The Unknown War

Get the Gouge ^ | 23 June 2008 | Andrew Lubin

[SeaLawyer]

Afghanistan, 2008: The Unknown War Part 1 By Andrew Lubin Sharing the Heat and Dust with Our Allies

Kandahar—Everything in the camp is covered with a thin layer of dust—except when the wind blows, after which everything is covered with a thick layer of dust. The camp here at Kandahar Air Field is busy; American Marines, Army and Air Force walk past, as do Soldiers and pilots from Britain, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands. Humvees lumber past, as do unidentifiable gun trucks from these few allies who actually fight, as the choking hot dust billows behind them. At 117 degrees the fact that it's a dry heat is immaterial; dust, wind, 117 degrees and blinding sun is unpleasant, regardless.

These troops are here in order to try to regain control of Helmand Province, the source of 55 percent of Afghanistan's world-leading opium-export crop. Located south of Kandahar on the Afghan-Pakistan border, the Taliban controls much of Helmand's opium business, which provides finance for the Pakistani jihadis who invade the country nightly. The Taliban runs its fighters, arms and munitions north, and returns south with opium and any wounded...

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