Day 91: Boom!

ANA prepare to enter a "home" for a search during training. (Photo by G. A. Volb)

As his comrades secure his back, one ANA peaks out from his cover to check on things. (Photo by G. A. Volb)

Once inside the outer perimeter, the team prepares to enter the interior of the "house." (Photo by G. A. Volb)

On Monday an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) went off just down the road from the "cubicle" I call home. As soon as I scraped myself off the roof of my kingdom, I ran outside to see what had happened.

The plume of smoke rose off in the distance ... it looked like it was set off on our side of JBad road (Jalalabad road) just on the other side of the camp. In reality it was about 1,300 meters away, but on a road we all travel quite often.

You might have seen the news reports of the suicide car bomber who hit a British convoy here in Kabul; well, that was it. The convoy left our base only minutes earlier, but that's life here. Each day you're reminded that you may end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. In this case, a suicide car bomber found a convoy to sacrifice himself near in hopes it would take out coalition troops.

The truth is, however, that in most cases, as was the case here, these attacks kill or maim many more innocent Afghans than coalition. This, somehow, remains out of focus in the news.

Anyway, yesterday being Wednesday I ventured out to the ranges again. The ANA was holding training to include small arms tactics and house-to-house searches.

They are still new to the business of building a professional army, though five years into it. But I see promise if only in the numbers themselves. Hundreds each week are brought in; some look like they're 12 while others look as old as me --- many though join to serve their country, which is a good thing.

Today was massage day, an hour of physical therapy that offers enough relaxation I can plant myself in some exotic local, if only for a short time. I've noticed I'm up to 219lbs now. It's not sloppy though, which is the goal. In fact, I'm looking to hit 225 before long. We'll see how that goes.