Unlike most of Afghanistan – covered by deserts and desolate vegetation (if vegetation even exists) – Jalalabad and the mountainous regions to the north are verdant by comparison.
It’s a landlocked country connected by miles of dangerous, winding road to the provinces that lie to the north and east.
Why the geography lesson? I figure if I’m going to be humping around the wilds of Central Asia, I might as well know what the hell I’m in for. And it ain’t pretty...
Along with the wolves, jackals and vultures that prowl the mountains to the north, another type of predator also lurks – the armed followers of Al-Qaida and the minions of rebel warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
The violence here isn’t like it is in the south of the country. Where NATO forces employ heavy artillery against organized Taliban offensives. It’s trickier... the bad guys are sneakier...
This is the part of the country known for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted along the winding byways the 10th Mountain Division is guarding. A place where the troops don’t know who their enemy is. They have to be prepared for the worst – always.
Some welcome, huh?
But this is what our warriors are facing every day. I’m honored to have the chance to be among them. My couple-of-weeks tour is nothing compared to the long stints these Joes have had.
More later.