Life in Afghanistan

Hello All,

I hope all is well with everyone reading this blog... keep them comments coming, they bring me joy. The picture today was taken in inner city Kabul... it's a closer up version of the mud homes. I've been told they are very stable facilities able to withstand heavy machine gun fire so that makes them good places for "insurgents" to launch attacks from all over the country. I'm also told that they do not withstand earthquakes nearly as well. So let's hope during the next attack there's an earthquake? I think that's called faulty logic.

With Ramazan traditionally comes greater threats to infidels... that's us. So, for today I thought I'd share a general threat warning most recently put out to us:

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Afghanistan. The security threat to all U.S. citizens in Afghanistan remains critical. This is to remind U.S. citizens of ongoing security risks, including kidnapping and insurgent attacks. 2. No part of Afghanistan should be considered immune from violence, and the potential exists throughout the country for hostile acts, either targeted or random, against American and other Western nationals at any time. Remnants of the former Taliban regime and the al-Qa'ida terrorist network, as well as other groups hostile to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)/NATO military operations, remain active. There is an ongoing threat to kidnap and assassinate U.S. citizens and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) workers throughout the country. Afghan authorities have a limited ability to maintain order and ensure the security of Afghan citizens and visitors. Travel in all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe due to military combat operations, landmines, banditry, armed rivalry between political and tribal groups, and the possibility of terrorist attacks, including attacks using vehicular or other improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The security environment remains volatile and unpredictable.

The intent of my sharing this information with you is not to scare you but to share in "in their words" the conditions I'm living under on a daily basis and why I'm so very cautious over here. Many of you have asked for the less rosey side of my life, well this is it. The guards I showed in previous BLOGS are not there as an employment opportunity... they serve a critical role in my protection.

THIS BLOG HUG GOES OUT TO...... (you've been waiting for it and now here it is and generating a longer pause) my wonderful nephew Joey and his beautiful daugher/my niece Maddie xxxx0000

love to all,

Auntie Gail