Hey, I just noticed that if you look in the rear view mirror you can see me taking a picture of the bad traffic... cool.Anyway, traffic to and from the Ministry of late seems to have gotten a lot worse. Given the many local entrepeneurs around Kabul, they've devised an ingenious new career opportunity. One guy casually walks up to the side of your vehicle and uses an ice pick to puncture your tire. That is, if you look like you have something of value which Americans or international folks tend to do. So, the tire puncturing guy's buddies wait down the road a few yards, now remember the traffic is at a standstill, and await their prey... visualize hunters in a deer stand. After traveling those few yards, the driver of the vehicle (usually Afghan) gets out of the vehicle to check what appears to be a flat tire. In the meantime, the buddies force their way into the vehicle and rapidly steal anything of value in sight (they also know all our hiding spaces)... computers and tools seem to be their favorite although briefcases are also a lucrative target. This actually happened to a couple of buddies of mine... scared the livin' .... out of them to say the least. Our USEmbassy warns that kidnapping is also a threat, especially if nothing of value is readily available.
I've now analyzed this threat and have a counterattack, yup all that USAF training is finally coming in handy. So here's the plan: I keep at least $100 dollars at the ready so if we do run into these guys I plan to throw it in the air and squeal (I know how to squeal now that I've experienced an Afghan eyebrow job) FREE AMERICAN DOLLARS!!!!! I'm hoping they'll prefer the dollars over me. Comments or further guidance from anyone is most welcome.
I've been very busy lately on a number of projects so I have found writing part of the blog in the evening is shaving some time off my morning routine. I think it's working, but now tired and have to go to bed. I'll edit and send in the morning. It's now morning, I'm editing and sending.
An extra big blog hug out to my Hebert Family who recently lost their beloved Little Andy in a most tragic incident. Know my heart is with you in this most sad of time.
I'm going to send you some of those tires that don't go flat if you run over a nail. Check and see if we can do that. You think I'm kidding...I'm not. I think the $100 in the air is brilliant. Diversion.
ReplyDeleteOK, THE $100 THING SOUNDS GOOD, ALTHOUGH ALL I CAN THINK OF IS SEAGULLS...YUP. YOU KNOW WHEN YOU THROW JUST 1 FRENCH FRY YARDS AWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE ARE 1000 SEAGULLS AND THEN THEY KEEP BUGGING YOU? ....WELL, UNLESS YOU HAVE A CLEAR PATH AND A GET-A-WAY PLAN, YOU MIGHT SET YOURSELF UP FOR 1000 "GULLS" SWARMING YOU EVERY DAY FOR YOUR "AMERICAN FRIES".... CAN YOU CARRY A WEAPON?
ReplyDeleteTAKE CARE AND YET ANOTHER ITEM TO PUT ON MY PRAYER LIST - CAR/PEOPLE JACKING...L
STAY SAFE, GOD BLESS ALL....
LOVE YA XOXOXOXOXO CHAPUT
PS, WHEN YOU GET BACK WE WILL GO TO THE BEACH WITH FRENCH FRIES!!!!!