I do not know about the West. We want peace, no fighting, and our country to be safe.
What is your opinion of the US Military?
Rahmani: They do their best but have narrow political views. We have weekly meetings to share and solve problems.
Janahan: Soldiers are good and we are glad they came. They have brought peace and chased out the bad guys.
Has there been a change in your country's culture in the last eight years?
Rahmani: None in eight years. It will take 10 to 20 years. For 30 years, we have had a war culture. Economic changes are easy, cultural changes very difficult.
Janahan: There has been no change.
Do you think the conflict in Afghanistan benefits other countries?
Rahmani: Yes, Pakistan wants Afghanistan to be its market. Iran, Pakistan, Russia use the situation as a tool for economic and political gains. Pakistan would prefer additional U.S. aid instead of the US sending troops to Afghanistan.
Janahan: There is no benefit to the surrounding countries.
What do you want for your children?
Rahmani: I want them to read and understand a culture, not a war program.
Janahan: I want good schools and an education for them.
I went on to ask more questions of Janahan.
Is there anything else you would like those who will read my article to know?
Janahan: The money used for the work-for-cash program is gone. I have no land to grow food for my family. I have no job and there are no schools for adults in the district. If people do not have jobs, they will do something bad for money.
He finished on a rather tragic but humorous comment, "I spend each day playing with my dogs."
Most Afghans I asked about President Obama had a favorable opinion of him. A high, holy scholar in Pansjhir is so taken by him; the PRT gave him a DVD of his speeches. The governor of Panjshir did comment on former President George Bush. He felt that the U.S. under his leadership acted too emotionally after 9-11 by needlessly invading Iraq, which is looked down upon by Muslims worldwide. The military, of course, would not comment on either President.
I met with Lieutenant Colonel Eubank, who is temporarily commanding the PRT in Parwan Province. This province is unique because, within its borders is Bagram Airfield, the largest NATO facility in the country.
In the near future, a permanent PRT unit will arrive that is currently being trained at Camp Atterbury in Indiana. This province was once secure allowing the team to carry out its mission, but recently has had its share of terrorist activity. Travel outside of Bagram is in MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) and armor is generally worn.
There is some industry including a cement factory and a juice bottling firm. A coal fired power plant provides intermittent electricity but is in poor condition having been neglected for 30 years.
The PRT has initiated over 150 projects of which half have been completed. They include over 70 miles of roads, schools, clinics and agricultural projects. There is no Afghan army presence thus the US soldiers provide that component. The ANP (Afghan National Police) are receiving training as one of the projects and are responsible for keeping order. When asked about corruption, the colonel said it is predominant among the ANP, politicians and most contractors that carry out the PRT projects.
At our initial meeting with the governor of Panjshir, the PRT commanding officer Lt. Col. Hommel introduced him to the civilians present. The governor made it clear he only trusted the U.S. military. He told the civilian PRT members from USAID that promises and commitments have been broken.
When I was introduced, he took a shot at the media. He felt reporters like me had only their media's agenda to satisfy and true conditions went unreported. The meeting continued and at its conclusion I asked to respond.
Through an interpreter, I told him I received no wages or expense reimbursement from the Galena Gazette. In return, they never edit the articles I write.
I told him to be assured that whatever I witness, good or bad, in his province it will be accurately reported in the Gazette, and beyond that you can trust me because I am former military. We both had a good laugh.
This is the sixth in a series of stories about Art Ricker's trip to Afghanistan.
