Travel in Kabul

I have only been outside the wire twice since I have been here. They keep asking me to go to meetings outside the wire and I decline. The bombers have hit the airport that I came into and will leave from. They also have hit places along the way to the airport.

When I went out I went to the New Kabul Compound and the Corps of Engineers Building.

The military that go on convoys almost daily shrug off the danger. They say if it's their time to go so be it. An interesting perspective.

I'll keep my head down and only go out as needed.

Map of Kabul Afghanistan

The bomb exploded around the intersection between New Kabul Compound and the US Embassy. They were trying to get to the US Embassy. We have several members of the church that work at the US Embassy.

Another Bomb Blast

At Least 16 Killed in Car Bomb in Afghan Capital
Thursday, September 17, 2009
AP
Sept. 17: Damaged military vehicles are seen at the site where a suicide car bomber attacked an Italian military convoy on a road in Kabul.
KABUL — A homicide car bomber attacked an Italian military convoy on a road in Afghanistan's capital Thursday, killing six Italian soldiers and 10 Afghan civilians, officials said.

The homicide bomber rammed his explosives-filled car into two Italian military vehicles about midday, Italian Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa said in Rome. He said six of those aboard were killed and four wounded.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility, saying in a text message that they had ordered had carried out the homicide attack against foreign forces.

The explosion shattered windows in buildings about half a mile away and shook offices and homes throughout the central Afghan neighborhood that houses a number of embassies and military bases.

Charred vehicles littered the area around the blast site -- a road just off a main traffic circle that leads to the airport. An Associated Press reporter saw at least six vehicles burned, including an Italian Humvee, and two burned bodies that were later covered with plastic sheets.

Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi said at least 10 Afghan civilians were killed and 52 wounded.

Shopkeeper Feraudin Ansari said he felt the blast in his store about 50 yards from the site. Windows were broken in all the shops on the street. He said he was angry at NATO forces for patrolling in downtown areas.

"Why are you patrolling inside the city? There is no Al Qaeda, no Taliban here," 25-year-old Ansari said. "My shop is destroyed and my head hurts from the blast."

The explosion was the fourth major attack in the capital in five weeks.

In the latest, a car bomb exploded Sept. 8 near the entrance to the military airport in Kabul in an attack on a NATO convoy, killing three civilians. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast.

The bomb went off at 12:10 pm on Thursday. We had warnings that something was about to happen. Yesterday was one of their holiest days during Ramadan. So they wanted to take advantage of it by killing someone.

Spent about 30 minutes in the bunker till the gave the all clear. Maybe I should set up a desk out there.

My supervisor for CALIBRE Corp. works at New Kabul Compound (NKC) close to the blast. He was outside in the dining tent when it went off -- he said luckily he had the administration building between him and the blast. So he didn't feel the entire effect of the blast. They sent out a notice shortly after the blast to not pick up pieces of the wreckage that was blown onto the compound property, but mark it and report it to authorities to aid in the investigation.

Car Blast at Kabul Airport

Taliban Car Bomber Kills 5 in Afghan Capital
Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Sept. 8: Afghan policemen carry a casualty away from the blast site outside a NATO military base in Kabul.
KABUL —  A car bomb exploded near the entrance to the military airport in Kabul early Tuesday in an apparent attack on a NATO convoy, killing at least five and wounding seven others, Afghan officials told FOX News.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast, the third major attack by insurgents in the capital in four weeks.
U.S. and NATO forces said they did not yet have details on the incident or casualties, but the chief of Kabul's criminal investigation department, Abdul Ghafar Sayadzada, confirmed fatalities.
Sayadzada said he was briefed by NATO forces, who said at least one international soldier was wounded.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility and said a homicide car bomber rammed into a NATO convoy and destroyed three Land Cruisers.
The early morning blast rattled windows more than a mile away, and vehicles still burned more than an hour later as fire trucks ringed the area. Small blasts could be heard, likely from ammunition exploding inside the vehicles.
A police official for the area, Rohullah, said the attack appeared to be against a NATO convoy. Like many Afghans, the official goes by one name.
A witness said he saw the car ram into a line of SUVs.
"I saw three or four Land Cruisers for the foreigners just in front of the gate ... then there was a car and it hit them, then blew up," said Humayun, who watched the attack from his nearby shop.
U.S. forces spokesman Lt. Col. Todd Vician confirmed an explosion south of the airport, but said he did not have details. The military airport used by U.S. and other international forces is right next to Kabul's civilian airport, but they have separate entrances.
Insurgent attacks, often deadly, occur in Kabul despite tight security and blast walls. Homicide bombers have hit government buildings and gunmen have overrun ministries.
In the run-up to Aug. 20 elections, a suicide attack near the main gate of NATO headquarters killed seven people and injured scores, gunmen briefly took over a bank in the city, and insurgents fired on the presidential palace on the same day that they unleashed a homicide car bombers on a NATO convoy.
Late Monday, two militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the rear gate of Camp Phoenix outside Kabul, NATO said, but said there were no injuries to anyone inside and no damage to the base. Afghan police said the two militants were killed.
Taliban insurgents ambushed a police convoy in the village of Dahna Ghori in Baghlan province Monday evening, Gov. Mohammad Akbar Barakzai said Tuesday, and police killed 12 Taliban in the resulting firefight.
No police were killed in the ambush, he said.
But as the convoy was returning to Pul-e-Khumri, the provincial capital, it was hit by a bomb that killed one policeman and wounded 17, two seriously, Barakzai said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Happy Days Are Here Again

It's been great here in Afghanistan. Violence has eased a little. Work is going good, and the weather is cooling off. So eerything is right with the world.

The church is keeping me somewhat busy. I have three callinga, Home Teacher, Branch Clark, and District Councilman -- with 6 units to work with. Since most of them are in remote locations most of my contact is by email.

I also have been busy working on some family History. I am doing research on my dead end lines and people that need temple work, so that fills some of my spare time.

I also watch a lot of movies. Since they sell "hodgy" movies here -- pirated from China ($2) I have most of the latest movies to watch.

I am having so much fun I may stay another year -- If they let me.

I am also looking forward to going home for a visit to WA to see my wife/kids during the holidays.

All Quiet on the Eastern Front

Life has turned rather boring after the elections. No bombs, rockets, and very little small arms fire. So basically it's all work and no play.

Work is very interesting. I work with the costing of buildings and equipment. I also sit on a board that approves purchases for the theater. The hours are long and very little to do after work except watch a movie, read or sleep.

I am looking forward to the up coming BYU football season. They play Oklahoma on the 5th of September 2009. That is the 6th of September here (3:30am game time). Me and another guy plan on getting up and watching the game Sunday morning. Most games will be in the wee hours of the morning here -- so I guess I will be getting a little less sleep for a few months.

I have a couple of callings here in the branch. I am the branch cletrk and am on the District High Council. Plus I think I may be drafted into leading the music in church -- who knows -- they may be scraping the bottom of the barrel.

The weather has cooled a bit. It's 50s at night and upper 70s and low 80s during the day. There is very little humidity because of the altitude (6,000 ft). So its beautiful. It rained at night this past week. Only the second time in two months it has rained.

I am looking forward to going home for a visit in November/December 2009. Will have all my kids there for Thanksgiving.