Arthur Chrenkoff has his latest comprehensive report from Afghanistan. Since only bad news is “news” in America, you likely have missed all the good that is being accomplished there. Well, now you can read all about here. Of course my favorite part talks about what our soldiers are up to these days:
THE COALITION TROOPS: Most of the time it’s providing security; often it’s helping to rebuild the country; always it’s an effort to make lives better in many ways, big and small. Recently, the troops have been instrumental in enabling pilgrims from Afghanistan to attend their annual pilgrimage to Mecca: “Scores of commercial flights from four locations in Afghanistan – Kabul, Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat – have been coordinated in some way or another by Air Force, Army and Marine personnel. [Marine Maj. John] Forti said the number of pilgrims processed through the four sites totals 26,387, up by nearly 2,000 from 2004. Some Afghans even came from refugee camps in Pakistan. The U.S. military provided broad assistance, from security and accommodations in Kandahar to fire trucks in Herat.”
The troops are also active in the reconstruction effort. These units have been working throughout the sixteen provinces of eastern Afghanistan:
“While continuing small-scale projects, the command is committed to initiating what [Army Col. Gary] Cheek called ‘capacity-building projects’ — creating road networks, revitalizing downtown areas, establishing irrigation and water systems, and bolstering economic infrastructure. ‘We are working with each of our provincial governors to develop five-year reconstruction plans that will set a course for reconstruction in each province,’ he said. ‘We will also continue to equip and train Afghan police forces to improve the security posture across the region.’
“Since June, Cheek said, eight provincial reconstruction teams within Regional Command East have spent more than $24.8 million on reconstruction projects. These projects have focused on education, water and sanitation, healthcare and governance, he said. They included full renovation of the Ghazni Public Health Directorate Civil Hospital, which serves an estimated 1.5 million people, and the nearly completed Matun electric grid project in Khost province, Cheek said. By late February, the Matun project will provide electricity to some 85,000 residents.
“Other successes included purchasing 110 police vehicles and 7,260 police uniforms, facilitating the first meeting of the Ghazni Women’s Council, and progress in promoting winter wheat and other crops in lieu of poppies.”
Hillary, I know you are out there somewhere doing good things. When you get a minute, write your daddy. We love you and miss you. Be strong, be safe.
Via Vodka Pundit
UPDATE: Carol sent me this picture of Hillary. She was the maid of honor for Ashley’s wedding last August. And deployed to Afghanistan two days later.
